Sunday 25 January 2015

Meall Dearg. A Graham near Aberfeldy.

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A Saturday trip up north this time saw myself, Alex, Graeme, Grant and David head up as a carload of hill walkers to the Graham just south of Aberfeldy, Meall Dearg, 690 metres or 2263 feet, and its outlying top Creag an Loch, 663 metres. The snow was deep and crisp and uneven up here with a forecast of clear skies but a windchill factor of -20 below on the heights, once on the snowfields. About a 20 miles an hour wind blowing steadily in exposed places so we had full thermal gear on all day. Graham: a Scottish  mountain between 2000 and 2500 feet high.
The track in was sheet ice covered in a few inches of snow, where I managed to do the full banana skin fall, heels in the air, landing flat on my back on the ice. Luckily, my rucksack took most of the impact but it was a sore one. Saved the camera as I had it out at the time but a keen photographer never drops his guard.... or grip:o) These hills and this high upland road through Glen Cochill (A826) seems to be a popular skiing destination in winter as a few other cars with cross country skiers arrived to take advantage of the network of forestry and upland tracks leading onto the surrounding mountains. We parked near Loch na Craige to take advantage of a track through the forest leading towards our hill.
Away from the track, see photo above, snow covered the landscape, where deep hidden holes lurked to trap the unwary. Graeme sinking up to his thigh in this one. At least it was a dry hollow.
Falling into this other one would be like dropping into a waist deep, half frozen, slush puppy. Not pleasant and potentially dangerous at the start of the day.
As we climbed higher onto the plateau the frozen snow held our weight more often and we didn't crash through it so much, which can be very draining, energy wise. Scotland lies at the same latitude as parts of Alaska and Hudson Bay in Canada and away from the effects of the coast and Gulf Stream temperatures the weather conditions can be brutal. Low winter sunlight didn't provide much heat and you wouldn't last long up here in the event of an accident. Every time I took my gloves off to take a quick photograph it took at least ten minutes to heat them back up again.
Climbing ever higher. Cute ice crystals sparkling in this one.
Nice wind blown snow patterns in this shallow gully filled with deeper waist high drifts. The secret is to avoid these areas altogether and walk up the firm ridges and sections where the snow will take your weight. Easier said than done in some cases.
Avoiding frozen bodies of water is also advisable as many folk have crashed through into snow covered lochans in the past during white out conditions and not even realized they had water beneath their boots. A lot of ancient "Coffin Roads" lost a body or two and some of the bearers this way giving you an idea of how brutal life was in the Scotland of old. Wolves were feared and hated then mainly because they dug up fresh bodies and left them for scavengers after they had eaten their fill so clans often buried their dead on islands in lochs to avoid this fate and would travel miles carrying coffins over the hill passes to do so. Loch Fender, seen here, with mini ice bergs in it, still half frozen.
Very interesting article here on the last of the roaming wolf packs in Scotland, the demise of the great wood of Caledon that stopped the Roman Army in its tracks and the gradual change to the desolate barren wasteland we think of as "natural Scottish wilderness" today. Only a lonely handful of ancient yew trees scattered in otherwise bleak, empty glens are old enough to "remember" the lynx, the brown bear, the wild boar, the elk and the wolf running or sheltering under their branches.

