FINAL WINTER COURSE IN 2023

 

Will & Liz on their 4 day winter course

I ran my final winter skills course this year between 28th - 21st December 2023. Liz & Will booked on one of my 4 day winter skills courses with me. Before their trip up to the Highlands they hadn't ventured into any winter hills, anywhere. Going on a multi day course gives lots of scope to learn and hone a big variety of essential skills.

Self belay

Trail breaking, a theme of the entire courses

Rewarded with a view of the Northern Cairngorms

 On our first day we were restricted to some lower terrain with the high Cairngorms receiving 60mph + winds. We found some sheltered areas on Meall a' Bhuachaille to run through the basics with axe and boot and coping in wind.

Crampons and ice axe terrain

Steeper ground

On the Cairngorm plateau

Mixed ground

Iced rocks

Glimpses of stunning scenery

Day 2 and the winds abated. We could get up high and get more done. A brilliant day using axe and crampons on a variety of winter terrain. Temperatures had  fallen, it was below freezing at the Coire Cas carpark. A crusty snowpack lower down but fabulous mix of ice and firm snow up on the ridges.

Wind and whiteout

Descending in 50mph winds

Day 3 saw the high winds back. It was forecast to be 80mph + on the high Cairngorms. The morning was calm so we opted for some lower hills in the Glenfeshie mountains. By mid day the winds had dramatically increased. Good coping strategies in the difficult conditions. Will & Liz did a grand job. We covered more avalanche awareness, navigation and just staying upright!

Braeriach - Carn Toul plateau from Ben Macdui

Great views today

Breaking through the cloud

Late afternoon light on the Cairngorm plateau

Celebrations on the summit of Ben Macdui

The final day on the couples's course. A brilliant end to the 4 days. We had a brilliant time on Ben Macdui. Full snow cover at all levels and unconsolidated snow. This meant hard work trail breaking, despite some footprints already on the route. The winds went from 30mph at the carpark to nil on the Cairngorm plateau. The clouds dispersed and superb views were enjoyed on the summit. A beautiful descent, we had the hill to ourselves for a big chunk of the day. Final hour was in darkness, headtorches are essential bits of kit. A top 4 days with great company. A great end to 2023.

Happy New Year!

CHRISTMAS DAY & BOXING DAY

 

Boxing Day, blue skies, great snow cover, only a breeze 

Here at Tarmachan Towers we always have a Christmas break from work. Although a few years ago I did work on walking trips abroad and have actually worked Christmas Day on Ben Nevis back in 2010, when we had a stunning spell of conditions. Generally my wife and I head out on the hills together at the festive holidays. A good plod before stuffing ourselves with excess food. This year was no different. On Christmas Day we set off walking in the dark at 7am. Although it was chilly and the freezing level was around 700m, there was no snow on the  Monadhliath. Lovely and peaceful. After a clear start the high level cloud soon obscured any hope of beautiful sunrise colours. We were back home before 11am.

Christmas Day morning. Early start in the dark

Best of the sunrise colours

Some ice but no snow

By lunchtime on Christmas day it started snowing in Aviemore. By dusk there was a decent snow covering in the garden. Through the night the steady fall of snow continued. With an excellent forecast on Boxing Day we set out again, on our regular hill as yesterdays walk. What a contrast in the conditions. From no snow at all yesterday to ankle deep snow in Aviemore on Boxing Day. Above 700m it was knee deep snow drifts. Yesterday it was a big clear path, less than 24 hours later deep snow. It was a stunning blue skies and sunshine day, glorious to be outdoors. Temperatures had dropped and although the breeze was only 20mph it felt cold once you stopped. 

My walk up from Strathspey

The local Roe Deer in the Aviemore streets

Snow drifts above 700m

Mountain Hare tracks

Knee deep drifts in places

A complete contrast to yesterday!

Red Grouse in the snow

Beautiful end to the day

The Northern Cairngorms & Strathspey

Late afternoon descent and peaceful

Today sees another change in the weather. High winds on the summit of Cairn Gorm, in excess of 100mph gusts. Down in Aviemore we have a mix of wet snow, sleet and rain. On the A9 it looks terrible conditions for travelling. Hopefully my clients will get through for their 4 day winter skills course with me starting tomorrow. 

