FULL WINTER CONDITIONS

 

Scott enjoying the Fiacaill in winter conditions 

November is  that month when anything can happen, weather wise. One day Autumn, next day Winter. This has certainly been the case so far in the early stages of this season. We've had some wet, mild weather followed by much colder conditions as the airmass changes from a mild SW to a colder NW airflow.

WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 

Drifts at 1100m

Cairngorm plateau visibility 

Just about freezing point

Mountain Hares 

Cairn Gorm at freezing point

On Wednesday I was out running a wildlife photography workshop. Not ideal conditions with poor visibility on the Cairngorms. The temperatures hovered around freezing point on Cairn Gorm summit. We got a good soaking below this level in the constant sleety showers. The worse conditions really with camera and binoculars getting wet very quickly.

THURSDAY 4 NOVEMBER 

A fabulous day with the temperatures lowering to around minus 4 on the Cairngorm plateau. The snowline down to  850m. The snowfall from the previous day had transformed the plateau into an Arctic wonderland. 

I met up with Scott who I was last out with a couple of years ago. He's undertaking his winter mountain leader training next January so was keen to get a good 'quality mountain day' in his log book.

Coire an t-sneachda 

Heading up to the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda 

We love winter

We decided on a fun day up onto the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda ridge and across the plateau to Ben Macdui. The carpark at Coire Cas was very quiet as we set off in chilly conditions. We had a few light snow showers at 800m but the rest of the day was dry. Some wonderful rime ice on the vegetation and rocks as we made our way below the Fiacaill Buttress. 

Thin ice on the crags in Sneachda 

Looks better close up

Starting up the ridge

We gained the ridge and had a fabulous traverse amongst the rimed rocks. Some great ice in places so brilliant cramponing and the vegetation well frozen.

Shizzling up the ridge

Lovely early winter ice

Scott seeking out the ice

Rime ice everywhere 

The Fiacaill Coire Sneachda is a fabulous wee ridge, always different day by day in winter. I've probably traversed it around 300 times and never tire of this fun way up to the Cairngorm plateau. . Very soon we were on the top and starring out across a very snowy landscape.

Scott on the final moves

Top of the Fiacaill 

We had the map and compass out to get across the first half hour of the plateau. A wonderful mix of hard ice, rimed vegetation and soft snow. Typical Scottish winter day up here, plunging in a breakable crust inbetween water ice whilst trying to hold a steady bearing. 

Visibility at 1100m

Some of this

A glimpse of better visibility 

The visibility improved by Lochan Buidhe, enough to put away map and compass and use our eyes and brains. Reading the landscape is an essential navigation skill to master. Knowledge of the plateau also helps. Reading the landscape is a skill that everyone should use and a major part of mountain navigation. Unfortunate that folk who rely on using 'technology ' have lost or indeed  have never had. Scott and I discussed this as we made our way up to the UKs second highest point. 

Nearing Macdui, will it clear?

On the top

Teasing us

The sun did its best to make a full appearance but the cloud won the battle and we had to concede we weren't going to get any stunning vistas today. 

The best of the sunny light

Beinn Mheadhoin basking in sun!

Ice mushrooms, wonderful 

We decided to take off the crampons for the last couple of hours.  There was still some hard water ice to negotiate and concentration on footwork  needed on the descent off 1141m down the Fiacaill Coire Cas as the light faded. We reached Coire Cas carpark before the need of any torches. A top day out and great company with fun banter.

Unfortunately the temperatures over the weekend will be above freezing. 

You have to take the conditions when they come and  grab them quickly. All part of the Winter game.