With the Scottish summer now a soggy distant memory, it's time for me to get out and get some shots. I'm just back from a few days in Lochaber. I'd planned a summit camp and traverse of the Grey Corries an undulating line of summits near Spean Bridge. The weather forecast looked good for both days? That said throughout summer this had been promised and not delivered, so I was sceptical.
I need not have been, the weather remained great and I got some nice shots over the summits to the Mamores and beyond. As well as a couple of other shots that I was fairly happy with too. Having spent some time shooting on Claurigh at sunset, I headed back to the tent in near darkness, taking my time to navigate the boulders and rocky sections. By the time I was back at the tent it was pitch black and the stars filled the clear skies. I sat down at the tent and grabbed something to eat and something hot to drink, there was a chill in the air now. Not freezing but a comfortable chill. I sat outside the tent drinking my tea and listening to a lone stag in the glen below, it's bellowing call was a satisfying comfort and a sound I hadn't heard in a while. I miss these trips so much when I can't get out. I stumbled out the tent at 5.00 a.m and blinked my vision into place and examined the western summits, scanning for clarity over the skies. The western summits clear I turned to see the bright orange glow of pre sunrise and grabbed my gear. I was off again, ok it was twenty feet. I was having my breakfast while shooting the sunrise over the summits, a light frost had formed overnight and the carpet of white had covered the tent. No sooner had the sun come up and I was on my way back to the car, finally a set of shots that had come together. This is Scotland the weather never does what it should, seasons are just a guideline, with only autumn and winter conforming to type.
