Nice conditions in the Cairngorms

Views of the Shelter Stone and Carn Etchachan.
We had great conditions in the Cairngorms today.  It was still a bit chilly in the wind but the sunshine has some warmth in it now which does help to speed up the snowpack consolidation period.    
Coire an t-Sheachda above and the plateau below.  As you can see from the photo's there is still plenty of potential for ski touring.

Cooler with Strong Westerly Winds

                                   The Northern Corries from Loch Morlich

The snowpack has refrozen in the cooler temps - it has developed a crust which gets thicker at height - Ice sheets are present on the plateau !!

Plus 5 degrees on the Summits !

Looking into Coire an t Sneachda from the Fiacaill - soft thawing snow - should be colder tomorrow and the snow should re-freeze

Good wintry conditions

Looking across Coire Raibert  to Coire an t Sneachda -  

A good snow cover with largely firm snow-ice underfoot - but with some poorly bonded windslab deposits in sheltered NE-SE aspects mainly above 950m

Weak Windslab forming at high levels!

Crack appearing in snowpack on 25 degree South-East aspect at 1100 m.

Very strong  NW winds today have have contributed to heavy drifting and the formation of very weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations, Elswhere at this level on wind exposed slopes the snowpack has refrozen and is quite icy. So the areas of recent accumulation are quite marked. An uncomfortable day in the drifting snow.!

Wild and wintry

Winter has returned with strong winds and lots of snow.  New weakly bonded

accumulations are developing rapidly, some thigh deep in places. 

We had very poor visibility at times especially when the strong gusts came whipping up the spindrift.  The skiing was exciting on the variable terrain of sheet ice and deep drifts! 

Temperatures remained cold over the summits leading to more snow above 1000 metres and rain below this.   
Our pit was dug at 1110 metres on a NE aspect;  in the meantime back at the office James plays a snow dance, and it worked as there is more snow and cold temperatures expected tonight and tomorrow!

Cold and clear

Winds increased during the morning leading to drifting at higher levels.  The photo shows drifting taking place on these North to East aspects in Coire an t-Sheachda.  

Stellar crystals

Stellar crystals have been deposited due to cold temperatures and at times light winds.  In quantity these crystals can lead to loose snow avalanches.  One was noted today on a Northerly aspect at 1095 metres.
Coire an t-Sneachda today.

Windy with Heavy drifting above 900m

Tap test on N aspect at 1100m showing weak layer. 

Also other tests identify weaknesses, cracks underfoot, and snow block releases.

Increasingly Windy,with some snow showers

                                    Looking toward Loch Morlich from the Cairngorm Plateau
View into Coire an t Sneachda - all visible snow is firm and solid  - a dusting on the buttresses make it look a bit more wintry.

Light snow showers

Summit of Cairngorm and today's pit which was dug above Strath Nethy on an East aspect at 1094m.

Snow holes in Ciste Mhearad.  Spot the lone ski tourer in the middle of the slope.

Slightly cooler temperatures

It was very pleasant in the hills today with sunshine and moderate winds.  The slightly cooler temperatures have firmed the snowpack up a little.  A few folk were climbing the gully lines in the Northern Corries today.  Snow and cold temperatures are forecast from tonight!

Mild with drizzle

Six Ptarmigans hang out together for shelter.It was mild again today and the most recent snowfall which came on Wednesday is thawing and lies mainly on E aspects above 1000m.  We dug our snow pit on this E facing slope which overlooks Strath Nethy.

Wet mild and Cloudy - Perfect!

Steve excavating snow profile pit in windslab on E aspect at 1080m- Mostly there is no sign of any new snow, the reason most probably is that the surface was so hard and icy yesterday that any new snow would not lie,  it has been pushed into lee aspects to form these deep areas of isolated instability above 1000 m. 

Wintry and very windy

                                   Parties in the lee of Fiacaill a Coire Cas

The snow is refreezing and has a pretty firm crust at the moment with a dusting of new snow - The wind is mainly westerly gusting 70mph on the tops for most of the day.

