Today, Tuesday, the Clashindarroch trails have retained their snow, but the thinner bits and downhills had become icy. Even Shortcut was a bit too fast for comfort. By mid-afternoon a howling gale was blowing and the good news is that this was driving in snow showers from the west with the sky suggesting plenty more on the way. This should add some much-needed fresh snow to the existing packed base. Temperature today was plus 2. The car park was very icy and the A941 from Rhynie had icy patches.

From Colin Miller

Tramlines glazed by last night’s frost, thus nice and fast. No fresh snow but no loss of snow either. Those thin sections which have skiable cover are getting icy. Weather today sunny and calm; temp plus 3. Fingers crossed for what the next 48 hours may bring.

From Colin Miller

The storm contributed only another 1-3cm of fresh snow, but the snowpack froze overnight,

Sunset At Slack By James Davidson

promising a good base if it lasts. Typical snow depth stays at 10-12cm. Condition varies from fast “frozen ice cream” surface to excellent powder on crunchy base, e.g. mid-section of Haute Route.

Descent of Leids Leap still not recommended, and there is thin cover in the usual places elsewhere where it’s a case of choosing one’s line carefully or making judicious use of the verge. Snowgoose and the northern part of Timberline have already filled in with 0.5m-deep snowpack, velvet-topped for superb skiing and 20-30 metres in width. The southern part of

Timberline has skiable frozen snow on heather. The storm brought down several trees between the main entrance and the foot of Highland Fling. These can be bypassed with some ingenuity. Other trails may also be affected likewise, and there is a fair amount of twiggy debris. No snow fell during the day. Temperature at car park today was zero.

The A941 from Rhynie is icebound, no doubt as a result of Thursday afternoon’s power shower and subsequent wet snow freezing onto the road. Car park had been ploughed before the storm and is icy.