Conditions
It was snowing at all levels at the start of today's observations, snow was lying on the ground above about 250m, and lying on the path above about 300m.

The main difficulty on the mountain today was areas of ice on the path, with a thin layer of hard thin ice across the path in some places, and thicker ice formed as wet snow froze in other places. These icy areas came and went along the route, with some icy areas as low as 400m and others higher on the mountain, some closer to the summit.

The snow was generally thin where it lay, having fallen under the influence of a significant wind from the north-east. There were some areas where the snow had drifted and collected deeper, filling the path. The drifts here were formed from soft wind slab, but generally did not form more extensive areas of wind transported snow.

A cloudy day with snow falling at first, clearing in the afternoon, with cold winds.

Essential equipment
Seasonally appropriate walking equipment, including lighting (such as a head torch).

Carrying an ice axe and some kind of spikes for the feet will give you options to stay safe on the mountain in areas of ice and snow. Carrying crampons will offer a safer option when encountering unexpected areas of more difficult conditions.

Carrying snow goggles (like ski goggles) will protect the eyes from cold winds and drifting snow, making it easier to see in order to travel more safely on the mountain.

Additional Information
On the Tuesday of the report the forecast suggests temperatures will be below freezing across large areas of the mountain, with temperatures as low as -5˚C (feeling as low as -14˚C) . There are also snow showers forecast, some of which may be heavy, and clearer periods at times. There will also be significant winds at times.

This means that increasingly wintry conditions are likely to develop in the coming days, with the possibility of more snow, and increasingly icy areas developing across large areas of the mountain.