Talisman's Mountain Diary

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Yet another snowhole expedition!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:13:00 +0000

There's been a continuous thaw at lower levels making the approach wade to our snowhole site near Braeriach tiring and wet without snowshoes or skis. It was also forecast to be very windy (gusting to 75 MPH) and with an overnight FL of 1200 metres!
Fortunately despite the snowholes being situated at under 800 metres they remained sheltered, well frozen and dry overnight so everyone had a relatively comfortable night...! Yesterday despite the thaw the ski and ice climbing conditions looked OK from mid mountain upwards though some of the large icefalls in the Lairig Ghru were showing evidence of ice and rock collapse and the crags were looking blacker this morning.
Photos and video later...

Ropework today

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:05:00 +0000

A very wet start before becoming bright and showery. We spent the day looking at basic ropework and snow belays.

We're away on another snowhole expedition tomorrow...

Fi's updated her blog from last weeks adveturous training courses here.

Whiteout and windy on the plateau

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:39:00 +0000

We headed into Coire an t-Sneachda to practise crampon work up the Goat Track and micro navigation to the Domhain snowholes on the plateau for lunch. Strong gusty winds provided an additional challenge as we headed up the steep coire headwall.

We saw quite a few large groups of climbers in the coire but on the plateau we only actually saw three other people as they topped out from the climbs!

It was snowing quite heavily at plateau level today but raining down at the carpark. There's spring snow below 800 metres and crusty rimed snow above 900 metres. Climbing conditions were described as still quite good on popular climbs that had been dug out...

Milder with spring snow

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:05:00 +0000

The weather has been a lot milder recently with a slow thaw on the lower hills and spring snow for ski touring. Higher on Cairngorm the snow cover is still excellent and the cliffs still completely white. Today was the first day of another winter skills/mountaineering course and conditions were great for ice axe braking and digging emergency snow shelters. We looked at step kicking, footwork and balance while climbing up through the jumble of sagging, creeping cornices and avoiding falling into the numerous crevasses!

Firmer snow

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:13:00 +0000

Good sunny weather with harder snow until today (Thursday) After a few melt freeze cycles the climbing conditions have become good but to the detriment of the off-piste powder skiing conditions. Still good on piste but with teeth clattering off...!

Sunny snowhole expedition

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:23:00 +0000

A good two days snowholing in the Lairig Ghru with Steven, Tamsin and Adrian.
A tiring walk in on Sunday trail breaking through the deep soft snow but by the evening the skies cleared and the snow firmed up overnight. Today it was blue skies, sun block, shades and easy walking on the firm snow surface until the snow started to soften around midday. YouTube snowhole video later!

Still plenty of snow but milder recently

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:08:00 +0000

The past few days have been milder with the snow gently thawing below 900 metres. Colder and clearer weather returned this afternoon and this should firm up the snowpack. Despite the milder weather and drizzle at low levels the mountain crags are still very white. The forecast for next week is for calm sunny days and frosty nights. Today we were looking at winter belays and ropework and tomorrow we're off on an overnight snowhole expedition...

HD Ski video!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:42:00 +0000

The full sized HD version of the above YouTube ski video from the 3rd and 4th March can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RhFvmIRXvU

If you ski at Cairngorm then click here for the 'Save the Ciste' chairlift campaign website - please sign...

Another great ski day!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:17:00 +0000

Another good ski day up until early afternoon when the forecast front moved in bringing poor vis and light snow flurries. Despite the limited lower uplift this morning the queues in the Ciste were OK with great skiing on the Ciste gullies, East Wall's (west facing).

After lunch we put the skins on and headed up to Cairngorms summit before some great off piste skiing down the back and beyond. As promised to Fi we then headed over to 'Windy Col' by the side of the Mess of Pottage to find some completely virgin powder slopes just below the cornices - not sure if she actualy realised where I meant!

There were sign of old avalanche debris from the collapse of the large overhung cornices just to the left of Opening Break on the Mess of Pottage. Otherwise the slopes appeared OK and the cornice collapse hadn't actualy triggered the lower slopes.

A quick slide in through the small cornice and a few test jumps and off we went - skiing! Fantastic powder skiing though the flat light and gusty winds (windy Col!) meant we didn't see or video as much as we hoped for...

At the moment the west facing slopes in Coire an t-Sneachda are a skiers paradise but a climbers hell! More details on Fi's blog here. See the latest YouTube skiing video below:

The HD version of the video can now be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RhFvmIRXvU

Another great ski day

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:51:00 +0000

Full details on Fi's blog here

I'll upload a video of the skiing down Coire Laogh Mor tomorrow once I replace the video clips I accidently deleted!

