Nice easy approach, firm neve, sun, calm and excellent vis for photos first thing this morning - despite the less than promising forecast!
The recent slow thaw has moistened the upper snow pack which is also now covered in lumps of water ice!
The buttresses are blacker though they still have some verglass and ice in cracks. There's good snow in the rock grooves and ledges.
The climbing was nice today although the snow surface was bit crusty lower down due to slabs of water ice it was firmer and good the higher we climbed.
In the Northern Corries the main gully lines are all well filled and the approach slopes banked and covered in firm snow with strange lumps of water ice everywhere. This will no doubt set solid with another refreeze and require sharp crampons and good technique!
Some photos of Coire an t-Sneachda from today on our blog at
http://talisman-activities.blogspot.com/
Please fell free to add your own reports.
Happy New Year
Ron Walker (MIC, IML)
UKC's Cairngorm's correspondent!