Sunday, April 20, 2014

Last report for this season


A stunning day to finish on.  This is the last blog for this season, thanks for all your support over the winter, and look out for our blogs and forecasts which will begin again next December.
Will leave you with these two photo's, one of The Great Slab in Lochain which is still hanging in there and the other a happy forecaster.


Saturday, April 19, 2014

Spring snowpack

Ski tourers enjoy the spring snow on the South-East side of Cairngorm.
  Its the season for full depth avalanches.  This one slide down the granite slabs on Stac an Fharaidh 




A real novelty this winter - goggles and gortex jacket have been cast aside!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Clear and Sunny, Firm and Icy snow conditions

Coire an Lochain with the 'Glacier like' great slab centre

A Climber ascending a gully in Lochain amidst an Alpine and glacial scene 

Braeriach and the plateau of Sron na Lairig from Cairn Lochain

Creag Meagaidh in the background with Sgoran Dubh Mor and the corniced Sron na Lairig ridge in the foreground

Surveying Glenmore from Cairn Lochain

Coire an t Sneachda with Cairngorm beyond

The benign Cairngorm Plateau with Ben Macdui at its head, Cairntoul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Cold, Firm and Icy snow conditions

Looking toward Braeriach and the Northern Corries from Cairngorm

Very hard snowpack

hard snowpack requiring crampons and axe - serious run outs into rocks

Friday, April 11, 2014

Light snowfall

Widening glide cracks on the great slab Coire and Lochan 

Coire an t- Sneachda

Large patches of spring snow on the plateau

Skiers and mountaineers head into the corrie

A male Ptarmigan in hot pursuit of this female

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Light snow showers

Coire an Lochain
Spring snow with thawing cornices on the East side of Cnap Coire na Spreidhe

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

A Colder and Brighter Day with a Firm Snow Surface

Toward Ben Macdui from Cnap Coire na Spreidhe
Bhein Mheadhoin

Slumping cornices and snow glide cracks on an East aspect


Monday, April 07, 2014

Cooler temperatures - Less Windy


Northern Corries from Cairngorm
Coire Cas headwall ( note creep lines below ridge summit)

Creep lines on headwall
Snowpack is pretty firm after a re-freeze overnight - softening in the day - the snow mass is slowly gliding down the slope - it may or may not release as an avalanche at some point !!

Sunday, April 06, 2014

Sunny in the Glens, Cloudy in the Mountains, Windy!

Cloudy and windy in the mountains looking up

Sunny with less rain in the Glens looking down

Saturday, April 05, 2014

Poor Visibility - Mild

Northern Corries from Loch Morlich
Poor visibility above 900m - a grey day

Friday, April 04, 2014

Thawing at all levels

A diminishing snowpack with large patches remaining at higher levels.  This is looking across to Beinn Mheadhoin, with Loch Avon below.

Loch Etchachan still frozen.

Slumping cornices hang over Coire an t-Sneachda

Oppressive clouds to the North

Thursday, April 03, 2014

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

It feels like spring

Although warm and sunny a bank of cloud hung over the Cairngorms for most of the day.  This is looking towards Coire an Lochain.

The main paths are mostly snow free at Coire levels - looking out of Coire an Lochain.   Extensive patches of  firm snow-ice  surround the coire back walls. 

Mountain hares are beginning to change colour.

The loch in Coire an Lochain is still full of snow and ice.

Ptarmigan are changing colour too

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Mild with some light snow

Glide cracks at the top of the Chais Headwall

Soft thawing snow on the Coronation Wall

Looking down the ski area from the top of the head wall

Looking South across Coire Raibert

The Fiacaill Buttress, with Lochain behind