Great mixed winter climbing in the Corries

Mixed winter climbing conditions continue to improve with the buttresses now plastered in thick rime.

Away from the harder mixed rock routes the ground is still fairly soft in places under the deep powdery snow making many of the easier routes and gullies loose and unappealing.

Since we were last out on Wednesday there has been a substantial buildup of fresh snow and ice making some of the approaches to the buttresses now very tiring.

The fresh snow has improved the ski area and today Saturday, Cairngorm was open for skiing for the first time this season.

Also ice is starting to buildup and fatten on some of the popular ice routes which now look climbable although the ice is not quite thick enough for reliable ice screw protection...!

What a great start to the season :-)