Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Strathspey and the town of Aviemore. Cairn Gorm has a summit elevation of 1,245 metres AMSL and is the seventh-highest mountain in both the United Kingdom and the British Isles. Cairn Gorm gives its name to the mountain range and the National Park of which it is a part, The Cairngorms, despite that it is neither the highest nor the most prominent mountain in the range. These mountains were historically known as Am Monadh Ruadh rather than the Cairngorms. The domed summit of Cairn Gorm is one of the most readily identifiable mountains in the view from Aviemore.
600 hectares of the north-western slopes of the mountain in Coire Cas and Coire na Ciste have, since the 1960s, been developed for alpine skiing. In 2001 a funicular railway was constructed to provide access through Coire Cas to the Ptarmigan building at 1087 m.
The corrie south of Coire Cas, Coire an t-Sneachda, is separated from the ski area by a ridge known as Fiacaill a' Choire Chais. The southern slopes of Cairn Gorm overlook the remote loch known as Loch Avon.
There is an automated weather station controlled by Heriot-Watt University on the summit of the mountain providing temperature and wind speed data. There is also a separate AWS run by the Met Office.
Hiking and climbing
In clear, calm weather, the ascent of Cairn Gorm is a straightforward hike via the alpine ski area on the northern slopes. But when the mountain is stormbound, particularly in winter during blizzard and high avalanche risk conditions, any ascent or descent can be potentially lethal - particularly during white-outs when it is easy to lose one's bearings near the barren, featureless summit which is ringed in many directions by precipitous drops. In common with all the highest Cairngorm summits, ascents during winter conditions will often require good navigation skills and winter climbing equipment such as crampons and ice-axes. 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. It stands as the UK's worst mountaineering disaster.Cairngorm Mountain ski resort
History
The ski resort was developed on Cairn Gorm from 1960 onwards. A chairlift and chalet opened in December 1961. It is the second largest in Scotland. By the 1980s, thousands of skiers were using the resort on busy weekends, and the slopes could become very crowded.By the 2000s, the number of skiers at Cairngorm and Scotland's other ski areas had dropped, partly as a consequence of budget airline travel making access to the Alps easier. The impact of Global Warming also emerged as a threat to the financial viability of the Scottish ski industry, with Adam Watson predicting in 2004 that there would be no more than twenty years left for the industry.
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
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. 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 those engaging in snow sports, or spectating, 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 start a walk.
Further controversy mired the building project, with budget over-runs, allegations of conflicts of interest by those connected to both Highlands and Islands Enterprise 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, a government body. £2.7 million was provided by the European Union. The funicular opened in December 2001
Improved snow conditions in recent winters has increased its use by snowsports, according to Cairngorm Mountain Ltd but it is commercially dependent on other users. Recent good snow conditions helped the company record a profit of £736,031 for the year ending 31 March 2010, 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 tundra climate climate. The Met Office weather station only publishes temperature and frost data. Winter temperatures are not extreme when compared with other stations' record low temperatures in the UK, but the severity of the climate is illustrated by its cool summers. Cairn Gorm averages 194.4 frost days per annum, making it the coldest weather station in the United KingdomThe highest temperature since 1985 is, recorded on 23 May 1989. Conversely, the coldest temperature is on 6 March 2007. Daytime temperatures staying below all day occur most frequently between October and May but have been observed during every month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures below and night-time temperature above are uncommon. However, the highest minimum temperature on record was on 4 July 2004. Whereas, the lowest daytime maximum was on 28 February 2018.
The Foehn wind can affect the area, particularly so during late autumn and winter. This phenomenon resulted in the November record high.
The warmest month on record is July 2006, with a mean temperature of. Conversely, the coldest month on record is March 2013, with a mean temperature of.