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Cold enough? 5th January
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Around this time of year, every year I always have a wee chuckle to myself when I hear folk state: 'Spring is nearly here' or statements along the same lines. Mid February for many regular winter hill goers marks the height of the winter season, the half way point in winter. Every season we will still have many weeks of snow, ice and below freezing temperatures ahead of us on the mountains. Winter does not end until at least mid April. Spring in the mountains is May, not when you see the first snowdrops or daffodils sprouting out of the ground.
I've also heard from many people who don't spend weeks in the hills that this winter (so far) has been a 'poor one' with poor snow conditions or no snow. Well this blog post will put the record straight. I've had countless days in snow and ice his season. Guiding, playing and photographing. Here's just a few images from the winter so far. You will see there has been many days of snowy, cold and windy conditions, just like every winter season previously. Below are just a few images and a recap on how the winter has gone so far. A reminder to the people with short memories.
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Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda, 4th November
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My winter starts in November. Prior to the eleventh month of 2021 there had a been a few days of cold conditions and the odd day of snow on the hills in October. This is also normal. November is where it begins in my books, officially.
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29th November, Alladins Buttress, Sneachda
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We had our first big dump of snow in the second half of November. You'll have surely remembered wading through deep snow? No? You said it was a poor winter?
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29th November, Sneachda
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It wasn't until early December before a calm and clear spell of weather came along to appreciate the snowy hills.
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| 3rd December . The view south from Cairn Gorm |
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5th December Fiacaill Coire Sneachda in rime ice
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Some fine, calm and cold conditions for my first groups out in the hills. A great time of the season to get out, when it's lovely and quiet.
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8th December, Sgor Gaoithe under full snow conditions
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Good to have some early season deep snow. It may be tiring but it gets you fit and set up for the season ahead.
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| 10th December Looking into Strath Nethy from the Cairngorm plateau |
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11th December Coire an Lochain
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Having groups out learning winter skills at the beginning of winter is brilliant. It then gives them the rest of the season to put all the skills learnt into action for the following 3-4 months of snowy conditions.
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| 15th December Crunchy snow, Monadhliath, 750m |
Bright skies, calm conditions, good snow cover. Will it last? Unfortunately a big rise in temperatures. Somwe snow loss. All is not lost. We have a gorgeous calm and clear spell that lasts for days.
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| 16th December Cairngorm plateau |
Some memorable skies towards the run up to Christmas. We had a warm spell of weather but a lot of hard, icy snow was left behind. Great for cramponing.
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| 17th December Cairngorm plateau |
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18th December, Cairn Gorm
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Some terrific sunsets and moon rises. No wind on the tops for many days. Will we pay for it? Oh yes indeed!
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| 18th December. Moonrise over Beinn a Bhuird |
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18th December. Enough snow to keep these guys safe
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What snow remains is very hard and icy. Plenty of it, you just need to look around. Because it is 'warm' at sea level doesn't mean all the snow has vanished. You need to do some exploring.
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| 20th December. Summit views from Ben Macdui |
When it's calm and clear it is great for wildlife photography. The beautiful Snowy Owl who hads made his home here in the Cairngorms is still around. He was enjoying the snow cover and sunshine. Or maybe just good conditions for feeding?
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| 20th December, Snowy Owl, Cairngorms |
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| 20th December Lairig Ghru under a temperature inversion at dusk |
Winter solstice and still we hang onto beautiful calm, cold and clear conditions. Plenty of snow high up on the Cairngorm-Macdui plateau to keep all my groups happy.
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| 21st December Ben Macdui |
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21st December Winter solstice on ben Macdui
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A cloudy and dull day after the solstice but temperatures staying low to keep our snow high up.
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| 22nd December, Macdui snows |
Christmas Day and a wild one. High winds in the Cairngorms but low temperatures and some fresh snow fall to lower levels. A day for goggles and some wading in drifts up to Cairn Gorm. We love it! You won't get a good winter without a good blizzard or two.
