Assynt Mountain Rescue Team encounters rare optical phenomenon during training
Members of Assynt Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) and potential recruits to the team were treated to a stunning rare trick of the light while out on a taster training session earlier this month.
The team held a Potential Members Day on Sunday, October 12, and took participants on a climb at Spidean Coineach - the most southerly of the three Corbetts that make up Quinag in Assynt.
While on the mountain the group experienced a Broken Spectre, an an optical phenomenon caused by sunlight casting your magnified shadow onto a cloud or mist, often accompanied by a colourful, rainbow-like halo called a glory
It occurs when the sun is low in the sky and behind you, and you are at a high elevation looking down onto a mist-filled area. The shadow appears enormous because there are no nearby reference points to provide a sense of scale.
The phenomenon gets its name from Brocken, the highest peak of the Northern German Harz Mountains, where it was first recorded.
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The rainbow effect is caused by sunlight entering the water droplets in the cloud and, by diffraction, “bouncing back” towards the observer.
Amazingly, even if they are part of a group, the observer will only see his or her own shadow.
A spokesperson for the team said: “There have been some stunning conditions on Scotland's mountains this past week, and Sunday was no exception.
“Setting off in quite "claggy" conditions the group were lucky enough to find the summit of Spidean Coinich just above the clouds.
“This occurrence is described meteorologically as an inversion, something that doesn't happen too often in the relatively low mountains of Assynt.
“To add to this the group were treated to a Brocken spectre, an optical illusion where a magnified shadow of the observer is cast onto the cloud, surrounded by a coloured halo.”
The spokesperson added that the Potential Members Day was an opportunity for people who were interested in volunteering for the team to meet with experienced team members and find out more about its activiies.”
All of Assynt Mountain Rescue Team's members give their time on an entirely voluntary basis.
Donations to the team can be made here.