NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 17/3/06 It has been a dry day with moderate Easterly winds. Accumulations of unstable windslab and cornices exist on Westerly to Northerly aspects above 900 metres. Gullies and crag aprons are especially affected. Elsewhere at all altitudes the snowpack is generally re-frozen and hard. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 18/3/06 It will remain cold and mainly dry with light Northerly winds. Weakly bonded windslab and cornices will continue to affect Westerly to Northerly aspects above 900 metres. Gullies and crag aprons will be especially affected. Elsewhere the snowpack will remain frozen and hard. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover for ski touring above 600 metres, although a little firm. ICING: N facing lower grade gullies full of soft snow, buttresses white, some ice around. COMMENT: Full winter conditions are still here in the mountains! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 17/3/06 The strong North-East airflow has eroded the localised areas of fresh snow that remained from earlier in the week. The snowpack now exhibits a re-frozen crust and is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 18/3/06 Cold and dry conditions are expected overnight and during Saturday. The existing re-frozen crust will remain on the surface of the snowpack. No new accumulations are expected. Snowpack stability will remain good. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover above 650m. ICING: Snow surface remains frozen at all levels. COMMENT: Improved climbing conditions. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 17/3/06 Dry conditions with strong Easterly winds have affected the area maintaining a generally stable snowpack. Some localised accumulations of windslab still exist in some sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations of moderately bonded snow are on W through N to NE aspects above 900 metres but especially around the tops of sheltered gullies and on steep scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). In many locations the snowpack is well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 18/3/06 Settled and dry conditions will continue to affect the area with NE winds. The snowpack will remain generally stable at all levels. However some localised areas of moderately bonded snow may exist on W through N to NE aspects but more so around the tops of sheltered gullies and on steep scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. ICING: Freezing level 750 metres. COMMENT: Staying dry, improved climbing conditions. Have fun and bring your sunglasses. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 17/3/06 It has been a dry but windy day on the hill. Wind blown deposits are to be found in sheltered areas mainly on SW to W aspects above 800 metres. These accumulations are localised and are moderately to weakly bonded on steeper slopes. Elsewhere exposed slopes are icy. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 18/3/06 It will continue to remain cold with the possibility of the odd snow flurry. Stability of recent wind blown deposits will have improved. Deepest accumulations will be found in sheltered locations on SW to W aspects above 800 metres. Exposed areas will be scoured and icy. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover from 600 metres. Exposed areas are firm and icy. ICING: General improvement in climbing conditions. Some ice is appearing at the crags now but still plenty of snow on buttresses. COMMENT: Cover is excellent for touring on White Mounth and Southern Cairngorms. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 17/3/06 It has been cold, bright and dry with strengthening East-North- East winds. The snow on sun-exposed East to Southerly aspects has been through several warming and freezing cycles and is now better consolidated. Strong winds continue to scour and re- deposit snow as thin, poorly-bonded windslab mainly at the top of very steep West to North-West facing gullies and corrie rims above 900 metres. Heavy shading is also maintaining cold snowpack temperatures and weak bonding in near-surface layers in many of these places. The avalanche hazard remains Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 18/3/06 Cold, dry conditions will continue with easing North- East winds. Stability will remain good on all East to South aspects. Thin, weakly-stabilised windslab will persist on very steep and heavily shaded West to North-West facing gully tops and corrie backwalls above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remains good above 600m but with variable surface qualities. ICING: Blue ice noted on several ice pitches on the Post Face. Staying cold well into next week. COMMENT: The new slab is thin and confined to the very top of steep gullies and corrie scarp slopes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------