BEST SNOW CONDITIONS SO FAR

Fiacaill Coire an Sneachda

Cloudscapes today

Great conditions along the Fiacaill

Windswept ridge poking through the cloud

Empty ridge

Teasing cloud and sun

Great fun

Sun still trying to break through

One of the best things about the winter mountains in Scotland is their ever changing conditions. Very rarely are there tow days the same. Today on the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda it was probably the best snow conditions so far this season. The last couple of days there as been strong winds which have blown clear the ridge and left behind some wonderful hard packed snow on all the ledges and steps along the ridge. The walk into Coire an t-Sneachda was well stamped and a joy this morning. I had a leisurely 11.30am start, the winds had eased slightly but there was still lots of drifting, even at lower altitudes. The SE winds were a little less cold. I had the entire ridge to myself and saw no one apart from a few winter skills groups lower on the ridge and on the descent off the Fiacaill Coire Chais ridge. The plateau was a joy to walk along. Here too the wind has scoured and blown most of the loose snow into the corries. By early afternoon the visibility was poor along the plateau.