Cairngorm Conditions

Although Cairngorm summit temperatures were over plus 5 degrees today the snowpack on Northerly aspects is becoming nice and firm again, which is good news for the climbing as most of the easy gully lines are complete. Ice is beginning to re-form again too. On the sunny side of the slopes on plateau areas there are some nice large patches of spring snow to ski on, definatly worth the effort. The forecast out look is for high pressure to dominate for a few more days, enjoy it while it lasts.
Kathy

Spring in the hills

And so it is spring in the hills. Very mild and a mild forecast for tomorrow

too, but there is still plenty of snow around and about for various winter activities. This is how the Cairngorms looked by the end of this afternoon.

Mild conditions

The Cairngorms have had quite a battering over the past few days with the mild temperatures and

very strong winds. Thankfully there is plenty of snow left in the main gully lines and large patches of easier angled ice remain in the corries. Slightly cooler temperatures are forecast tonight with some light snow.

Stunning Day in the Cairngorms

It's been amazing weather in the Cairngorms today. From left to right...Coire an t-Sneachda, Coire an Lochain, the Lairige Ghru and Braeriach.

Lots of weather in the Cairngorms

Winds over 100mph have crossed over the summit of Cairngorm today. Its snowing above 850 metres and raining at lower levels. Sandy thought he would blow away the cobwebs by joining the avalanche girls on North Cairngorm today. They all managed to skin up to 840 metres against the strong winds, do the pit before it all melted, this was followed by a very rapid ski back down in the strong tail winds.

Chilly but nice on Cairngorm today

An interesting but chily day in the Grampian mountains today. Westerly aspects very rocky and earlery aspets much better for skiers. Climbers and skiers should note that easterly aspects have a high avalanche risk and gully descents on ski or foot, to Hells lum for example ( anything on an eastery aspect) will be dangerous and not recommended.

Powder hounds should be very careful on such enticing terrain even with your ABS airbag....I suppose you could try filing it with helium, but that's really for Birthday balloons!

Deep drifts in the Cairngorms

Deep drifts in the hills with a High Category 4 avalanche hazard on Cairngorm. Kathy and Alan were the observers for SAIS today.

We've had widespread snow accross the Highlands with strong winds accross the mountains. The Cairngorm ski road has been shut all day due to deep drifts on the road but the snow blower has been working on it throughout the day. Winds are forecast to be much lighter tomorrow with more snow showers.

Alan working on his snowpit.