BEST SNOW CONDITIONS ALL WINTER

 

Full snow cover on the Cairngorm plateau

A week of warm temperatures and several Atlantic low pressure systems crossing the Scottish Highlands in rapid succession. You may be lead to think that our wonderful snow on the high mountains will have melted away. No chance. Despite temperatures in double digits at sea level the conditions up high have been in melt/freeze cycles. Perfect for getting great snow and ice conditions for walking and climbing. This is good news! Normally January is the windiest month up high. Quite the opposite this winter. The last week has seen gales on the Cairngorms and other Scottish hills. 

My usual round up over the last week.

Wednesday 17 February 

A half decent day. Mild temperatures and strong winds. I went up to my usual Mountain Hare location on the Monadhliath. The snow at this 500m altitude is now very patchy and big areas of heather. The Mountain Hare are smart. No camouflage here so they have migrated higher up the hills were there is still decent snow cover.

Patchy snow below 550m

I didn't have to walk much further up hill before getting some nice shots of one particular Mountain Hare who was nicely sheltered from the strong SW winds. He was actually sat in the same spot that I normally sort out my gear and camera and a bite to eat before photographing. It was at this point that a big snow shower came in. 1 hour later and the snow had reached lower altitudes. There was wet snow lying in Aviemore and I was soaked by the time I got home, can't remember being wet this Winter with all our wonderful cold and snowy conditions.

Hare at my usual sitting spot!

Snow receding lower down

Saturday 20th February 

The Feshie river levels up

A couple of days of grey, mild and wet weather down in Strathspey. Some flat areas and rivers had flooded with all the rain and some snow melt. Some places worse than others. We tend to not have any issues in these parts. A few, short walks on Thursday and Friday. Very quiet even in popular low level paths around the Aviemore and Strathspey region at the moment. This period in winter is normally my busiest time of year with work. Schools half term and the height of winter. 

Sunday 21st February 

Snow banks showing depth of snow we have at 500m

Above 700m still good cover and firmer

A reasonable day on Sunday with excellent bright spells but still breezy on the Monadhliath and Cairngorms. Another very quiet day on my usual walk. I saw only 2 people from a distance all day. Plenty of Mountain Hare. Around this period in winter the hares are just getting into their 'boxing' mode. This is the mating season and the 'boxing' is done by the female who is fending off her male admirers. That is until she finds a suitable guy! There were a few wee slaps from a couple of hares but nothing on camera. I did spend an hour crawling along the snow to get some shots. Despite the warm temperatures I still had my many layers of winter clothing on.

Yawning hare in the sun

The female is the larger of the two

Sleepy walk

Still in full winter pelage

Monday 22nd February 

Loch A'an and Shelterstone 

A fine weather day and lighter winds in store before another lower pressure system coming our way on Tuesday. I made the most of the 24 hour spell. A day on the high Cairngorms was on the radar. 

The ski road to Coire Cas

All winter the snow gates have been shut at Glenmore. So any venture up to the Northern Cairngorms has been longer than normal with the extra hour of walking up the ski road (or skinning up on skis until the recent thaw). We had a very wild day last week which drifted a lot of  snow onto the ski road. The 'downhill' section of road is still deep with snow at one section. 

The section of old ski road covered

It was still a breezy day even at the 600m level. But with clear skies and bright winter sun this didn't seem to matter or me. I was keen to get up high on the tops. I took my telephoto lens along in the hope of finding some Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare. 

The usual Snow Bunting at the Coire Cas carpark 

I walked up into Coire Cas to gain the Cairngorm plateau. I knew it had been well skied and pisted so this would make life easier for walking, thinking any lower snow will still be deep and tiring. Heading over to the Cas ridge I need not have been concerned. It was brilliantly icy and firm once off the main pisted track. Superb snow cover above 800m and no one around. Fabulous. 

Heading up the Cas ridge was breezy, the strongest winds of the day. Completely snow and ice covered. Crystal clear skies at 1141m. No real plan for the day so just walked along the Northern Corries to Cairn Lochan and enjoying the views.

Fabulous icy terrain above 800m

Fiacaill Buttress and Coire an Sneachda from the Cas

Gear for the day

It was a day for the shades and wind proofs. I had my crampons on for the rest of the time. Probably the best walking conditions all winter. Firm/icy snow and no post holing. I had almost forgotten how walking on top of snow and ice was. All winter it has been mostly unconsolidated and deep snow conditions. This can be very tiring, time consuming not to mention frustrating! One reason I've not been venturing up to the big hills as much recently. 

The cliffs of Sneachda from 1141m

Top of Jacobs Ladder

Glide cracks and cornices

Cairn Gorm

On a day like this in Mid February you would normally see and hear many climbers, walkers, winter skills groups and ski tourers as you walk along the cliffs of Coire an t-sneachda and Coire an Lochain. Only once before have I witnessed  complete lack of humans in mid February up here in these fabulous conditions. 

Top of Aladdin's Couloir

Goat Track and Fiacaill Buttress 

Cain Lochan

Clouds over Ben Macdhui 

Extensive snow cover across the entire plateau with hardly a rock poking through. The day was young so I headed across to the lip of the Loch A'an basin around the top of the Feithe Buidhe waterfall. Of course completely covered in deep snow. My favourite lunch stop and the finest viewpoint in the entire Cairngorms. 

Loch A'an still with ice

Lunch spot today

After taking in the wonderful view I headed back across the plateau, over to Cairn Gorm summit.

Coire Domhain

Ben Macdui 

Afternoon clouds drifting from the West

Beinn Mheadoin 

There was some high cloud drifting over from the West but over Cairn Gorm summit it was still blue skies. No Ptarmigan seen so far. Looked like I carried the big camera for no reason.

Lovely light through the clouds

Moon rising over Cairn Gorm summit area

Cairn Gorm

Wonderful icy slopes down to the cafe

Walking down from Cairn Gorm summit was even more wonderful. Perfect hard snow and icy slopes. You'd have found it difficult without crampons for most of today and definitely on the summit slopes of the UKs 6th highest peak.

The White Elephant cafe

Shovel required 

No cafe but you could make a great snow shelter in this drift

A brilliant day out. My solitude was broken on the way back through Coire Cas. 1 person passed and a few folk near the carpark. The winds seemed to have increased on the descent. A top day.

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