Some thoughts and reports from outings...
Blogs from some outdoor adventures.....
It all started so well….way back in October and a day was spent on the wonderful Grey Corries. Some early snowfall had coated the mountains with a dusting of snow and with the next few days set fair we traversed the Grey Corries under a blue sky and on top of a white blanket- it was brilliant! If this was a precursor of what was to come we were keenly anticipating the next few months! However ,as we now know , the next few months couldn’t have been any worse! December came and went and only a few days of snowfall seemed to happen, anywhere! Slim pickings were to be had and as for the snow resorts, they must have been struggling. The technical axes were gathering dust, however the hiking boots were still steaming and getting used lots! I early December an inversion forecast saw me head to Scotland’s 10th highest peak, a snowless Ben Lawers and although there was a distinct lack of the white stuff and a stiff breeze (read gale force wind) it was a fine day out above the clouds…. The forecast was good for the following day to and we got the boots on again and traversed over Ben More and Stob Binnein , requiring a car at Inverlochlaraig and one at Benmore farm. As December grew older, the wish for some significant snow dwindled so I decided on bagging some Corbetts and headed for the far North. Car camping and three remote Corbetts were bagged, taking in the winter solstice on the way …. Still little in the way of snow though! January and February are usually relied on to give us winter at some point – not this year though! One week appeared to show a return of winter and I headed to the same spot in Glencoe giving two rather different winter days on the hill. However this was a fleeting glimpse only and snow expert Ian Cameron acknowledged that by this time it was one of the least snowy winters in 70 years! Then as a final insult as February drew to a close – we experienced the hottest February day on record – with some spots exceeding 18 degrees centigrade! A few days were spent crying but then I decided to embrace the weather an got the tent out and enjoyed a starry summit camp in the Perthshire hills – I’ve had far colder camping in mid summer! As meterological Spring started we at last got some snow! However at this time of year the snow that settles doesn’t tend to hang around too long, but we took full advantage with some trips to the Haggis Hill and finally up a route (of sorts) – Broad Gully in Glencoe (the Quarks were still gathering dust ;)). Into April and the Cairngorms received up to 40cm of snow – the most recorded this winter – the following weekend I headed up the Fiacaill Ridge and had a great day – however it was too little too late! So that’s about it – looking forward to Summer now, however Ne’er cast a Cout till May be out – I’ve climbed Number 2 Gully on the Ben well into May so hop remains …….. ;)
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WilkieMurraySome thoughts and reports from my outdoors activties... Archives
August 2017
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