NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 31/3/02 Occasional moderate intensity rain fell, mostly above 1100 metres in dense high saturation cloud cover. There were some sunny breaks in thin cloud cover with significant solar radiation on all South aspect terrain and lower angle North, East and West facing slopes. The snowpack stability is generally good with reasonable resistance by probing in areas having over 2 metres of snow. Surface snow is moist and weak on nearly all aspects and elevations. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 1/4/02 There will be moderate amounts of rain to summit elevation. Spring conditions prevail with stability of the interface between rock slabs and snow in areas of deeper snowpack remaining suspect. Cornice wall collapse will potentially release a mid- pack deep instability however the avalanche hazard for the period of this bulletin is Low (Category 1). Rockfall triggering deep releases and full depth avalanches on slabs will continue to be a seasonal consideration. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still good cover on plateau. ICING: Hanging in there on some North aspect climbs. COMMENT: The question of the Great Slab remains. That's it for the regular reports this season. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 31/3/02 Light snow around the summits overnight has been replaced by patchy light rain at all levels on Sunday. The snowpack is soft and gradually thawing. Surface wet snow instabilities have developed on steep aspects, particularly those exposed to solar radiation. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Cornices are prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 1/4/02 Mild SW winds with rain will see the existing snowpack continue to thaw over the next 24hrs. Surface wet snow instabilities will be present on steep slopes, particularly N and E aspects. Elsewhere the snowpack will be wet and generally stable. Slopes threatened by cornice collapse should be avoided, with runnouts likely to be long. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Cornices prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best remaining cover above 900m. ICING: Thawing at all levels. COMMENT: This is the last report of the season, see you next winter. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 31/3/02 The warm moist South-Westerly airflow has left the snowpack soft and moist at all levels. Some wet snow instabilities are present on isolated steep slopes and also in higher gullies. Cornices have become soft and are prone to collapse. Where weakly bonded wet snow exists on steep slopes the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 1/4/02 Strong SW winds and rain at all levels will maintain the soft wet snowpack. Some wet snow instabilities will be present on steeper slopes and in gullies: elsewhere the snowpack will be generally stable. However cornices will be weak and prone to collapse possibly triggering the slopes beneath them. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m. ICING: Very little ice is present. COMMENT: Mild, wet and windy conditions are forecast. This is the last report for this winter season. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 31/3/02 The snowpack is soft until 950 metres, thereafter it becomes firm. It is generally well bonded on all aspects but partial cornices continue to collapse. Rock fall is also a hazard. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Higher N to E corries continue to hold the most snow. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 1/4/02 The freezing level will remain high with some further showers of rain. The patchy snow cover will remain stable at all levels and on all aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). Falling rock and partial cornices will continue to be a hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover is on higher N to E aspects. ICING: Easy gullies are still complete in some higher corries. COMMENT: This is the last report of the season. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 31/3/02 It has remained mild with isolated rain showers. The snowpack continues to slowly retreat and although a little softer and damp at the surface it remains well bonded and stable on all aspects. Largest surviving snowfields are on North through to South-East aspects above 800 metres with the bigger gullies holding the deepest snow. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 1/4/02 It will continue mild with the freezing level well above the summits. The surviving snowpack will continue to slowly retreat and remain soft and damp at the surface but otherwise well bonded and stable on all aspects. Although most cornices have by now collapsed, any surviving large remnants above North through to South-East aspects are best avoided. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres on North to South-East aspects. Easy snow climbs are still complete. ICING: I saw some climbers with ice gear. Funny, I thought April Fools Day was on the first? COMMENT: This is the last avalanche report for the season. Have a good summer! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------