Northern Cairngorms Winter Conditions Report

Report 1, 7/12/2011

A Violent Change

Welcome back to another season of condition reports from Mountain Innovations.

The story so far: The first bout of wintry weather arrived in mid October on the hills. It resulted in some waste and knee deep drifts high up but it was then followed by an especially mild period which stripped things completely.

As we moved to a new month there was a significant weather change and since that point the conditions have been on the whole consistently cold with snow down to low levels. Ridges have been blown clear with deep accumulations forming in sheltered lees etc. The direction has been generally between south and NW with the majority in the West which would be good build up in N & East facing gulleys. This has meant the Cairngorms have received relatively little snow as we’ve been in the precipitation shadow of W and NW Highlands. That having been said, the huge snow catchment area that is the Cairngorm Plateau combined with the strong winds does mean the snow generally gets concentrated in the right areas.

Today: Presently we have approx 5 cm of wet thawing snow here in Boat of Garten (230m).  The temperature has risen this morning to near 2 deg C in Boat of Garten and is still at -6 on the summit of Cairngorm so unless there’s a sudden increase in temp it looks unlikely that predicted rise in freezing level to 1100m has actually happened: somewhere between  the Met office & MWIS forecasts. Again it has been windy today with + 70 mph. Fridays forecast is for a sharp drop in temperature (-9 deg C @ 900m) accompanied by hurricane winds from the NW as a deep intense low crosses the Highlands. As its centre passes into the N sea you would start to expect heavier snowfall in the E highlands as the Cairngorms are the first really high ground the weather meets on landfall whether the wind is coming from the N, E or SE. This is what’s predicted for Fri & Sat.

Certain areas are getting filled in with it being evident from a considerable distance away. Lower down Corrie Gorm on the Sron na  Lairige looked ski-able from the A9. Of course there has already been action on some of the winter climbs especially the mixed routes with the turf being well frozen. There isn’t enough snow for downhill skiing quite yet but it wont be long by the sounds of it.

 It’s all looking good.

Enjoy the winter hills.

Andy

Mountain Innovations

01479 831 331

www.scotmountain.co.uk

Free babysitting and affordable outdoor activities in the Cairngorms National Park

Travelling with a young family can be a nightmare when trying to find accommodation which is not too expensive, or even somewhere which will welcome babies or toddlers. Here at Fraoch Lodge in Boat of Garten village (in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park), we have decided to actively encourage young families to stay with us.

Fraoch Lodge crosses the boundaries between a B&B and a hostel. Not only can we offer comfortable twin or family rooms with hand basins but we are also able to offer a separate kitchen for the use of our guests to prepare babies bottles or meals as required. However, if looking to relax further and not worry about the catering elements of the holiday (after all your readers have to do this every day at home) we do offer flexible meal arrangements to suit the family and/or free babysitting services should you wish to take the opportunity to have a meal out at the local hotel or restaurant 5 minutes walk from the Lodge. Alternatively guests could have an eating out experience in with us without worrying about the kids upstairs.

Looking to do something active while staying with us – not to worry there are plenty of choices from kayaking to hillwalking; from ball pits to swimming. All the family can participate at a level to suit. There are even walks from our back gate into the woods, up fairy hill or all the way into Aviemore (6 miles). Loch Garten is virtually on our doorstep if our guests want a bit of a nature experience (osprey watching) or they could go to the Speyside Wildlife Badger hide with the older kids.

Min stay: 2 nights

Max stay: as long as you like

Unique extras available at Fraoch Lodge:

Use of an off road push chair

Real nappies (please pre-book) and laundering

Baby monitor

Sandpit & slide

Toy crate – jigsaws, books and mega blocks amongst other things

3 year old playmate named Gregor

Fraoch Lodge,Deshar Road, Boat of GartenInverness-shirePH24 3BN

Email: family@scotmountain.co.uk

Tel: +44 1479 831 331

Northern Cairngorms Winter Conditions Report (Aviemore and the Cairngorms)

Report 5: 28/12/10

Happy Christmas,

Now that the waist belt has now been moved out a few notches and all those family commitments have been met –it’s maybe time to head for the hills.

