Cairn Gorm

This article is about the mountain. For other uses, see Cairngorm.

Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm from across Coire an t-Sneachda
Highest point
Elevation
Prominence
Parent peak	Ben Macdui
Listing	Munro
Naming
Translation	Blue or Green cairn (Gaelic)
Pronunciation	Scottish Gaelic: [əŋ ˈkʰaːrˠŋ ˈkɔɾɔm]
Geography
Location	Cairngorms, Scotland
OS grid	NJ005040
Topo map	OS Landranger 36
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Listed summits of Cairn Gorm
Name	Grid ref	Height	Status
Cairn Lochan	NH985025	1215	Munro Top
Stob Coire an t-Sneachda	NH996029	1176	Munro Top
Cnap Coire na Spreidhe	NJ013049	1150	Munro Top
Creag an Leth-choin	NH968033	1053	Munro Top

Cairn Gorm (Cairngorm) (Gaelic: An Càrn Gorm, meaning Blue or Green Hill) is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Strathspey and the town of Aviemore. At 1245 metres (4084 ft) it is the sixth highest mountain in the United Kingdom. It has given its name to the whole range, although these hills are properly known as Am Monadh Ruadh (the Red Hills) rather than the Cairngorms. Cairn Gorm is the most prominent of the Cairngorm mountains in the view from Speyside, but it is not the highest.

Much of the north-western slopes of the mountain are downhill skiing developments concentrated in Coire Cas. As well as ski tows, snow fences and bulldozed tracks, this corrie is also now home to a funicular railway.

The next corrie south of Coire Cas, Coire an t-Sneachda, is separated from the skiing area by a ridge known as Fiacaill a' Choire Chais. The southern side of Cairn Gorm overlooks the remote loch known as Loch Avon (pronounced Loch A'an).

There is an automated weather station (AWS) controlled by Heriot-Watt University on the summit of the mountain providing temperature and wind speed data. There is a separate AWS run by the Met Office (synop code 03065).

Walking and climbing

The ascent of Cairn Gorm is technically straightforward via the Northern slopes, but weather conditions can make it impossible during high winds and falling or blowing snow (often referred to as blizzard conditions). The Windy Ridge path on Sròn an Aonaich lying to the northeast of Coire Cas is a steep and direct route, and is generally recommended by local Rangers, guides and guidebooks. Another route to the summit is the access road up the centre of Coire Cas, however this route is a track used by the railway operator's vehicles, and gives an indirect route with several steep sections. It is not recommended as an ascent route, especially during the skiing season, though it gives good views of the Cairngorm Mountain Railway in its lower sections. Also in Coire Cas, Fiacaill a' Choire Chais offers a good walking route to Cairn Gorm and the adjacent plateau. A circuit of the cliff tops overlooking the Northern Corries of Cairn Gorm is highly recommended in many guide books and publications, giving one of the finest views in Scotland. Walkers are advised to consult the local map and call in at the Ranger Base at the car park.

There are many climbing routes at the head of Coire an t-Sneachda and Coire an Lochain, and in winter these corries form one of Scotland's major ice climbing areas.

1971 disaster

On 21–22 November 1971, five pupils from Ainslie Park High School in Edinburgh and a trainee instructor from Newcastle-under-Lyme died in a blizzard at Feith Buidhe on the Cairn Gorm plateau. As of 2009 it stands as the UK's worst mountaineering disaster.

Cairngorm Mountain ski resort

Cairngorm Mountain
Cairngorm Mountain base station in early 2008
Location	Carn Gorm, Aviemore Highland, Scotland United Kingdom
Nearest city	Inverness - 40 mi. (65 km)
Vertical	500 m
Top elevation	1145 m
Base elevation	645 m Base Station
Runs	35 - 11 easier - 10 intermediate - 11 difficult - 3 very difficult
Lift system	14 - 1 railway (120 person) - 2 doubles (mothballed) - 11 surface
Snowmaking	4 TechnoAlpin T40, 1 TechnoAlpin TF10
Night skiing	occasional
Website	CairnGorm Mountain

History

The ski resort was developed on Cairn Gorm from 1960 onwards. It is the second largest in Scotland (after Glenshee). By the 1980s, thousands of skiers were using the resort on busy weekends, and the slopes could become very crowded.

