LEDGE ROUTE & CMD ARETE, IN WINTER?

It was -1 degrees C at seal level this morning after clear skies overnight. Doug had previously been out in The Alps with me and wanted a taste of Scottish hills. We headed up onto Ledge Route on ben Nevis this morning. We had the whole place to ourselves. There was a light dusting of snow and frozen ground at 900m, we enjoyed the best of the bright weather all the way up. Around noon the snow showers came on, just as forecasted. The usual charachters were struggling up to the top of The Ben, including one guy with one of those see through plastic emergency poncho's and not much else! It could have been any month in winter today in the biting NW wind. We soon left the crowds again and headed across the CMD arete. Quite awkward descent down the boulders with the fresh snow. The showers eased and we had a nice decent view along the ridge. By the time we descended off Carn Mor Dearg the snow line had lowered. Just got to the car park when the rain came on heavy, still only plus 4 degrees at sea level so plenty of snow will be getting dumped over night and into tomorrow. I think this was a 'proper' winter day and Doug had a big grin most of the way round.

WINTER ON AONACH BEAG

What a difference a week makes, as they say. Last week we were basking in warm sunshine on An Teallach, T-shirt style and sunbathing. Today on Aonach Beag we had snow lying at 1000m and a cold Northerly wind. Snow showers to 900m by the middle of the day, winter as arrived! Well for a short while anyway. Felt great to be out in wintry conditions again. The best walking route up Aonach Beag is via Steall Meadows then onto the various tops on the south side of the mountain. Had an excellent run down from the summit (well had running shoes on so that would have saved frostbite I guess). Some late afternoon sunshine. Looks like good morning for tomorrow with a frost overnight. Now, where are those winter boots?

ALL QUIET ON BEN NEVIS

One of the quietest days on Ben Nevis this year with only a handful of folk on the hill today. Jorg and Rob from the Czech Republic were treated to a dry, cool day and good views, despite the forecast for gloomy weather. We even had the summit to ourselves, well apart from a high altitude mouse who was scouring the summit area for food scraps.  Looks like snow on the tops tomorrow as the temperatures drop and much colder next week. Bring on the snow!!!

SUMMER WEATHER ON AN TEALLACH

A fantastic weather day on An Teallach today. George and I enjoyed a leisurely circuit around the best mountain in Scotland (according to me!). We enjoyed blue skies, no wind and warm temperatures as we strolled round the scrambly Corrag Bhuidhe pinnacles. Lots of time for posing pictures, sunbathing, nibbling and Ferrel goat watching. Oh yes and the views of course were so beautiful. We saw no one until the other side of Sgurr Fiona. To appreciate An Teallach (the best mountain in Scotland-did I mention that already?) deserves days like this! How do you top a top day like this, well with a star filled night and The Northern Lights of course, seen spectacularly over Little Loch Broom.

NORTH WEST HEATWAVE

The promise of warm sun and blue skies had George and I up in the NW Highlands for a couple of days. We headed up Ullapool way and a afternoon spurt up Beinn Enaglair, above Braemore Junction. The promise came true and we enjoyed blue skies and warm sunshine. There was a bank of cloud to the East of the country while the west bathed in the heat. looking over toward the Cairngorms there was a temperature inversion. Good conditions for tomorrow?

AONACH EAGACH

It was a really windy start to today on the Aonach Eagach. John and I set off in strong SE winds which were gusting at 50mph. Unfortunately there was also some cloud on the tops too but surprisingly by the time we got onto the start of the ridge the winds were quite bearable, also the cloud slowly lifted and parted. As always though the best of the weather was late afternoon, just as we were on our way down. The skies had cleared and winds eased so it  was a beautiful end to the day.

SUMMER IS BACK!

A glorious warm and blue skies day on the west coast today. John and I headed Glencoe way with plans for the Aonach Eagach but there was a big bubble of cloud sitting on the ridge, only a couple of miles west and it was blue skies all day so we decided on Beinn a' Bheithir above Ballachuilish. There is a wonderful wee scramble on the ridge up from West Laroch which we enjoyed in solitude in the warm sun and warm rock! It was even warm on the summits as the SE winds had eased from yesterday. T shirt weather all the way back down. It felt more like August today! Aonach Eagach is on for tomorrow! The warm and sunny weather (on the west coast) set to continue for several days. Enjoy!

HANGING ON TO THE DEVIL'S BACK

It was a very windy time up on the tops today. There was a warm, strong SE blowing and hard work even just cycling up the glen. I went over Sgurr a' Mhaim and onto The Devils Ridge. It was disappointingly cloudy from 800m and so no great pics today. Going along the Devil's ridge was good fun though, not quite hands and knees job but a few places it was a case of ducking and running! Hopefully the stubborn cloud will shift by tomorrow.

BIKE, RUN, ROAR

At last a reasonable day with high clouds and a light breeze on the tops. I had a excellent bike ride along the Caledonian Canal then over to Loch Arkaig. A good run up to Glas Bheinn at only 732m so guaranteed not to see a soul. A day full of varied scenery, up Gleann Cia' aig beside the waterfalls before heading up the open slopes of the hill. Brilliant terrain for running, with a lovely carpet of easy slopes before the summit. Excellent views looking down onto Loch Arkaig with Sgurr na Ciche prominent out to the west. Another great slope to run  from the summit down to the Allt Dubh where the stags were roaring away. A big ridge of high pressure is heading our way bringing good weather for the next few days, hopefully.

BEN NEVIS

The weather turned out to be not as bad as expected today on Ben Nevis. Sydney and I enjoyed a mainly dry day and far less wind on the tops than was forecast. We did get a few showers late in the day but we were well down by then. Still busy on the hill with many 'challenge' groups about.