SUMMER STROLLING

Looks like the hot and sunny weather is continuing right through the Easter weekend. A lazy last couple of days down in the depths of The Central Belt. We took a wander on The West Highland Way yesterday and lunch at The Beech Tree Inn. Busy over the next few days with 3 days guiding over the  CMD Arete in the next 4 days. Don't forget the sunscreen!

CMD ARETE, IN THE CLAGG

Joey, Stu, Glen and Wes were out with me today on the CMD arete up to Ben Nevis. It was a cold and claggy day, cloudbase down to 900m and lower most of the time. A moderate cold wind was producing rime ice on the tops today with the freezing level probably around 1100m. At least it was quiet and we enjoyed the route to ourselves most of the time. Hopefully next week will produce some clear and warm days, so they say.

It was a pleasent day to be out on the hill with light winds and dry. Dionisios and I had a wander up Ben Nevis today. Dionisios is on holiday from the USA and as already 'bagged' a few mountains in England and the Isle of Man on his holidays over here. So fit and keen we were up and down Ben Nevis in under 6 hours. Unfortunately the cloud base lowered just as we hit the plateau so not much in the way of views today. It was a wee bit chilly on the summit with temperatures around freezing point. The next few days looks set to be ok with dry weather and light winds forecast

WINTER'S BACK ON THE BEN!

After the heatwave comes winter again of course! Overnight cold temperatures had frozen up the existing snow pack wonderfully and then there had been fresh snowfall overnight of around 3cm down to 750m. Paul got in touch with me only a couple of days previously for a days winter guiding prior to his planned Mont Blanc ascent in the summer. He certainly got some good winter conditions today as we headed up to the North face of Ben Nevis. With a few snow and hail showers through the day to give the day added spice. The winds eased through the day and we got good views. Paul progressed well and so we headed on up to No. 4 Gully. Excellent hard, frozen snow all the way up. We only saw two other climbers on the hill, they had just been up No.2 Gully, down No.3 Gully and then raced past us up No.4. The last 20m is quite steep but the cornice wasn't a problem and Paul did well on his first day out in winter! We did some simple rope work on the descent down The Red Burn which was good snow too, but The snow here is now receding. 

CMD AND BEN NEVIS-SUMMER?

Another beautiful summers day again! Very warm and clear skies by mid morning today. Sapna & Liam were treated to some fine views of the North Face of Ben Nevis today as we went over the CMD arete. It was quite hazy with the southerly airflow but the views were still impressive. The entire circuit is free of snow now, even the final slopes from the abseil post to the Ben summit is all rock, what a difference from this period last year. Even the summit and plateau area is now becoming bare of snow with this recent heatwave. Forecast is for cooler conditions rest of the week, plenty of snow still in the easy gullies on The Ben so maybe a freeze will give a last taste of winter-for those who want it.

SIZZLING STREAP

Back home from a fantastic week in Mallorca's mountains. A great place for walking in the sunshine! Now taking bookings for week long walking holidays in Spring and Autumn 2011, full details to come! Must have missed all the rain and today George and I enjoyed fabulous hot and sunny conditions on Streap. This is a cracking hill near Glenfinnan, reaching only 909m so no Munro baggers about. Several craggy summits eventually lead up to the final narrow main summit ridge. A good way to 'ease' back into the Scottish mountains and weather!

SA DRAGONERA

Our final day, spent exploring the lovely wee island off the extreme SW coast of Mallorca, Sa Dragonera. This is easily reached by a regular ferry from Sant Elm. Now a conservation sanctuary after plans for development were quite rightly opposed to. The island as several unique species of plants and flowers and millions of sub species of Wall Lizards which crawl all over the place. Another hot and blue skies day!

SERRA DEL CAVALL BERNAT-THE WHITE CUILLIN OF MALLORCA

Another day amongst spectacular limestone ridges of Mallorca. We headed up to Port Pollenca and explored the fantastic ridge walk/scramble of Serra Del Cavall Bernat, or as I renamed it  'The White Cuillin of Mallorca'! There are amazing rock towers along the entire ridge which plunge down over 300m to the sea. The highest point is only 350m but the views are fantastic. Lots of feral goats on the islands mountains and huge numbers here, scrambling about everywhere. Other wildlife spotted included Black Vultures, Alpine Swifts, Butterflies of various varieties. Another very warm/hot day and those blue, blue skies.

PUNTA DE SOLLER

Another blue skies and hot day. We headed along the coast from Port Of Soller to Punta de Soller today. Cracking views out to sea with rough walking, but enhanced by the beautiful flowers on the island. Narcissus pictured (wild daffodils). A fantastic time for the flora. There is a lovely wee tram that plies back and forth to Port of Soller and a great way to get to the coastal walks if based in Soller.

SERRA D'ALFABIA

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Day one of our exploration of Majorca's mountains, The Serra de Tramuntana which lie in the north of the island and stretch from Andratx in the  SW to  Pollenca in theNE. We quickly took the wonderful wee train journey out of Palma and within an hour or so arrived at Soller, a differnet world away from the vast majority of sun worshipers on the beaches. Karen and I had an excellent first day traversing the whole ridge of the  Serra d'Alfabia. Fantastic limestone ridge with several tops along the route, scrambling on fantastic rough rock, ending in a beautiful descent back to Soller via a gorge ( Barranc). Beautiful orange groves at the end, mmmmm cool Sangria! It was blue skies all day, hot but with a nice breeze.

HOT ROCK IN SPAIN

Just away for a weeks walking from tomorow, getting some warm sunshine and mountains in Mallorcas' Tramuntana Mountains. Looks like it's going to be a bit wt and windy next couple of days, getting cooler with snow on the tops too. I'm just digging out the shorts, shades, sunbloc, etc.