the first bit down from the ski centre (the allt mor trail) is designed to discourage bikers, loads of waterbars, rock gardens etc etc, so maybe not the best for her there, but from the allt mor car park down it's all super easy, big wide smooth double track, pretty much fire road in fact, all the way back to aviemore. not sure if the bus stops at allt mor carpark though, so first bit might have to be on-road, but guarantee you she'll love the rest of the way down.

there's also a nice easy route around loch an eilein at rothiemurchus ( [www.rothiemurchus.net] )

Cheers remote. Will probably avoid the top section then. Got a nice route off of Singletrack website last night too. Starts at the hotel then takes the track up to Cairngorm Club Footbridge then bares left towards Loch Morlich. Might do that then play about on some of the trails around there.

Report and some photos from around the hill today. [www.winterhighland.info]
Cracking spring snow, but felt more like late April than late February !

Helen

Ptarmigan Bowl broken into patches overnight, going to be a green Fairway. Can Coire Cas cling on for tomorrow when winds are due to be much lighter?

Just had a look at the ptarmigan webcam all the snow on the top is completely stripped, usually the runs at the top of the hill survive when we have severe thaws, I dont think its been this bad at the top of Cairngorm for quite some time, but still optimistic there will be a huge dump sometime in March, still looking forward for some great sliding.

Think thats Cairngorm knocked out now too, dont think its worth them trying to open IMHO

The Cas uptrack will need allot of snow moved from off the piste for it to be able to run. And given the warm weather snow moving isnt really an option.

Perhaps the top of the Cas might be possible to open. But tbh it would surprise me if they bothered as only hardcore Scottih skiers would be up for the hike on & off the snow.

Really didnt expect to see Cairngorm to have to close due to lack of snow this early in the season. The Ptarmigan bowl always seems to be the last to close in Scotland by far, its faired well though given the conditions.

That really just leaves the Coe.

Going up this afternoon to go to ssc but. Believe upper Cas is complete, but Ptarmigan Traverse was wiped out overnight, so unsure about traverse, but it's cover was deeper.

More importantly running the Cas means no closed system. There is an incentive to open even if very limited because people can still get out to play in the remaining snow at the top.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 13.39hrs Tue 28 Feb 12 by alan.

Upper Cas still complete, but only middle third of uptrack ok with our significant patching. With the run down the Traverse broken the plug has been pulled for now, partly in the hope that some sort of base might just survive on the Cas till colder temps arrive.

Blowing about too in the squally showers even in Inverness, wind at summit AWS on CairnGorm Westerly 47 gusting 67 with a temperature of -6°c. Cas uptrack should be improving, possibly sticking in the Ptarmigan Bowl too.

Helen on way down after clocking up her 29th consecutive month.

This day last year: [www.veletron.com]

Boo hoo

Yesterday.... but still good sliding beneath the tor

Helen

Attachments: Cas.JPG (202kB)   Ciste Mhearad.JPG (149kB)   Tracks on upper part of tor patch.JPG (73kB)  

The BBC report Cairngorm going into 'summer mode', one month early ...

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Further report from the BBC today, showing the conventional 'best snow on upper slopes' ...

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Facebook update from Cairngorm this morning:



Attachments: Cairngorm snow.JPG (30kB)