From the comments in our Christmas cards there are obviously a good few folk thinking we are still up to our necks in snow. Seeing the reports in the media it’s easy to see why. Conditions couldn’t be further from the truth low down. Here in Strathspey we have no more than a couple on inches. The last heavy snowfall was 4 weeks ago, all of which disappeared in a subsequent thaw at low levels.  The main feature of the weather over the last week has been the extreme temperatures – the lowest being -20.1 with a common high being around – 10. There have been some heavy localized showers in some areas but not here in the N. Cairngorms and  with a little scientific understanding one is able to cut through the image that has been created by the poor “broad brush” reporting style of the media.

There is a certainly element of truth in the saying “it’s too cold to snow”. Cold air generally has a much reduced ability to hold moisture – obviously a necessary requirement to create snow. Due to the dominance of high pressure systems, the reason for lots of snow in the high polar regions is more down to the fact it doesn’t thaw rather than due to the quantity of snow fall.

The intense localised showers that were effecting Aberdeenshire, the Highlands north of Inverness, Northern Ireland, etc were as a result of the large contrast as the very cold air passed south over a relatively warm sea. The low level air was warmed and moistened creating an unstable airflow which subsequently rose to great height creating the intense showers. Once the air had moved inland the source of the moisture (i.e. sea) was removed and so the showers dried up relatively quickly. Combined with the fact, here in Strathspey, we’re in the rain shadow of the mountains to the north has meant we have had little snow. This was all very evident from the BBC/Met Office radar with the vast majority of the intense showers remaining over the sea. The wide spread heavier snowfall has been progressively much further south as the “polar front” (i.e. track of the lows and their associated fronts) has moved south. I would urge folks to check the media reports against the met office radar to get a true picture of weather events.

We are now undergoing a very slow thaw at low levels. The temperature has yet to get above +1 in the last 24 hrs. The roads are generally all black. The weekend before Christmas saw a total of 3000 people take to the Cairngorm ski area with excellent conditions. There has been light snowfall and drifting on S winds. With the very hard frosts it’s no surprise that hoar frost developed and with it now being buried under drifted snow it has created an avalanche risk.  Generally the snow conditions are very good.

There is a fare amount of variation in the various mtn forecasts with some predicting some heavy snow for the high tops for tomorrow. We shall see.

We still have places for the new year period at Fraoch Lodge.

Regards and safe climbing,

Andy

Northern Cairngorms Winter Conditions Report (Aviemore and the Cairngorms)

Report 4, 10/12/10

A short sharp thaw

Hi All,

The last major snowfall in Strathspey was now well over a week ago. We’ve had very little of the snow that hit Edinburgh and Glasgow causing the chaos further south. Most roads have been passable with care through the last week and now with the thaw all the major and well used roads are now generally clear. Minor road are now getting cleared as well.

Here in Boat of Garten (230m) , Wednesday morning started at a crisp -10 deg C  but throughout the day there was a steady rise in temperature. By dusk it was just below freezing point and seemed to maintain this level through the night until dawn. It there upon rose to a balmy 6 deg C around noon with the corresponding temperature on the summit of Cairngorm (1245m) rising to freezing point. At 10pm Thursday it had dropped to -1 with a +3 for here in Boat of Garten.

Due to the general depth & temperature of the snowpack on the mountain, I would suggest that to this point all this strong thaw has done is moisten the surface layers of snow. Within the snowpack the temperature will still be well below freezing. This morning (Fri) the mountain webcams seemed to confirm this. The temperature has again risen to 6 deg here in Boat and is now at 1 deg C on the summit of Cairngorm. Many of the snow fences in the ski area are completely buried with the snow depth being what you would expect for the end of a good season, not the beginning. The view from Loch Morlich is of blanket white mountains.

