BLUEBIRD DAY IN THE CAIRNGORMS

 

The team on Cairn Lochan 

Monday 27th March. 

Second day out with Izzy, Femke, Ryan & Lawrence on their 2 day winter course with Tarmachan Mountaineering. What a stonker of a day. Wall to wall sun, low temperatures, no wind and lots of wonderful snow above 850m in the Cairngorms.

We had a superb day full of axe and crampon techniques putting all the skills they learnt yesterday into action and fine tuning everything. What a day to be out.

We swapped yesterday's attire of ski goggles and buffs with sunscreen and sunglasses. Alpine conditions.

A fun, friendly, keen group of friends who go away with lots of confidence to get out in winter.

What a brilliant end to my scheduled final winter course this year. It was a blast and another wonderful season.

We will have winter conditions through to at least mid April so now is your time to get something sorted before it's too late 😉

WINTER RETURNS AGAIN

 

The team in full winter garb

Sunday 26th March. 

Izzy, Femke, Ryan & Lawrence out with me for 2 days of winter skills. Today we covered lots of essential skills including boot, axe and crampon technique, avalanche awareness, route choice and navigation.

Coire an t-sneachda 

After discussing the outline of the 2 days in Tiso's cafe (best coffees in town) we headed up the hill. A much colder day with fresh snowfall yesterday and more snow showers throughout today.

Navigation time

We made our way onto the plateau in poor visibility. An ideal opportunity to test out winter navigation skills. Some poor visibility with near whiteout as we made our way up to 1114m.

Whiteout time

Fabulous day with a fun group and great banter.

If you think winter is over......think again. I can assure you today's conditions could have been anytime in December, January or February. Only difference islonger daylight hours 😀

This is my last scheduled winter course but I think I may well be getting a few winter bookings in April 😀

LAST STAGES OF WINTER FOR THE MOUNTAIN HARES

 

What joy!

3 hours spent with Mo Charaid yesterday. This wonderful Mountain Hare I've had the pleasure to photograph all last winter and the last few weeks of this winter season.

One of the most chilled and relaxed hare I've ever photographed in the 10 years or so of spending time amongst these amazing creatures.

One of two of his nearby friends are well into their transformation into Spring pelage. I'm looking forward to seeing Mo Charaid slowly going into his Spring coat. April is the finest time if you love your mountain hares with a variety of colour.

Mo Charaid's two friends

At one point he was stretched out and almost sunbathing! Except it's not Spring yet.

He's still in his almost winter pelage but small changes are taking place. A beautiful golden creamy nose and small blotches of Spring pelage coming through on his face and back. 

It was lovely to see 3 other hares too. All in various stages of transition to Spring.

Photographed with my cheap mobile 

Showers not too far away

The hill was lovely and quiet, no one seen all day. Some cumulous clouds trying to form, light breeze and some brief sunshine.

Rain over the Cairngorms 

Golden Plover, Red Grouse & Meadow Pipit the only sounds.

Mo Charaid images later but there's a couple of cheap mobile phone snaps of him here, if you can find him.

Winter, snow and very cold weather is back on the high Cairngorms tomorrow. We will have winter conditions for some time yet so don't put your ironmongery and big boots away yet. My winter finishes mid April, every year. :)

ARCTIC TRAINING IN THE CAIRNGORMS

 

Stunning weather 

Abi & Caitlan out with me today in the Cairngorms. They originally booked for 2 days with the intention of an overnight camp up high, in the snow. Unfortunately intense stormy weather was forecast for most of Wednesday. With gusts reaching over 90mph on Cairn Gorm we made the right decision of cancelling the camp yesterday.  

With a much improved forecast today we got out for plenty of essential winter skills.

Coire an Lochain 

A beautiful sunny morning 

We headed into Coire an Lochain. The high winds were blowing snow from the plateau but any fresh windslab was easily avoided as we made our way up high.

Enjoying the sun and snow

Plenty of hard, refrozen snow up on the plateau. The winds all the time easing as we got to the summit of Cairn Lochan. 

It's very much winter

Spot the climber

There was the brief, light snow shower and the visibility came and went around early afternoon. 

Poor visibility at times

The sun came out again and it was a glorious afternoon. I love the light this time of year. The days are much longer, the sun much higher and snow on the mountains. What's not to like?

Looking across to a very snowy Ben Macdui 

Fiacaill Buttress & ridge

Fingers Ridge 

Abi and Caitlin are training towards an Arctic ski expedition next winter in Norway. No pulks or skis used today but these mountains are very similar to the plateaux of Norway. Today's skills included boot,crampons and axe techniques.  Avalanche awareness, planing a route in winter and we finished with some axe arresting. 

Coire an t-sneachda 

Step cutting and boot technique 

Axe arresting to finish off

Good luck to the ladies on their Arctic expedition,  I'm not jealous at all. The skills learned today will put them in good stead. 

Winter camping next year,  perhaps. 

Beautiful late afternoon sun