Tuesday 29 January 2013

SKYE WINTER MAGIC

Great snow cover


I'm over on Skye for a couple of days with return client Ali who is keen to get up onto some Cuillin  summits. The forecast was looking better early in the day, then deteriorating later in the afternoon. We decided on Bruach na Frithe which is a straightforward Munro giving excellent views in good weather. We had just set off from The Slig when the rain came on. A gusty wind of around 40mph was blowing but once in the Fionn Coire we were well sheltered from the SW winds. Great cover of snow at 500m which is soft and will be fab once we get a good freeze. We hit cloud and poor vis at about 800m. It's a myth that a compass is unreliable in The Cuillin! Even so it needs good prior knowledge of the ridge once high up. On the way to the summit we could hear Mike from Skye Guides and said hello- but we couldn't see each other! We headed back down just has the winds increased and rain lower down really set in. It was snowing to around 700m. The burns were well in spate as we battled our way back to The Slig. A great day and confirms my view that there is no gear which is 'waterproof'.

Fionn Coire and snow at 500m
Ali at the summit ridge
Bit windy at times!


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