As usual, we bring you all the latest mountain landscapes, icicles, mists, silhouettes - and a spot of lava flow - in our weekly round-up of the OM gallery. OK, so it's a bit late this week but hey, what are a couple of days between friends?
Man and Mountain
If you like a solitary figure in your mountain photos, you won't be surprised to hear this shot is most OMers' favourite of the month so far. Michael Sayles took it from Gummers How and added it to his Photos by Michael S album, which is a bit of a blockbuster.
Sunset above the Clouds, by Michael S
Heading south ...
Tom Phillips has also been above the cloud line, but at a more hiker-friendly time of day. Not that he's any stranger to sunsets - if you take a peep at Tom's Album you'll find they feature heavily, alongside some not-quite-Egyptian rock. You what?
Evening Clouds on the Costa Blanca, by Tom Phillips
Winter?
The latest of the Steve Walton Images looks very professional, just as we'd expect from Steve. What's more, it was taken on an OM meet, in Sykeside, as the group were looking down to Brothers Water from High Hartsop Dodd. More of the same weather for the next meet would be just perfect ...
Brothers Water, by Steve Walton
Who needs limestone?
Lee Hiom's album is one of those that never stays still - it includes travel pics from almost as many countries as there are photos, from Iceland to Italy to Norway to Mount Toubkal to North Wales. Lee's latest shot is as atmospheric as they come and his comment, "descending on the ash flows!", says it all. Who needs limestone, eh?
Etna, Sicily, by Lee Hiom
And who needs holidays ...
... when you've got scenes like this on your doorstep? Neil's Dark Chest of Wonders continues to get darker and more wondrous, with two stunning new photos this week - see his shot of Thornthwaite Crag.
Red Tarn Sunset, by Neil H
Cotton wool alert
Back to the cloud inversions, someone's got a rather damp descent ahead of them - but it's all worth it for a view like this one. It isn't The Airdrie Rambler's only inversion recently either - take a peep at The Campsie Fells as well.
Earl's Seat Towards Dumgoyne, by James Cassidy
Surely that's not ice?
Finally, here's a sight that will warm the hearts of those who've been longing for a proper winter. Time to dust off your ice axes, grab the crampons, pile on the insulation, and head to Raeburns Gully, if Captain Slaphead's shot is anything to go by. Now we just need it to last - touch wood (and yes, we are reaching for the nearest available stock of the substance, somewhere around our brain:-)
Raeburns Gully, by Captain Slaphead
That's enough cloud and ash and (alas) ice for this week, but if you have more pics of any of the above then please do keep them coming. We wouldn't get through the day without a bit of escapism, after all.
If you want some inspiration for places to go walking, try the
routes
section where a new walking or scrambling route appears by magic each
week, or by courtesy of the OM routes editor, Dave Mycroft. Also, if you want to
know about the latest gear to wear on the hill, try our latest
gear
reviews.