The thaw is due to continue through to the end of Saturday until the high pressure (that’s drawing the warm air over it’s northern flank) becomes more centered over Scotland. Winds will drop and the charts are pointing to a fine day for Sunday and beyond with the 900m temperature dropping back down to -1. Although Britain will be covered by relatively mild air, the radiated heat loss due to the high pressure should see frosts by night and the temperature remain below freezing in the shade by day at least – hence the comment “little thaw overall where snow still lies” on the MWIS forecast.

There may be loss of any rime ice from cliffs and snow cover where the pack is thin but it should be good for the long term with predictions indicating a return to persistently cold conditions next week.

SAIS are presently doing avalanche forecast for the weekends until they kick-off in earnest in mid December.

That’s all for now. Enjoy the winter hills.

Regards,

Andy

Andrew Bateman

Director

Mountain Innovations

www.scotmountain.co.uk

Come on winter, Mountain Innovations is ready for you!

Hi All,

We have now spent over £500 equipping Mountain Innovations bus for winter. We have renewed all the winter tyres using top class swedish ones (Gislaved) as usual and for the first time we have invested in some snow chains. Generally snow tyres are a far more practical solution to Britain’s snowy roads but since we are often using low priority roads (as far as ploughing goes) early in the day we have invested in chains just as a back-up.

We have also found 2 reliable rentable souces for snow-shoes. Last season, for the first time in many years,  saw repeated heavy snow fall on light winds which made walking in the deep soft snow slow going at times. The begining of this winter has somewhat been the same though generally more windy and the snow on the mountains is consolidating.

We are prepared though. So come and join us and this winter wonderland up here.

Andy

Northern Cairngorms Winter Conditions report No 2

Report 2    3/12/10

In the depths of winter – already

Hi All,

As no doubt you’re well aware the E. of Scotland has received heavy snowfall in the last week. In Boat of Garten, we must have received around 16” (40cm) in total over last weekend and at the beginning of the week. This depth has decreased with the snow falling on relatively warm ground. Bearing in mind that often the lowest valley temperatures of the season correlate with high pressure and the longest nights (i.e. Dec & Jan), the – 10’s we’ve been having are not totally exceptional for this area at this time of year. What has been exceptional is the persistence of the cold temperatures for this time as well as the -20 last night! Once the main fall had stopped the temperature didn’t rise above -5 deg C. As you would expect with the high pressure around there has been some strong temperature inversions with the ambient hill temperature being warmer.

 On the mountains there are some very deep drifts along with  a high avalanche risk. A number of people have already been caught out this season – a common misconception being that’s “it’s too early for avalanches”. With the amount of drifting and the huge catchment area that is the Cairngorm Plateau, an inch fall can translate as many inches in sheltered lee’s i.e. coire headwalls. This, combined with something as minor as a temporary lull in the wind speed can be enough to create a weak layer within the snowpack. Many of you may have already seen the U-tube video of the Coire Cais Headwall being set off the other week. With the calm and very cold night time temperatures hoar frost crystals (surface facets in avalanche jargon) can be expected (possibly depth hoar frost crystals also) – again potentially another weak layer should they become buried.

 The snow is consolidating on the mountains , all-be-it relatively slowly compared to the effects of a freeze thaw cycle. The drifting helps this by breaking up snowflakes and laying the crystals down in a dense layer (i.e. wind-slab) whereby their close proximity to each other allows greater bonding. There is deep cover everywhere.

 It’s a very good start to the season but dare I say it “lets hope it warms up a bit”! That’s all for now.

 Safe climbing

Andy

Get a 5 day advance warning of snow!

