Going into winter I think YES! There's going to be snow on the hills.
But I remember walking up Beinn Chabhair not far from Crianlarich back at the start of the month, I had my crampons and axe with me but they stayed in my pack, really there wasn't much snow at all, there were even a few summer walkers delighted to have got out and made their first Munro of the year. I thought that's it, winter is almost over. I even felt too warm with my winter base layer on when I got back down to Inverarnan. Soon be time to switch to the lighter stuff I thought.
The following week, the snow was back as I headed up An Caisteal and Beinn a'Chroin but only on the higher slopes. Was good snow though, hard and stable, crampons and axe oot of the sack and in use.
But now, the snow is down into the glens and there's loads of it. Further north on the west coast it's more towards the tops. Had some time off so headed off and did the Loch Lochy Munros, simple hills but the snow was slabby and not stable, must be well scary on the Nevis range etc.
I headed to Skye to do some walking and maybe explore the Cuillins a little for the first time. But yup, loads of snow high up, none low down, so I quickly forgot about the Cuillins, unless you are very confident it's not a place for solo winter walking or climbing.
Was going to head to Mull for some easier hills (sure still to be snow) but my rear windscreen on the car shattered. Not easy to get a replacement on the Islands, could have pressed on but decided to head home. Bloody cold up North, cold doon here in Ayrshire but generally a bit more sheltered.
But yeah I've had enougth snow and looking forward to snow free hills, can't be that far off can it?
Also another thing - the weather - it seems to me to be all focced up. Yup last year this time was weird, we were getting over 20 degrees C some days, again I was off, and on one walk thought that if it got any warmer it would be too warm for me to be walking.
This winter for months on end we've had easterly or north easterly winds. Usually during a Scottish winter you might get a period of easterly winds, maybe 2 or 3 weeks, no more, plus maybe the odd periods of a day or two, but months - it's most unusual.
Global warming? Perhaps. But one thing for sure, with marked and changing weather patterns, records being broken year on year, crises after crises, well our climate does appear to be changing.
Wonder what the summer will bring.
Patchy snow on Beinn Chabhair a few weeks ago. Now, if it's soft, you'll be up to your waist in the darn stuff up there.
