UNSETTLED, THUNDERY & BUSY

 

Sunny afternoon in Torridon 

It's been an unsettled spell of weather recently. Warm, windless and threat of thunderstorms during the last few days. In-between there has been some sunshine to enjoy, briefly. Usual high Summer kind of weather. 

My only real 'fear' in the mountains is thunder and lightning. Regular thunderstorms are relitively rare here in Scotland, unlike some countries. Despite the infrequent electrical storm it is enough to be weary of them when they are forecasted. I've only ever been caught out twice whilst being high up on the hills with some approaching electrical activity. That's enough in 35+ years to be vigilant though. It is interesting and always amazes me how some folk you chat to about potential storms don't regard it has any big deal whilst in the mountains. Maybe I'm just over cautious.  Don't forget folks, mountains are closer to the heavens and are usually the first in line for a strike. 

I'm in a busy guiding period just now, starting off on Saturday.  I was out with a couple of folk on Beinn Damph in Torridon. 

Early morning quiet Glen Torridon 

Graham & Sara enjoying the views

Atmospheric cloud high up

It was low cloud and very warm even in the early hours, driving up to Torridon. The road in Glen Torridon was very quiet so enjoyable. I met up with Sara and Graham who were staying at the Torridon Hotel for a few days. 

Summit views

The odd glimpse of something clearing

Lunch on the top

One weather forecast was for some drizzle in the afternoon. Another forecast mentioned heavy showers by lunch time. A third forecast mentioned some brightness late in the day after a thundery midday period. Sometimes you're just left guessing and looking up to the skies!

Skies clearing on the descent 

Bog Asphodal

Views to the big Torridon hills

The weather we actually got was  half decent. Cloud obscured the views on the way up but on our descent it slowly cleared and we got some glimpses of the hills when we were back down at the 600m contour. With hardly a breath of wind at all levels, warm temperatures and cloudcover I was expecting a midgy day, even at higher levels. Surprisingly there was none of those annoying wee beasties at any point during our time on the hill and none at sea level! Strange but very welcome! We only saw 5 other folk on the mountain.  

Sunshine!

This is more like it

It was a glorious last hour of our walk. The sun finally burned away the cloud and some wonderful views of Beinn Alligin and Liathach as we slowly made our way back through the Scots Pines and back to The Torridon Hotel.

Drinker Moth

Beautiful Scots Pines 

Beinn Alligin 

A pleasurable day with some great company. Beinn Damph is a fabulous mountain, just 13 metres short of Munro status but with super views all round, especially of the big 'famous' hills on the opposite side of the glen. 

I was guiding for The Torridon Outdoor Activities today.

Beinn Damph from Torridon village 

Yesterday I was joined by May who is up in the area for a few days.  She had booked 2 days of mountain activities with Rope, Spoke & Paddle. Her first day she was keen to walk up to the UKs second highest point, Ben Macdhui. After I looked at several updates on various weather forecasts we decided to climb something not as far out and high up. There was definitely more chance of  thunderstorms passing over the Cairngorms this afternoon. Ben Macdui would involve a few hours at high level up on the plateau, not a good place to be if you had to get down quickly. We had a chat and decided on a day up the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda ridge. Always a top day out, shorter and easy to get down quickly.

May enjoying the scenery 

Clearing tops
We had a great day and with no rain and no thunder! Apparently there were heavy showers in Aviemore and Strathspey.  Such are the variables of mountain weather!

Dwarf Willow

Fiacaill 

Coire an Lochain

Heath Spotted Orchid 

I was working for Rope, Spoke & Paddle today. They offer some exciting days out in the mountains,   biking and on the water.