Monday was a beautiful day on CairnGorm Mountain with pretty much unbroken Sunshine all day, a gentle Southerly tail wind on the trails and even with the bright Sun the snow stayed perfect.

The main action was taking place in the Top Basin where all runs were open, but with the snow having to date fallen with little drifting the upper mountain was basically ride anywhere - though you need to keep your eyes peeled for the rocks that are inevitably lurking without a deep established base.

The Ptarmigan Ridge and upper most reaches of the East Wall were seeing a constant stream of people heading out to get some off piste tracks. The Fairway and Ptarmigan Bowl are well pisted and the Fairway is now basically fence to fence with machine and skier packed powder.

There are 3 boxes at the top of the Ciste Fairway, suitable for park novices upwards. There is also a series of rollers along the skiers left of the Ptarmigan Traverse fences.

Mid mountain there are some fantastic turns to be had, but unfortunately the snow just about runs out just short of the M1 Poma - but this could change overnight. Indeed Monday's report will be historical information by Tuesday morning and hopefully the mountain will have changed for the better.

The M1 to Horizon Road, the White Lady to just below the elephant fences and the upper reaches of the East Lady and the fantastic Coronation Wall were all offering freshies - but there are rocks lurking. Top two legs of the Zig Zags are passable with care.

It would not take much more snow if it sticks in the right places to get a pisted route open to the mid station and get the mid-mountain formally open with uplift. Fingers crossed tonight's storm brings the necessary snow.