BRILLIANT START TO 2024

Sgor Gaoithe, 9th January

 It has been a brilliant start to 2024 with wonderful snow conditions here in the Cairngorms. The Eastern Highlands has had the best of the snow so far this season. There was a small, temporarily blip in the temperatures, going above freezing  but in the last week of more we have enjoyed some wonderful snow and weather. This is coinciding with one of my busiest winter seasons ever. I have only a few remaining dates still available in January and February. Enquire if you are flexible with midweek dates. You may be lucky. After all I do want the odd day off! 

Here's a quick rundown of courses and folk I've been taking out from the last week.

 

Toby & Mardi navigating in tricky weather, 3rd Jan

Fiacaill fun

Toby & Mardi were on a 1 day winter hillwalking course on 3rd January. Some great snow conditions and poor visibility on the plateau.

Mountain Hare Photography, 4th Jan

Soft snow, breezy and sleety

Bright spells over the Cairngorms

On 4th January I was guiding Alison & Mike for two days of Mountain Hare Photography. With a forecast of strong winds up high we went to the lower Monadhliath for our first day. There was a rise in temperature but it was tricky conditions with sleet, wind and poor visibility. Feeling cold but we persevered and had a fine hour with one lovely hare. Then his friend ran right past us and spooked our friend!

A better weather day on the 5th Jan

1 wee hare for 2 hours

Happy hare photographers

Spot the mountain hare

Kissing rocks

Our second day of photography we headed up to the high Cairngorms. No wind and colder with some late afternoon brightness. A lovely couple of hours with one of the hares. Alison and Mike over the moon. They've been to some exotic locations around the globe to photograph wildlife. Our beautiful mountain hares rank high on their list, of course.

White out conditions and hard, frozen snow on the 6th January

cramponing and axe skills

Poor visibility most of the day

On the 6th January Paulina & Kevin were out on a 1 day intro to hillwalking in winter. The snow had firmed up nicely in the much colder conditions. There was still some breakable crust but high up superb conditions, as long as your navigation skills are up to scratch of course.

Andrew, Tim & Gilly on their 3 day course, 7th January

Fleeting glimpses of blue skies above Coire an Lochain

On Sunday 7th January I was joined by Andrew and his two friends, Tim & Gilly. I've guided Andrew on numerous occasions since 2015. He has been out with me in Winter, summer and on a two week Alpine trek. Despite the fact he is a competent and experienced ski mountaineer he always has a few days out with me every year. Some folk I take out just like the fact they can switch off a bit from planning a day or days out, not having to think about navigation or route planning. Andrew always brings along new folk for a group experience. These are usually long term friends of his. Tim and Gilly were completely new to winter hillwalking. We kicked off day 1 with the basics in Coire an Lochain then along the Northern corries. Unfortunately we were plagued by low cloud, despite a big high pressure system now firmly established over The Highlands. It's not always guaranteed to have blue skies with high pressure!

Coire an Lochain, 7th Jan

Occasional breaks in the cloud

Occasional white out

Plenty of action on the cliffs

It was looking more promising for sunshine on day 2 of the guys course. Whilst it was cold and foggy in Strathspey, it was glorious blue skies past Loch Morlich. We had a terrific day putting axe and crampons into good use.

Bluebird day on 8th January

The guys loving the snow

Brilliant conditions

Fiacaill Coire an t-sneachda looking good

After some ice axe and cramponing we were up high on the plateau and savouring the vistas and sunshine. Over to the finest viewpoint in the Cairngorms for a picnic.

Sublime

Coire an t-snechda

Topping out!

Peace and tranquility

Not too shabby for a pic-nic

After lunch we headed over and up to Cairn Gorm. Gilly & Tim's first Munro summit. Along the way stunning views. Plenty of climbers out today.

Happy chappies

Cairngorms above the cloud in Strathspey

Fingers Ridge

Pygmy Ridge

The cloud sat in Strathspey all day whilst we savoured the sun. There was some late afternoon cloud rolling in, giving Cairn Gorm an eerie but beautiful late in the day colours.

Afternoon cloud over Ben Macdui

Stunning light

Cairn Gorm

For the third and last day we decided on another Munro summit and away from the busy main Cairngom mountains. Sgor Gaoithe seemed a good bet before the boys long drive back home to the Lincolnshire Alps.

Tuesday 9th January, Sgor Gaoithe

A scenic, quiet and steeper way up

Breaking into the sun

Nearly there

It was aroumd minus 10 C in Aviemore at 0830. Meanwhile a balmy minus 3 C on the Munros. Another temperature inversion except no cloud in the strath. A temperature inversion doesn't alway mean cloud in the valley. Therefore the term that some folk use of 'cloud inversion' is incorrect. 

We took a devious, direct route up to Sgor Gaoithe via one of the burn beds and into a high, steeper bowl for the guys to get some more ice axe action. Superb snow conditions and wall to wall blue skies.

Classic summit image

Braeriach looking fine

New Munro for Andrew, too

Heading down on firm, icy, dreamy snow

Ice world