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Winter conditions

Re: Winter conditions

Postby Coop » Fri Dec 01, 2017 6:06 pm

Ben Vrackie today
Wee bit icy underfoot up to the frozen lochan. Fair bit of snow after that up to the summit. If you can find traces of the good pitched path and not veer off then you won't end up ploughing through knee deep snow ( like me :D )
Ps Beinn a Ghlo looks amazing
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby Caberfeidh » Sun Dec 03, 2017 12:43 pm

Robinho08 wrote:What did we do before Facebook. We just packed our winter boots, crampons and axe. 8)


Yeah, but it didn't always work out well... :shock: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1000
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby jmarkb » Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:56 am

Thanks for the reports and other info folks!

Date: Sunday 3/12/17
Location: Stob Binnein
Snow level: Extensive cover only on E aspects above 900m. Elsewhere some patches down to 700m
Snow cover: Very patchy, only cover of any depth is on E faces.
Conditions: Mush below 900m, partially refrozen above 900m.
Comments: Paths above 900m icy where compressed by foot traffic.

Significant thaw forecast before return of colder weather on Thursday.
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby jacob » Mon Dec 04, 2017 1:19 pm

Personally I'm far more worried about midges in May. Can anyone enlighten me on the propability of that....?




( :wink: )
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby madprof » Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:24 pm

jacob wrote:Personally I'm far more worried about midges in May. Can anyone enlighten me on the propability of that....?


( :wink: )


None. You can go in a state of undress.

I'm off for a new year jaunt so keeping everything crossed for some decent conditions.
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby Can 0f Airy » Sat Dec 09, 2017 4:06 pm

Great idea for a thread and exactly what I came looking for. 'Ground Conditions in UK Mountain Areas' facebook page is an amazing resource for winter info and I'll be making good use of it. Thanks for the link.
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby matt_outandabout » Sun Dec 10, 2017 8:31 am

Above Balqhidder in the Trossachs yesterday.

Image
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby gaffr » Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:11 pm

The Sgorans at 1500 today.
DSC01946 (640x360).jpg
Sgoran Dubh Mor and Sgor Gaoith 10/12 /17
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby BlackPanther » Sun Dec 10, 2017 8:53 pm

Leaving Beauly today morning (Sunday):
Image
The song seems appropriate - a new ice age on the way? :lol: :lol:
Minor road B9007 near Carrbridge:
Image
Carn Glass Choire, view north from the summit. It was -6*C on 650m in bright sunlight :-? Snow: 4 inches or more in places.
Image
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby prog99 » Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:41 pm

Anyone actively seeking snow should head north and west of the great glen. Snowshoes on from the forest tracks opposite the loch ness hostel near invermoriston all the way to the summit of Glas-bheinn Mhor. I reckon the great glen way is cross country skiable for much of its length just now.
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby jmarkb » Mon Dec 18, 2017 5:49 pm

Date: Monday 18/12/17
Location: Meall a’ Chaorainn, Achnasheen
Snow level: Extensive cover above 450m, slushy bits down to road level (150m). Snowline more like 500m nearer the coast.
Snow cover: 20-40cm above 450m, most cover on S facing slopes, thinner on exposed ridges.
Conditions: Mush below 600m, a bit firmer above but still wet.
Comments: Quite slow and heavy going at times.
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby jmarkb » Thu Dec 21, 2017 6:26 pm

Only isolated patches remaining in the NW Highlands now: pretty much back to square one for winter conditions :(
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby Caberfeidh » Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:15 pm

This is the usual for Scotland; we seem to get a fake winter in November/December then a thaw and mild damp conditions for weeks until maybe late January before real hard cold conditions take over with alternate freezing and thawing until April when the gales bring milder, damp conditions again. About every ten years or so we get a real corker with very low temperatures for weeks on end, such as 2007-2008-2009, that was crazy, the sea froze around the Isle of Skye and the Steal Falls way up Glen Nevis turned solid.

December 09 Loch Dunvegan 02.JPG
Loch Dunvegan Dec 2009
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby Sunset tripper » Thu Dec 21, 2017 10:10 pm

Yes I mind that two cold years around about 2010 when we had long cold spells. Only remember the sea freezing properly once when I was a kid and Oban bay was frozen solid and you could walk straight across the sea from the north pier to the south pier............. if you were quite light. :D
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Re: Winter conditions

Postby Caberfeidh » Wed Dec 27, 2017 3:18 pm

Yesterday (26th Dec) I escaped the confines of Caberfeidh Towers and drove up to Tyndrum. The hills by Loch Lomond and Crianlarich were looking well snowy, and freezing temperatures overnight should consolidate conditions. Ice axes, crampons and if you're sensible, a snowsports helmet, are the order of the day.

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Snowshoes05.jpg
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