Torridon Magic.....

Good weather coincided with a few days off work, so with the great forecast I decided to head over to Torridon. An early start and -5 morning (again -  becoming the norm!)saw me heading 'way out west'.

Nice start to the day!

Yes I know I don't need to carry an ice axe!

I'd decided to go up Beinn Alligin (mountain of beauty in Gaelic) and started walking about 8.30am as the sun was rising above the mountains. It's a pretty dramatic spot, the sandstone Torridon hills having a very distinctive and dramatic shape.

The route ahead...

Looking Skye way (west-ish)

I knew that there wouldn't be much snow, but with the low temperatures wondered if the route would be a 'wee' bit icy on the rocks as I got the impression there was a fair bit of easy scrambling over the 'horns'. Luckily it wasn't.

The route ahead from the first top

I was the only person on Beinn Alligin, and it was a superb day. It was cold, but sunny, with magical views in all directions including North to Gairloch (and beyond), and out west to Skye and beyond.

Big gash

The horns, and the intriguing Corbet behind

The walk just got better and better, after the dramatic second munro on the route. I really enjoyed the easy scrambling over the 'horns'. I was torn between wanting to savour the view and situation, and wanting to continue to see what was next.

Looking back at the 2 munro tops

Didn't want to leave this spot

All too quickly I was descending off the horns back into the valley far below. I was very intrigued by a hill just ?North of it that also looked very dramatic, a Corbet called Beinn Deargh I believe. I toyed with going for this too, but in the end knowing if I did I would be descending this hill in the dark decided against the idea.

Beinn Dearg

Finishing the walk through a small forested area next to a deep cut river was great, especially with the sun shining through the branches.

Looking back at my route

When I got back to the van I moved it down the road a short distance and parked up by the sea/sea loch and made a cup of tea and watched the sun disappear behind the hills.

the road of bones, I mean roots

It was -1 when I got back to the van, and by 5pm -3....... I'd planned to sleep in the van (maiden trip) but when I found that the pub in Torridon was closed (nowhere was open), it was -5 by 5.30pm and a long time until sleep/bed..... the call of my house (with heating) was too great and I headed the 1' 30" home...... I know I wimped out on sleeping in the 'camper van', but it was a great day out in Torridon, one I'll remember for a long time. Again I feel very lucky to be this close to these amazing wild spaces.

Beautiful (but cold!)

A big fan of the Fannaichs

A few days off work meant that I could explore some of the new areas close to home in the Highlands. With a reasonable forecast for the morning, but a suggestion of high winds and ?heavy precipitation after lunch I decided to nip up a hill in the Fannaichs.

Looking back to the frosty valley

Looking west to Beinn Dearg way

It was another -5 start when I got up, a pain to defrost the van, but very beautiful hoar frost on all of the trees that I saw driving North. I picked Am Faochagach as it would be quite a quick hill so I should be able to get up and down before the predicted bad weather.

The only concern was the mandatory river crossing near the start. The web suggests it can be problematic, and uncrossable is spate. I knew the water level was pretty low due to the dry weather we have had, but did wonder how big a river this was!

The top! Very rounded munro (like the Howgills)

I set off early from the top of Loch Glascarnoch towards the 'big river crossing'. My plan was simple, an extra pair of trainers and socks that I would use to ford the river and leave for the return trip. It worked a treat and the river was only about 12-18" deep. I quickly paddled and was pleased with my plan, as it meant I didn't have wet boots for the remainder of the morning.

Looking South at the murk 

The walk was very pleasant, fairly gentle going, good views of the other local hills and deer on the horizon. One other walker was on the same route behind me, and I wished that they weren't wearing all black clothing as I could of got some good photo's with them in the landscape.

Chasing down the 'walker' - she was fast

Towards the top I could see the weather rolling in from the SW - West and it started to rain as I got to the top. As rain could quite quickly make the river crossing at the start problematic I didn't hang around on top and quickly donned waterproofs and turned around.

In the end the weather didn't amount to much so I stopped lower down and took in the views and hills, thinking how lucky I am that this is now home. The other walker overtook me on her way down and we had a quick chat. She was on a mission only having less than 50 munro's left. I let her get ahead as she was now wearing her waterproofs, some colour for pictures!

Nearly back at the river crossing

I caught her lower down and we finished the walk together having a great chat. A great half day's adventure.

Forest love - not literally!

