AN UNSETTLED EARLY SPRING

 

My friend, still in his winter coat

April often brings much more settled and calmer weather across the Highlands of Scotland. It's one of my favourite months outwith winter. Unfortunately we haven't really had many amazing days of clear skies, no wind and fine views. When they have come they seem to only last for 24 hrs. In-between this we've had a fair amount of rain and the temperatures haven't settled down. Below freezing one day, next day into double figures. There has been a day or two of fresh snow on the Cairngorms, next day it's rain. There were a couple of days last week when the recorded wind speeds on top of Cairn Gorm exceeded 80 mph. It's been a case of making the best of any days while you can,if you can. Yesterday it felt like summer here in Strathspey, temperatures reaching 16 C.

Here's a selection of images from the last 10 days. 

My local Ospreys have returned

5th April, snow down to low levels

Winter returns

Within 24 hrs it's gone warm

Snow holes again

Nest rebuilding after a long winter

Somewhere between 1st - 7th April my local Osprey's have returned. This particular nest I've been observing for quite a few years now.

Thanks again to NatureScot for renewing my Schedule 1 Bird Photography Licence for yet another year. This enables me to photograph certain species near to nesting site. Specifically Osprey, Dotterel, Ring Ouzel, Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting. Part of the agreement on obtaining this licence is my recording of the above species and sending this report to NatureScot. Invaluable data for them to record how well, or not so well these birds are faring. Unfortunately they are all on the Red list of endangered species.

Mo Charaid enjoying the sunshine

The last few days I've been up photographing my wonderful friend (Mo Charaird). This amazing, placid mountain hare I have had the honour to sit beside and photograph for the 4th winter season now. That's almost his whole life ( mountain hares live on average 5-6 years). I only ever see him from around mid December until about early May. Where he goes between those periods is anyone's guess. I do secretly wish he would stick around for the summer. He's a remarkable character. He is still predominately sporting his white pelage. Only very slowly is he morphing into his beautiful ginger coloured coat. Most years he's not transformed until around May.

There's still snow on the mountains and definitely a wintery outlook next few days. More snow, more wind and below freezing temperatures. There's winter.....if you want it! Or for some folk, there's no choice :) 

EASTER IN THE HIGHLANDS, MEANS WINTER

 

Snowshoeing, Good Friday

The weather has been quite fine over the Easter period. We've had a top up of snow and the weather was settled from  Easter Friday until Easter Monday, perfect timing for the Easter weekend.  Now we seem to be in a run of grey, low cloud days but the temperatures up on the high Cairngorms are below freezing and we've got lots of fabulous snow here in The Cairngorms. Plenty of time to get that last minute winter skills course or a guided ascent of the big hills in this part of the Highlands. If you're just out of winter hibernation then maybe freshen up on some Navigation? I run navigation courses throughout the year.

I've had a good variety of guided trips during the Easter holiday period.

Friday I was running a snowshoeing day for Monica & Michael. They only booked 3 days prior to their chosen day out with me. It was a glorious day with very little breeze, lots of snow down to 800m and some fabulous  sunny spells, much better than all the forecasts indicated. We had the snowshoes on our feet for 90% of the day. It was also one of the very few days this winter when I didn't have my waterproofs on at any point during the day!

Great conditions for snowshoeing

Lunch at the finest viewpoint in the Cairngorms

Snowshoes on virtually all day

Plenty of blue skies and sun

Excellent snow-cover across the plateau

On Saturday I was guiding Mark on a mountain hare photography workshop. The weather in the middle of the day was fine, then a couple of big downpours in the afternoon. We had a couple of great sightings. Most of the hares are still well and truly in their winter pelage. More snow to come tomorrow so still time to get some winter images, with the hares still predominately white and hopefully some snowy backgrounds.

Still white and still some snow, even at 700m

Snow showers over the Cairngorms

On Sunday and into Monday I was running an intro to wild camping. What better area to head to than the fabulous Fisherfield Forest. A stunning, bright and sunny Sunday with warm temperatures at lower altitudes. Nice to be wearing summer lightweight boots as we were only walking up to about 400m so no snow around. Still it was a chilly evening and morning. 

Great camspot

View from the kitchen

Evening sunset over Slioch

Sunset behind Slioch

Sunset on the last day of March

The skies were clear at first light on the 1st April but the cloud was thickening out to the East and a dull day from 10am onwards. We managed to see the fabulous Belt of Venus at dawn.

Belt of Venus behind A' Mhaighdean

Cloud starting to envelop Slioch by 8am

On Tuesday I had the pleasure to take the lovely Kuradagi family out into the snowy Cairngorms. This was the very first time they had all stepped on snow and their first visit to Scotland. We covered many essential winter skills such as Snow Angels, building snowmen, throwing snowballs accurately, digging snowholes and rolling down snow. 

The Kuradagi family, first steps in snow

Making snowholes, great fun at 6 years of age, or 60 years of age!

Snow above 800m in Coire an t-Sneachda

Whilst it's great fun in easy angles snow just 1 hour from the carpark, it is very different high up on the mountains. Have you got the skills for winter? Last chance before Spring really arrives at the beginning of May. Or maybe not, maybe winter will linger on and on :)

SNOW FOR EASTER

 

Saturday 16th March, fresh snow above 600m

It may well be the 'official start to Spring' now we are at 21st March. The daffodils are flowing but that doesn't mean a thing up in the mountains. Here in The Cairngorms and many other Scottish mountains it is more than likely to be full on winter conditions. This is true every single year. We already have a fair amount of 'old snow'. On top of this it is forecast to be colder temperatures, high winds and frequent snowfall from Friday onwards. My 'record' of delivering a full on winter skills course is 11th MAY! It will almost certainly be winter up to mid April. If you're thinking of heading up to the high mountains over the Easter break then I would definitely pack your winter clothing, winter boots, axe and crampons. 

The last week or so I have ran a couple of mountain hare photography workshops. The beautiful mountain hares are still in their winter, white pelage. I ave availability if you want the last chance to capture them in their lovely white coats. 

Some images from last week.

Liam out with me for a day of mountain hare photography, 16th March

Low angle shot

2 days later and snow loss at 700m

A stretch in the sun

Snow will return for Mo Charaid

IT'S STILL WINTER

 

Fabulous mid afternoon light, CMD arete, Ben Nevis

My blog has been getting a bit neglected in the last couple of weeks. I've been busy on various courses since early March. I've been running 1 and 2 day winter skills courses, a CMD arete on Ben Nevis weekend with success! The winds were calm and the views splendid. Two groups of return clients. One on a recap on skills, the other a winter Munro course. Lots of content on my FB pages which are more regular but here's some images from the last 10 days or so. It's still winter! Despite the temperature fluctuations and gales we ware still very much in winter, will be until at least mid April. If you're looking for some last minute winter adventures then it's there for the taking! 

Fabulous day with Lana who was on a Mountain Hare workshop with me

Mamores from the CMD arete

Mal & Charlie in silhouette, CMD

Aonach Mor, Navigation day

CMD arete, Ben Nevis

Neil hiding from the stormy weather, Cairngorms

Coire an t-sneachda, getting shelter from the winds, 1 day intro to hillwalking

Return clients on Sgor Gaoithe summit, a relatively calm day!

Cornices, Aonch Mor, Navigation course

Shelley enjoying the winter wonderland

Return clients, Shelley & Darren on Cairn Gorm

Fabulous day on the CMD arete for Mal & Charlie

We love Rime Ice

Lovely and quiet this time of year

Excellent snow cover above 800m, Sgor Gaoithe

A new Mountain Hare who isn't quite sure of me

Mo Charaid knows it's still winter