Video now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RhFvmIRXvU

A dynamite day at Cairngorm!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:49:00 +0000

Literally a dynamite day as Cairngorm Mountain were blasting the slopes before opening the pistes to minimize the high avalanche risk! A lot of hard work and digging going on to get everything up and running safely. As there was still limited tickets and up uplift we skinned up under azure skies to Cairngorm's glittering summit cone.

The views across Scotland's snow clad summits were simply breathtaking as was our off piste freshy run back down the mountain. Lots of ski mountaineers out on the hill though we didn't see any climbers! See the full sized YouTube video above here

Huge snow drifts

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:22:00 +0000

The ski road opened at 10.00 am today but with limited parking due to the huge amount of snow still to be cleared. The link road is still buried with two way traffic on the normal down road. The roadside drifts are really impressive with some reaching over 4 metres!

Once you venture off the ploughed ski road travel is very difficult indeed and crawling is a useful technique in some of the bottomless snow drifts! It was well worth it though as we had a great day practising powder ice axe braking, step cutting up over cornices and uncovering and exploring the old group ice caves.

The sun shone and the tops cleared by late afternoon with the corniced and thickly laden slopes of Cairngorm's summit down 'Coronation Wall' to the Cas headwall showing up well from Glenmore. Westerly aspects and corrie headwalls are well buried with several metres of fresh windslab, no doubt overlying last weeks surface hoar frost. We could see some alpine sized avalanches in the future if your hear a whoomf and this weak layer fails...!

Trail breaking

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:26:00 +0000

A day of trail breaking through thigh deep drifts in the local forests and hills to to look at avalanche assessment and dig snow shelters. I took my snowshoes to help the group break trail...! Deep drifts and cornices on sheltered SW aspects even at 500-600 metres. Some windward aspects are scoured with surprisingly good neve for cramponning.

The forest trails are good for cross-country skiing as long as you are not the first one trail breaking.

Lots of digging required!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:34:00 +0000

Lots of digging to get food supplies by people, birds and animals... It's also worth noting that some commodities are low in the shops as the lorries haven't been able to resupply due to the blocked roads.
The A9 has now reopened though the strong winds will no doubt continue to cause problems with drifting. Please check the latest road and ski area reports before travelling.
If you can get to the hills it will be hard work floundering through the thigh and waist deep drifts. The avalanche risk will be very high too so please check the SAIS website. The Cairngorm Ski Area will NOT open tomorrow according to the notice on their website, see below.

"MOUNTAIN CLOSED FRIDAY- STORMBOUND.
WE WILL NOT BE OPEN SATURDAY AS WE HAVE A MAJOR OPERATION TO CLEAR OUR ROADS, CARPARKS, BUILDINGS AND SEVERE DRIFTING ON THE MOUNTAIN.

Most of the highlands was cut off yesterday and emails wondering why we are not open should not expect a response. The team will continue to work flat out in order to open uplift as soon as it is both safe and feasible to do so. Please do not travel to the mountain without checking the website or listening to MFR for updates.
There has been very heavy snowfall over the last couple of days, up to 2 metres. Strong winds and severe drifting are still preventing us access above Car Park level..."

Check Cairngorm Mountains website for future updates here

The good news is the forest ski trails will be fantastic once trail broken and the mountain pistes awesome once the ski area is dug out. There is also a fair bit of thick ice forming in places too.

See also Fi's blog here for conditions in Aviemore and from the last few days up in the Cairngorms.

High avalanche risk and snowed in!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:19:00 +0000

A lot of snow has fallen in the past 24 hours blocking many roads throughout the Highlands. The Cairngorm ski area was stormbound today with the access roads and the funicular buried. Travel on foot is arduous with knee, thigh and waist deep snow. Journey times on foot (even with snowshoes and skis!) are taking about four times as long in the lower tracks of the Cairngorm and Glenmore areas due to the deep soft snow. If you can reach them the avalanche risk in the Cairngorms is very very high due to the stormy conditions and the amount of fresh snow that has fallen onto the now buried surface hoar. See the Cairngorm SAIS avalanche reports here

Normal winter service plus resumes!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:11:00 +0000