Mild and Grey

Looking to the Faicaill of an t Sneachda from Coire an Lochain
Ice bulge area in Coire an Lochain

Mild and misty

Today I decided to check out the wind direction antenna's on the Cairngorm Summit weather station as it's malfunctioning at the moment and one was pointing at a funny angle after all the snow and ice that had accumulated on everything the week before.
Its been another very mild day after yesterdays brief freeze.  The snow pack is soft and wet in most places.  The International Climbing Meet is taking place this week at Glenmore Lodge and although soggy it was reported that some routes were being climbed but the word "waterfall" was also mentioned during some gully ascents. 

Snow flurries over the tops

Visibility was fairly poor earlier today, but the colder conditions have left large areas of flat ice from yesterdays slush pools.  New snow accumulations were small and the old snowpack surface has re-frozen, hopefully improving the climbing conditions at least for today.

Warm and windy

Lochain with Lurcher's gully on the right.With the combination of strong winds and warm temperatures the snow is melting at a rapid rate of knots.  The main gully lines are still complete and should improve tomorrow as its expected to be cold again.  Bosses of ice remain on easier angled terrain. 
Coire an Lochain

Hail and rain

The day progressively turned milder as sweeping hail showers turned to rain.  A few folk were climbing in the Northern Corries today, mainly in the Gullies.  Bosses of ice remain on easier angled terrain.    

A Cooler and Brighter day

                         Looking into Coire an t Sneachda from the Fiacaill of Coire Cas

                      Clearer skies and cooler temperatures have firmed up the snow.

Slush fields on the plateau !!

                                   The Cairngorms from Loch Morlich

Cloudy again on the tops with poor visibility. The snow is saturated at all levels to the extent that large areas of shin deep slush abound.  It's disappearing before our very eyes !

Cant see a thing !!

No pics today as it has been thick mist and strong winds - The snowpack though is very wet at all levels and on all aspects - still difficult going in the deep snow - A brighter day is expected for tomorrow.

Milder temperatures

Looking out towards Etchachan and the Shelter stone.
Many climbers, walkers and skiers were making the most of conditions today.  The lower sections of the Buttresses have lost some snow due to milder temperatures.
Alladins and Fiacaill Buttress.

Milder temperatures

Temperatures were slightly milder in the Cairngorms today.  Many routes were being climbed in the Corries.
The snowpit was dug at 1100m on an E aspect and beneath a thin rain crust several weak layers were noted including this graupel layer.
The RAF mountain rescue were also out and about practicing their winter skills with this none complaining victim.

Excellent snow cover.

The winds were light today and visibility was good during the morning. Views looking across to Beinn Mheadhoin with the snow holes in Ciste Mhearad in the foreground.

A few routes were being climbed in the Northern Corries today.

A 'Pea Souper' day with new snow

Looking at the Faicaill of Coire an T Sneachda yesterday (wed) as today, I could not see a thing.

New snow cover and poor viz.

Good Snow Cover

Looking toward Beinn MacDuibh
Still difficult Trail breaking - a team heading to Jacobs ladder in Coire an t Sneachda

Light winds and blue sky's

Great weather in the Cairngorms today with light winds blue skys and temperatures as low as minus 10.9 degrees C. The snowpack is also very cold and due to a strong temperature gradient from -6.9 to -8.6 within 10cm some facets have developed in this area.

An Arctic Hare enjoys the peace and tranquility in the Northern Corries.

A few folk managed to walk into the Corries but found it to be quite a slog in the deep snow. Rob enjoys the use of snow shoes and I found ski's a big advantage also.

Deep snow

We have had heavy snowfall over the past 24 hours. Snow shoes or ski's are definatly recommended for travel in the mountains. Glenmore Lodge are delighted with the snow especially as this weekend they are running some avalanche awareness courses.

Snow and poor visibility

We have had very cold temperatures in the Cairngorms today with poor visibility and continuous snowfall. Our pit was dug on the South-East side of Cairngorm and travel was made a lot easier with the use of skis, as the snow is at least thigh deep in places.

Cold with very deep snow everywhere

                                  Looking into Coire an t Sneachda from windy col
                                   tap test demo
                                    failure after two taps from the wrist
Exiting from Sneachda