GRAND DAY ON THE TOPS

The cliffs of Cairn Lochan

Beautiful day in Strathspey

A day out in the Cairngorms isn't a day out unless you have ptarmigan

Looking good

Climbers, Core an Lochain

Fiacaill Coire Sneachda ridge

Plenty of these guys today

Cairn Lochan

Lochan frozen

Fiacaill Coire Sneachda

Top of Alladin's Gully

Ben Macdui and plateau

Coire an Lochain

The last 4 days we've had some very different weather and snow conditions. A typical winter period as always. This is what makes the Scottish mountains so special, rarely are there two days the same. It was nice to stroll along the plateau today with just moderate winds and great views. The Northern Corries walk is a great half day, even in winter. There is snow down to 400m or so. Quite thin cover below 700m. A great mix of wind slab, refrozen snow (neve), rime ice and water ice. The old snow pack has a covering of wind slab in places, especially on western aspects. The SAIS (Scottish Avalanche Information Service) started up again at the weekend. Essential reading when planning your days out in the winter mountains. There were plenty of folk climbing in Coire an Lochain today but the hills were quite quiet, the Cairngorms are so vast you can easily escape the crowds. The winds just started to pick up again as I headed off the tops. Unfortunately another temperature rise as the Atlantic front makes another appearance. Plenty of snow and ice high up that will survive so not to worry!