What a difference a week makes. From the hard packed snow and blown powder of last weekend to plus 3 degrees and wet granulated snow today.  At least the wind was minimal – better than 40 mph gusts. 

Pressendye, the most easterly Graham,  at 620m, was my destination this weekend. I intended to climb to Pressendye and ski along the ridge.   It is a hill I regularily climb as the views across to Lochnagar and the Mounth are usually superb.  Alas today it was misty and drizzly and hence the lack of photographs on the blog. Pressendye could be the location of a wind farm, which would spoil a perfect location, however the planning application has been rejected at the local Aberdeenshire Council level.

Today I replaced my Paramo Alta 2 jacket with a Hilltrek Cotton Analogy Foinaven Smock. Cotton Analogy is our own invention which uses a Ventile Cotton Outer and a Nikwax Pump Liner inner. All of our Cotton Analogy designs are approved by Nikwax Fabrics and tested by Leeds University. With a Paramo Reversible shirt underneath, the Foinaven Smock was perfect for the wet humid conditions and its breathability ideal for the hard work.

The track up the hill passing below Pittenderich was patchy and with the wet deep snow it was hard work skinning up and awkward skiing down. Still its better to be out on the hills than sitting inside watching Scotland being gubbed by the French.

For details of Grahams and how to get to Pressendye see  http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/grahams/pressendye.