 |
| Winter Solstice on Ben Macdui |
It's been another amazing week in the mountains. Very settled and benign conditions from last Sunday to Wednesday. The high pressure system that has sat over Scotland for some time continued to give us some wonderful days. Long periods of no wind and more temperature inversion conditions prevailed. Cold, cloudy and frosty in the Strath whilst up on the hills we basked in sunshine. My roundup of the last week in the mountains.
MONDAY 20 DECEMBER
 |
| Temperature inversion, Lairig Ghru |
With a forecast of almost guaranteed clear conditions and a temperature inversion on the cards, I set off to Ben Macdui with photography on the agenda. With holiday season starting up I escaped the crowds and walked into Lurchers Gully , making my way onto the Macdui plateau from there.
 |
| Meall a Bhuacaille above an inversion |
 |
| Strathspey in the cold cloud |
I was soon down to just a couple of layers, walking in blue skies above a temperature inversion. The cloud top around 400m.
 |
| The Pools of Dee |
If you want superb scenery enroute to Macdui then staying on the lip of the plateau will offer far better views and gives the full expanse of the Cairngorm mountains. You'll see all the way down to the Lairig Ghru. Obviously you'll need a good eye and be aware of cornices, steep ground and bouldery terrain. Today everything white was frozen solid and no steep drop offs or cornices.
 |
| Warm sun above the inversion |
The view all the way down the lairig was superb. There were trails of cloud in the Lairig Ghru with the hills of Bod an Deamhain, Cairn Toul and Braeriach standing proud above the clouds.
 |
| The finest views of the Braeriach - Cairn Toul plateau |
As I always state, the finest views of the Cairn Toul- Braeriach plateau are not from the trig point on Macdui. You only need to walk 5 minutes or so to obtain the best vista. I sat and soaked in the scenery as a wispy layer of cloud drifted below the summits. Absolutely mesmerising.
 |
| Bod an Deamhain above the clouds |
After lunch I wandered into the wilder areas of the plateau in search of wildlife and solitude.
 |
| Cairn Toul |
By mid afternoon the light was just wonderful. I spotted what looked like a mountain hare from 100m away. On closer inspection, with the binoculars, I saw the unmistakable outline of the male Snowy Owl that has been around since summer.
 |
| Snowy owl! |
What an amazing surprise. Although I was actually hoping to spot him but I also thought he may have left our shores some time ago as I've not seen him since August. I spent 20 minutes photographing him from a distance. The Winter light and snow a wonderful backdrop. He took off but I was just too slow to capture a good image. Next time!
 |
| Looking south |
 |
| Beautiful light on the return |
I walked back along the plateau late afternoon, the light was just superb. The snow icy and firm and an absolute joy as I waked the 3 hrs back to the carpark.
 |
| Sunset hitting the cloud tops |
 |
| The Belt of Venus |
 |
| Meall a' Bhuachaille summit poking out |
The Belt of Venus once again full of stunning colours. By dusk the top of the cloud in the glens was drifting up the hillside to an higher altitude. Brilliant end to a brilliant day.
TUESDAY 21 DECEMBER
Father and Daughter team Mark and Caitlyn were out with me for two days of Winter skills. A Christmas present from Caitlyn to her Dad. What better way or a better present than a fabulous experience in the mountains together. We met up on the first morning to chat over options snd weather, etc. With the high pressure well and truly dominating today's weather they were keen to make the most of a gorgeous day. They were up for a day walk over to Ben Macdui.
 |
| High above the clouds again |
 |
| Frosty and cold in the glens |
Another day of temperature inversions. A cold, frosty day in Strathspey. Above 500m it was clear skies. The snow was hard and frozen again so crampons on almost from the Coire Cas carpark. We linked up the long ribbons of snow that are remaining alongside some of the ski tows to gain higher ground.
 |
| Above the inversion, hard snow, terrific |
 |
| Mark enjoying the sun! |
We made our way across the plateau where there are still very big areas of snow. We only took our crampons off once on bare ground.
 |
| Coire Domhain area |
 |
| Macdui - Cairn Gorm plateau |
Terrific walking in sunshine and absolutely no wind! Was this the Cairngorms in December?
 |
| We had seen no one since Stob Coire an t-sneachda |
We bumped into one of the SAIS team near 1141m and then shortly after Richard Kermode with his group put enjoying the sun. After that we saw no one else all day. What we did see though was the beautiful snowy owl yet again! Wonderful for my clients to see this amazing creature.
 |
| Late afternoon near Macdui |
 |
| On the top! |
 |
| Solstice Sun |
We got to the summit at 2.45pm. The sun was low. It is Winter Solstice day so a very nice way to celebrate the shortest day of the year. Brilliant. We could have lingered longer but darkness falls quickly. Time to head back.
 |
| Solstice |
 |
| Ben Macdui summit |
 |
| Heading home |
 |
| Ever changing light |
Another glorious Belt of Venus on the horizon. My mobile phone camera would never do it justice! We finished the day with headtorches for the final hour. The paths lower down had a coating of frost on the rocks as the cloud and cold air encroached a little further up the hills.
 |
| Belt of Venus on the horizon |
 |
| Last of the snow |
WEDNESDAY 22 DECEMBER
 |
| Frosted heather |
Another frosty and cold day in Strathspey whilst above it was warmer. Mark had a day off after yesterdays big walk. So today it was just Caitlyn and I. We set off on a walk to find some wildlife. Ptarmigan and possibly the Snowy Owl again?
 |
| Bands of cloud, tops clear |
 |
| Above the clouds on Windy Ridge |
We didn't see anyone on our walk up Windy Ridge. Here the path is free of snow until about 900m. After that it is frozen snow which was solid, as per usual. We took in a circuit of my usual spots to phtograph Ptarmigan but none seen.
 |
| Crampons on again |
 |
| Plenty of snow still |
 |
| Great views |
Linking all the availiable snow patches together we made our way across the plateau. We spotted the beautiful snowy owl again! That's the second time in as many days for Caitlyn and the third in 3 consecutive days for me! The light was flat but just wonderful to spend 30 minutes watching and photographing.
 |
| Hello! |
Time was getting on. We walked back across the snowfields and back before dark tonight. A terrific day.
 |
| Lochan Buidhe |
 |
| We know this route well |
 |
| Coire an Lochan |
THURSDAY 23 DECEMBER
 |
| Lynsey, Harry, Steph and Mike |
Stef, Lynsey, Harry and Mike are up in the area on their Christmas week break. They originally fancied a day of snowshoeing. With limited snow at lower altitudes we decided on a axe and crampons walk instead.
 |
| Crampons order of the day above 900m |
 |
| Wot no blue skies! |
We linked as many snow patches up as we could. On the south side of Cairn Gorm there is still a lot of snow about and good lengthy snowfields so perfect for a good journey. Enough snow for getting in some essential winter walking skills.
 |
| The team on Cairn Gorm |
We went up to Cairn Gorm summit then had a lunch break at Ciste Mheard where we had some fun trying to enlarge the ready made wee snow shelters. The snow is like concrete here!
 |
| Great snow for cramponing |
 |
| Lunchtime |
 |
| It's snowing again! |
It was a warm morning at lower altitudes but by mid day the rain had turned to snow above 900m. Hooray! Fresh snow fall. Brilliant. Actually the weather was much better than forecasted.
 |
| Heading out and down |
A great day out with a fun group.
FRIDAY 24 DECEMBER
There's fresh snow down to 500 metres! Yes! Looking forward to our usual Christmas Day walk tomorrow. It's always a White Christmas with Tarmachan Mountaineering.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
No comments:
Post a Comment