WINTER

Winter is definately here, with snow on the tops and some strong winds over the last few days. Sumit teperatures have dropped so safe to say winter is here.

I'm away from technology for the next few days but can be contacted via the mobile: 077 2000 1326.

Winter bookings are filling up with February getting busy.

FRESH SNOW

There had been a drop in temperature overnight and a fresh covering of snow down to 700m this morning. The rain/snow didn't arrive until afternoon and with the cloud quite high it looked a good day to be on the hills. Down in the Lake District next week. Places still free for navigation courses based in the North Lakes. Then it's off to BAIML AGM and CPD workshops at the beginning of December. Bookings have been coming in for Christmas winter skills/guided walking recently. Lets hope the weather cools down again after this tropical spell.

ALMOST THERE

A quiet day on Ben Nevis today. John was over from Australia and in between watching rugby matches he wanted to get up The Ben. Unfortunately his leg was playing up so we never managed to get to the summit. There was a break in the weather today and a dry, pleasant spell in the morning to early afternoon. Relatively mild weather as depleted the snow on the upper slopes.

LAZY HILL DAY

A very pleasant day again on the west coast with some sunshine by mid day. I had a lazy start and cycled up to Lundavra then walked up onto a very nice wee hill above Loch Leven - Tom Meadhoin. At only 621m its a shortish hill day and a good jaunt on days when the cloud is down on the higher hills, like it was today. Like all these smaller hills you are guaranteed not to see a soul, especially as I didn't go up the logical, shorter route from Loch Leven. Looks like a wild and wet day on Saturday then a much better day for Sunday. More snow above 1000m forecast so the highest summits will all have a covering of snow.

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.