UKC

Thinking northern corries. Reckon its a safe bet for II-III climbing?

Read a blog post whilst I was going a bit manic and found one from Hidden Chimney yesterday but can't find it now!

Any other ideas/reccommendations?

In reply to dutybooty: Glencoe and Ben Nevis are nice right now.

In reply to dutybooty: did red gully last Sunday, other teams climbed broken gully/fingers ridge and fluted buttress direct. conditions havent changed that much, there was a massive cornice across the central gully/runnel/trident area, we were able to bypass on red gully and we also met Ron of Talisman Mountaineering on Hidden Chimney having bypassed that cornice as well.people skiing down Aladins as well there was some snow on tue but not much. hope this helps

In reply to dutybooty: Thanks for help guys. The beginner in our group has now dropped out though, so heading up to the ben to have a look at point 5.

Hands are already sweating...

In reply to dutybooty: You have seen the forecast for this weekend, I take it? If not, MWIS is saying:

A rapid thaw will set in on all mountain areas this weekend, but there will be rain and severe upland gales will develop during Saturday.

Just saying, in case you want to reconsider your plans for a long trip north...

In reply to Martin W: In excitement I must admit to not of seeing it...back to the drawing board!

In reply to dutybooty: Surely that and SAIS are your first port of call

In reply to dutybooty:

If you're up early on sat you could be alright. Pick something you can do quickly though.

In reply to dutybooty: SAIS was, in excitement didn't check the weather! Silly me.

Got a decent bad weather option we're off to do now, not winter related and not conditions/weather dependant...shall be a lovely day out.

Hi,

Are any gullies still complete eg Aladdins Couloir ?

Any old neve in shady gullies/lines ?

Ta

In reply to Scott_vzr:
https://twitter.com/coldclimbs/status/329240699105075200/photo/1

In reply to Scott_vzr:

All the gullies are complete but watch out for skiers!

See https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=356853704415183&set=a.313456935... showing Aladdin's Couloir

Cheers Ron

youtube.com/watch?v=lQQMfK5MovU&

Ta chaps.

There are some good photos on www.winterhighland.com

Looks like some snowboarding then gullies. Forecast is showing some top of snow too.

A few details from Thursday 2nd May on the Blog when with a 'weather window' and early start and finish meant ice climbing condition were excellent.
It's been snowing heavily since I left the hill, so skiing should be good too, that's if the wind drops!

See http://talisman-activities.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/excellent-ice-climbing-fo...

Cheers Ron

In reply to Ron Walker: Ta.

In reply to Scott_vzr:

It's been snowing heavily down to low levels today so treat the slopes with caution as I'm sure you will and check out the SAIS reports. Even with the light snow flurries on Thursday there were pockets of graupel and occasional snow sloughs coming down some of the gullies. Since then it's been pissing down with snow lying above 500-600 metres at Slochd!

In reply to Ron Walker: Er, snow lying above 100m around Loch Ness and Glen Affric!

In reply to cannichoutdoors:

Interesting as it was sleeting here at 400 metres but not lying. The weather stations currently show higher temps over in the west, at least YaHooh on the iPhone does so is it still lying!

In reply to Ron Walker:

It was 2'c on my car thermometer in Inverness, 1'c on Loch Ness side. 3'c at Drumnadrochit, and gradually dropped to zero going up Glenurquhart. Cannich is a bit of a cold pocket, as it's as cold as Glascarnoch which is 200m higher.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/observations/loch-glacarnoch-saw...

In reply to Ron Walker:
Complicated frontal system wandering around and straddling the Highlands at the moment with cold/warm temps either side. Doesn't surprise me at all that there's a temperature disparity Slochd to Loch Ness/Glen Affric even though they're not too far apart. Aonach Mor (1130m) summit temp at 20.00hrs today -0.5 degrees but Bealach na Ba (773m) -1.6 degrees at same time - both Met Office readings. (It was +3.4 at the same time down at Glen Ogle.)

Same picture for snowfall/rain today in the Highlands. Next to no new snow at summit level (1050m-1100m) at Creag Meagaidh up 'til about 1pm today, but snowfall above 900m at Aonach Mor and on the Ben.

I know....a weather geek (sorry, it's part of my job!) but I'll be put back in my box soon and will shut up....

In reply to cannichoutdoors: Pretty sure it's still 10'c in Edinburgh at the moment. It's been 14/15'c in the sun most of the week, so hearing reports of fresh snow has really confused me! Glad to hear it's colder further north, time for a bit of touring tomorrow I think. Happy days.

In reply to depthhoar:

Strange weather and surprising at the lack of snow on Meggy despite snow in the east and wild west! I thought Meggy would have had the highest Avalanche risk given given the terrain there and the snowfall here. Good we've still got some local observers rather than just computer models. The Laggan road should be OK early this morning then?

In reply to dutybooty:
From a walking point of view, does anyone know about the current state of the plateau / Braeriach and the Lairigs? Currently in a tent near Loch Lomond wondering what to do with the rest of the week...

Thanks!

In reply to Ramblin dave:

+1

Am hoping to get out and about this weekend. Anyone have any info please?

In reply to rubisco: It looks like plenty of snow left up on the plateau.

http://www.winterhighland.info/cams/cairngorm-mountain/morlich.php


Last weekend there was loads of snow on top, and in the corries. It was also very windy.

It's over 3.5'C at the summit now apparently:

http://cairngormweather.eps.hw.ac.uk/

In reply to NottsRich:

Thanks for the info, but that image is from Friday! The wecam hasn't refreshed itself.

In reply to rubisco:
This was taken yesterday:

http://www.winterhighland.info/publicreports/displaypic.php?id=26471,3606#s...

In reply to rubisco: Well spotted! I did think it looked a little too clear for todays weather...

In reply to rubisco:

Not even last Friday, it's Friday 5th April, ie over a month ago !!

In reply to Scomuir:

Thanks!

In reply to Ramblin dave:
Update: came over Carn Toul and Braeriach today... big patches of snow in corries and above 1000m or so, just about becoming continuous at the top of Braeriach. Mostly fairly soft: crampons not needed today but could freeze and get icy with some cold weather. Big soft cornices all over the place.

In reply to Ramblin dave:

Good photos on the Cairngorm SAIS Blog at http://saisncairngorms.blogspot.co.uk/

In reply to dutybooty:

The never ending winter continues...! See http://talisman-activities.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/not-mirror-direct-but-spi...

In reply to Ron Walker:
Is that stuff on the north side fairly firm still? Coz last weekened the other parts of the hill (eg. tops and diagonal gully - stag rocks were pretty soft).

In reply to BruceM:

In the morning the snow is firm and icy when it's been cold and clear overnight and granular spring snow when it's warmer and in the sun!
Climb in the morning and ski in the afternoon and not the other way around!
Having said that you could climb in the evening once the snow start to firm up again.

In reply to Ron Walker:
That sounds very alpine! Cheers.