CATCHING UP & THE FINEST MONTH IN WINTER

 

Good snow cover returns!

Catching up on my blog after a busy period. The winter weather and conditions have been up and down but it now looks more settled as we go into March. March is always the finest month in winter. Longer daylight hours, usually the most depth of snow and (sometimes) nice weather conditions with less gales!

I've been running lots of winter skills courses, plenty of Mountain hare Photography workshops and a guided Ben Nevis trip via the CMD arete. For the 3rd time lucky this went to plan. The other 2 in December and January ad to be shelved because of high winds.

Here's some images from the last couple of weeks.

CALMER CONDITIONS, AT LAST

 

Blue skies and calm winds, Cairn Lochan

We've bben enjoying some calmer conditions in the Cairngorms over the last few days, at last! Temperatures have stayed well below freezing on the tops and some cold, frosty mornings in Strathspey. Great conditions to get up on the high tops and even some views with a bit of sunshine! The lower paths and trails have been icy and the snow above as also been frozen solid. Some serious runouts below 900m so careful footwork and locations for safe travel. It's now half term school holidays, the hills have been busy (as always this time in winter) but you can find some peaceful areas if you want! Ive ben running more winter skills trips with total beginners. Here's some images from 11 - 14 february.

Steep ground in a safe runout, Ciste Mheard

Firm, well trodden snow

Blue skies and snow shelters

On the tops and enjoying no winds!

Perfect snow

Rime ice

Climbers descending The Couloir

Blue skies and sun

Perfect cramponing snow

Nice views

Axe and crampon techniques

The Cairngorms and beautiful snow foreground

Some light drifting

Light and shade on windslab

Busy down in Sneachda

The last of the sun

Cairn Gorm summit in rime

Finding solitude, late afternoon

HALF WAY POINT IN WINTER

A well prepared group of mine in mid winter

 February marks the halfway point in the winter season. It does make me giggle every single year around this period. Folk on various social media channels claiming 'spring is just around the corner'. The snowdrops may well indeed be in flower down on the south coast of Englandshire, up here in The Highlands it is full winter conditions, usually. The snow is once again lying outside in my garden at Aviemore as I type this blog. Winter finishes around the end of April in these parts. 

It's been yet another unsettled spell of weather. It's been almost constant high winds in the Cairngorms. We've also had some unseasonably mild temperatures to go with it, but it's still only halfway into winter! We did have very limited snow above 900m last week but (thankfully) the very cold and snow has now returned. Full on winter conditions yesterday, even at lower altitudes. 

The last 10 days I've had a few 2 day winter courses running. We've struggled in high winds and poor visibility. It's all part of the winter game. Calmer conditions prevailed on Thursday & Friday and things are looking much calmer next week. 

Here's a few images from early February with groups on the hill.

Steve & Euan on icy snow

Sheltering from the high winds

Coire an t-Sneachda ( 1st February)

My team of 6 Irish guys on a 2 day course, good navigation skills required

A tight squeeze in the group shelter - these are vital bits of kit everyone should carry

Snow, wind and poor visibility on Sgor Gaoithe

Calmer conditions at last

High winds are back!

No wind in this snow shelter!

Fresh snow, blue skies and no wind!

Frozen snow and turf & rime ice returns

Tom & James enjoying the calmer winds

Afternoon cuppa in the sun at 1000m

Sharp crampons essential the last 2 weeks

A grand view from this mountain hare's form

Very low temperatures and snow at Aviemore level on Thursday & Friday

No wind and below freezing for beautiful surface hoar crystals to form

MORE CHANGABLE WEATHER & CONDITIONS

 

Descending off Ben Macdui yesterday

The last week in January has seen more changeable weather and snow conditions. One day of snow to low levels, cold and relative 'calm', the next day rain and wind. We've had some very different weather day by day. Just a typical winter really. Yesterday and on Monday I was running a winter skills course for Steven & Juliet. Just by pure chance they booked 2 days of great weather and conditions. That's the way it goes really. We've had another couple of named storms passing through, thankfully they were on my 'rest days'. 

Here's some images from the last week.

Poor weather, snow loss and difficult wildlife photography for Fabio

Last Thursday Fabio and Leana were on a Mountain Hare photography day. We had rescheduled it from 2 days previously because of the stormy conditions. Unfortunately this was the only day they had left on their holiday from Italy. But we persevered and managed a few images in rain and wind.

Following day, same place!

It really is the luck of the draw. Only 24 hours later the temperatures had dropped, there was fresh snow above 500m and some terrific light for mountain hare photography.

Mo Charaid in the snow

More snow drifting

Another shake in a break from the drifting snow

There was still a stiff, cold breeze on Friday but my friend was posing nicely. The drifting snow covering him up so quickly. Waiting for the snow shake and yawning. Patience is the name of the game, even when it's well below freezing!

A break again

And another shake

Winter again, Friday

On Monday and Tuesday it was wonderful to be in the high Cairngorms in good weather and excellent snow. A warm spell over the weekend had wiped out much of the lower terrain but above 900m the snow was bullet hard after a drastic change in temperatures. A balmy 19 C was recorded at Kinlochewe on Sunday. Here in the Cairngorms the summit temperatures went from plus 5 C at Cairn Gorm summit to minus 5 C in the space of a few hours Sunday afternoon into the early hours of Monday. Perfect timing for Steven & Juliet on their course with me. 

Ben Macdui n full winter conditions, Monday

Coire an t-Sneachda. Monday

Snow loss lower down the mountain

Crampons essential!

We had a terrific day on Monday. There was solid snow and ice everywhere. Crampons essential, you wouldn't get far without them! There wasn't a breath of wind up high and some brightness later in the afternoon. Juliet & Steven have plenty of summer hillwalking experience and were looking for some skills to go out in the winter season.

Coire an t-sneachda, Monday

On Tuesday we decided on a good leg stretch over to Ben Macdui. After spending some more time in Coir an Lochain with axe and crampon technique we headed up on the plateau. Unfortunately the sun was replaced with cloud and the winds increased.

Perfect snow conditions

Cairngorm plateau, full winter conditions still above 900m

Coire an Lochain

Ben Macdui summit

We didn't get much in the way of views on our journey across the plateau but on the return the clouds lifted a bit in the gusty winds.

Afternoon sun & windier around Feithe Buidhe

Sun trying its best to peek through the cloud

A glimpse of Braerich

Another full day in crampons

Walking for a full 7 hours in crampons is tiring, especially on some easy angled terrain. In these conditions you would't get very far without crampons. Plenty of water ice around too. By the time we got back to the Lochan Buidhe area and over towards the top of the Goat Track the gusts of wind had got up to 50mph. 

Wind, sun & ice

Great snow cover

The Reindeer enjoying a snow free feed at 800m

A top couple of days and good conditions. The winds of this latest storm today ( Wednesday) are starting to ease again. Hopefully it will be more pleasant on the hills tomorrow. February is always the busiest time in winter for guiding and winter skills. I've only 4 free dates available in February.  Get them while you can!