NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 19-1-00
Cooling, with minus 2 degrees on top of Cairngorm, has
consolidated the snowpack.  The top 70 centimetres sampled on a
Northerly aspect had two ice layers and otherwise moist snow.
The cool dry snow has gone.  Moderate but inconsistent shears
were obtained on the ice.  The avalanche hazard is Moderate
(Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 20-1-00
Light snow coming on West to North-West winds will not add 
significant load to the snowpack.  Only in some isolated pockets 
above 1000 metres will there be any instability.  The snowpack 
will be generally well bonded.  The avalanche hazard will be 
Moderate (Category 2).   

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The transition is from mush up 750 metres,
breakable crust to 850 metres and less than 10 centimetre foot
penetration above 850 metres.
ICING: Thaw/freeze cycle included erosion and growth.
COMMENT: Most approach routes have well packed trails.

 


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 19/1/00
Colder conditions overnight and during Wednesday have 
generally consolidated the existing snowpack. Surface 
instabilities are present in some isolated locations on steep 
aspects exposed to solar radiation. The avalanche hazard is Low 
(Category 1). Large cornices present. 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 20/1/00
A W/NW airflow with snow showers overnight and on Thursday 
will start to form fresh areas of windslab. Greatest 
accumulations will be at the tops of gullies, steep slopes and 
scarp slopes with NE, E and SE aspects. In these locations the 
avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Windblown 
slopes will be hard frozen. Large cornices will remain.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in N and E 
facing corries above 800m
ICING: Conditions improving on existing routes.
COMMENT: Some large cornices remaining. Ice axe and 
crampons essential for all hill users.



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 19/1/00
Snow lying on ridges and other exposed slopes is firm and stable.
In sheltered areas above 700 metres such as NW through to E
facing corrie headwalls and in summit gullies the snowpack has a
firm but breakable crust. Where layered wet slab lies on steep
ground instabilities still exist within the snowpack. In these
locations the avalanche hazard remains Moderate (Category 2).
 
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 20/1/00
Colder conditions overnight and during Thursday will make the 
snowpack firm and stable in most locations above 700 metres. A
dusting of new snow will be deposited on NE through to SE slopes
and in sheltered summit gullies. The avalanche hazard will be
Moderate (Category 2) where windslab overlies firm old snow ice.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m.

ICING: Ice reforming above 1000m.

COMMENT: Crampons and axe essential in hard snow-ice
conditions.
 


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 19/1/00
Colder temperatures are freezing the snowpack from around 800 
metres. Although crusty in places snow is well bonded and 
stable on all aspects. A few slumped cornices remain that 
should be treated with caution. The avalanche hazard is Low 
(Category 1). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 20/1/00
Light wintry showers will leave new deposits on N through to E 
aspects. On steeper slopes where new build up is of a 
reasonable depth and overlies existing harder snow, stability 
will be poor. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 
2).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Most amounts are in N to E corries 
with reasonable but broken cover on plateau areas.

ICING: Mainly restricted to gully lines. 

COMMENT: Buttress routes are looking a bit bare.



CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 19/1/00
Although still relatively mild, it is just on freezing point on the 
summits. This has further helped the consolidation process, and 
leaves the snowpack well bonded and stable on all aspects. The 
hazard of cornice collapse has also diminished with the colder
temperatures. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 20/1/00
Shallow accumulations of windslab will form in the very tops of 
sheltered gullies above 900 metres. Due to snow showers on a 
Westerly wind, lee slopes of a North-East through East to
South-East aspect will be affected. Large cornices still overhang 
these aspects in many corries. The avalanche hazard will be 
Moderate (Category 2).
  

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. 
Patchy on exposed ridges.

ICING: Has been poor in the mild conditions, however there 
was too much snow on the routes before, and a return to colder 
conditions can only help.

COMMENT: 



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