http://www.wolvesandhumans.org/wolves/history_of_wolves_in_scotland.htm
 Graeme and David with what looks like Schiehallion, a popular Munro at 1083 metres, looming in the background. Several large wind farms now ring this empty quarter but one in particular annoyed me as it stood in the way of superb wild views to the Northern Munros. The Beinn a Ghlo range and several others in the distance.
I've always suspected large wind farms are just another license to print money and a tax dodge, like the blanket forestry plantations over the flow country or the shares issue, both several decades ago. If they are, doubtless the tax payer will pick up the bill to remove them ... or even worse... they prove too costly to remove and we are stuck with them forever, once they break down, as permanent eyesores in the environment. I,m not scientific enough to know the full truth of whether we require them or not... few are outside of the scientific community itself. Here's an interesting short link however with a few details folk might not be aware of about "Harmless Green Energy."
http://www.scotsman.com/news/comment-renewables-drain-our-resources-1-3659067
It's a complicated topic with strong opinions on all sides and hard for any non academic to understand. Personally, I don't mind them in bleak, desolate areas that are scenically uninteresting anyway, or land covered in man made blanket conifer plantations already devoid of most forms of wildlife. However, most of these obvious areas have been grabbed by turbines already so they are now starting to intrude on the types of landscapes that tourists and UK visitors pay good money to see.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/rspb-lodges-legal-challenge-against-wind-farms-1-3659114?WT.mc_id=Outbrain_text&obref
If they are not harmful to birds flying into the blades in poor visibility... why the legal challenge?
 From my own point of view, as a frequent hill walker around Scotland, mainly south of Glencoe (Truth is, I cant afford the petrol these days to go further north in my own country :o) there are very few occasions now when wind farms do not spoil the view, often in two directions at once. It's getting increasingly harder to take a photograph showing Scotland's beauty without a wind farm in the picture somewhere.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/wind-turbines-ruin-views-in-most-of-scotland-1-3540530
Three short articles from one newspaper in the space of a five minute search under "Scottish wind farms" so people are increasingly concerned over this issue. Given the speed of construction and the sheer number of applications (which is why I suspect a rat regarding value for money over the long term) it may already be too late.

Nearing the summit slopes of Meall Dearg after a canter across the windswept upland plateau. Brutal winds and freezing conditions meant we were all glad we had avoided the higher Munro summits today.
Getting there....
Coming back down, descending icy slopes.
Canter out to the road and looking forward to being warm again.
A last hurdle. As we came down by a circular route we had a burn to cross at the end. Far better to have wet feet at the end of the day rather than at the start. A grand energetic outing. Winter has definitely arrived in Scotland.

Still continuing the traditional folk music theme here's a suitable video. In the 1980s I was a big fan of east coast social rebel Dick Gaughan, went through to see him perform in Edinburgh pubs and venues, and still have all his early albums. Powerful singer and magical guitar player. This is from his classic Handful of Earth album. LP of the year way back in 1981. My own favourite though is his first album from the early 1970s  No More Forever, which is less political, just full of great traditional folk songs.





Monday 19 January 2015

Loch Lomondside in Winter.

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Although I slept in and missed Graeme, Alex, and David's trip to the mountains of the east coast in deep snow (sorry guys) I did manage to get out the next day, Sunday, as the weather was too good to miss. Full winter conditions come to  Ben Lomond, see photo above, with the Island of Inchmurrin in front.
Luss Church and graveyard looking fairly snowy as well.
 The Luss hills above the village of the same name. Popular Scottish TV series Take the High Road was filmed here over many years and it still draws in loads of visitors, even in winter. The Paps, Cruach Dhubh and Beinn Ruiag direction.
Probably Fieldfares but might be Redwings. Thrushes anyway. Covers all the options :o)
Bullfinch.
Assorted Geese and Ben Lomond.
Luss, Hill walkers and Islands in Loch Lomond.
Navy helicopter over the Firth of Clyde.
There used to be a boat that sailed from Derry/Londonderry nicknamed "The little green boat from Derry." This plane flies in most days to Glasgow airport (might be every day) and I always look up and think there's that little green plane again but I,m always too slow to photograph it on the zoom as it's a fast wee bugger and hard to locate in a wide sky. Nailed it at last with a decent image. Usually get a tail shot or a blur.
Luss was a busy place despite the snow but it's free parking in winter, in a large car park. (80 pence an hour in summer which mounts up if you're out for a full day on the hills)
 An eventful trip to these islands takes place in Chapter Four of my book Autohighography, which is a comedy about a fictional Glasgow hillwalking club. The underlying clues and some of the secrets contained throughout this book will be revealed at a later date as it does have hidden complexities you might not be aware of. It is not just "another hillwalking book" as that was never my intention when writing it. No politics in it at all as I wanted to create a fun book folk might actually read.


