Winds have eased to a steady 60mph

The link road covered in hard windslab at 580m.

Large banks of snow and cornices at 500 metres

Interesting sculptures of eroded windslab

Vast amounts of snow

Very deep accumulations of weakly bonded snow on lee slopes,  this was at 500m;

The cause of these amazing conditions... 100mph winds over the tops snowfall and very cold temperatures.

Wild conditions

Very wild conditions,...gust of 110mph over the tops, these photos were taken on the link road at 530m. 

Strong Winds, Severe Drifting

A snow laden Coire an Lochain

 Severe drifting continues depositing deep unstable windslab on many aspect but especially on SW to NW aspects above 500 m

Rheindeer - a bit of sheltered grazing above All Mor glen

Driving on road toward cairngorm mountain car park at 550 m

Cold and Stormy, Weak Windslab.

Looking back into a stormy Coire an t Sneachda

Conditions at 1000 m on the Fiachail of Coire Chais around midday. Widespread poorly bonded windslab is located on many slopes - pretty spooky conditions - very good, safe route choice required.

Bitterly cold, Blizzards.

Whiteout at 1000 metres

Deep drifts, unstable snowpack and challenging conditions at the moment.

Blizzards, Whiteout, Strong winds

Snow cracking underfoot - unstable snowpack sign at 750m NW aspect

Blizzards - whiteout and very strong Easterly  winds are presenting very challenging conditions at the moment, heavy drifting and weak windslab in many places where the snow has accumulated. Full on winter conditions are set to continue !

Snow showers

     Poor visibility for most of the day, winds were not too strong but there was some drifting at higher altitudes.

South winds with drifting

Wind exposed slopes are becoming eroded.

Raised footprints on the Cas ridge

Snow showers with drifting

Good snow cover however not quite good enough for care free off piste skiing.  A few centimetres of snow overlie some very sharp rocks, but with careful route choice the large old snowfields are out there somewhere giving excellent sport.

Bright spells with heavy snow showers

Cold temperatures with snow showers have led to new accumulations of soft weakly bonded snow.  This was on a SE aspect at 1100m.

New snow on all aspects firm underfoot; superb winter conditions

Poor visibility during snow showers

Bright and sunny at times but during snow showers visibility was poor with a rapid build up of weakly bonded windslab, this was at 600m.

Cold with heavy drifting

The hills obscured by cloud and drifting.

Very wintry with an unstable snowpack

Cold windy conditions with snowfall have returned after the long settled spell.  Although wind exposed areas  are mostly firm and stable weakly bonded windslab has developed over the last two days at higher altitudes especially in areas of steep terrain. 

Wild Winter Weather Starts once more

Looking into Coire an t Sneachda

Drifting snow at 1000 metres on a Westerly aspect. All change with severe winter conditions ahead.

Hazy and Cold

Carn Etchachan from the flanks of Cairngorm

Snowpack remains frozen and hard in all areas - great for climbing - teeth chattering for skiers - serious runouts though for anyone tumbling !

Calm, with Hazy Sunshine

Rolling Cloud above Coire an Lochain

Snow conditions are extremely firm with very good snow-ice in throughout. Snow stayed pretty much frozen for most of the day.

Spring conditions

Looking South-East from Cnap Coire na Spreidhe

Mild with drizzle over the tops this morning.  Large expanses of spring snow remain in the Cairngorms.  Down in the glen it feels like spring as the ice on Loch Morlich thaws.

Bright sunny day

Looking into Coire an t-Sneachda; little change after the brief thaw.

Dull and Drizzly

Glenmore Forest from the Ski Road - First view today!

Clear and Sunny

Walkers enjoying glorious views to the North from the Fiachaill of Coire Chais

Enjoying some nice snow on the South side of cairngorm

Another sunny day

Excellent plateau cover, although milder temperatures the snowpack is remaining cold.

Little change;  Generally stable with localised intabilities, due to the facets beneath the firm surface crust. 

Facet layer developing

Localised weaknesses below the surface crust due to the developing facetted layer.  This was on a North-West aspect at 1050 metres.

Generally conditions are excellent and the overall  snowpack is stable.

Light snow flurries

A great day for climbing, light winds, cold, snow flurries. For travel the snowpack is firm and boulder fields are filled in.

 

Cold calm conditions

Facets continuing to develop just below the strong surface crust.  These were found within a shallow snowpack on a North-West aspect at 1080 metres. 

In some locations the surface crust breaks away easily underfoot, revealing the dry facet layer.

Coire an t' Sneachda looking wintry

Fiacaill Buttress

Very cold with sunshine

Cloudy conditions over in the South

Surface Hoar has developed in the very cold temperatures.

Etchachan and the shelter stone looking good.

Cold with Good Snow-Ice Conditions

Northern Corries, Cairngorm - Cloud capped

 very firm snow ice conditions - great climbing - very firm for skiing - serious runouts

SAIS team in Corrie Lochain comparing notes L to R Colin Bruce, Tim Walker, Sandy Allan, Mark Diggins, Alan Dennis

Another Blue day

Looking toward Loch Etchachan from Cairngorm Summit

Heading toward the Saddle and Loch Avon - Ben Avon beyond

Blue Sky Day

Northern Corries from Glenmore

 A good day for a change - snowpack improving considerably with freeze thaw cycles - hard and icy conditions unless in the sunshine.

Cairngorm Plateau - Ben Macdui

Coire an Lochain Cliffs

Heading toward  Goat track - Cairngorm Summit behind