After a week of crooning over down jacket specs, the Chosen One arrived in the post just in time for a munro bagging trip. Clearly, no matter what the temperature, some testing was in order, and test conditions seemed excellent, with roads and car park a skating rink as we arrived in Crianlarich
Attempt 1) All attempts at testing the jacket on day one failed due to brilliant sunshine and the exertion of slogging up the Black Mount through knee deep powder snow. By the time we reached our first summit, Stob a Choire Odhair, we looked a strange sight – our bottom halves swathed in big boots, gaiters and waterproof trousers, our top halves in sleeveless T shirts. Alastair even had shades and a sunhat on. 
The real air temperature became all too evident once we sat down, we had a hasty lunch then arse-slid down the hill to the bealaich whooping with glee.
We slogged our way up the ridge to Stob Ghabhar and reached the summit cairn just as the sun was setting, then paused to take in 360 degrees of pink tinged snow covered mountains with bronze glints from the occasional loch. Head torches on hand, but not required – we finished our descent in brilliant moonlight reflecting off the snow.
Attempt 2) Fine test conditions. A chilly wind and incoming cloud. We headed for Ben Chonzie. Reputedly the dullest mountain in Scotland, Ben Chonzie is known for "collecting the snow". After saturdays 12 mile extravaganza I was knackered before we started and made heavy work of the plod uphill. At the summit near white out conditions descended and a bitter wind dropped the effective temperature to -12 or less. I was very taken by the grotesque rime formations, but few photos were taken as removing gloves for even a moment caused stingingly cold fingers (must get some liner gloves). The snow was drifting and at places we broke through the crust into thigh deep holes. A fine chance to test the jacket! Out in came in all its magenta glory, and I am happy to report that combined with a gortex layer it was toastily warm even while sitting on snow eating sandwiches.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81529845@N00/sets/72157610924975500/
Tags: down jackets, Munros, snow
Wot! No pictures of the down jacket, I hope you are going to wear it to the pub tonight. Looks like you had fantastic weather.
comsider yourself lucky there are no photos of the team in full balaclave and buff scarf covering mouth and nose mode – we must have looked like the Crianlarich branch of Al Quaida at that stage. It was a mite parky up there!