NAVIGATION & WHITEOUT

 

Navigation in the white room

Issi and John were back out with me today, their 2nd day of their winter course. With very low cloud below 750m it was ideal conditions for Navigation. Map and compass are the no. 1 skills to master, especially in winter. Not ice axe arresting which some folk seem to regard as the priority,  go discuss 🤔. 😉

We set off from Coire Cas and were soon into poor visibility on the route into Coire an t-sneachda.  The boulder field in the coire is now well filled in with snow and a breeze to walk through. 

Coire an t-sneachda 

Approaching Windy Gap

We made our way up to Windy Gap without a breath of wind in the coire. Up on the plateau it was poor visibility. Map and compass out.

Map and compass,  the no. 1 skill

Leapfrogging 

Cairn Gorm

Lunch

It was near whiteout conditions up from Windy Col to Cairn Gorm. There was a chilly breeze and some snow/hail flurries but no more snow fall. The forecast was suggesting a lot of fresh snow fall.

Ciste Mhearad 

Axe and crampons 

John and Issi navigated perfectly down to Ciste Mhearad in true white out conditions.  We did a bit of steep ground tech and finished with some axe arresting. It was whiteout conditions back over to the defunct high altitude cafe.

Back in the white room

More accurate navigation 

A break in the clouds

Even below the cafe it was still poor visibility and some more compass work required to get down Windy Ridge. Around 3pm the clouds station part and some nice views towards the end of the day. A great couple of days with these lovely folk. Mountain Hare Photography for them.on their next outing with me.

Views at the end

Nice 

Loch Morlich 

MOUNTAIN HARE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

 

We love a yawny hare

A rare day off for me this winter so a chance to look through my Mountain Hare photographs which I took over the last couple of weeks. I've had 3 mountain hare photography workshops running between 19th and 27th February. These coincided with some wonderful weather and snow conditions. Bright winter sun and fresh, deep snow made for some amazing days out with my clients. Here's just a small selection of my images taken over the course of the three days of guiding.

What a backdrop!

Ear scratching? Or looking at me?

Running 

Out in the sunshine

My friend, I've been photographing this guy all winter

Deep snow

So adorable

Always curious this wee guy

His favourite form

Heading home

SGOR GAOITHE

 

Fabulous neve on Sgor Gaoithe 

Return clients Issi & John are put with me for two days of Winter mountain fun. The sunshine and clear skies from yesterday continued into this morning. The winds were back though, as usual. We decided on Sgor Gaoithe. They are working their way through climbing all the Munros so we combined some winter essential skills whilst 'bagging' Peak of the Wind. Very apt today as it was a windy start even at low levels. 

Shelter and fabulous snow

Ww came out of the treeline and were greater with a quite vicious SE wind. I have climbed Sgor Gaoithe over 100 times, many occasions in winter, and I don't recall battling through such a strong wind at 400-500m on this mountain. 

Superb neve

Blue skies and wind above

There was a huge amount of snow in the Allt Chronin Abhainn. This area looked like it was sheltered from the high winds so we made our way off the path and into this fabulous shallow corrie. It was indeed very sheltered and some wonderful neve for the crampons. 

It was wonderful cramponing up the long snow slope that eventually comes out onto Sgor Gaoithe's plateau. Surprisingly the winds were lighter than 500m down below! With no wind at all on the summit. Unfortunately the cloud had drifted in near the top and robbed us of the magnificent view you get from this Munro.

Nearing the summit in cloud

It was a good moment to recap on some essential navigation techniques as we made our way back down the hill. The cloud was now down to about 700m.

Near white out on the decent

Windy clouds

It was still blowy down below the snowline. A grand day out and glowing faces. 

Issi & John with antique axes

MARCH - THE FINEST WINTER MONTH

 

Hells Lum under the sun

I  say it every year, March is always the finest winter month. Well I love winter full stop but March brings long days, lots of snow and (sometimes) kinder weather. Well it was definitely a very kind weather day today for Heather & Steve who booked a 1 day introduction to winter hillwalking with me. A day of wall to wall sun, no wind and superb snow conditions. That's all you could ever wish for.

Coire an Lochain 

We made the most of the fine conditions by heading over to the finest views in the entire Cairngorms. 

Fine morning and great snow conditions 

From Coire Cas carpark we walked on firm snow all the way into Coire an Lochain. The overnight temperatures had dropped significantly and frozen up the snowpack. These conditions are what we hope for. All the days of post holing were soon forgotten. It was a joy.

That view

Superb snow cover

After leaving the 'Macdui Motorway' we had peace away from the crowds. The finest scenery in the entire Cairngorms awaited us. We sat and had lunch in the sun, afterwards taking a beautiful tour in the Loch A'an basin.

Hells Lum

Hells Lum crag

Shelterstone Crag

What a beautiful afternoon. We were down to just a couple of layers in the afternoon. We left the magnificent views around Loch A'an and headed over to the Northern Corries. 

Heading up to Coire Domhain 

What a backdrop

Sunshine again

It was late afternoon by the time we wandered across to 1141m. The sun Still high at 4pm. March really is a fabulous month, especially when you get a day like today! The Chais ridge was well icy and you would have trouble getting up or down this without crampons today. If you only had microspikes you would indeed be asking for trouble. Microspikes are not suitable for steep mountain sides, regardless of what some people may state and advise you. 

Top of Alladin's 

Looking down on Loch Morlich 

Sneachda in sun

Absolutely cracking day. Heather & Steven now with some more confidence yo get out onto the winter mountains.  Don't forget the sunscreen and shades.

Chais ridge

5pm and plenty of light