UKC

Was anyone on top of the Cairngorms at the weekend? Is there much snow underfoot? Thanks.

https://twitter.com/BraemarMedia/status/1056211530709118976

Not Cairngorms but staying in Laggan and walking on Ardverikie/ Glenroy mountains over weekend. Much whiteness above c500-600m. A fair amount of drifting took place (with winds from Nish then Eish) so patches up to 50-60cm deep on lee slopes but also lots of scoured areas which we’re just cosmetically white with rocks poking through. View to Feshie/Cairngorms from the house suggested broadly similar conditions (albeit possibly more snow). Not sure what happened after 1600 yesterday (Sunday) though.

Ah yes, helpful that! I know which boots to take now........and an axe!

Photo taken at Cairn Gorm summit on Sunday - https://www.facebook.com/MountaineeringScotland/photos/a.251817068176565/21... 

Great. A good dose of reality. I'll leave my shorts behind and put in my balaclava.

Should that not be a b*llocksclava??

I ran up the goat track and across Cairngorm on Sunday. 

The coires look very wintery, I was close to turning back on the goat track (no axe) but managed to kick steps. The ground wasn't frozen. At least 3 teams out climbing..

The snow is deep in the drifts but only ankle height elsewhere 

I waded over to Ben Macdui from Coire Cas on Sunday, wishing I had my skis. It was knee-deep in places, particularly on all southerly aspects above 1000m or so. We didn't use crampons. There's some freeze-thaw in the forecast which could change things, depending on when you're going.

Cheers

Al

Going up today. Thanks for that. So you've cleared a path to Ben Macdui......perfect : )