Windy and Damp

Fiacaill of Sneachda
Trident Gullies and Aladdins Buttress
Snowpack remained pretty good even though it warmed up in the day - slabby in places but generally avoidable but - the slab was very weakly bonded and would be pretty spooky if it acheived depth - snow-ice is good - getting colder so will re-freeze once again !

Windy and dry

Lochain this afternoon
Drifting took place mainly during the morning. Most of the new accumulations were in sheltered areas, as it was too windy for it to settle anywhere else! Today's pit was dug just below the top of the Cas Headwall where there was a significant depth of weakly bonded new slab which ran right around the rim of the Coire.
Above the Chais headwall.

Bands of cloud

Various bands of cloud affected visibility in the Cairngorms today, maybe it will clear eventually!

Cloud inversion

Stunning conditions on the hill today...Carn Etchachan and the Shelter stone.
Todays pit was on a South aspect
Fiacaill Buttress looking good

Great day to be in the hills

Great conditions in the Cairngorms
Kite surfer heading up to Cainrgorm summit.

Good all round conditions

Looking over to Beinn MheadhoinCoire an t-Sneachda looking good
Fiacaill Buttress

Cold Clear and Sunny

Hells Lum
Cairngorm Plateau
Looking toward Creag Meagaidh

Good Winter Conditions

Beinn Mheadhoin from Cnap Coire na Spreidhe
Good conditions continue with firm icy snow everywhere -

Weather improving for the next days too.

Boilerplate snow ice !

Aladdins Buttress in Coire an t Sneachda
Coire an T Sneachda with Fiacaill Coulouir in foreground
Cliffs of Coire an Lochain

Amazing icy conditions with hard blue snow ice pretty much everywhere - wishing I had sharpened my crampons in some places - Great conditions for climbing - pretty serious for ski touring !!!

Very Windy and Wet

Coire an t Sneachda
Looking toward the Cairngorms from Meall a Buachaille

Heavy rain and very strong winds - highest recorded wind speed today on Cairngorm summit was 101 mph at 11 am. !

Foul weather

We've had heavy rain for most of the day with strong winds. The photo of Lochain says it all!

Strong winds and thawing at all levels

It still thawing at all levels, buttresses are becoming more stripped. Conditions today looking over to Aladdins, and Fiacaill Buttress Sneachda.

Thawing at all levels

Heading for the Ciste car park with Loch Morlich beyond.
Although it's thawing at all levels there is still plenty of snow and ice around, and freezing are expected to fall again tomorrow.

Recent avalanche debris

This avalanche was on a North aspect at 555 metres. From the evidence of the footsteps to the left it looks like it was triggered and happened yesterday.

Snowfall cleared to leave another stunning day

Looking across to the Cairngorms from Loch Morlich

Fantastic skiing and climbing conditions due to the continuing cold temperatures and top of fresh snow over the past few nights.

Snowfall cleared

Snowfall and strong SW winds cleared to leave a dry day with light winds. Views looking into Sneachda and over to Lochain

Heavy snow cleared

Several centimetres of snowfall arrived this morning before clearing at midday. There is newly drifted windslab affecting mainly South and East aspects which contain some very weak layers.

Snow and cloud cleared to leave a stunning day.

Spindrift billowing on the corrie rim.

Snowfall and mist cleared at around midday.

Ski tour conditions are fantastic

10cm of new snow is overlying yesterdays wind slab accumulations. Weaknesses were found mainly in the old wind slab on this South-East aspect.

Stunning day in the Cairngorms

Looking across to Carn Etchachan and the Shelter Stone

The Northern Corries are in good shape

Cold with Drifting Snow

Picking a way down the Goat track in Coire an t Sneachda
Cairngorm Plateau with Sneachda cornices visible on right

New snow accumulations of soft slab are present, deep in some places which gives some suspect slopes. generally the soft snow can be avoided at present, but the stronger winds with more snow will make the windslab accumulations much more significant.

Snow arrived in the afternoon

The Northern Corries are looking good.

Buried rime ice exists within the snowpack leading to a weak layer.

Cold and Windy - Firm snow

'Steaming' up Aladdins Mirror Direct
Coire an t Sneachda
Good Climbing in the Corries - a very windy day with not much new snow to speak of - stayed pretty cold - great conditions for climbing.

Cold with firm Snow

Northern Corries from Loch Morlich

Conditions remain good for climbing, snow arriving with strong winds later in the day Monday.

Rime ice on snow surface makes it easier for travel.

Frozen hard snowpack

Good placement on the ground !
In the colder temperatures the snowpack has frozen pretty hard - very slippy ! due to the drizzle of early morning providing a nice frozen glaze everywhere above 600 metres. Breakable crust in many places - but the climbing will certainly improve - for skiing off piste or touring !!!! difficulty in holding an edge in places, crampons felt great!

Happy New Year !