Meanwhile in the Cairngorms

The wild weather as forecasted has not been so bad after all.We have adequate snow cover and climbing conditions are pretty good.Do keep an eye on the SAIS avalanche forecasts though!

Eye of the storm

The UK has mostly been affected by stormy conditions, high winds and rain in the South and the Highlands has seen a lot of snow. The Lake District however has managed to escape it all as at present is in the eye of the storm with the barometer reading very low this morning. The lakeland fells are looking stunning at the moment with the covering of fresh snow.

Conditions in the Cairngorms

Winds were much lighter with occasional snow showers. There was plenty of routes were being climbed today. Careful route choice was needed to avoid accumulations of weakly bonded windslab from yesterdays snow.

Tomorrow is forecast for high winds and lots of snow....a good day to stay at home and catch up with all those jobs!

Kathy

Heavy drifting

Winter is truly here in the Cairngorms. There have been heavy snow showers at times with some sunny spells. You can see the stormy conditions from the photographs taken this afternoon. Below is some recent avalanche debris that was found in Ciste Mhearad at 1100m today.

Kathy

Snow, wind and cold temperatures

Winter has returned, the Northern Corries are looking a lot whiter on the buttresses, and

the cold temperatures have re-frozen the snow surface, all good news for the climbing. More snow is forecast for tomorrow but we could do without the accompanying 60 mph winds South-Westerly winds!

Kathy

Mild and windy

Mild temperatures have left the snowpack surface soft and slushy. Tomorrow the freezing level is expected to fall to 600 metres in the Cairngorms with snow showers on Westerly winds, so it's back to winter again as the thawing snow will begin to re-freeze. This picture of the Northern Corries was taken today at around midday. My apologies if its a little blurry, the very strong wind didn't make it easy for a steady hand. Kathy

The Cairngorms today

Conditions are good in the Cairngorms; Today was a low wind speed day with sunshine, cold temperatures and fresh snow. The only problem with these sort of conditions is choice... Does one choose to climb, ski, go for a big hill walk day, or just simply look at the view....