Unfortunately the snow was a lot softer today with reports of more rockfall in Coire an t-Sneachda. Climbing conditions change very quickly - with an overnight frost and early alpine start conditions can be good but start a few hours later and the same route can be dangerous to yourself and others in the corrie below... Looks like the cold weather is arriving next week now - fingers crossed! A good day up Crotched and Spiral Gullies and over to Hell's Lum and then good ice on the Escalator. Then back over down Half a Gully and up Fiacaill Couloir. Off to celebrate Fi's birthday so more photos to follow tomorrow.

Snow buildup and conditions in the easy snow gully lines are still very good in the Cairngorm's at the moment. The long term weather forecast is good too, especially for winter gully climbing. Over the next few weeks and through the School Easter break into April 2009 we're running guided ice climbing and intro winter climbing tasters. We're still running our Aviemore basedWnter Skills courses too! For the taster weekends no previous winter skills or climbing experience is required. You do need to be a relatively fit hill-walker capable of walking uphill into the mountains - unlike Norway or France there's no roadside ice climbing crag! You will be carrying a 10-15 Kg pack uphill with ropes, harnesses, ice axes and crampons for several hours and then back down again after the climbing. The weather in the mountains can vary from calm blue skies and sunshine to raging blizzards and storms...! You will be taught basic Winter Skills on the first day and then guided up an introductory ice climb on the second day.

All specialised climbing equipment is supplied apart from 4 season boots which can be hired in Aviemore. The tasters are not full winter climbing or full winter skills courses - they are simply tasters! You will be taught the minimum necessary to be safely guided on the route under the close supervision of your MIC qualified guide and full member of AMI. The cost for the weekend is £210. We are also running guided winter climbing over the Easter holidays and in April 2009. The cost is £120 per person per day assuming at least two participants. If only one participant books the days guiding cost is further increased £170. For two people booking together the cost falls to £95 each (i.e. £190 for the days 1:2 guiding). The costs for private guiding and instruction are £170 to £190 (1:1 and 1:2 guide to participant ratio)

Today turned out a decent dry day with a lot less wind in the morning compared to yesterday. It was slightly warmer and although the snow wasn't exactly frozen it was OK firm spring snow and fairly pleasant to climb on. It consolidated well with a few good kicks and punches! Chris decided to try leashless climbing today or rather axeless - until I persuaded him to borrow my hammer...! With a technical tool apiece we decided against the Grade 4 ice I'd promised and we headed up a delightful Grade 2/3 mixed snow and rock ridge safe from the loose rock funnels and gully belay queues on either side. A quick lunch on the plateau and then we headed down to the car before the forecast gusty afternoon winds and light drizzle started. There's still plenty of snow on the Cairngorm and Ben MacDui plateau for ski touring. Ben MacDui - Scotland's second highest mountain. Ascending one of the ridges of the Northern Corries on skis, our route takes us across the heart of the plateau. Our return culminates in an exhilarating descents via Lurcher's Gully ,which in good conditions offers one of the longest and best downhills in the country.