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| Early winter snow, Loch Avon basin. November |
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| Phil Nelson from our snowshelter, Cairngorms |
Winter of 2019 was a poor season for snow. Some folk do however have short memories, we did have many full on winter days. By mid January we had excellent snow cover in the Cairngorms along with plenty of blizzards. Enough snow to construct show shelters. One of the many joys of my job is passing on my knowledge and skills to folk who are going through their Summer and Winter Mountain Leader Awards. Phil Nelson was out for two days with me at the back end of January. Phil is already a very experienced leader. He was wanting a couple of days going over certain aspects of the Winter ML syllabus before his assessment. Phil loves his bright winter kits, as you see.
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| Adam heading up into Coire an Laoigh, Ben Eighe. February |
Good winter conditions in February too! Despite all the heatwaves and thaws. The North West Highlands getting some great conditions around the middle of the month. Return clients Adam & Henry booking me for 3 days in the Torridon area.These guys are keen and always fun with them in the mountains. On this particular day on Ben Eighe we climbed above a temperature inversion into beautiful clear blue skies. One of the best weather spectacles you will ever experience.
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| On the Grand Plateau with my wife and Pablo, Mont Blanc. March |
The end of February and into March we really did have a big snow wipe out. But it did return by the middle of the month to give the Scottish Highlands a fine winter spell again. I won a competition from outdoor kit manufacturer, Jottnar. Prize was a fantastic 3 nights in Chamonix with an IFMGA guide for two days in the mountains and some top notch kit! Karen and I decided to spend another couple of days in Chamonix and had stunning weather, it was very warm and almost summer like in the valley We had a great day snow shoeing up on the Grand Plateau and Valle Blanche with superb views of the Mont Blanc range.
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| Scott W. Karlesberje, Liverpool Land, Greenland. April |
Anyone who reads my blog will of course know that my main criteria for going in the mountains consist of the following: wild, cold, snowy and remote. One of last few places on Earth that have these in abundance is in the Arctic. Greenland is affordable and ticks all these boxes. I spent a fabulous 3 weeks in the Liverpool Land area of East Greenland in April. Many fabulous days climbing and walking the mountains and the wildlife (a fabulous Polar Bear meeting). My overwhelming memories were of silence and space which had the biggest impact on me.
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| Sunset over MacLeods Tables, Skye. May |
Another group of fabulous return clients, David and his team of 8 folk who belong to a cycling club in deepest Englandshire were out with me again. This was the third time and always in May. They always get great weather. Last year it was Torridon. This year they fancied 3 days on Skye. We had a beautiful day on Bruach na Frithe and wild camped after our summit in the Fionn Coire. These guys are keen and fun with great banter. The only time I noticed they were silent was watching this wonderful sunset unfold for 30 minutes from our camp spot. The magic of Skye.
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| Andrew, Louise, Geoff & Lucy. TMB, June |
Summer means work in The Alps for me over the last 10 years. The Tour of Mont Blanc is one of the finest treks in the world. Even though I have guided it over 70 times it still never fails to impress. Having a small group of folk who all know each other is a great combination. Andrew, another regular client, has been coming out with me in the Scottish Highlands on many occasions. On this walking holiday he came along with his wife, Lucy and their good friends Geoff and Lucy. Another brilliant group with 10 days of mountains, sun, good banter and a few beers.
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| Craig & Lynn at the Barns of Bynack, Cairngorms. July |
Showing off the wonderful Scottish mountains to overseas visitors is a real pleasure. Sometimes our terrain and definitely our weather can be a bit of a shock to folk outside the UK. Husband and wife team Craig & Lynn from the USA booked me for 5 days of mountain walking in The Cairngorms. We had some terrific weather. Makes a change for July as it can be one of the wettest months. Dead keen and fit walkers, we hiked up many Munros during their time in Scotland. With ease. They love hiking so much they are joining me next summer in The alps when I will be guiding them over The Haute Route.
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| Marmot, Gran Paradiso NP. August |
Second stint in The Alps and a visit to a different area for a change. The Gran Paradiso National Park is not that far from the TMB circuit. But a completely different world really. So much quieter and not yet over commercialised. It's famous for it's wildlife too. If you don't see marmots or ibex here then you really can't be looking. It was another very hot summer in most of the Alpine regions. Temperatures again in the high 30 C's in Chamonix. The Marmot are the constant companions whilst you trek through the mountains.
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| Robin on Liathach, Torridon. September |
A settled spell of weather in September. The Northwest Highlands enjoying some beautiful late summer conditions. Robin is a fair weather walker. Quite remarkable how he has almost completed all 282 Munros considering he doesn't go out in poor conditions! We've had some fabulous days out together for that very reason. I can't remember a dull day for a long time. He seems to have saved some of the finest Munros till last. Torridon was one of the groups of hills he had unfinished business. He always calls me last minute to see if I am free. We had a cracking day on Liathach in beautiful blue skies. The following day we were on Beinn Alligin in virtually the same weather. Brilliant.
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| Robin (again) on Beinn Eighe, Torridon. October |
It's quite normal to get a few snowy spells in October in the Scottish Highlands. It is usually short lived, disappearing after two or three days. We were lucky to get some really nice snow capped peaks and blue skies again up in The Northwest Highlands. Who should call me? Robin of course. Another fine day, we traversed Beinn Eighe in glorious Alpine conditions.
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| Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine & Braeriach from Ben Macdui. November |
November was a great start to the winter season. Around mid month we had a good dump of snow to quite low levels in The Cairngorms. So much snow that the snowshoes came out of the loft earlier than usual. On this fine day the sun shone and it was minus 7 C on the top of Ben Macdui. One of the finest viewpoints looking across to the Cairn Toul - Braeriach plateau and The Lairig Ghru. I had never seen so may ski tourers out enjoying early conditions.
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| Robby and Shirlene, Cairngorm plateau. December |
DECEMBER
Good winter conditions continued throughout much of December too. Robby was out with me the previous winter with some friends. They were keen to walk up Ben Macdui then. Unfortunately the high winds on that weekend had other plans for us. Undeterred Robby and his Girlfriend, Shirlene, returned again this winter. We were in luck. Just light winds and a full snow cover. Cramponing all the way across the Cairngorm plateau. Robby achieved his goal and we sat on the summit in near white out conditions. Two more happy customers.
Thanks to everyone who came along on days out, courses and holidays in 2019. It was a blast. Without you Tarmachan Mountaineering would not exist.
Happy New Year folks and many happy mountain days in 2020.
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