Cairngorms walking conditions

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 tracyclimber 06 Feb 2017

I'm off to do a 5 day backpack in Cairngorms (one bothy night) on Tue `15 Feb. Does anyone know what the conditions are like? I'm taking my niece (19yrs) and sticking to main routes. I'm aware there's windslab on northern slopes. The weather seems to be average winds with not too much snow fall and moderate avalanche risk on northern aspects.
Thanks, T.
Post edited at 20:00
 carr0t 06 Feb 2017
In reply to tracyclimber:

Was out in lochnagar yesterday. It's completely covered in unconsolidated powder from around 700m-ish up. Nothing is firm or frozen underneath, so uneven heathery slopes and boulder fields are a bit rubbish.
 Jamie B 06 Feb 2017
In reply to tracyclimber:

Nothing average about the winds today! 100mph on top of Cairngorm. To confirm, lots getting blown around, plenty windslab on NW to NE aspects and cross-loading elsewhere. But the 15th is 9 days away so everything will probably have changed by then, it usually does!
 OwenM 06 Feb 2017
In reply to tracyclimber:

You could try watching these sites up until you go.

http://www.winterhighland.info/weather/
http://www.sais.gov.uk/
http://ncairngormsblog.sais.gov.uk/2017/02/strong-winds-heavy-drifting/
http://www.winterhighland.info/cams/cairngorm-mountain/

between them you should be able to get a good idea of what it's like day by day.
OP tracyclimber 06 Feb 2017
In reply to OwenM:

Thanks Owen, I've been watching them the past 5 days. Nice to hear from people on the ground - the hill top assessors are good as well
 Al_Mac 07 Feb 2017
In reply to tracyclimber:

Keep an eye on the comments in the winter conditions page too, they're usually a good window into conditions too if they're particularly bad.
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 CurlyStevo 07 Feb 2017
In reply to tracyclimber:
are there any hill top assessors in Scotland? There's the SAIS which is linked by owen. The hill top assessor your thinking of is in the lakes which is quite different.

Use these too
http://www.mwis.org.uk/scottish-forecast/EH/
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/mountain-forecasts/east-highland...

SAIS is showing considerable avalanche risk on NE -> NW aspects http://www.sais.gov.uk/northern-cairngorms/

Keep your eye on the SAIS. Currently the risk is considerable but only in localised patches. Considerable is the category with the most avalanches involving humans so plan your day well.
Post edited at 10:04
OP tracyclimber 07 Feb 2017
In reply to CurlyStevo:

On SAIS at the moment, there is a daily report from the hill, which is quite good. That's what I meant by hilltop assessor
 subtle 08 Feb 2017
In reply to CurlyStevo:

so, whats your analysis for this weekend, based upon your findings on the ground so to speak - or is your opinions those of a couch surfer looking at various weather web sites?

where would you recommend for this weekend - Northern Corries / Lochnagar / Glen Coe / Ben Nevis?
2
In reply to subtle:

Northern Cairngorms at the moment have high southerly winds after a dump of snow a few days ago with no freeze-thaw since, so continual spindrift tofay, and ground is a mixture of almost bare scoured terrain and thigh deep drifts/soft windslab. Didn't go into the Corries, but expect powder filled gullies and big cornices.

Forecast lighter winds and colder for next few days so may start to consolidate.
 subtle 09 Feb 2017
In reply to Ron Rees Davies:

thanks, very helpful
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