MIDWAY THROUGH WINTER

 

Dusk over Lurchers Crag

So February is upon us. For me this marks the halfway point in the winter season. It always makes me chuckle every year when you hear folk stating at the beginning of February 'Spring is almost here'. We are only at the midway point and we have a lot more winter to come. Indeed, we may well enjoy these fine snow conditions well into April judging by the depth of snow so far.

Eyes fixed and me crawling

Curious or surprised?

January finished as it began. Snow lying down at Aviemore level almost every day with sub zero temperatures, even during the daylight hours. I've recall a January that has been so calm on the high mountains. No storms with many days of little or no wind to speak of. Plenty of top ups of snow and some really fine days to enjoy.

.

More fresh snow

Some beautiful sunsets

Cairngorms at sunset

My usual 'local daily exercise' in recent times has been to visit my Mountain Hare location, just 2 hours walking from my front door. What wonderful pleasure of being amongst beautiful wildlife in these awful times. The hares are just magical and I will never tire of watching and photographing them. Every day and every visit is different. Their 'forms' are really getting banked up with snow. Even at this new 'low altitude' location I have been going to the last few weeks. They still manage to claw through to the heather for food. They have big claws exactly for this purpose. Incredibly they will also sit or scrape away a hollow of snow in exactly the same places when there is little or no snow. This new place I go to has no rocky areas unlike my normal higher locations. Their forms are mostly peat hags or hollows in the summer around here.

A snowy roof at the form

This form has a nice heather food supply opposite the hare

Last Thursday I had a wander up Meall a' Bhuachaille and back along the Old Logging way to the house. Like everywhere else,  there is lots of snow right down to Glenmore. The Bhuachaille is becoming another popular place at the moment for ski tourers. Good for us walkers because all the ski tracks have compacted the deep, unconsolidated snow making it nice and firm underfoot conditions for a change. In fact it is actually easier walking than in the summer months with all the rocky steps of the path banked out with low angled snow. It was a cloudier day but the summit was just about out of the mist whilst across at the high Cairngorms it looked quite bleak.

Snow flurries on Meall a' Bhuachaille

Friday was a snowy day right down to Aviemore level again. It snowed for much of the time but the forecast was suggesting a couple of hours of brighter conditions at the end of the afternoon. So with this in mind I set off to see the hares again and tried to time it with the sun coming out for my arrival at Mountain hare village. The weather forecast was spot on, 2pm and the snow ceased and sun popped out, right at my arrival time!

After the snow

I've been wanting these exact conditions to try and capture the classic Mountain hare shot with a snow covering over their  bodies, just after snow showers. Of course with wildlife nothing is guaranteed. With only an hour or so of sunlight it was also asking a lot. Then I spotted a wonderful wee hare just sitting at a snow bank, half asleep with one side of his body caked in a dollop of snow. Brilliant.

A snowed up half asleep hare

Awake, sunlit and not interested in shaking off his snow coat

Whats a bit of snow?

I'm always amazed at how hardy these beautiful creatures are. I sat with this guy on the other side of the snowbank for over 40 minutes as the sun went down. He hardly moved and certainly was in no need of shaking off the snow.

Brilliant

I was crawling and lying in snow at this point. Even with 3 layers and a waterproof down jacket I started getting a bit chilly. I left him in peace. I can go home but these guys live in this hostile environment. Respect, as they say.

Another 'local' hare on my way home

Saturday was forecast to be another cracking day. Another morning of sub zero temperatures in Aviemore. There was a fair stiff breeze higher up the hill and cloud above 900m. A great day on Cairn Gorm though. We always like going up the much nicer and longer Northern ridge approach. Away from most of the skiing paraphernalia so a more 'natural' and aesthetic walk. Quieter too with no ski tourers around over this way.

The locals on the hill near the Ciste Crag

Lovely to see the local Reindeer heard on the hill. They were grazing on the heather under the deep snow. Half of them with snow covered heads!

Looking pleased?

Having fun?

Looking Arctic

Halfway up the hill we were in cloud and  there is, of course, not many features. Map and compass out to get up to the Ciste Mherad area. The sun then popped out for a bit. It looked very Arctic like, apart from the Ptarmgan cafe poking out of it's drifted snow blanket.

The White Elephant

A shovel or two to get into here

All day we had seen no one and not a soul.on the summit of Cairn Gorm. We were expecting a lot of ski tourers today. 

A rimed up weather station on cairn Gorm summit

We headed back down Windy Ridge and still no one seen until just before hitting the road. Nice and quiet and beautiful, slightly firmer snow to plunge down.

Lovely afternoon below the cloud

On Sunday it was again a gorgeous day to be out. Up with the Mountain hares again. It was a chilly Minus 10 C this morning. The coldest morning so far this winter down at Aviemore. Once in the sun it was very pleasant and again no winds at all.

Hare Highway

Sunbathing

Geese in formation

Monday and yet another beautiful, crisp, sunny day and very cold. I had a short wander up from Glenmore to the Ciste Crag again. I've spotted Ptarmigan here on my last few visits so thought I would have some more exercise with legs and camera. Not disappointed.

Beautiful snow and bright sunshine by mid day

Iced up Loch Morlich & Aviemore beyond

I spotted 3 Ptarmigan, in exactly the same spots. Lovely to see these. It's a nice viewpoint at the top of the Ciste Crag to look down on Loch Morlich. The loch  has been iced up for virtually the whole of this year. 

Ptarmigan

Deep snow

Some wind blown areas making for easier walking

Beautiful 

A lovely end to the day was spotting a few Long Tailed Tits down in the forest. Wonderful wee birds and so hardy. One of the tiniest birds we have and this winter there seems to be good numbers around.

Long Tailed Tit

February looks to be following in the same theme as last month. Cold and snowy. More snowfall over the course of this week. Just as the walking was getting easier. 🙂 The snowshoes will be out again for sure!

..