WINTRY ON BEN MACDHUI

 

Day 2 of Sue and Bridget's hillwalking holiday with Tarmachan Mountaineering. Today we headed out to Ben Macdhui. With a forecast of light winds on top and just a few showers it seemed a reasonable day out on the 2and highest mountain in Britain. 

It was a lovely sunny morning.  The tops were clear over the Northern Corries. In Coire an t-sneachda it was very pleasant. We made our way onto the Cairngorm plateau and by mid day the cloud base dropped and a few light showers, mainly sleet, drizzly stuff.

Above about 1100m the showers turned to snow. Poor visibility above 1200m as we neared the summit of Ben Macdui. We saw only 2 other folk. On the top it could have been any winter month. Brilliant. 

We headed back down in gloomy conditions out of the snow. The cloud had dropped to about 700m by late aafternoon.Another cracking day. Another Munro.

A WALKING HOLIDAY IN THE CAIRNGORMS

 

Bridget & Sue are out with me for 7 days of fabulous hillwalking in The Cairngorms this week. The two ladies were out on an Alpine Trekking holiday organised and guided by me a couple of years ago. The Tour of the Matterhorn is a demanding trek but generally nice t shirt and shorts weather. None of that today. It was a typical late Autumn weather day on Sgor Gaoithe for day 1.

It was a pleasant sunny morning in Aviemore. Up on the hill it was dry most of the day, just the odd snow shower above 900m. The cloud was around the same altitude all day. The cold SW winds were strong but nothing to worry about. We even had some sunnybinterludes on the descent over the 'Sgorans'.  Good banter as always and a first Minro for Sue. We'll be doing a few more Munros this week, no doubt. Staying chilly with snow showers on the high tops forecast all week.

AUTUMN IN THE GLEN, WINTER UP HIGH

 This time of year is magical. Beautiful Autumn colours at their very best while up on the high tops of the mountains it can be winter. Just like today. This week the colours will be at their very best. I was out to get them before the gales come along and shred the leaves off the trees. I mixed this with more Mountain Hare photography. Just like the weather and seasons, the Mountain Hare are in transformation. They already have signs of morphing into their Winter pelage, the white showing thorough quite clearly now.

The day started very wet and low cloud. I delayed setting off up the Monadhliath until late morning when the weather was forecast to dry up and some sunshine. By noon the rain eased off and the cloud was lifting. By the time I got up to my usual location for photographing the wonderful Mountain Hare it was dry and some nice light. This improved hour by hour until mid afternoon when the light was gorgeous.

I had 4 layers on today whilst stood around photographing. I can't imagine how some folk who head out into the hills this time of year with next to nothing in their rucsack. It's time to think about what to pack when out in the hill. The highest I stood at today was 750m. You may also want to think about those batteries in your headtorch. You mean you haven't been carrying one? Some good advice out from Mountain Rescue Teams and Mountaineering Scotland. Clocks go back tonight. It gets dark at 6pm.

It was lovely to see and hear so many Red Grouse on the hill. Peaceful and roaming freely with no shooting around this area. I soon came across my usual friend and one or tow of his pals. By mid afternoon the hares are more interested in feeding up. One guy having a good old munch for quite some time. 

After an hour or so of photographing in beautiful Autumn sunshine and light, a big snow shower passed through. I was only at 700m so the temperatures had dropped somewaht since this morning. Of course this is nothing for the hardy hares. He just carried on feeding away like it was no big deal. Meanwhile I struggled in the gusty breeze and was getting cold hands trying to steady the camera. I swapped my small, wet gloves for something bigger and warmer. The sun came out again straight after the downpour and more gorgeous light. 

By now it was late afternoon and beautiful time to be out in the hills. The sun was at a low angle on my walk back down the hill. I just missed the 'golden hour' for the foliage on the trees back at lower levels. Optimum time around 4 pm I would say. Still, it was beautiful, always is. The winds over the next few days will take some leaves out. I think we are past the best time now. Winter is coming!

PTARMIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY

 

I got out in between bands of rain today. The wet spell in the morning had fizzled out by lunch time. The low cloud gradually lifted to give an hour or so of some lovely cloud formations and some sunshine. Just enough time to walk up to the Cairngorm plateau and a couple of hours photographing the Ptarmigan. 

Through the swirling clouds I got a glimpse of a group of 6 Ptarmigan. I waited for 30 minutes, stood motionless while the cloud eventually lifted enough for some half decent shots. Two youngsters were happy sitting around while I hung around with my camera. They're not far off from the complete white plumage. Maybe another couple of weeks.

The temperatures where quite mild today in the SW airflow. Atlantic lows blowing through. By early evening the next band of rain arrived but I was off the hill by this time. Perfect wee few hours. It's great to live so close to amazing wildlife, even though they are high up on the hill. The beauty of living at the foot of the Cairngorms. 

LAST OF THE HIGH PRESSURE

 

Last day of the High pressure system we've been enjoying over the last few days. Unfortunately I have missed the temperature inversions on Friday and Saturday. If you were up on the very highest Cairngorm summits then there were some terrific inversions, fog bows and Brocken Spectres. Saturday in particular was a strange one. The best conditions up high whilst down in Aviemore and out towards Dava Moor we got soaking wet with light rain most of the day.

It was another low cloud morning in Strathspey but the cloud was thin and I could already feel the sun breaking through this band of cloud. I was undecided whether to head up high to the main Cairngorms or to the other side of the A9 and the lower Monadhliath. I went for the latter.

By the time I walked up to 400m I was into sunshine and blue skies above. My usual route up to photograph the Mountain Hare was once again going to be my day out. I was soon amongst the most adorable of wildlife in the hills.

I had an hour or so sitting beside one individual who was half dozing and half curious. He eventually woke up for a stretch and starting pulling tongues! Brilliant. What characters. 

The cloud broke up at mid day but then drifted back again in the afternoon. The view across Strathspey to the Northern Cairngorms was one of dull but high cloud base.

Rain by this evening. Atlantic Low pressure systems back in charge for most of this week. Let's hope the winds don't bring too many of the beautiful Autumn leaves. They'll be in full Autumn colours this week.