FOUR PLAY ON BEN NEVIS

It was another calm, quiet day here in the West Highlands with another cold night. I was getting the most of the snow on Ben Nevis and went up No. 4 Gully on the North face. This is a straightforward grade 1 winter climb and is usually well trodden but today I saw was no one in the Ciste Coire nor in the gully. It was a bit Bouldery lower in the corrie with patchy snow from 950m but half way up the gully there was excellent amounts of snow. There is ice forming on the buttresses but no ice in the gully as the freezing level was around 1100m today. A lot of snow now on the plateau and the pony track is, in places, banked with drifted snow. Poor visibility at 1000m but it was sunny below this altitude and a very pleasant descent. The path is icy in places after being well trodden. There was folk still ascending the pony track in all kinds of attire, the usual 'no rucksack brigade' being the most popular way up and someone sporting a nice pair of multi coloured wellies.

FROSTY

Another frosty over-night with temperatures below freezing at sea level again. A lovely bright and sunny morning but the thin cloud cover rolling in from the SW, heralding a weather front from the Atlantic. Should be more snow getting dumped on the highest summits tomorrow, Wednesday another good looking day to play out in the snow. The path over Cow Hill as been damaged by last week's torrential downpours, seems excessive that there are 'path closed' signs up.

MAMORES

Another very nice day in The Highlands. Below freezing temperatures at sea level overnight so a frosty start. Yvonne & I were up on Stob Ban's North ridge and then over to Mullach Coirean. There was a light covering of snow above 800m but above 1000m on the higher hills there looks quite a deep covering. The temperatures rose during the day and it was quite mild by the time we returned to the glen. Another clear night tonight so freezing temps again and another clear morning tomorrow.

EARLY IGLOO ON MEAGAIDH

Another taste of winter today, Yvonne and I were up on Creag Meagaidh. It was definitely colder on the tops today and some compass work needed on the summit plateau getting across to the top of Stob Coire Puist Ardair in the cloud and lying snow. We were surprised to find a igloo ready made right at the summit. So we made use of the facilities and had a bite to eat out of the cold wind. The snow above 1000m was consolidating as the overnight temperatures had dropped to well below freezing. Saw flock of dozen ptarmigan as we headed down off the mountain. Looks like an excellent day tomorrow, enjoy the snow & sun!

WINTER ON BEN NEVIS

A superb day of sunshine and very wintry looking mountains here on the west coast. Overnight precipitation had put down more snow above 900m and there was even some ice in places. Ben Nevis is looking brilliant at the moment and some winter climbing to be had no doubt. I was on Carn Mor Dearg today where there is an excellent covering of snow. The North Face and top car park were deserted bar one car at the NF, this is an excellent time to be on the hills, while everyone else is Christmas shopping. I sat for an hour at the summit, basking in the sun & snow. On the way down the cloud came in from the east and shrouded the summit, well timed. Could be more snow tomorrow as a another band of rain passes through with snow on the highest tops.

WINTER?

A much cooler airflow last night and overnight precipitation put down a few cm of snow on the hills above 900m. It was a very pleasant day to be out on the hills, dry and bright with hardly a breeze on the tops. Although it wasn't clear skies there were superb broken spectres and a massive 'morning glory' on Sgurr a' Mhaim in the Mamores, quite spectacular though difficult to get a decent photo of it. Could this be the start of winter?

LONELY BENS & GLENS

I had a great bike ride into the wonderful, wild and lonely Glen Mallie-South of Loch Arkaig today. Cycle along the Caledonian Canal to Acnaharry and along Glen Mallie. Lovely pathless walk to the summit of 727m. Mullach Coire nan Geur-oirean, try pronouncing that one! Obviously a less frequented hill as not even a summit cairn. Lots of shielings in the glen below, a well inhabited area in the past. It was a overcast day but the weather fitted the occasion with lots of stags roaring in the glen below. Just got back to the bike and the rain came on. Weather looks much cooler and forecasting snow on the higher tops next week, winter not far away!