UKC

I know it's early, but a couple of cooler mornings have got me hankering after the snows again. If recent years are anything to go by then it won't be long now before the first cosmetic dusting of the white stuff!

I've decided to set up a lighthearted competition on my blog. Place your bets and winners shall receive a free copy of one of my books. For the rules and list of existing entries please click below:

http://www.alexroddie.com/2013/08/first-scottish-snow-sweepstakes.html

Please share if you like

In reply to Only a hill:

It hasn't quite all gone away yet - was up on the Monadhliath on Monday, and could see a decent sized patch still hanging in there on the Cairngorms.

In reply to Neil Pratt:
That's one reason why I love the Scottish hills. Winter is never far away!

In reply to Only a hill:
Excellent idea. What if we don't have google+ or twitter though?

In reply to goose299:
You can place your bets here if you want, I don't mind (I'll keep an eye on the thread).

In reply to Only a hill:
1st week in October for me then
Having read your previous two books, I'm hoping to blag a copy of the new one

In reply to Neil Pratt:

There are quite a few patches still around in odd places. Was out yesterday on the Callater hills and could see a pretty long (100ft or so) two-pronged vertical patch in a NW-facing cleft on Cairn of Claise. I thought it might last until mid-Sept and so make it through to the start of next winter, but my pal Ken reckoned it wouldn't survive August.

In reply to Only a hill: 3 September.

In reply to Only a hill:

...13th October.....
ANdy

In reply to Only a hill: Thursday 24th October. A nice wee dusting over the Lochaber hills slap bang in the middle of my Fort William based Autumnal break with the wife.... I'm usually with her for breakfast and evening meal!!

In reply to Only a hill:

I'd like it to stay away from the Torridon area until after the middle of October, please. Or rather, it can scatter the tops if it likes, but no more.

In reply to Only a hill:
25th Sept

In reply to Tall Clare:

Hope you have a good time in Torridon ... I haven't managed to get up that way just yet. I'm just starting to think about a backpacking trip to (possibly) Glen Affric in a few weeks.

In reply to goose299:

It's still a work in progress at the moment but it should hopefully be ready within a month or two!

In reply to Only a hill:

You really really REALLY have to go. It's, like, the law

In reply to Only a hill:

Hurrah - looking forward to it

In reply to Only a hill:

I was in Chill factor e in Manchester and it had just snowed.

In reply to nbonnett:
Not sure that counts

Got loads of entries so far, a couple of them extremely specific!

In reply to Only a hill: the morning of the 27th of September

In reply to Only a hill: 29th september.but with any luck, never.

In reply to SeanB: 1st full week in November

In reply to Only a hill:
Keep 'em coming folks

In reply to Only a hill: September 23rd @ approx. 8.24pm

In reply to Only a hill: September 25th Cairn Gorm ski area, after dark

In reply to Only a hill:
12th October ....... I hope i am wrong and it comes before.

In reply to Only a hill:

3rd October.

In reply to Only a hill:

22nd September

In reply to Only a hill: Easy... 4th September as always....

In reply to Simon Yearsley: Yep 4th September on the Ben for me.

In reply to Only a hill:

2nd September, obviously on the Ben.

In reply to Only a hill:
All entries logged, thanks folks

In reply to Only a hill:

So, you are a writer. I think that this post is nothing more than a trawl, designed to elicit info. from this site so that you can write something with observations sent in by people who have actually been on the hill.
Your competition is a false instrument.

In reply to Only a hill:

First snow dusting on the hills around Akureyri in Iceland a couple of days ago when I was up there. Don't suppose that counts though.

In reply to Only a hill: within a week of last year..

In reply to j0ntyg:

Are you for real?

In reply to xplorer:

It is a surprisingly nasty post, and completely unwarranted, begging the question 'just who is this grand person hiding behind a jumble of letters?'

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

I wouldn't say grand!

In reply to xplorer:

I meant someone who puts him/herself on a very high judgmental pedestal.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Agreed - especially as Alex comes across as such a generally affable person.

In reply to Tall Clare:

Very strange isn't it? Sounds like some deep personal grudge.

In reply to j0ntyg:

Lighten up - it's just a bit of fun! I don't do 'trawling for info.'

In reply to Only a hill:

First week of October.

I already bought the Kindle version of "The Only Genuine Jones", I thought it was a great read.