When I drove up to the Highlands for my job interview in the summer I remember being surprised  by the amount of forest from Aviemore heading North. At the time it reminded me of the Canadian West coast and Vancouver Island and still does. Along with everything else like the mountains and sea, this really made the dream of moving up here even more exciting as I love forests! 

exploring the forests at the weekend

So last weekend we went for a walk exploring some of the extensive forest around Strathpeffer and Contin. It was a great wee walk, and the trails looked amazing for mountain biking. So now winter and the darkness is here I decided it is time to charge up the bike lights and hit the trails. 

inviting.....

Messing around with the camera

I only went on a 1-2 hour route and it was great. Mt biking at night is great fun, even if the trails are easy. All went well, but I was quite surprised and a little 'anxious' when I met 2 guys in camo gear, on quad bikes with rifles in the middle of the forest! 

They just burnt past me a couple of times, but it did feel a bit like the film deliverance, and I thought they may see me as their sport (pray!!). Trying to get out of the way I slipped onto a smaller, quieter trail. The bonus of this that they didn't follow me, but when it popped out at a scary boat house on a black loch jeez the hairs on the back of my neck definitely moved!! The cabin was very spooky so I decided to call it a day and headed back to the van!

The spooky boat house (I daren't go in!)

Snow Hunt - Glen Affric

Very excited going into our first winter in the Highlands and snow has arrived in the last couple of weeks. From my work place at the local hospital I can see Ben Wyvis to the North and this appeared plastered in snow. The West got the most snow this last week and it was fun trying to work out what and where to go - so many options.

Under starters orders at first light..

The weekend weather forecast was great so we had an early start of and headed to Glen Affric. -6 as we set off, and I was glad of the winter tyres driving down the dark frosted and snow covered roads.

When we arrived a father and son were unloading ski's from their car, the hills looked very white and I thought.... should I have brought my ski's...

Skiers having similar snow issues to us!

Wading

We set off from the Chisholme bridge next to Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin planning to go up the two Eastern munro's of Glen Affric, Toll Creagach and Tom a' Choinich. Heading up the track to the new hydro scheme we made good initial progress and gains on the skiers.

At the col

The munro we abandoned tantalisingly close behind Abi

The weather was perfect with low wind, crisp, cold with sunny blue skies. However once off the hydro track the going was brutally challenging, ranging from 6" deep snow, dense heather/bog to many hours of trudging through soft snow that was knee deep and you never knew if you would hit a rock, fall in a hole etc.

Progress was slow and it took much longer to reach the col between the two munro's than expected. The skiers looked like they were having an equally challenging time, potentially easier ascending than us, but the terrain was so full of rocks/hole/streams I doubt very much that they would achieve much skiing on the way back. We saw them ?leave their ski's and go for a scramble up a soft snowy ridge on Tom a' Choinich.

Summit fever

Finally we reached the col and were rewarded with magnificent views in all directions. After food we made the sensible 'call' to change our plans and just head straight for Toll Creagach. After some okay walking and further knee deep wading we achieved the top! Fantastic views, and we were both surprised to be able to see Inverness, the Kessock Bridge and drilling platforms in the Cromarty Firth through binoculars from the top.

Down hill wading (Abi stuck)

Heading down was a little easier, but track/pathless with much wading in deep snow and falling in holes. When we finally hit the hydro track and easier walking the sun was just setting and we were both glad we had ditched the second hill as it was just getting dark as we arrived at the van. -5 when we left the van, -3.5 when we got back! Before heading home it was great to 'use' the van for the first time, sit in the back make a cup of tea and relax for half an hour.... A great but hard day out.

Last of the light

The joy of the van....!

Ski prep at Sandy's Ski Shack...

In preparation for the winter I've joined the local ski club, which could be interesting given that I'm naturally socially inept! Its the club with the longest name - The Inverness Backcountry Snowsports Club (!). I think it could be shortened, but och well who am I to say....

Sandy checks Duncan's work

scrape that P-tex

It has a thorough program of events on over the winter so pretty excited to join in some of the stuff they have planned. Of particular interest this week was the evening ski maintenance/prep session at Sandy's Ski Shack (house).

It was a fun night in the ski shack as Sandy showed us how to correctly prep the ski, P-tex holes, sharpen edges and wax up! Really useful night for me and the others who attended. So my ski's are honed and ready to go... just a shame that I'm not quite there!!

The ski jedi at work...

P-tex to shift....