USETTLED DECEMBER AFTER A GOOD START

 

Good day with the hares on 22nd December

The second half of December has been quite unsettled with temperatures up and down like a yo-yo. The snow has had a similar theme, one day of good snow cover, next day almost wiped out. Wind is always a big feature in winter. It is interesting in all my years of guiding I will receive questions based on 'will there be snow when I come in......?' Yet I don't think any initial enquiries for winter courses folk ask me 'will there be a lot of wind?' Throughout the winter season I will always try and accommodate good weather with any particular booked date by my clients. I've swapped a few dates around recently for just this reason. In the case of mountain hare photography we need a calm spell, preferably with nice light. This was the case last week when return client Cheryl came out for another day to photograph our beautiful Mountain Hares.

I've had a few return groups recently It's great when folk want to come back for more!

Here's a selection of images over the last 10 days or so.

Cheryl out on a Mountain Hare photography workshop, 13 December

Temperature inversion

A fresh dusting of snow above 700m

Coire an Lochain looking lovely

Father and daughter team Colin and Suzy were out with me in January for two days. They booked another two days this December. I must be doing something right with all these return clients. Day 1 of their course we got into the sheltered coire. A forecast of winds increasing later in the afternoon. It was breezy high up but they did a great job and were still smiling. Good snow cover and below freezing high up. All change tomorrow!

Father & Daughter team, Colin & Suzy, Sneachda 15 December

Sheltered from the winds

Nice conditions

Coire an t-sneachda unusually quiet

Below freezing above 900m

Back down after 70mph gusts

 With 80mph + winds were headed to the lower Monadhlith and had a day of essential navigation tuition. The no. 1 mountain 'skill'.

Essential map and compass

No snow at 700m but excellent, featureless terrain

and we could stand up straight

On Wednesday 20th December I was out with another two return clients. Brogan & Richard were out in the Cairngorms on a 1 day intro to winter course last December. They are the only workforce in their small architecture company based in Newcastle. Instead of a Christmas 'night out' they would rather have a Chrimbo 'Day out' on the mountains. Quite right! This years staff day out they fancied a guided day to see what the west coast mountains are like in winter. They were keen to have a crack at the fabulous CMD arete and Ben Nevis. Unfortunately the weather (as always) dictates what is achievable in the mountains this time of year. The west coast mountains have not had much in the way of proper winter conditions so far this season, unlike the Cairngorms where we have enjoyed many full winter condition days in November and December. With winds forecast 50-60mph on the summits it was a no brainer to try and tackle the arete. So we opted for a day to venture into The Ben's North Face where we would be sheltered from the SW winds and cover some essential skills. There was some snow above 900m overnight but this rapidly disappeared. Heavy rain and a strong wind made the day a miserable outing. But we were treated to a cuppa around the cosy CIC Huts' fire by the kind SAIS avalanche folk who were spending a couple of nights in the cosy hut whilst doing their avalanche forecasting on the Ben. It was very sociable, I've bumped into Di a couple of times and there was also a couple of climbers who joined in with the  mid morning drinks, one of whom I also know from a 1st aid course I was on. 

Looking up for inspiration and snow!

Plenty of water

Cuppa at the CIC hut and a roaring fire!

Not much snow in the Ciste Coire

The CIC hut below Carn Mor Dearg

Back home in the Cairngorms and the temperature (and winds) on the rise. I had a last minute decision to head out up the hill and see what conditions were like for photography. I was glad I did. I found my wonderful Mo Charaid ( My Friend) again for the first time this season. This friendly wee mountain hare I ave had the pleasure to photograph the last two winter and Spring seasons. For some reason he only visit this part of the hill in winter. Why? I wish I could answer. Maybe he comes to find a lady friend? Instead he just sits with me for hours on end. I must have sat through endless amount of days and hours with this wee guy over the 2 year period. It was a very challenging day. I got soaked with rain on the bike ride from my house to the foot of the hill. The rain turned to snow at 500m, a welcome sight. The winds were strong above 600. With high winds, low temperatures and snow blowing into the lens it was definitely challenging. But it was worth every second of struggle for the two and a half hours I spent with Mo Charaid.

The snow has landed again here in Aviemore today. With rapidly rising temperatures it will be turning to rain. Here's hoping for some colder conditions over Christmas period. Along with calmer conditions!

A very Merry Christmas to all my clients and followers.