NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 5/1/01 Snow showers with accumulations of 5 centimetres have occurred in isolated locations above 900 metres. Winds have been generally from the West about 30 mph. The snow profile showed little change from the past few days; cold mid-pack and surface hoar at a crust interface that is in some places, particularly NE aspect above 1000 metres, deeply buried. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 6/1/01 A wind shift to the NW will redistribute available snow to SE aspects. Snow showers will add to the slab build up. The location of the buried surface hoar layer will be critical to determining slope stability. Field work of the past few days has identified the buried surface hoar on a variety of aspects above 800 metres. Avalanches are likely on South to East aspects from new slab and other slopes with existing slab that are not scoured by the NW wind. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Slowly filling in above 850 metres. ICING: Some reasonable quality but lacking in quantity. COMMENT: A quick dig on suspect slopes is recommended. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 5/1/01 Light snow overnight has added to existing accumulations of soft windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest deposits are on corrie headwalls, scarp slopes and the tops of gullies with a North-West through to East aspect above 900 metres. Where this fresh snow overlies older frozen snow it is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche activity observed on North-East aspects, Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 6/1/01 Snow showers with an increasing North-West wind during the forecast period will redistribute snow on to many sheltered aspects. Greatest accumulations will be on North through to South-East aspects above 800 metres, particularly corrie headwalls, scarp slopes and the tops of gullies, where avalanches are likely. Existing subsurface instabilities will remain weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover above 600 metres in North and North East facing corries. ICING: Remaining thin, and now buried in places. COMMENT: Careful route choice needed, especially with regard to exiting routes and the tops of gullies. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 5/1/01 Colder conditions have formed a melt freeze crust and have stabilised much of the snowpack. New snow and wind redistribution have formed deep accumulations of windslab in sheltered gullies and hollows mainly with a North to Easterly aspect. These accumulations are weakly bonded where they exist on steeper slopes and old snow-ice underlies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 6/1/01 Snow showers and freshening North-Westerly winds will continue to form windslab in sheltered areas such as gullies and on slopes with a mainly North-East to South-East aspect above 900 metres. Where this fresh windslab forms deep accumulations on steeper slopes and in particular where old snow ice underlies it will be weakly bonded. Deep accumulations of moderately bonded old snow will remain in many summit gullies above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 400m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 850m. COMMENT: Higher ridges and buttresses have a cover of recent snow and may give some good mixed climbing SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 5/1/01 Snow is lying on most aspects with redistributed deeper areas in sheltered locations above 800 metres. Although some consolidation is taking place softer deeper accumulations remain moderately to weakly bonded. Greatest hazard was to be found on N to NE aspects on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 6/1/01 New accumulations will develop during the day on mainly E aspects but also in other sheltered locations. Bonding will be poor where new deposits overlie existing soft slab. Avalanches are likely on steep slopes where deeper deposits exist. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover on higher plateaus. ICING: Some around but quality variable. COMMENT: Buttress routes remain snowy. Turf mostly frozen. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 5/1/01 Cold conditions, light winds and no further snowfall has meant there has been a certain amount of consolidation of the existing snowpack. However hard slab lies on North-West to East aspects above 850 metres and is generally only moderately well bonded. Small but fresh cornices have formed above the same aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 6/1/01 Snow showers on a fresh to strong North West wind will cause fresh windslab deposits to form in the tops of the most sheltered gullies and hollows on East to South aspects above 850 metres. Accumulations may be shallow at first but with existing snow having an icy crust, it will have a good sliding surface. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. Difficult underfoot in places. ICING: Most Post Face routes are being climbed, as are the easier gullies. Pinnacle Face needs more ice, although it's getting there. COMMENT: Be careful on exits from the Post Face on Saturday (06.01.01). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------