Friday
13th January 2017
(Above) The A86 this morning. It’s one of the main arterial road across the highlands believe it or not. An HGV had slithered off the road (bringing traffic to a halt) just round the corner. Treacherous driving first thing before the plough cleared the road. Much improved road conditions by late afternoon though. Part of Coire Chriochairein just visible on the far distant horizon during one of the (very) few glimpses of the sun. Actually, it snowed pretty much all morning and into the early afternoon.
Here’s a clip of breaking trail on the main Coire Ardair path……at 300m:-
General skiing conditions are not good but skis were certainly useful for access today.
(Above) Snow at all levels, some of it deep. The glens have quite a lot of snow but windward slopes are fairly clear. Photo of the north-facing flank of Sron a Ghoire. Quite a lot of drifted snow in the drainage features but pretty scoured elsewhere on this heavily exposed windward slope. (Deceptively bright conditions again! Generally speaking the camera only came out during lulls in the persistent showers.)
(Above) A better flavour of conditions today: wintry. Â The birchwoods either side of the main Coire Ardair path at 400m. The tracks ahead were made by an enthusiastic guy out doing a bit of winter ML prep. He didn’t get far up the track and looked ‘well-exercised’ when I met him on his return down the path shortly after this shot was taken.
(Above) The briefest of glimpses of the Post Face today when returning back down Coire Ardair. Skies began to brighten in the afternoon.
(Above) Drifting across the Coire Ardair path. Apologies for the smeary nature of the photo, t’was melting snow on the lens.
(Above) Obligatory ‘winter wonderland’ photo taken late this afternoon up at Aberarder Farmhouse. Good cover of snow down low!
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Aviemoron
13th January 2017 10:08 pm
Skis out for the first time this year. Good lad.
meagaidhadmin
13th January 2017 10:16 pm
Yes, indeed just a shame that the actual skiing conditions aren’t actually up to much!
Many thanks for your comment.
(Don’t I know you?)
Grant Duff
14th January 2017 12:01 am
Ah you should have popped up for a brew.