What a day

The plan was to head up to Rannoch Station on to the Loch then down the Garbh Ghaoir all in open canoes....... What happened was, well.... Different. Force 7 winds and more water than we knew what to do with oh and canoes rather than kayaks. Still good epic day.

River Guide of Garbh Ghaoir:-

Water level needed- Very wet.

Gauge- If the Gaur is running, the Garbh Ghaoir will be a good paddle. If the water is glowing over the dam it will be in excellent condition.

 The warnings were there!

 River Tummel at Tummel Bridge

 Gaur is running. Tick

 Took 4 goes to get this.

 Dragging the boats to the loch. It was a miserable as it looks

 The only slightly sheltered bit out of the wind

 Inspecting the first rapid and deciding we haven't brought the right cahooners or boats

 Nope, eh eh not today thank you.

 Water coming over the Gaur Dam. Check

The lady in the Cafe at Rannoch station said she had never seen water coming over the dam like today.

Crazy week

So this week was spent over at Lochgoilhead Scouting Centre. The weather was having real issues it couldn't decide if it wanted to hold on to winter or let spring come in. Minus temperatures, snow, sunshine, rain and high winds = the most tolerant kids I've worked with in a while.

 Snowy high ropes

 Moon light on Cruach nam Miseag

 Snow cleared for some kayaking in the sun

 Heads shoulders knees and toes kayak style

Relaxing in the sun

High School of Dundee

A wet, windy and sunny day on Loch Faskally with a group from 'High School of Dundee' training for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award later in the year.

Winter isn't over yet

Today Scotland proved it is still winter and that's it not ready for spring. Canoeing on Loch Faskally with some budding DofE students from Glenalmond College, in heavy snow and biting winds. Good fun though!

 The drive from Glenalmond College gave clear clues to the weather ahead!

 Teach the students about tarps and shelters

 Big Mark loving the snow with his paddles?!!!

 My new Palm Atlas jacket

 Loosing Mark in a blizzard

Heading home and still snowing, brilliant day:)

Kayak, Canoe , Ski

Pretty full on week playing on the water and in the snow. The week started with a paddle down the Tummel in kayaks with Roger, followed by a trip down the Awe in canoes with Grant finishing the week with a day on the skis with Helen. Good times.

 Roger running 'Sharks Tooth' rapid on the Tummel

 Roger amongst it on 'Zig and Zag'

 Grant eddying out

 The gorge on the River Awe

 Grant looking calm and collected

 Exiting the gorge on the Awe

Reaching the sea at Dun Mor

 Heading up to the slopes from the car park

 Looking back at Helen on the Cliffhanger Chairlift

 Obligatory selfie

Amongst the heavy snow showers there was blue sky and sunshine 

Sunset

Manage to catch a nice sunset this evening.

A day on the Tay

Really nice winters day on the river Tay with some folks from The Lochgoilhead Centre.

 Flat calm, with a snow covered Ben Lawers in the distance

 Incoming!

 I'm here :)

 Dave crossing on the wave

Arriving in Aberfeldy

Brother time

A really good couple of days playing in the snow with my brother. First day a nice winter walk in the sun on Schiehallion, then a bit messing around on skis and snowboards. All just god clean fun.

Deicing the inside of the van after a -7 night

 Jonathon getting some air

 Looking in control

 Looking out of control!!!

Not sure the mud was why the road was closed

 Looking South towards Gleann Mor

 Looking South West from one of the many false summits

 The wind hand created some spectacular drifts

 Brothers

 On the smmit

Panorama looking North East

Nothing serious, just fun

Snoway

Woke up on Tuesday morning to a nice covering of snow only for it to continue snowing for the next 36 hours. Very wet and windy to day but more snow and bolitic consitions on there way for the weekend and into next week. Bring on winter.

 Winter wonderland

 Washing line sagging a little bit

 9 inches and still snowing

 Ready for some hike and ski action

 Walking across the golf course with the snow up to the shins

Heading back in another blizzard