In complete contrast to the last seven days, today provided new navigational and endurance challenges and the ability to ignore the Cairngorm winter narl.
We made the right choice in climbing on Aladdin's Couloir yesterday as today the high avalanche risk, fresh snow, whiteout and painful gusts of wind made even the simplest of tasks difficult!
We headed for the Ribs area to avoid the high Category 4 avalanche risk and to look at placing rock protection while pitching up the rock ribs. Several Glenmore Lodge teams on MIC assessment had the same idea!
With rapidly deteriorating weather and painful gusts we had the opportunity to look at escaping by abbing off with frozen gloves, goggles, ropes and screwgates.
On the return journey wading and staggering back through deep snow drifts with misted frozen goggles and compass in hand was another great test of stamina and endurance - the guys loved it and got the winter message! On arrival back at the Coire Cas carpark the ski road was just about passable though driving down the icy road in white out conditions was yet another challenge! Elsewhere on the hill Fi and Nathan were out with their adventurous training groups and Fi reported a couple of small avalanches being set off by the side of the Alt Mor and a large group of arrogant Lakes rescue dog handlers on training asking them to move on as they were on a training exercise ...
Tonight the roads are very treacherous and I passed by two separate accidents on the A9 - one up on last night and then I was tailgated and spun round by an idiot in a lorry as I tried to turn right off the A9 at the Carrbridge Slochd junction!!!! The A9 is a real death lottery at the Aviemore and Carrbridge junctions especially when drivers don't heed the wintry weather by cutting their speed and keeping a safe braking distance.
Several over due parties and avalanche incidents in the hills too. See the BBC Highlands news here and here.
You can view the full screen Cairngorm winter narl video above on YouTube here

Aladdin's today

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:37:00 +0000

Another good weather and very sociable day looking at ropework and belays in Aladdin's Couloir. We've had almost seven days of cold, calm, sunny weather though it looks like the weather is to change tomorrow

MMM... running out of s's!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:33:00 +0000

A low in Aviemore of minus 24 last night and a Magic Marvellous Monday...! Yet another superb cold sunny day with more of the same being forecast for Tuesday. Today we looked at basic ropework and snow belays in preparation for the next few days climbing. The Sunday Youtube video of our team climbing up Fiacaill Ridge can be viewed full screen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzUbigx7Y1A

SSSS superb stunning sunny Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:20:00 +0000

Sunny and minus 15 this morning. We had a fantastic day climbing a buried alpine like Fiacail Ridge, looking into a busy Coire an t-Sneachda and then a quiet Coire an Lochain before returning via Lurchers ridge... We bumped into Danny working for the Lodge at the notch and just missed Fi on the plateau for lunch!

I took plenty of video clips so look out for the YouTube video later...

There's deep surface hoar with good trails and ski tracks everywhere though make sure you stick to the trails on the flats and the uphills!

According to the local Moray Firth radio and BBC Highlands there were quite a few rescues yesterday evening. A serious fall over on the Shelterstone and what sounds like three climbers stuck below the cornice in the Vent. Also see Northern Constabulary reports here

SSS... stunning sunny Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:51:00 +0000

Another stunning winters day and the start of a new Winter Skills and Winter Mountaineering course.

Today we looked at self belays, ice axe arrests, step kicking, footwork and balance techniques, pidgeon hole step cutting, cramponning and emergency snow shelters.

Similar weather for tomorrow with sun glasses and sunblock essential bits of winter kit!

Fi was nearby with her ladies Winter Skills group and spotted the same strange snow tracks we'd noticed on the walk out (apparently it was a Black Grouse that had landed and then took off!) More details here

Another sunny yet extremely cold day in the shade

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:17:00 +0000

A day of extreme contrasts. Pleasant calm and sunny but extremely cold in the shade. Warm in the sun but with lots of deep sparkling hoar frost in sheltered hollows. Hard trail breaking but great powder skiing... Slab avalanches in coire headwalls, corniced gullies yet stunning winter buttress climbing... See Al's blog for todays climbing conditions here

A stunning powder day

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:52:00 +0000

A blue sky powder ski day. Great viz and ski conditions from mountain to forest.

Knee deep snow on approaches and white buried crags. Skis and snow-shoes useful for hillwalking...!

Lots more snow!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:09:00 +0000

A fair bit of fresh snow has fallen over Aviemore and the Cairngorms recently with a lot more being forecast for this evening and overnight. Today the ski road was closed until mid morning with foot access into the coires in the deep snow hard going for anyone that tried. The skiing should be good once the road is opened...!

White and wet with crocodiles!

noreply@blogger.com (Ron Walker) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:27:00 +0000

It was extremely busy today with the upper carpark filling up by 8.15 am. The coires were packed full too with large crocodiles and queues on many routes. As the freezing level rose to plateau level the snow turned to rain for a time.

The wet snow on top of firm neve caused our crampons to ball up if care wasn't taken while climbing up the Goat Track. More of a worry were the climbers slipping and sliding while descending and then traversing directly above us with balled up crampons - we were the skittles.

A large school group of twelve following behind us all tied together on two ropes ready to snare any sliding climbers - at least that's what it looked like!!

On the plateau whiteout conditions meant extreme care was required while navigating to the Domhain snow holes for some relocation exercises and then hand-railing the corrie rims back to avoid walking over the cornices. BTW many of the tracks come perilously close to to or over the corniced edges and I'm surprised that more people haven't fallen through them!

Avoiding the overhung cornices we descended by windy col looking at snow belays, basic ropework and abseiling just as the coire began to clear on queue for some more white wintry photos...