Winter Walking and Ski Touring
This week I’ve been lucky enough to get out in the Pentlands again in winter conditions. On Tuesday Ivor and I were out for a walk in glorious sunny weather with a dusting of fresh snow. On Friday Pamela and I managed an opportunistic ski tour. The snow cover was good on paths and tracks where it had a base and had drifted in on top overnight. Away from these there was no real base except in small sheltered locations and care was required. A great fun day, which helped to keep our winter skills ticking over as best we can currently.
Winter Walking and Climbing in the Pentlands
Last week saw some good wintery conditions in the Pentland Hills. This meant I was able to get out locally for some winter walking and climbing. The climbing was only in the Grade I to III range and not classics. However, it was great to get out and practice skills I’ll hopefully need later in the season.
The Pentlands
Fiona, Joe and I were out today in the Pentland Hills with an excellent group from Grangemouth High School.
Joe and one of the group high on the screes underneath Caerketton Hill with Edinburgh in the background.
It was cool to start with after an overnight frost, but was warm in the sun later on with light variable winds. The Pentlands are dry underfoot at the moment after the recent weather.
Pentlands Navigation
I was out yesterday in the Pentlands running a Navigation Course for Ramblers Scotland. The group were enthusiastic and asked lots of questions, which made for a great course.
The team on top of Caerketton Hill
The winds were Easterly and cool, but there was no rain and the hills were drier away from the paths than I’d expected.
Pentlands Navigation
Yesterday Glenn & I were out in the Pentlands with a group from the Quickdraw Club looking at navigation and orienteering. We made use of the orienteering course at Hillend before taking in Caerketton and Allermuir Hills.
A view of Arthur’s Seat from the Pentlands
The weather remained fine all day with light Westerly winds and great views. The group were excellent and put in to practice the skills learnt in a classroom session with Glenn on Friday.
Pentlands Navigation Course
I was out today in the Pentlands with a group from the Edinburgh Council Adult Education Programme. We were looking Navigation for Hillwalking. We used the area just South and West of the ski area, which has some excellent featured ground for looking at contour interpretation and managed to take in the tops of Caerketton and Allermuir Hills as well.
Descending from the Pentlands with Arthur’s Seat in the distance
No rain during the day, broken cloud above the summits and only light winds. The ground is saturated, but paths and tracks weren’t too muddy.
Pentlands
Euan, Craig and I were out in the Pentlands today with an excellent group of young people from Falkirk and their leaders. We were looking at the navigation the group will need for their Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition.
Diane with the very green Caerketton Hill behind
The weather us kind to us and we avoided the heavy showers that were around whilst we were out on the hill. The ground was pretty dry underfoot, given the recent downpours, with just the odd muddy section on paths and tracks.
Fittingly, great views to Edinburgh today
