As the great day grows ever closer I've been paying special attention to the weather forecasts for the Cairngorms, snow above 500 meters ,rain at low level falling as snow over 400 metres, high winds and blizzard conditions etc etc .Should I be investing in an iceaxe and crampons ,I know no dogs are allowed on the challenge but I have three border collies and my grandsons plastic sledge and I'm sure I could rig something up.

Wait and see nearer the time. We had lot's of snow last year then a rapid thaw. In the end those (me) who carried spikes and ice axe did not need them.

There is excited comment in the skiing world that the snow will still be here in June. Something to do with global warming I expect.

There's maybe plenty of snow right on top, but there's been a remarkable lack of it lower down this year, even the roads that usually close have had a quiet winter. There's also claims that we have had the wettest winter for however many years, this little corner of Aberdeenshire must have missed that too, its been the mildest, driest winter i can mind of for years, bit of a shame really.