Storm

Conditions today at 800 metres

Calm before the Storm !

Heading down Coire Raibert with Carn Etchachan beyond.
To Coire Raibert and the Cairngorm Plateau
Coire an t Sneachda

The weather is to be very wild for the next few days so it may be a while before we get conditions as good as todays

New snow

Winter is back...It has been snowing for most of the day above 800 metres and its due to get colder

Thawing and damp

Views looking into Sneachda

Cooler temperatures

Coire an t Sneachda has survived the warm thaw conditions of the last week or so - good firm snow and some ice in gullies remain - all is not lost!

Warm again friday but colder conditions are expected for next week

Windy and dry

Stability has further improved in the cooler temperatures. We did find a slush layer at depth but most of the water from the thaw has peculated through the snowpack

Good cover for off piste skiing on nice grippy snow.

Spring snow

Today was very pleasant compared to yesterday's conditions of winds gusting up to 113mph. It is still mild but this is what is left after the major thaw on Thursday.


Mess of Potage people on "Honey pot" and various other routes. There's a huge cornice to the left of the crag and over Jacobs ladder. Avalanche debris which happened during the major part of the thaw and came from the steep ground above.

Aladdin's Buttress with Patey's route looking interesting. Aladdin's mirror on the right short and sweet.
Coire an Lochain had some interesting looking creeping cracks below the buttress, there was also a lot of avalanche debris from the thaw on most steep slopes.

Winter is still here but watch out for those big saggy cornices and loose rocks!

Sunny, windy and warm

Looking across the Northern Corries and the Plateau from Cairngom summit - snow cover still good - awaiting the scene after tomorrows thaw !!

Historical avalanches

Situated South-West of the Cairngorms between the A9 and Glen Feshie is Gaick lodge in Glen Tromie. On New years eve in 1800 the original Gaick Lodge was hit by one of the UK's most historical avalanches. The remains of 5 men and their dogs were recovered eventually. They were at the time sleeping in the bothy which was completely covered and destroyed by the immense avalanche. On a recent visit we saw that several large avalanches had crossed the main track which leads you into the estate. You will find the full story of this incident in Blyth Wright and Bob Barton's book "A chance in a million"

Sunshine in the valley

Once again the Cairngorms were shorouded by clouds again but it did clear by the afternoon

Thick mist

No views today due to the snow showers and mist, but here's where we dug our pit on the South-East side of Cairngorm.

Cool, clear and sunny

Pausing for a drink on the Fiacaill Coire an t Sneachda
Climbers on Savage Slit - Coire an Lochain
A lone figure heading out of Coire an Lochain

Calm, Clear and Sunny

An avalanche release from a NE aspect trigger unknown - occurred in last few days - some instabilities still present !
Rime ice and looking South to Carn Etcachan.

Nice Plateau day

Today's pit was dug at the top of Diagonal gully at Stag Rocks. Carn Etchachan and Shelter Stone, plastered in snow and ice.

Thick ice on Hells Lum

Coire an Lochain...you can see how low the snowline still is in this one

Views into Coire an t-Sneachda

Thankfully the cloud eventually cleared in the early afternoon and Aladdin's buttress appeared out of the gloom!

Whomphing and avalanches

This avalanche was triggered by two hill walkers as they walked below the slope at around midday. The aspect and altitude was SE aspect at 1095m near our pit site. There was a whomphing sound as the slope settled and the new wind slab released on the weak faceted layer.

Another stunning day

Carn Etchachan and Shelter Stone

Looking towards Loch Etchachan which is completely buried!

Dry and settled

A few climbers venture out onto Fiacaill Buttress.

Aladdin's Buttress still plastered in snow, some ice was visible, Aladdin's Mirror is looking short and steep as the bottom section is completely buried.

Sunny on the tops

Looking into Coire an T Sneachda
Avalanche Activity on Beinn Mheadhoin

A cold day on the tops ! but generally clear.

Avalanche debris form a NW aspect slide
people above Goat track area some scoured areas but also some windslab
Avalanche started at top of slope to the right of Fiacaill Ridge