Cold for spring time!
31st March 2018
-5 degrees on the summits today with a fresh to strong East-North-East wind. There was more snow than I expected but I have had a few days off and Andy was on, so maybe I had taken my eye of the ball a bit. It is amazing how much our snow changes and its this that keeps our SAIS work days so interesting. I had a good walk around today and feel that I am in touch with the Torridon snow pack again. Isolated pockets of wind slab have formed on high scarp slopes and gully tops, these are isolated but interesting and its worth being cautious as you wander around on steeper ground. It is also worth reading the full SAIS report in fact! There were plenty people out on the hill today, one couple whose conversation I enjoyed also mentioned that they had to turn back when they got a short way into the snow line realising that the snow was too firm to proceed without crampons and ice axe. Of course we have been mentioning a firm snow pack in our reports for a while now but its easy enough not to relate that to: “does that mean I may need crampons in my pack even if I am just out for an easy walk on the snow?” .We all have to focus in, it is so easy just to skim read the report especially when we forecast a “Low” or “isolated” Moderate. It is easy enough not to really translate the detail of the report into what it truly means and how it will affect us when we are out on the hill. Do not worry, it is simply our human condition and we all do it. We have to remind ourselves to maintain that focus especially when we are out for a nice day in the hills.
Ruadh-stac Beag and beyond.
View from Spidean Coire nan Clach towards Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe.
Nice but feeling cold in the wind on the ridge today.
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