There was lots of action in and around the Cairngorms today. Both buttress and Gully lines were being climbed in the Northern Corries. The freezing level dropped a little earlier this morning which helped conditions.
There was a real change of scene in Ciste Mhearad today as this cool and trippy gang of boarders were seen practising the half pipe for a competition this weekend.
It was less windy today and a little cooler. The freezing level dropped to below the summits last night which has led to a much firmer snowpack today. Here is Coire an t-Sheachda looking in fairly good shape after yesterdays mild temperatures.
It was'nt very popular in the Cairngorms today due to the 114mph winds and rain. We managed to battle our way up to the Cas Headwall along with a brave group from Glenmore Lodge. Here's Joy having a nice time staggering about in the wind. 
Great views again today. Sneachda looking particularly stunning framed in this lovely heart.
Loch Etchachan
And a thorn between two Valentine roses. Lucky Alan manages to squeeze between Kath and Mavis in the drift.
Coire an t-Sneachda looking very impressive with all the snow.
A frozen Loch Etchachan viewed from Cairngorm. 
Joy posing as a Womble after collecting rubbish from this snow hole in Ciste Mhearad...Naughty!
There was some fresh snow overnight followed by milder temperatures today. Lots of debris was seen in the Northern Corries due to the sharp temperature rise this morning. This graupel seen in the photo landed at some stage last night.
Skis would have been a good idea today due to thigh deep snow in places. The snowpack has consolidated significantly at lower altitudes in the slight temperature rise but summit temperatures are still below freezing. Here is Joy wallowing in deep snow with Ciste crag behind.
The old ticket office doorway at the Ciste car park was a popular hang-out den today. Here Langdale Ambleside MRT have a gear sort along with my mountaineering assistant Alasdair. Conditions are very unstable at present due to heavy drifting and snow showers. Careful route choice was needed for today's pit as a very shallow angled small slope earlier in the day cracked and slumped as we approached it. Posted by Kathy
Photo: Blyth at work
This morning's mist cleared to leave a beautiful sunny day. The plateau looks impressively well covered but you would have to pick your line carefully for ski touring as the rocks are just below the surface of the newly laid soft snow. There is a good depth in places though. Mess of Potage looked white today. 
Alladins Buttress and beyond. 
Fiacaill Buttress.
Its been mainly poor visibility again today with light winds but we did have half an hour of sunshine around midday which was bliss.
Our pit was dug on the SE side of Cairngorm and there are still lots of facets and graupel within the snowpack. This Rutschblock test went on a weak graupel layer at about 25cm.
Accumulations of new slab with significant depth were weakly bonded due to layers of graupel and facets which are shown in the pit below. This is on the South-East side of Cairngorm at 1095 metres.
Today's pit. Note the strong temperature gradient and associated facet development.
You're never lonely in Ciste Mhearad; it's often a hive of activity full of enthusiastic mountaineers looking at snow and digging holes. It's a great place. We had a small amount of fresh snow to look at today and there is more snow on the way tomorrow. Happy days! 
Lean conditions in Coire an t-Sneachda.
Carn Etchachan and the Shelter stone are looking a little black with Loch Avon below. 
One or two ski tourers were seen heading for Ben MacDhui linking snow patches.
