A thousand icicles

On Friday I went back to the Carron Valley Reservoir again with a friend, this time on skis. As we wanted an easy day, we kept to the track that runs along just above the reservoir for much of the way, but with a few small hills to add a bit of interest to the skiing.

Sheltered corners of the reservoir were completely frozen, but there was enough movement in the water further out to break the ice and the middle of the reservoir was entirely free of ice. In the picture below, taken where the ice was breaking up, you can just see the open water beyond the ice.

After a couple of miles we decided to stop for lunch beside the reservoir. It was only then that we noticed what wind and water had done to the trees along the shoreline. The base of each one was completely covered in icicles of every possible description.

In the picture above, the pile of snow along the shoreline is in fact washed-up pieces of ice from the surface of the reservoir, covered in a thin layer of snow.

Some of the icicles were hardly thicker than pencils and pointing upwards instead of down. Others were curiously bent (some of these having formed around thin twigs which hardly show in the pictures). All the pictures below are the right way up.

Even each blade of grass was completely encased with ice.

On a different note, today, Easter Day, we stayed at home to watch the service broadcast from Paisley Abbey on BBC Scotland this morning. What a treat! ...and I'm not just saying that because I do the website for the director of music there. If you can access iplayer, it's available for the next week at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rp2sq and I strongly recommend it.

More ice

Last Wednesday was a cold bright day. The night before, we had passed a frozen waterfall high up on the Campsie Fells on our way home from an unsuccessful attempt to try and view Comet Pan-STARRS, so we decided to head out in that direction.

We were not disappointed, though the waterfall was in the shade, which is probably why the icicles had remained.

On our way home, later in the day, we were lucky to catch the few minutes when they were sunlit.

Our destination, however, was the Carron Valley Reservoir, where we went for a walk.

Here we found some amazing ice formations, including these ice stalagmites.

Several streams were encrusted with ice crystals. I thought these looked like the skeleton of a reptile.

Cracked ice on a puddle

At the edge of the reservoir, where the ice was moving and clinking in the wind, it appeared as if ice pans were beginning to form.

Curious short icicles in a stream

Ben Lomond - part way

On 27th February there was thick mist, but the forecast said that it was to clear later. I love days like that, especially if I can catch that moment when the mist begins let the sunshine through. I wasn't feeling like a heavy day of walking but didn't know how high I would have to climb to get above the mist, so I decided to go part way up Ben Lomond. I wouldn't feel the need to go to the top, since I have done it many times before.

On the way there, blue sky was visible at the highest point on the road, and the mist was already beginning to clear by the time I reached Rowardenann, where the walk begins. In just a few minutes I was out of it and into bright sunshine. Ptarmigan - the west ridge of Ben Lomond - was just appearing when I left the trees.

Soon I had a view of the hills to the west.

Mist was still lying over the southern part of Loch Lomond.

By early afternoon, the islands were beginning to appear.

On the way down, Ptarmigan was no longer shrouded in mist.

The small island of Inchlonaig was also appearing.

Back at Rowardennan.

Snowing

February was the most amazing month for good weather here in Scotland. We had day after day of bright sunshine, and I was even able to mow the lawn for the first time since last summer. I was so busy going out in the good weather that I had no time to write about it, so expect several blog posts in the next few days while I catch up.

But on the 13th we had a snowy day, so it was on with the skis and multiple layers of warm clothes and waterproofs while the snow fell steadily.

It was very sticky snow, lying thickly on the branches of the trees and forming lumps on the undersides of our skis whenever we stopped,

but fortunately someone had some magic teflon non-wax which prevented the problem, so we applied it liberally to our skis. (I must remember to remove it again before we have fresh snow, or I'll be hurtling down even the gentlest slopes at 90mph.)

Views were limited, but we caught a glimpse of the Kilpatrick Hills to the west.

Then home for some hot soup.

A Beautiful day

On Thursday we went for a walk on the Lang Craigs above Overton, near Dumbarton. It was a beautiful misty day.

After the storm

It's just over 3 weeks since the storm of 23rd May. The effects on trees everywhere have been noticeable, but at the coast the results have been dramatic.

Yesterday we visited Ardmore Point near Helensburgh. Unfortunately the weather was very overcast most of the time, so I was unable to take many pictures in good conditions.

In this picture, taken by the car park which is quite sheltered from the worst of the wind, one tree is bare and the hedge is brown.

This isolated tree and those behind it look quite autumnal.

Many trees lost all or many of their leaves.

Ash trees in particular were left bare.

Closer examination showed that most trees, including this ash, were beginning to sprout new shoots.

On the west coast of the peninsula, all the leaves of the trees were totally brown.

Even in more sheltered places, many leaves were damaged.


This rose had shrivelled leaves, but the flowers were unaffected.

The picture below shows the windward west side of a hedge.

On the east side of the same hedge, the leaves were protected and remained green.

An isolated tree which had been stripped nearly bare of leaves.

An ash tree with few remaining leaves, despite being in a more sheltered position on the east side of the peninsula.

Another bare tree by the shore.

Brown trees along the main coastal road at Helensburgh.

Today we went further inland, well away from the coast. Even here, many trees were browned, with fallen branches lying along the verges.

Below - Copper beech leaves from far inland showing storm damage.


See these links for further information:

Just4theplanet.com

Largs & Millport Weekly News