Air pressure tends to equalise itself at sea level at around 1000mb. Cold air is denser than warm air and therefore you need less of it volumn wise to create the 1000mb pressure. This means the atmosphere is thinnest at the poles and thickest at the equator.  It also means that air pressure will decrease more readily with altitude at the poles than at the equator. Meteorologists use  this phenomenon to measure the advance of cold air south from the N. Pole by noteing the altitude at which air pressure has halved.  In the case of the 528 line this has happened at 5280 m

If you go to the Met Office weather charts: http://www.weathercharts.org/ukmomslp.htm and then prognosis T+36 and beyond, you will see, apart from the isobars, there are a series of dashed lines.  When the one numbered 528 sweeps down from the N and comes close in to Scotland, you will have snow on the hills. If it crosses Scotland you will get snow at low levels!

Northern Cairngorms Winter Conditions report

Good aesthetic covering of snow (up to 2″) from about 800m up in Cairngorms today. Turning milder on Fri then colder on Sat with more snow before becoming fine but cold. Warming on Tue! Here we go, the cold snaps are lining up.

2 of the best reasons to grow mint

Mint Ice Cream (adapted from a recipe by Sue Lawrence)

25g mint
1/2 pint creamy milk
1/4 pint double cream
3 egg yolks
4oz caster sugar

Place mint, with milk & cream, in large saucepan and bring slowly to the boil. As soon as you see the bubbles, remove from the heat and stir well, pressing down on the mint. Cover witha  lid and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Then strain through a sieve. (It doesn’t matter if you leave the mint in the cream mixture for longer, even overnight, as I have done this when not having enough time or energy to complete all steps of the recipe in one day. It may even add to the flavour.)

Mix egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until pale and fluffy. ( I use a food mixer for this rather than a whisk as it is much quicker.) The pour the milk mixture in with the sugar etc whisking all the time. Return to a saucepan on a low heat until custard thickens, being sure to stir.

Pour in a bowl and leave to cool. Then churn in ice cream maker. (If you don’t have one this steop will be much more tedious as you’ll have to keep removing the mix from the freezer – approx. every hour for 3 – 4 hours – and beating to make sure the mixture does not separate as it freezes.)

We had this last week during a navigation course when the dessert was hot chocolate puddings with mint ice cream – no leftovers of course!

Chocolate and mint cake (adapted from a recipe by Sue Lawrence)

250g caster sugar
2 tablespoons mint leaves
125 unsalted butter
50g cocoa powder
2 eggs
250g self-raising flour
125g boiling water

Preheat oven to 180oC and prepare sandwich tin/tins. Place sugar and mint leaves in food processor, fitted with metal blade. Process for a few minutes and change to plastic blade.

Add butter and process until well mixed. Add cocoa, process briefly, then add egge, half the flour and half the water. Process for a few seconds, scrape down sides, then add remaining flour and water. Blend briefly until well mixed. Bake for at least 20 mins. Then invert and leave to cool.

Icing
75g bitter chocolate
1 tablespoon mint leaves finely chopped.
125g butter
150g icing sugar
50g ricotta

Melt chocolate and set aside to cool. Chop mint finely then beat it into the butter. Add icing sugar and beat until it is light and fluffy. Mix in chocolate and ricotta and comtine well until smooth.

Cake can be frozen before icing if you wish.

This cake went down really well at Cake O’Clock and didn’t end up feeding that many adults as we all had to go back for more. Very popular with a nearly 2 year old as well.

As my sister pointed out other fabulous recipes using mint include tabbouleh and Nigel Slater’s chicken with mint, saffron & chilli – yum.

Dried Cranberry Flapjacks

175g butter
200g soft brown sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
400g rolled oats
75g dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 160oC. Line a 18 x 28cm tin.
Melt butter, sugar & syrup until sugar is dissolved. Stir in oats etc and press into tin.
Bake for 25 – 35 min until set. Cool in tin and cut into pieces while still warm.

I often add a couple of squares of white chocolate to add a little richness to the flapjack and keep it from being too dry.

Requested by one of the Dutch birdwatching clients on a holiday organised by SNP at Fraoch Lodge, Boat of Garten.