In reply to Only a hill:

It was such a bizarre accusation too; I have a pretty vivid imagination but still can't really think of a good way to work the date-crucial first snowfall on the Scottish mountains into a short story, although perhaps you should try!

Now, if he had said you had come up with a fun way to get traffic on your blog/readers interested in your books - it might have been fairer; but what's wrong with that? You've offered a nice prize for a comp anyone can enter and plenty of us try to promote something we've written etc. once in a while.

In reply to Only a hill: First snowfall is a tricky one, first route in acceptable conditions might be simpler to judge - but put me down for September 23rd for the snow. First route will Pygmy Ridge on October 3rd.

In reply to j0ntyg:

Get a grip!!!!

In reply to Only a hill: 6th December for me

In reply to TobyA:

Really? I bet Alex is renaming his next book 'Alpine Dawn: The First Snows' as we speak.

In reply to Only a hill: September 17th for me

In reply to Only a hill: Sept 25th for me because it's my birthday. But seeing as it's already been claimed then I'll go for 24th so it has a chance to consolidate a little for me

In reply to chris_s:


Well, he should be asking for guesses on when the first pisted runs above Cham open then!

In reply to TobyA: "scattered blustery showers developing during the afternoon, heaviest and most frequent across the Monadhliath mountains and Cairngorms, with sleet or snow over the highest summits."

Met Office East Highlands Forecast for this coming Saturday - 31st Aug!

In reply to DundeeDave:

That means Bowfell Butress will be in nick the first week of September!






IGMC

I woke up this morning and remembered it had snowed a few days ago. Then I realised I had dreamed it. Still, not long now!

In reply to DundeeDave:

Aye - MWIS also suggesting snow on the Gorms on Saturday.

In reply to Cobbler: My feet are cold in flip flops in Glasgow today. A sure sign ... that I'm not wearing socks.
R

In reply to Cobbler:

...keep an eye on the webcams tomorrow!
ANdy

In reply to Only a hill: Scott Kirkhope says he saw the white stuff on Ben Nevis today!

In reply to Only a hill: 18th September

In reply to AlH:


Short-lived - nothing left by midday.

In reply to Jamie B: I should bloody well hope so in August!

In reply to AlH:

There def white stuff! It didnt lie tho so don't count!

In reply to Only a hill:

Had to clear snow of the car windscreen this morning and scrape the windows. Buttresses looking well rimed up.

In reply to Only a hill:

6 February.

In reply to george mc:

Seriously?!

Not been following this thread too closely the past few days - looks like I've got a few more entries to add to the list!

In reply to Only a hill: So who won then?

In reply to NottsRich:
Nobody has won yet, as far as I can tell - there were rumours of snow in the Cairngorms yesterday, but refuted by those on the ground. Others observed a few tiny patches on the Ben last week but that doesn't count according to the rules; it's got to be an appreciable fall that lasts more than an hour or two If anyone has more accurate information I'd love to hear it.

Looks like next week might give us a good chance!

In reply to Only a hill: Does this count?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-23997585

In reply to earlsdonwhu:
Not really, the rules state scottish mountains , god effort though . The clock is ticking

In reply to Only a hill:

Light dusting of snow on Ben Macdui today. Forecast heavy snow on the Ben for coming monday.

In reply to JohnMarl:

Since nobody was on the list for today, but several have put their names down for Sunday and Monday, we'll leave it running and see what happens

In reply to Only a hill:
So ... will it be today? I'd be interested to hear any reports of snow in the hills, if anyone has been brave enough to get out!

In reply to Only a hill: according to MWIS wet snow high up for the next few days. Does that count?

In reply to TheDrunkenBakers:
I should think so - I've yet to see any convincing evidence of more than a tiny flurry until now, but this sounds like it will be much more significant.

In reply to Only a hill: snow on the ben, carn mor dearg and aonach mor right now!

In reply to Only a hill:
And the winners are:
http://www.alexroddie.com/2013/09/the-2013-scotwinter-sweepstakes-we-have.h...

In reply to Only a hill:

https://twitter.com/winterhighland/status/379297028926615552/photo/1

Get onto Winterhighland for some proper snow watching.

In reply to Only a hill:
Glencoe is looking tasty this morning!
http://www.winterhighland.info/cams/glencoe/summit.jpeg

In reply to Only a hill:

...after 30+ years of climbing I still get a pulse race and become ridiculously excited by the first snows....long may it continue!!!!

ANdy