Weekend in the hills

Not Beverley Hills! The Trossachs. Out and about with a Bronze practise Duke of Edinburgh's Award group from Fettes College. Two days of wall to wall sunshine, couldn't have been any nicer.

 Camp spot for the night

Some minor boot repair!

 Sorted!

 Sunset over the camp

Stars beginning to become visible

Lomand again

Back on Loch Lomond, this time with Fettes College on their Gold DofE practise expedition. In terms of training expedition this one couldn't have given them more preparation, big winds, snow, sleet, heavy rain and flat calm with sunshine, should set them up for the Great Glen in August quiet nicely.

 Day 1 in the sun

Another storm passing through, I think this one was the snow!

Another storm on its way

Evening rescues in the very welcome sunshine

Watching the sun go down from my hammock on night 3

Loch Lomond DofE

Just back from a Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessment with St Aloysuis College. The weather was more than in our favour. Day 2 was a little breezy but the first and last day more than made up for it. Lets hope this continues for the weekend with Fettes College on their Gold training again on Loch Lomond

 Day 1

 Lunch stop, day 1

My digs on the first night

Hammocking in the evening sun

Night 2 in the hammock

Filling out paperwork in my hammock in the evening sun

Dusk at camp 2

 Morning Day 3

Flat calm conditions

And just kept getting better and better

And we are off

All new for 2015, just started my new job working for Beyond Adventure. Some boat set up and maintainance, safety kayaking for a slalom meet, meeting/ fun paddle with Wilderness Scotland and a family day on the river.

Slalom action

 

 One of my boses

 The always impressive 'Wade's Bridege' over the river Tay

Todays family group

Chilli Splash

First canyon session of 2015 yesterday. Was a little fresh with the water been snow melt! 

Lower Orchy

So once again Grant and I were on the river, and once again we went for the best day of the week weather wise. That's right, not on Tuesday when it was super sunny and no wind, not Wednesday when there were light showers, oh no, today when there was vertical rain with rain drops as big as a 50 pence, wind that would blow boats of roofs and us back up the river. But fun times never the less.

 The spectacular Falls of Orchy at the get on

Grant running the weir

Playing on the little wave

  If you zoom in you can see how wet it was by Grants hair:)

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:)