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| 25th December, Cairn Gorm summit area |
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| 25th December The cafe on Cairn Gorm, closed due to snow |
Great to have some lower level snow. Certainly looking more like it now.
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| 3rd January Deep snow above 1000m in the corries |
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4th January, Aviemore Golf Course after fresh snow
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The first serious snows down to Aviemore level. Maybe it will stay cold and more snow? I think so, a lot of deep snow to contend with in the Northern Corries.
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| 8th January. Mountain hares home |
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| 8th January, Some light snow drifting - snow off a hares back |
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| 8th January was a great day |
The weather the following day even better! Bright skies, light winds and a great covering of snow. The Cairngorms at last revealed in their winter glory.
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| 9th January. Rime ice and a distant Cairngorms, Monadthliath, 800m |
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| 9th January, Monadhliath with a nice covering above 300m |
Warm again! It was a good wee spell. The high Cairngorms still holding good snow cover on the plateau. A good 'base' needs to form on the ground to hold snow. This season has meant any rise in temperature for any length of time as quickly melted the snow away. What is left is the old consolidated stuff that has been through a melt/freeze cycle and formed a base.
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| 14th January Cairn Gorm summit, looking towards ben Macdui |
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| 15th January Macdui plateau under icy snow |
For those who think winter had disappeared they were in for a shock. Crampons essential across the Macdui plateau and good navigation skills.
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| 16th January, Geal Charn, Monadhliath. Icy snow |
What snow remains is hard and icy. Even on some of the lower Munros. Those who say 'do I need ice axe and crampons' the answer is always a yes. Take them!
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17th January Crampons a must on Cairn Gorm and the plateau
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By mid January there was doom and gloom for winter seekers. All is not lost! You will always find snow to get essential winter skills. It's all part of the winter game. Another day of sun helps have a great day out!
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| 17th January Hard, icy snow on Cairn Gorms eastern slopes |
The Cairngorms being a huge, high plateau with plenty of corries and hollows to collect snow. This will mean there is usually good winter conditions to be found, somewhere. Only a slight drop in temperature and things can ice up dramatically, within 24 hrs.
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| 20th January, Icy terrain. Cairngorm corries |
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20th January Rime ice, Cairngorm plateau
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It probably was only cosmetic but it looked and felt great! Wrap up warm. It's still winter!
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| 22nd January, The Barns of Bynack |
Come on one of Tarmachan Mountaineering courses and we will always find snow, even in the leanest of times. Don't get caught out and be fooled by 'warm' temperatures in the Strath. It's still winter!
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| 5th February, drifting, fresh snow |
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| 6th February, Fresh snow in Coire an Lochain |
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| 6th February ......and low temperatures |
Winds in the Cairngorms are a constant issue. There have been few days of relative calm. Thankfully another snowfall period to get the hills looking wintry again. More snow to low levels. All is well with the world.
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11th February Fresh snow and wind distributed, Monadhliath, 600-800m
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A few more cm's of snow. All looking good again.
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| 11th February, Feshie hills with a new snow cover |
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| 11th February. Time for a yawn between storms |
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| 12th February, Cairngorm plateau |
High winds, sheltered places. Plenty of scope to get lots of essential skills. Going out in windy and cold conditions with poor visibility is part and parcel of winter hillwalking.
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| 12th February I think it's warmer inside |
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| 13th February |
Always nice to get a calm day after a stormy one. All my groups appreciate the contrast. It's starting to look good again. Settled cold and snow conditions ahead.
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14th February Lurchers Gully, snowshoeing
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Another snow shoe trip. They are popular this season. We got rain and snow and poor visibility on this day. It's just another winters day out with Tarmachan Mountaineering.
So there you are. A poor winter so far? Me thinks not. Just different.
Don't forget we will soon have the finest days to come. March is for me the best month in Winter. Lots of snow, lots of daylight and (sometimes) the kindest weather conditions. Whatever the 2nd half of winter brings I know it will be a great one. If you enjoy only summer walking then you've a long wait in store. I still have availability from the 22nd March and through to April.
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