Gorton Bothy, Bridge of Orchy

So the perfect mountain winter has come to Scotland in the form of billions of six-sided ice crystals.  They accumulate in a wonderful array of layered snow packs - perfect for getting the use out of crampons and ice-axe on a good concave slope.  We arrive near the Glencoe range at 9:30pm and find - no snow!? 

Who moved it?  To be sure, most of the remaining snow was just visible on the tops of the mountains through the darkness.  We were only slightly disappointed.  Ian, Ryan, Thomas, Ethan, Ben and I got kitted up and left the car at 10pm to start the 5-mile hike to the bothy.  2 minutes in and we have to ford 3 small tributary mountain streams.  Ryan gets a soaking, Thomas jumps and struggles to keep from rolling in and we pass through a magical vanishing forest.  When we arrive at the bothy it's 1am and we are only getting started.  The rest of the trip is history . . . enjoy the photos!

Drew's Own Mountain Shots

This is a small selection of my favourite pictures taken with the old faithful Canon Powershot. Enjoy.

The Day After Tommorrow . . . Almost

Monday 29th November and Central Scotland stops working.  The cause: An extreme white-out of heavy snow lasting 7 hours and leaving 2 feet of snow from Lanarkshire to Edinburgh.  Many people spend hours in their cars, some spending the night stranded in deep snow.  Roads come to a halt, I spend 6 hours in the car and I desperately need a number 2!!  When I get home I run to the toilet and Tracie has my Tatties and Dough Balls ready.  The rest of the week the schools are shut and I get the camera out.

Random Shots From Ben Ime, Arrochar Range

The year is 2008 and two men journey to the very Alpine natured mountain range at Arrochar.  What they find will have an impression on their lives that will never be forgotten.  Some of the most ideal weather for mountain photography and a near death experience.  Wilson and Drew discover the beauty and the dangers of the Scottish Southern Mountain ranges.

 

Sore Knees on Schiehallion

January 2010 and after a failed attempt to find the sub-terranian bothy on Schiehallion 2 weeks earlier, Ian and I try again.  After 3 hours of walking up the slope in the dark Ian proclaims "Drew, I don't think we're going to find it this time."  Ignoring this realistic observation I feel the stones of the bothy with my unique mountain sense.  After 10 minutes of self doubt and thoughts of a plan B we stumble upon the snow laden shelter!  The relief is as tangable as the sheep staring at us through the darkness.
After climbing over the 2 foot snow drift we open the door with the usual trepidation.  With these bothies it's hard to tell what you will find inside: no furniture, other climbers or a family of rams.  Thankfully there are some chairs and no other guests.  "We're in for a good night's rest" I say to Ian as we unpack our cooking utensils.  After 20 minutes we have a wee fire and noodles on the boil.  Pure bliss halfway up a mountain with the wind howling outside and being in a cosy bothy.  We spend a few hours the next day climbing to the summit of the mountain when I realise that I have sore knees coming back down.  Old age is a real killer!!