Bluebird Lochnagar

Bluebird Lochnagar 14th February 2026

Following a period of Biblical rain in Aberdeenshire, a hill-walking “weather window” finally appeared February 14th. Nine DHC valentines (Alison, Gail, Ruth, Susan, Graham, Gordon, James, Ken and Iain) headed-out to climb Lochnagar via the popular Glas Alt circuit. 

SAIS forecast icy conditions and considered the avalanche risk to be “high” on west-facing slopes, which were avoided. 

The most-dangerous part of the day was probably the drive up the Glen Muick road, which had significant ice, due to overflow onto frozen road. However, hiking up the landcover track in soft snow provided stunning views of the mountain. Early lunch was taken at the bottom the eastern spurr, before crampons and ice-axes were deployed for the main ascent. 

All the usual boulders were covered in hard-packed snow, which had created a reasonable cornice on the north side. Gaining the summit plateau revealed all the buttresses covered in rime ice and a gentle breeze. 

Pics 5-8

Second lunch was taken in warm bright sunshine halfway down the Glas Alt valley, before a brief stop to admire the lovely waterfall.

Iain