MORE CHANGABLE WEATHER & CONDITIONS

 

Descending off Ben Macdui yesterday

The last week in January has seen more changeable weather and snow conditions. One day of snow to low levels, cold and relative 'calm', the next day rain and wind. We've had some very different weather day by day. Just a typical winter really. Yesterday and on Monday I was running a winter skills course for Steven & Juliet. Just by pure chance they booked 2 days of great weather and conditions. That's the way it goes really. We've had another couple of named storms passing through, thankfully they were on my 'rest days'. 

Here's some images from the last week.

Poor weather, snow loss and difficult wildlife photography for Fabio

Last Thursday Fabio and Leana were on a Mountain Hare photography day. We had rescheduled it from 2 days previously because of the stormy conditions. Unfortunately this was the only day they had left on their holiday from Italy. But we persevered and managed a few images in rain and wind.

Following day, same place!

It really is the luck of the draw. Only 24 hours later the temperatures had dropped, there was fresh snow above 500m and some terrific light for mountain hare photography.

Mo Charaid in the snow

More snow drifting

Another shake in a break from the drifting snow

There was still a stiff, cold breeze on Friday but my friend was posing nicely. The drifting snow covering him up so quickly. Waiting for the snow shake and yawning. Patience is the name of the game, even when it's well below freezing!

A break again

And another shake

Winter again, Friday

On Monday and Tuesday it was wonderful to be in the high Cairngorms in good weather and excellent snow. A warm spell over the weekend had wiped out much of the lower terrain but above 900m the snow was bullet hard after a drastic change in temperatures. A balmy 19 C was recorded at Kinlochewe on Sunday. Here in the Cairngorms the summit temperatures went from plus 5 C at Cairn Gorm summit to minus 5 C in the space of a few hours Sunday afternoon into the early hours of Monday. Perfect timing for Steven & Juliet on their course with me. 

Ben Macdui n full winter conditions, Monday

Coire an t-Sneachda. Monday

Snow loss lower down the mountain

Crampons essential!

We had a terrific day on Monday. There was solid snow and ice everywhere. Crampons essential, you wouldn't get far without them! There wasn't a breath of wind up high and some brightness later in the afternoon. Juliet & Steven have plenty of summer hillwalking experience and were looking for some skills to go out in the winter season.

Coire an t-sneachda, Monday

On Tuesday we decided on a good leg stretch over to Ben Macdui. After spending some more time in Coir an Lochain with axe and crampon technique we headed up on the plateau. Unfortunately the sun was replaced with cloud and the winds increased.

Perfect snow conditions

Cairngorm plateau, full winter conditions still above 900m

Coire an Lochain

Ben Macdui summit

We didn't get much in the way of views on our journey across the plateau but on the return the clouds lifted a bit in the gusty winds.

Afternoon sun & windier around Feithe Buidhe

Sun trying its best to peek through the cloud

A glimpse of Braerich

Another full day in crampons

Walking for a full 7 hours in crampons is tiring, especially on some easy angled terrain. In these conditions you would't get very far without crampons. Plenty of water ice around too. By the time we got back to the Lochan Buidhe area and over towards the top of the Goat Track the gusts of wind had got up to 50mph. 

Wind, sun & ice

Great snow cover

The Reindeer enjoying a snow free feed at 800m

A top couple of days and good conditions. The winds of this latest storm today ( Wednesday) are starting to ease again. Hopefully it will be more pleasant on the hills tomorrow. February is always the busiest time in winter for guiding and winter skills. I've only 4 free dates available in February.  Get them while you can!

AN ARCTIC BLAST

 

Cold temperatures, nothing these guys can't put up with

What do they say on the news? A weeks is a long time in politics? Well a week in the Scottish mountains can havedrastic changes too. The last seven days we have seen some extraordinary and changeable conditions, temperatures and winds! Arctic, snowstorm, high windchill to rain, some snowloss and two named storms. Here's a few images and words from my recent guiding trips.

TUESDAY 16 JANUARY

Fergus enjoying the full winter experience, 17th January

Wonderful

On 16th January Fergus was out on a day of winter skills. Fergus is a professional wildlife film maker and was looking for a day of essential skills to keep him safe whilst he is out on the hills filming in winter. Not great views for any photography today. It was poor visibility for much of the day. By the time we got back to the car there was a fair few cm's of fresh snow plastered over the vehicle. 

The best of the visibility today

WEDNESDAY 17 JANUARY

Mo Charaid in sub freezing temperatures

Light drifting and sunshine

On Wednesday I was booked to take a family group out snowshoeing. Unfortunately they had to cacel, coming all the way from the USA too! Such a shame as we had superb snow conditions all the way down to Aviemore level. Yesterday evening the snow fell heavily through the night. I was left with a free day. It was superb, I went photographing the beautiful mountain hares. High windchill despite the winds of only 20mph or so where I was at 800m. 

Mo Charaid

Drifting snow

It was wonderful spending a couple of hours with my friend. The snow drifted over him , he just lay there as if it was no big deal.

Excellent snow cover again

A fine end to the day

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY

The second most adorable animal

I made the most of the good weather and snow low on the ground today. Another sub zero temperature conditions at Aviemore level. Photographing the adorable red squirrels in snow is special. These lovely creatures are well seen throughout the Cairngorms National Park. I went to Neil McIntyre's hide tucked away in the Rothiemurcus Forest.

SATURDAY 20 JANUARY

Paul & Rachel on the summit of Ben Nevis

Over n the west for the weekend, guiding Paul & Rachel. They had booked to traverse the fabulous CMD arete on Ben Nevis. Unfortunately their weekend we had a huge change in the weather system. On Friday the temperatures were already on the rise as our wonderful Arctic weather drifted away and the Atlantic weather systems rolled in. Wind is always the biggest enemy in winter. With speeds of 40, gusting 60mph forecast for both days we had a chat and the couple from Oxford decided on an ascent of Ben Nevis via the Pony Track.

In the clag and poor visibility at 800m

Visibility at 1000m

The summit at 1345m

There was some light rain showers when we set off from Achintee. Mild and wet. Nice! At 700m we were in the snow and colder, thankfully. Despite a big jump in temperatures there is still huge amounts of snow on The Ben. It takes mor than a few days to wipe out winter conditions. We were walking in poor visibility all the way from 800m to the top and back down again. There were a few guided groups out. We also came across some individuals who weren't so well equipped. Their only form of navigation was following footprints in the snow. In conditions like we had I will always have my map and compass out, despite the fact I know The Ben like the back of my hand with over 400 ascents over the years.

All smiles, despite not many views

We finished off the day in the best pub in town (well nearly town), The legendary Ben Nevis Inn at the foot of the mountain.

SUNDAY 21 JANUARY

Good snow and ice hanging on

On Sunday we looked at the weather forecast. It wasn't looking entirely promising! With Storm Isha on it's way across the Atlantic we decided going to Glencoe and up into Coire an Lochan. This spectacular coire usually provides shelter from most wind directions.

Well sheltered and still good snow cover

Avalanche debris out of Boomerang Gully

Down 

We got some essential axe and crampon skills into the day alongside a lot of avalanche awareness and assessment. We spotted some avalanche debris out of Boomerang Gully. We had hardly a breeze all day. On the descent it went from snowing at 800m to heavy rain y the time we got back to the car. We beat the incoming storm by several hours. Going out in winter requires a lot of planning and assessment. Weather forecasts are pretty accurate these days and you can safely have a good time on the hills by carefully assessing your planned day out.

Another named storm passed through yesterday. Lets hope form some calmer weather. Especially as I'm back out again tomorrow!