Saturday, May 11, 2013

Snow and sleet over the tops.

Mild conditions at present with a forecast for cooler temperatures and more snow down to 600 metres during the early part of next week.   The main event at present is the potential for the Great Slab in Coire an Lochain to release.  Note the large crevasse  developing below the buttresses.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Mild with a spring snowpack

Looking down Coire Raibert with Ben Macdui in the distance

Coire an t-Sneachda still holding on to some large snow fields and snow filled gullies.

Coronation wall and the Cas Head Wall

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Warm, Sunny but Very Windy

Looking into Coire an t Sneachda 

Recent avalanche debris due to cornice collapse below cliffs

diminishing snowpack
The pictures do not tell the whole story of course - in this case the winds on the plateau were storm force South-Westerly and up to 80mph - The snowpack is very soft due to warm temperatures, mainly surface instabilities on steeper slopes, progressively getting worse as the temperatures rose during the day. Still very good snowcover on the plateau.

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Very windy - becoming milder.

Heading toward the saddle - a frozen Loch Avon below.

A lone skier heading toward Cairngorm Summit on the South side

Coire an t Sneachda with large cornices overhanging slopes
Generally a very good snow cover but winds getting increasing stronger made progress quite difficult later in the day.

Friday, May 03, 2013

Winter still hanging on!

A glimpse of the Cairn at Summit of Fiachail a Choire Chais
New snow on all aspects above 950 metres, thinly covering many rocky areas though. Very little wind, quite muggy !. Could not see enough to get an idea of cover on the plateau, but would expect it to be quite good. Very soft snow, some surface releases on steep slopes.