General Situation // Scottish Ski & Winter Activity Report // Winterhighland

There can only be one, but this year the King of Spring is not Glencoe, with CairnGorm and the Ptarmigan Bowl the last remaining lift served snowsports for what is expected to be the last week of the season up to and hopefully including the Mayday Monday holiday.

Officially lift served snowsports on CairnGorm is now limited to the Ptarmigan Bowl with the Ptarmigan Tow and Polar Express Trainer Tow operating. The White Lady is officially now closed as links out to the mid-station and route in to the top are broken in several spots.

However, the main bed of the White Lady is still in decent shape and when the snow is loose granular spring snow it?s worth the hoof out to the Cas Carpark, even maybe more than just at the end of the day! The Ptarmigan Terrain Park remains open with a variety of features of differing sizes.

If you are prepared to do more leg work than walk down to the Base Station from the White Lady, then the Ciste Gully is complete to the level of the fence above the former boardwalk and should similarly offer up superb spring snow turns. Either skin back up or, less vertifical is required to walk over the Windy Ridge and pick up the Windy Ridge path back to the base station, so the Funicular still does some of the uphill vertical!

The Ciste Mhearaidh over the back of the Ptarmigan Tow has been offering up some beautiful spring snow, just remember it is easy to get to, but you have to walk / skin back out! Note that the Funicular touring pass is not available currently.

Glencoe is now the domain of tourers and those prepared to hike for some turns, if venturing beyond the Main Basin or Spring Run, beware of the Flypaper both early and once in shade for the surface quickly firming up in the dry air, plus when at its softest risk of surface sluffing. Remember the mountain is unpatrolled now!

Season Pass holders can continue to use the Access Chair. The Plateau Cafe is open daily through Monday 4th May, from 10am to 3pm.

The Upper Goose and summit area at Nevis and the Back Corries also retain a decent amount of snow for tourers / hiking for turns.

:: Glencoe Sledge Park

The Sledge Park is full length and in reasonable and improving condition, with snow making resumed following the commissioning of a new snow factory unit! There are over 150 sledges to grab at the Plateau Cafe, sledging is complimentary!

It is advisable to arrive before 2.45pm at the latest for sledging to get a decent amount of time on the hill. First chair up at 9am, the sledge park is always quietest before lunch time. Last chair down scheduled for 4.30pm.

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:: England Club Fields

All the club fields are waiting for new snow to be able to reopen.

For both Weardale and Allenheads, you need to join the club with a season pass, these are still available for both at this time.

Please check club access rules / availability if not a club member / pass holder.

Weardale: https: //skiweardale.com/ .
Allenheads: http://ski-allenheads.co.uk/ .
Yad Moss: https: //yadmoss.co.uk/ .
Raise: https: //www.ldscsnowski.co.uk/ .

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:: Mountain Weather

At 6pm in the West at Glencoe, the summit AWS on Meall a Bhuiridh (1097m) was reporting a temperature of +7.0°c, with an ENE wind at 10 gusting 18mph. At the SSC hut (850m) the temperature was +8.0°c. At Base level (366m) it was +12.0°c with the wind at 11 gusting 17mph.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting +3.6°c. The Met Office station was reporting a South West wind at 11 gusting 19mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was +7.7°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +11.7°c.

In the East the summit weather stations on CairnGorm reported +6.6°c, with a Westerly at a mean of 18 gusting 23mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 6pm was +16.1°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS reported +8.5°c with a South wind at a mean of 12 gusting 21mph.

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:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

Weakening weather fronts trailing into the high pressure have introduced more cloud and humidity, with a scattering of showers around on Sunday afternoon, and showers are expected to be more widespread and potentially heavier for some spots on Monday before we return to dry and increasingly bright weather under the high pressure.

While high pressure remains in place, it wont be as bright or stay dry on Monday. Some places may miss them completely but other locations could catch a heavier shower. A return to more widespread sunshine and dry conditions likely by Tuesday, with another fine week expected.

Munro level temperature around +4 to +7°c on Monday as a slightly cooler NW flow comes in, higher mountain temperatures towards the South and East Highlands. WNW to NNW wind around 10 to 15mph gusting 25mph around showers.

Then warming back up with Munro Level temperatures likely to be 10 to 12°c by Tuesday, possibly 13°c by Wednesday. Wind becoming light and variable again. At lower elevations some spots again pushing past 20°c.

Some inversion mist may form in the glens again, but should soon burn off in the strengthening spring sunshine.

With still high level snow cover on the mountains, intensifying the effect of the sunshine, be aware of the serious sunburn risk in the coming day! Also please beware of the high wildfire risk.

Towards the end of the week and the bank holiday weekend the forecast models are less certain, but unfortunately the direction of travel is towards lower pressure, but this is not certain. Some of the lower pressure scenarios drop a polar trough in, giving a notable drop of temperature with areas of more persistent rain circulating, potentially falling as snow at highest elevations.

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:: Webcams and Weather Stations

Lowther Hill: Leadhills webcam is online (24/7).

GLENCOE: All mountain webcams online and the first updated images are around 5.30am (BST). Sledge Park camera streams overnight. Replacement Summit AWS has been installed and temperature data is available from 4 levels. Wind speed currently available at summit and base.

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