Report on the register left at the Ben Nevis Hut

This is a useful record and the register should be returned to Ben Nevis as the entries over a long period would prove really valuable.

The present entries are, of course, fragmentary and not all of equal value; but making allowance for these defects two interesting indications emerge:

• 1. Ben Nevis is high enough for the seasonal factor in snowfall accumulation to be apparent—with a maximum depth towards late spring, but low enough for the influence of severe spells of weather at any time between autumn and spring also to be apparent in the observations.

• 2. It is clear that large quantities of snow are blown from the summit and this is probably the crucial factor in preventing the growth of a small firn field at the present time.

The Cairngorms in April 1946

Mr. R. G. Sandeman sends a report of which the following is a summary

There was less snow than usual in April owing to a good winter and the absence of heavy falls. The snow slopes in corries were generally in good condition for climbing and the snow in some gullies was ice-hard. There were no large cornices.

There was no continuous covering of snow except on a few days when new snow had fallen during the night. The Scottish Ski Club meet at Easter found poor conditions, the only runs being down a few slopes in stream beds. There was a good deal of bad weather with fierce blizzards. I found much less snow than in April 1939 when I paid my last visit to the Cairngorm and found deep and continuous snow right down to low ground. An ascent of Braeriach on April 5 proved extremely difficult on account of the deep new snow. April is not the month to examine the so-called permanent snow beds in the Cairngorms because there is far too much snow at that season; September or August would be the best months.