I finished the day on the return leg by heading for Dumbarton and sunset over the River Clyde at low tide and a stroll along the sands/mud flats. A magical experience and you could almost hear the mermaids sing.
The edge of the deep water channel near Langbank. A fine free walk.



The Firth of Clyde in Winter.


This was intended to be a cheery post so I,ll end with this upbeat cheery video. Amazing song and harmonica playing combined. Felix the Cat was the first big superstar of animation in the 1920s until the change from silent to talkies came in. Maybe a coincidence but the early Mickey Mouse cartoons, which came later and took over, bears a resemblance to Felix in shape and design.
Of course Disney went on to conquer the world market but they do seem similar. It's never stuck me how much until now.



Autohighography. First three chapters free to read here.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JNAIGAO/ref=s9_simh_bw_p351_d3_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=17N3DV6YZTHCKJ5AGX34&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=511296287&pf_rd_i=341689031



Tuesday 13 January 2015

This Island Earth. Selfie at the World's End?

A post inspired by the headlines and ever increasing storm force winds of the first month of 2015.
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 Do we still believe the world is flat?    The majority of us...No.
Have we learned anything since we discovered we actually live on a ball? Deep down.As humans.No
Do we still kill,smash each others temples,and make constant war in the name of invisible gods? Yes.
Do we use up the world's ever dwindling resources, making millions of frivolous products we do not actually require? Yes.
Do we continue to destroy and destabilize the climate, the forests,the vegetation, and the oceans that we all rely on to survive and which may yet prove our one true salvation? Sadly... Yes.
Are we continually sidetracked by distractions?               All the time. It's in our nature.
Will we take a selfie of each other, fighting, squabbling, praying, or cheerfully dying, thumbs up, at the world's end, after we have wiped out everything else on earth first? Probably.
 This small crowded ball we live on is the only tangible reality and always has been.
If an alien race came to this shabby corner of the universe, at some point in the future....
will they study the empty ruins around our depleted planet and conclude that we all suffered from
a collective madness that eventually eradicated us in the end?
Well... that will be for them to decide.
as we will be long gone and scattered, by the unstable forces of nature we helped to create.
Then the long slow painful miracle of single cell life can start again... with us safety removed from the picture.
The End.

A song I always liked with topical lyrics. Decades old now but more relevant than ever. A cautionary tale for our increasingly uncertain future?




Photos in sequence from top..... Anniesland Tower.Glasgow..... Christmas Tree at Anniesland Cross..... Stag at Lomondgate. Dumbarton... Cairngorms Sunset.... Loch Leven Cliffs..... Mist Inversion on Ochils..... Black Alcove. My House..... Winter in the Trossachs..... Kilmacolm view.....Anderston District in Glasgow..... Slow-Mo Christmas Lights..... Herd Mentality in Renfrewshire...... Sun Ball on Skye..... Hydro in Glasgow..... Fairy Pool in Buchan.