A series of milder winters than in previous decades commenced in the mid 1990s, a trend usually attributed to Global Warming, and skiing conditions suffered badly. Usage fell significantly, threatening the financial viability of the resort.

Snow lie and weather conditions are unpredictable, but recent seasons, such as the winter seasons of 2005–2006, 2008–2009, 2009–2010 and 2010-2011 have resulted in good snow cover. Usage has recovered significantly resulting in improved finances for the ski area.

In 2011-12 the resort was able to trial a TechnoAlpin T40 snow cannon, and in 2012-13 three more were leased from the manufacturers with an option to purchase. A larger TF10 cannon was added for the 2013-14 season

Funicular controversy

The funicular track

By 1990, much of the resort's original infrastructure was ageing and proving increasingly difficult to maintain. The chairlifts and tows were also susceptible to the high winds to which the mountain is prone, and were frequently forced to shut in winds above 25 mph (40 km/h). The Cairngorm Chairlift Company, who operated the resort, proposed removing the chairlift and replacing it with a funicular railway.

There was strong opposition to the funicular from environmental groups, who were concerned about damage to the mountain and its fragile soils and plants. The eventual compromise reached, after negotiations with Scottish Natural Heritage, allowed the Cairngorm Mountain Railway to be built, but with restrictions on its usage. Only skiers are allowed to exit from the top station. Other users can visit the restaurant and visitor centre, but are prevented from leaving the building to walk to the summit of the mountain.

Funicular railway cars passing halfway up.

Further controversy mired the building project, with budget over-runs, allegations of conflicts of interest by those connected to both Highland Council and the construction company and questions raised about the use of public money. The construction was estimated to have cost around £19.6 million, mostly funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), a government body. £2.7 million was provided by the European Union.

Improved snow conditions in recent winters has increased its use by skiers, Cairngorm Mountain Ltd but it is dependent on other users. Recent good snow conditions helped the company record a profit of £736,031 for the year ending 31 March 2010, Cairngorm Mountain Ltd HIE is interested in selling the resort. There are also groups campaigning to remove the restriction on walkers leaving the top station. In April 2014 Natural Retreats was chosen by HIE as the new operator of Cairngorm Mountain Ltd.

Climate

Cairn Gorm has a marine alpine/polar/tundra climate as a result of its elevation and proximity to the tempering North Atlantic that keeps summer temperatures low and winter temperatures narrowly below freezing. The Met Office weather station only publishes temperature and frost data. Winter temperatures are not extreme when compared with lowland continental European winters further east, but the severity of the climate is illustrated by its cold summers. Cairn Gorm averages 194.4 frost days per annum. Unlike most climates of this type, the yearly mean at Cairn Gorm is actually above freezing.

Climate data for Cairn Gorm Summit, Elevation: 1,245m (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	−1.3 (29.7)	−1.5 (29.3)	−0.9 (30.4)	1.5 (34.7)	4.3 (39.7)	7.1 (44.8)	9.5 (49.1)	9.2 (48.6)	6.9 (44.4)	3.9 (39)	0.8 (33.4)	−0.5 (31.1)	3.3 (37.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.4 (25.9)	−3.8 (25.2)	−3.0 (26.6)	−1.0 (30.2)	1.7 (35.1)	4.4 (39.9)	6.9 (44.4)	6.6 (43.9)	4.5 (40.1)	1.6 (34.9)	−1.3 (29.7)	−2.8 (27)	0.9 (33.6)
Average low °C (°F)	−5.5 (22.1)	−6.1 (21)	−5.0 (23)	−3.4 (25.9)	−0.9 (30.4)	1.7 (35.1)	4.2 (39.6)	3.9 (39)	2.1 (35.8)	−0.7 (30.7)	−3.3 (26.1)	−5.1 (22.8)	−1.5 (29.3)
Source: Met Office

External links

• Computer generated summit panoramas North South here
• Cairn Gorm Weather Station
• CairnGorm Mountain Ltd.