Update on Sierra Nevada mountain conditions 9th Feb 2010

The coming week will see mixed weather. High winds and some snow showers for the next few days followed by heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions for the weekend. Snow level is down to 1800m this morning, will lower tomorrow, before rising to 2000m by the weekend. See the Mulhacen mountain weather forecasts.

At the moment there is good snow cover above 2000m, deep on N and NE slopes. In the last week, mountaineering groups have been out climbing the corredores of Veleta and Los Machos in excellent snow conditions. There are areas of hard ice especially on exposed windblown ridges.

The ski touring is excellent away from the icy ridges and long snow descents can be had. Descents below 2000m can be found, especially if utilising old ribbons of snow in stream beds etc In particular the Pico del Cartujo is an excellent day tour from Pradollano. The Cerro de Caballo is good but access from Fuente Fria above Niguelas is cut off at the start of the Tres Mojones ridge. Maybe access here will be made more difficult when the next snows fall.

Above the Poqueira hut there exits many good day tours, including the ascent of Mulhacen. After the snows next weekend the west flank should be skiing from top to bottom if the winds allow. The east face to Siete Lagunas will be a great descent too.

Deep snows in the Coral de Veleta, Sierra Nevada yesterday