The trend has been changeable weather with strong winds. Snow cover was building up quite nicely but we had a sustained thaw for eight days that ended at the weekend just past. This took away much of the snow cover but certainly not all of it. The ground has had a chance to cool down over the last two months so we are now set up ready for ice climbing conditions to build quite quickly if we get some snow and more seasonable temperatures.
On Monday of this week Ben Nevis looked a bit mean when we walked in but there was fresh snow above 500m from heavy showers during the night. More showers kept coming in for much of the day but it was cold enough that it was dry once we were above the level of the CIC Hut.
There is a little old snow left in the big gullies above 1000m. We went up Number Four Gully (http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=232184) and followed thin strips of old snow from the lochans in Coire na Ciste, skirting the base of the crags up to the mouth of the gully. There was lots of groupel and fresh loose snow but once we were in the gully there was less soft snow and it was a bit easier to climb.
The crags looked quite white but just with the fresh snow; they were not well rimed up so the steeper routes were not looking so good. The rocks also need another day or two to freeze properly again after the thaw. Ice is starting to form and it won't be long before everything freezes up well again. The big ridges just have a thin cover of snow. The big easy gullies are complete but not very full of snow at the moment. None of the mid-grade or classic ice routes are formed.
Today we have a wee thaw that is consolidating the fresh snow from the last couple of days. With a good amount of snow fall and freezing conditions on the tops forecast over the coming week along with very strong winds from the south west I think snow will build up quite quickly. It's going to be quite challenging and very changeable conditions though with lots of fresh snow, strong wind and short days so plan your route carefully.
