Cairn Gorm
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| Cairn Gorm | |
|---|---|
 Cairn Gorm from across Coire an t-Sneachda |
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| Elevation | 1,245 m (4,081 ft) |
| Prominence | 145 m |
| Parent peak | Ben Macdui |
| Listing | Munro |
| Translation | Blue cairn (Gaelic) |
| Pronunciation | [Scottish Gaelic: [əŋ ˈkʰaːrˠn ˈkɔɾɔm]] |
| Location | |
| Location | Cairngorms, Scotland |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 36 |
| OS grid | NJ005040 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Cairn Gorm (Cairngorm) (Gaelic: An Càrn Gorm, meaning Blue 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 controlled by Heriot Watt University on the summit of the mountain[1] providing temperature and wind speed data (synop code 03065).
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[edit] Walking and climbing
An easy route to the summit is the access road up the centre of Coire Cas, however this route is unpleasantly scarred and is not recommended as an ascent route during the skiing season. The Windy Ridge path on Sròn an Aonaich lying to the northeast of the skiing area avoids these problems. Alternatively, Fiacaill a' Choire Chais offers a good walking route. Many other possibilities present themselves. 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 this corrie is one of Scotland's major ice climbing areas.
[edit] 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.[2] As of 2009[update] it stands as the UK's worst mountaineering disaster.
[edit] The Cairngorm ski resort
[edit] History
The ski resort was developed on Cairn Gorm from 1960 onwards. It is the second largest in Scotland (after Glenshee) and acquired a reputation for the most reliable snow conditions. By the 1980s, thousands of skiers were using the resort on busy weekends, and the slopes could become very crowded. There was pressure to expand the resort to the west, but this was blocked by environmental objections.
Since the mid 1990s, winters have tended to be much milder than in previous decades, a trend usually attributed to Global Warming, and skiing conditions have suffered badly. Usage has fallen significantly, threatening the financial viability of the resort.
Snow lie and weather conditions are unpredictable, but occasional seasons, such as the winter season of 2005–2006 saw Cairn Gorm have good snow cover. From January to late March there was above average snowfall with nearly two metres on the upper slopes, although in a windy resort, snow depth varies enormously across the area.[citation needed]
[edit] The 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 which the mountain is prone to, and were frequently forced to shut in winds above 25 mph (40 kmh). 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.
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.
Mild weather and poor snow conditions in recent winters have limited its use by skiers,[citation needed] and it is increasingly dependent on other users. It has yet to make an annual operating profit.[citation needed] HIE is interested in selling the resort.[3] There are also groups campaigning to remove the restriction on walkers leaving the top station.
[edit] References
- ^ "Cairn Gorm Weather Station". Heriot Watt University. Dept. of Physics. http://www.phy.hw.ac.uk/resrev/weather.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
- ^ Aircrew Association: Cairngorm Disaster 1971
- ^ Ross, John (6 September 2005). "Summit for sale as HIE prepares to part with Cairn Gorm". The Scotsman. http://heritage.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=797&id=1894822005. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
[edit] External links
- Computer generated summit panoramas North South here
- Highland-Instinct
- CairnGorm Mountain Ltd
- Cairn Gorm Weather Station
Coordinates: 57°07′02″N 3°38′32″W / 57.1171°N 3.6423°W
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