Looking ahead - anything in? (Scotland)

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 gravy 04 Feb 2022

AFAIK the hills are black and there is pretty much no snow or ice worth travelling for now but in a week or two? any guesses? any chance of conditions worth a long drive?

Wild speculation allowed!

Just can't decide if it is worth polishing my crampons yet...

Post edited at 12:42
1
 subtle 04 Feb 2022
In reply to gravy:

Plenty snow falling today, more forecast over the weekend - who knows after that 

You polish your crampons?

In reply to subtle:

Heavy snow showers every 20 minutes or so today to sea level in Torridon.  More forecast over the next week or so. Only problem may be the wind and lack of consolidation. 

OP gravy 04 Feb 2022

Ok - better prospect than I imagined...

I thought everyone polished their crampons? You want to look your best surely? [I might also apply some fresh duct tape and cable ties]

 subtle 04 Feb 2022
In reply to gravy:

Nevis range webcams give an indication of snowfall / current conditions in that area - other webcams available for other locations

 girlymonkey 04 Feb 2022
In reply to gravy:

My reading of this weekend is a fair amount of snow coming down, with high winds and then a rising freezing level! I hope some will stay and consolidate! I'm certainly not venturing out tomorrow!

 C Witter 04 Feb 2022
In reply to gravy:

With thanks to Subtle for mentioning the Webcam, here is the link for the Nevis Range one: https://www.nevisrange.co.uk/webcams/

A quick search also found:

Glen Coe: https://www.glencoemountain.co.uk/webcams/

Cairngorms: https://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/#cam

Bear in mind these are cameras for specific ski "resorts" and check out their exact location.

Any other useful ones people know of?

 TurnipPrincess 05 Feb 2022
In reply to subtle:

Climbed No 2 Gully on Ben Nevis yesterday and there was so much unconsolidated, fresh snow that I would rather call it uphill dry swimming than winter climbing. 

2
 Martin W 05 Feb 2022
In reply to C Witter:

Winterhighland has web cams for some of the Scottish ski areas, plus one or two more I think: http://www.winterhighland.info

(To get the ski area webcams you need to click through to a specific ski area, and then follow the "Webcams" link(s) on the left hand side - if there are any.)

 BuzyG 05 Feb 2022
In reply to Martin W:

Always worth having your winter kit ready to go.  It is winter after all. Hope it works out for you.

 brian_m 05 Feb 2022
In reply to C Witter:

Webcam at CIC hut showing Ben Nevis https://www.smc.org.uk/cicwebcam/cic_weather

 Dave Hewitt 05 Feb 2022
In reply to gravy:

Today here in Stirling it's considerably milder than yesterday, which felt really raw with a fair few snow showers rattling through although nothing settled at road level - it was down to 200m or so on the hill for a while. I've just been along the road having stayed indoors all morning (wet and horrible) and it's still not very pleasant but the cloud has lifted and nothing white is visible on the Ochils to at least 550m. The Crianlarich webcam - usefully showing the north side of Ben More - had snow right down yesterday but it's shot up to 600m or so today:
https://www.benmorewebcam.co.uk/

In reply to Dave Hewitt:

Snowing again in  Torridon and a wee bit breezy. .wind  might drop off come April! This is the first winter in 50 years when I  have not yet worn my crampons! It will snow like buggery for the next week or so then rain for the following month!

Post edited at 15:23
 Dave Hewitt 05 Feb 2022
In reply to The Watch of Barrisdale:

> Snowing again in  Torridon and a wee bit breezy. .wind  might drop off come April! This is the first winter in 50 years when I  have not yet worn my crampons! It will snow like buggery for the next week or so then rain for the following month!

Still wet'n'orrible here in Stirling - apart from the 20-minute legstretch up the road in what proved to be a very small weather window I've stayed in and it's generally just been rubbish. The better half (also a keen goer-outer) hasn't yet left the building apart from a 20-yard trip to the bin. Cloudbase has been quite high, however - Ochils more visible than not. The Crianlarich webcam shows it having closed in there, though.

(You might get the crampons on yet - it's only early Feb.)

Post edited at 15:36
In reply to Dave Hewitt:

Hopefully a few times this coming week,Dave. Unfortunately few signs if settled weather  for what remains of this "winter"

 Dave Hewitt 05 Feb 2022
In reply to The Watch of Barrisdale:

> Hopefully a few times this coming week,Dave. Unfortunately few signs if settled weather  for what remains of this "winter"

At least the ground's been pretty dry before today's soaking - I was out Ochiling on Wed and in the woods above Bridge of Allan on Thurs and both times was surprised by how firm and non-muddy the paths were. If it's the same further north that should help with any firming-up ahead of freezing.

I've not had the crampons on either, nor even the big boots as yet - had three Munro days and a Ledi outing in January, all in the Mudclaws.

In reply to Dave Hewitt:

Although there wasn't a lot of rain in January in the north west it was clagged in for most of the month. Grand total of barely 18 hours sunshine for the whole month.  Last winter was wonderful up here - the best in over 10 years- so I suppose it was inevitable this one would be one of the worst at least in terms of lack of snow/frost. The ski centres must be particularly sick after the lockdown last winter and the lack of action this winter. 

 C Witter 05 Feb 2022
In reply to gravy:

Found this page, from Needlesports: https://www.needlesports.com/Information/Need-Advice/Winter-Conditions

It has a lot of good advice/links.


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