Cairngorm & Macdui

[Lightfoot2017]

Wondering if anyone can tell me what the underfoot conditions are like on Ben Macdui at the moment? Is there any snow lying already? (I heard that last week saw the first snow of the season in the Cairngorms).

I'm looking to take a pal from down South up to Ben Macdui next weekend, and just wanted a heads up on conditions.

Thanks in advance.

LF

[prog99]

A weeks a long time in hillwalking at this time of year but the freezing level went back above the summits today so expect any dusting to be in the North Sea.

http://www.weathercast.co.uk/world-weather/weather-stations/obsid/3065.html

Looks like it stays warm this week.

[larry groo]

I was on Beinn a'Chaorainn Saturday.

No snow on the side of Macdui I could see, but as noted. It could all change.

Was like a summer day up there yesterday!

[nigheandonn]

No snow visible from Meall Chuaich yesterday - occasional spots in the air, but it wasn't lying.

[Border Reiver]

The wind might be more of a problem than snow at present. Four of us (one inexperienced) had to turn back within a mile or so of the summit of MacDhui a couple of weeks ago. Visibility was OK & just a few sleety showers, but the wind gathered pace and walking became a real struggle. We seem to have been getting quite a few prolonged spells of high winds recently. Wind speeds today range from 38mph to 65mph with gusts up to 83 mph (just half an hour ago).

[Cairngormwanderer]

No appreciable snow on Macdui or Cairngorm on Saturday. But as someone said, a week is a long time in mountain weather. Keep an eye on the forecasts.

[Caberfeidh]

We usually get a kind of phoney winter in October/November with sudden blizzards and foul weather, then it settles down to disappointingly mild, wet and windy until sometime in January when things freeze up properly. The wind and rain will kill you just as dead as subzero temperatures and snow avalanches.

[Cairngormwanderer]

We usually get a kind of phoney winter in October/November with sudden blizzards and foul weather, then it settles down to disappointingly mild, wet and windy until sometime in January when things freeze up properly. The wind and rain will kill you just as dead as subzero temperatures and snow avalanches.

Caberfeidh's comments capture the situation perfectly. To illustrate that, after a snow-free Macdui on Saturday, I saw photos of the summit on Sunday with lots of fresh snow and looking pretty raw. You have to take what you get - the trick is in being prepared for it.