NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/12/01 At the base of Hell's Lum Crag there is up to two metres of snow with cornice development along the top at the South end. The top layer of 20 centimetres fails at the test location but does not shear. The deeper layers are strong. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/12/01 In lighter North-East and North-West winds there will be snow accumulations on all aspects and elevations. There will be more cornice growth on Southerly aspects. The deeper snowpack will remain generally stable with pockets of the surface slab instability. This slab will be distributed on various aspects but can be most readily identified on steep open slopes above 900 metres that have complete cover with few ground anchors evident. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau still has bare patches but reasonable travel on skis. ICING: A pencil (not curtain) of ice at 'Chancer'; other possibilites exist in the area. COMMENT: Busy on the Coire an t-Sneachda routes today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/12/01 Fresh snow lying at all levels. A breakable crust still exists on the older snow up to around 1000m. Deep accumulations of unconsolidated snow are also present above this altitude in many of the main gullies. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/12/01 Snow showers at all levels are expected overnight and during Sunday. Unconsolidated snow will continue to form on many aspects, greatest accumulations being in gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying at all levels. ICING: Remaining cold at all levels. COMMENT: Unconsolidated snow making trail breaking arduous. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/12/01 Cold conditions with light snowfall and a fresh Northerly airflow are forming a thin general cover at all levels. Localised areas of soft windslab exist in sheltered locations mainly around the tops of gullies and steep East facing slopes above 900m. Where deeper accumulations of windslab exist the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/12/01 The cold Northerly airflow will continue to affect the area. Occasional snow showers mainly on Saturday becoming dry on Sunday will bring little change to the general snow cover. Instabilities will remain in deeper accumulations of windslab. These will mainly be around the tops of steep East facing slopes and sheltered gullies above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover of new snow lying at all levels. ICING: Ice continues to form on rocks above 400m. COMMENT: Light cover of new snow on ridges and buttresses, several of these receiving ascents today. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/12/01 Light snow showers and cold temperatures have maintained the current situation. Wind slab is to be found in very sheltered locations on E to S aspects. The cold, dry snowpack is moderately to weakly bonded with hard slab overlying soft. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cover is generally thin on other aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/12/01 Further snow showers will continue to build deposits on E to S aspects. Temperatures will stay low and the snowpack will remain moderately to weakly bonded. Gully exits, scarp slopes and recently formed cornices are most likely to provide the greatest hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: S and E aspects hold most, fairly thin elsewhere. ICING: Watercourses still giving best conditions. COMMENT: Hidden ice on paths! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/12/01 Snow showers combined with significant drifting of fresh deposits have continued to build deep weakly bonded windslab on North-East through East to South aspects above 850 metres. Although lee slopes below cornices, sheltered gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspects are particularly affected, the tops of steep sheltered slopes are also affected by shallower deposits of windslab. A very easy shear was obtained in field tests. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/12/01 As winds shift to a fresh Northerly direction and snowfall continues, instabilities will remain within the snowpack. Drifting will continue and deep weakly bonded windslab deposits will be present on North-East through East to South- West aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover at all levels. Ski touring possible with old skis. ICING: Poor and buried. COMMENT: Large unstable cornices building on aspects mentioned in report. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------