Ridiculous amount of snow in the Highlands. There's been around a metre of damp heavy snow on Speyside since yesterday and more forecast in the next 24 hours.

I tried to get up a small hill called Ord Ban above Loch an Eilein but failed 500m from the road. The snow varied from thigh deep to chest deep even with skis on.

Conditions in the mountains must very dangerous and I'll be amazed if the Avalanche Service don't post a category 5 hazard by the end of the day.

If you're thinking of driving north for climbing or skiing I'd forget it for a few days at least.

The Avalanche Forecast