Redistribution…
18th February 2026
Much stronger winds than expected today – Plan A was dumped for Plan B, which was ditched for Plan C…. which didn’t really work very well either! Ski tourers were reported getting blown over, at not much above 600 metres above the Aberdeenshire/Perthshire boundary at the Glenshee Ski Centre. The redistribution was heavy and constant with the cold, dry deposits being stripped off yesterday’s slopes and driven ferociously across the mountainsides. They were only stopping in the most sheltered of locations, with slopes exposed to the winds being scoured down to the old snow-ice. Here, crampons were required to gain some purchase, as the winds made making progress extremely difficult. Goggles were also essential as it was impossible to see in the driven snow. All exposed skin had to be covered to protect it from the vicious windchill. One of those days when you question your career choices…
Tomorrow looks like it will be less epic. Hopefully the visibility will be better as route choice will be very important. Instabilities will persist in the recently deposited windslab – cold temperatures will delay the consolidation process. Take care out there…
No blue sky day photos !
Heavy drifting covered equipment within minutes
Exposed ridges have been stripped of snow. Deposition only in the most sheltered locations.
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Gary
21st February 2026 7:42 am
Why do you have a length of line tied around you snow shovel?
scairngormsadmin
21st February 2026 4:18 pm
Hi Gary – The line is not present for SAIS work. As members of Braemar MRT and being dog handlers for SARDA we could be called out to avalanche incidents where response and action time is critical. The line allows us to sling our shovels around our bodies while we are probing or moving around the debris. It is then available for rapid use if there is a need to start digging. This is standard practice in MR teams.