Friday 2 January 2015

Glasgow In Late December. The Art Of Darkness

An obvious pun on a classic book but it suits this post. Much of the month has been either rain or grey murky weather so I've had little inclination to go up hills and get soaked. However two days over the holiday period stand out, as perfect inversions occurred over Glasgow and the surroundings and I just happened to be there to capture it all.
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Cycle ride along the Forth and Clyde canal at Blairdardie to get something in Clydebank. As soon as the sun dropped the temperature did as well and it felt well below zero. Bike is in the cellar now for the winter probably. Me no like icy roads and hard falls on tarmac these days.
As there was an inversion over Glasgow's low lying districts I knew from previous winters Mugdock Country Park had a chance of being clear as it sits on a ridge between the Campsie Fells and Glasgow. Same area as last weeks post but very different conditions.
Craigmaddie Muir and a hidden Glasgow lying under the murk. It was a murky and fairly surreal mist-land over most of the city.
Maryhill Hi Rise Flats sticking up above the clouds.Wyndford district and the colourful gable mural on Maryhill Road. Fairly hazy as the mist was swirling  around Mugdock which was just above the layer by only a couple of hundred feet. Dawsholm Park is the wooded area left of the Hi Rise Flats.
More sheep grazing above Glasgow.Kyber Pass area.
The weird thing was in the other direction the hills slightly to the north, like Dumgoyne here, were clear.
Paisley and the Gleniffer Braes. You can see the Coats Observatory and Church Spire sticking up here.
Looking North West from the flagpole summit towards Anniesland Tower. As I could see Ruchill Park was just clear of the murk I decided to go there for the sunset. Ruchill park at night used to get a pretty grim reputation for gangs after dark but as it was around minus five degrees I thought it would be safe enough and so it proved. Parking available on Murano Street, near the park gates and new flats. It has great panoramas over the city which is why it is included in my latest book... yet to be published on Kindle.

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A misty Port Dundas.
Park Circus Towers.
What I was really here for was the sunset and misty conditions often produce good ones because of the frozen moisture in the air distorting the spectrum. A fiery red or orange sunset is common at this time of year. University of Glasgow.
The Sun dropping lower. Ra Descending.(I usually say at this point I,m a follower of Isis (ancient Egyptian sun worshipers) but folk might get the wrong idea.
On the way back home I stopped off at Knightswood Park as I already knew it had great night time potential from previous visits here in the dark. I wanted to get beak to beak close ups this time so I sat down at the pond edge and waited for them to come to me. Judging by the plaintive pecks they seemed to be hungry as folk probably haven't got as much spare cash these days. Mind you mouldy or constant white bread is probably as bad for them than no bread at all as it makes them sick after a while. The wildlife islands that they recently built in the pond, presumably in part for nesting on or so they wouldn't get frozen into the ice in hard winters are hidden under water thanks to all the rain. If they keep paddling around constantly all night it usually stays partly ice free.
A spooky scene. Personally, I like wandering around on a dark misty night. Very surreal and atmospheric and you can hear anyone coming long before they see you.Altered sound and movement changes the game to a whole new level. Great conditions for creepy crawl work.
And so to bed. (There is something very weird happening with the photos here in this post as they have perfect definition and clarity full screen on my computer before I post them on the blog then they get all mottled in places on here, even when reduced in size. Mist on the lens doesn't help as the air is constantly damp below the murk.
As I put a lot of time and effort into my photographs and wanted this post to be special I've now exchanged the bad, mottled photos for a better updated set.
Sheep in Amber Light.
Milngavie Reservoirs.
Dog walker under the murk layer.
More mist effects.
Knightswood Pond at Christmas. Swans, Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and a little Grebe.

Found another great video of Catherine the Great. Most top climbers still regard an ascent of The Old Man of Hoy as a climbing partnership, (with ropes up each pitch), a massive achievement. La Belle Destivelle- three months pregnant and a virtual solo outing with a sizable back pack. This is ten years on from the Mali Video and seems to be a year after she fell over 60 feet on a mountain in Antarctica, fracturing her leg. Age here is around 37 years old. She cut back on soloing after this to become a wife and mum. Worth watching full screen.



My comedy novel about a Glasgow outdoor club featuring chapters on Hillwalking, Kayaking, Caving,Rock Climbing, Island bagging, back packing across Europe and many other adventures is available now on kindle. The first couple of chapters can be read for free here. I also have a photo heavy guide book out. A Guide to Walking and Cycling around the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde which has over 80 walks and cycles in it from Glasgow to Girvan and all points in between.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JNAIGAO/ref=s9_simh_bw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1JJCYXJSZ223VH4A4R09&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=511296287&pf_rd_i=341689031