Current snow conditions thread 2019

[Caberfeidh]

The snow has stopped at Caberfeidh Towers, but with the clear skies it will freeze up tonight so ice will be a problem.

Frozen Sea, Isle of Skye, some time ago.

Exploring with me old mate Nansen

Sailing with Caberfeidh ~ not for the faint hearted

[Caberfeidh]

It's icing up again...

[CharlesT]

It's icing up again...

Here too, I'm listening out for the first car which can't get up the hill outside.

[Pastychomper]

26 Jan had snow on the ground in the vicinity of Ben Armine. 2-3cm of wet stuff at 150m, 15cm and powdery by 350m. Plenty of ice about.

Further north was generally wet and brown as usual.

[Caberfeidh]

At Caberfeidh Towers we had frost and snow overnight, but now the rain is on, so goodness knows where all this is going...

[Caberfeidh]

Chilly again...

[Daymoth]

Im now more concerned about being able to drive there..... :/

Thanks for the reports! I dont use facebook. I use the webcams and the official channels but I find this info extremely useful.
Plus I dont understand people talking about others using this info to decide about gear?? If anything is to decide about routes!

[Coop]

Fraochaidh today from Duror.
Icy along the "road" to the cut off track.
Soft snow on the track and path all the way until out of the forestry area.
Deeper snow 6 to 12 inches all the way to the summit .
Had the microspikes on today and didn't feel I needed to don the crampons. Had to stop every so often to clear the ice/ snowballs that gathered under my feet though.
Great to be up in the snow today- views were fantastic. Tough going and a reminder that " summer times ain't winter times"
Take care and enjoy out there folks

[Caberfeidh]

Fraochaidh today from Duror. Icy along the "road" to the cut off track.

I dropped off a couple of hitchers up there a few days ago, I don't suppose you found their frozen corpses? They were aiming for the bothy of James of the Glens.

[Senja]

Hitched out of there a few years back in deep snow. Got a lift in a hearse.

[Coop]

Fraochaidh today from Duror. Icy along the "road" to the cut off track.

I dropped off a couple of hitchers up there a few days ago, I don't suppose you found their frozen corpses? They were aiming for the bothy of James of the Glens.

Maybe the rare black sheep herd "kidnapped" them.
Half goat half sheep looking things

[Anne C]

Does anyone know if the mountain road up to the Ben Lawers car park is open/drivable?
Also the road beyond that above the reservoir?
I know it's not treated as such.
Many thanks

[Ben Nachie]

Set out in the motorhome towards Lochnagar last night. It soon became apparent that getting up the wee Glen Muick road would be impossible, so headed for Invercauld. Had to turn around a few miles west of Ballater and spent the night in the car park in the centre of Ballater.

I had Michelin Cross-Climates on the old van but the new van still has summer tyres. Huge difference.

[Caberfeidh]

2nd and 3rd Feb: The Cairngorms on the Aviemore side were well covered in knee-deep powder with occasional deep drifts. The corries on Cairngorm looked good for climbing but the mist was going up and down like a yoyo so discretion won over and I turned back. Just in time too, as the hills became totally clagged in. Not a place to be in a white out, with big cliffs all around, and the edges invisible in the mist. The snow was so powdery, and the temperatures so low, that I could not make a snowball; the snow flakes would not stick together, but just crumbled away like dust.
The roads were also snowy, making access difficult in places. The drive back down the A9 yesterday was interesting, with heavy snow around Dalwhinnie. And if you need to stock up on screenwash, the garage in Pitlochry sells it at £6.99 whereas Tescos in Stirling only charge £3.00 for the same thing.

Frozen Loch Morlich with freezing mist

Cairngorm corries filling with mist. Or emptying, depending on the minute you look.

More mist

and more mist...

[abbruce]

Set out in the motorhome towards Lochnagar last night. It soon became apparent that getting up the wee Glen Muick road would be impossible, so headed for Invercauld. Had to turn around a few miles west of Ballater and spent the night in the car park in the centre of Ballater.

I had Michelin Cross-Climates on the old van but the new van still has summer tyres. Huge difference.

Was on Lochnagar on Saturday. The road up Glen Muick was pretty bad when we went along around 9.00. I've a 4wd with summer tyres & managed (just), but a few standard 2wd cars either turned back or were abandoned. A gritter had been along by the time we left after 3 so the road was much better although still slippery in places.

Path itself was pretty deep with soft snow & hard work, especially getting up to the bealach beside Meikle Pap.