In reply to Philipe28:
Out on the west over the new year, and last w/e good neve 800 to 950m 'ish on exposed aspects. Reports from Northern corries had plenty of buttress routes done last w/e, other things done on Lochnagaar, Dubhloch ect. The freezing levels this week have been hovering around freezing so might well be good for consolidation, I can't say sitting here at my desk if they have warmed up too much and stripped the crags of hoar, or if the slightly warmer temps allowed the snowpack to stabilse and decrease the avalanche risk, improving the gullies. There is certainly enough water in the river flowing past my back-door this week to indicate the cairgorm lower slopes are gradually melting, but no where near enough to suggest a major melt.
I would have thought it would be helping the snow pack stability, but you'd have to look for evidence for this when you get out, and check what others are observing. Still worth thinking about gully exits and higher sheltered slopes that may have spridrift accumulating from the platuea even if the lower crag aprons have settled-in.
Overall definately worth a look, with a range of ideas as to what to go for, I'd be very surprised if you couldn't get something safely done in the Northern cairngorms.
