Red Gully

Grade III

It was about 0 degrees at the car park and i think the temperature rose by a couple of degrees through the day. Was very windy on the approach and on the plateau but appart from that it was a clear dry day.

Conditions were VERY lean. Red Gully had Ice and Neve on the lower pitches but further up the ice deteriorated and snow became sparse. Turf was just fozen. Wasn't all that enjoyable a climb due the conditions. There were also teams on the Runnell, Crotched Gully and Goat Track Gully, these looked just as lean and nothing else was in condition, Ice ws melting everywhere and the buttresses were BLACK. Sad day in the Corries

Paul Gillespie and Jock McAllister

paul at systemwise dot co dot uk

Alladins Coulior. (I)

Grade I

Wet snow showers and misty conditions, although cleared later.

Snow soft but still small ice pitch in middle. Most of the easy gullies still looked complete in corrie but thawing.

Still lots of snow on plateau - possible to ski tour to macdui from cairn lochan by the looks of things.

route major carn etchagen (sp)

Not Applicable

very good vis and conditions freezing level well below the base of the route, frozen turf some decent neve.

no pure ice routes in eg cascade.
sticil face was seriously thin, red guard looked ok as did everything else on our crag and corrie an trek.

superb day with nobody else about.

Scorpion Etchacan. Contrary to previous party's report there were other climbers present. And the turf was not frozen. And the freezing level was below crag base. Did first pitch before concluding route was not sufficiently frozen to justify continuing. Climbed Afterthought Arete on Stag Rocks opposite on snowed-up rock instead. Lots of fresh wet snow insulating the turf. Snowed further during the day.

Not Applicable

Bright and sunny to begin, snow later.

Fresh snow down to c.1000 ft. Little fragile ice, turf unfrozen.

General Report, Ben Nevis

Not Applicable

A fine day today so far. some unsettled weather coming over the weekend before a return to much colder weather from Monday onwards. There are still some spare places at the CIC Hut next week, so if you fancy making the most of the forecast colder weather please get in touch ASAP. The details below are copied from Metcheck, a link to which is show above.

Stormy Times Ahead!
Added [Wednesday March 17 2004 : 11: 47: 37 AM]

An intense area of low pressure is developing just in time for this weekend. Initially, the worst of the gale, if not storm force winds will be across Scotland and Northern Ireland, but as the low pressure area becomes established, secondary low's will spin around the outside, tightening the isobars further inland, increasing the risk of storm force winds across England and Wales.

We're currently keeping a close eye on Friday afternoon and Friday evening as a secondary low quickly pushes east across the midlands and southern England. Winds will no doubt be strong gusting to severe gale, possibly storm force around some exposed coasts and hills. Gusts of 70mph are more than likely.

Accompanied with this will be a major drop in temperature, back into single figures along with heavy bands of rain, possibly sleet or snow across the north later in the weekend, especially over hills and mountains.

Hold onto your hats, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Martin Chuter CNS

Alan Kimber