Is it safe to climb Ben Alder today and tomorrow?

Today on Ben Alder is rated Poor and tomorrow Marginal, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 09:11, 28 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Ben Alder today?

Poor Today Wednesday 28 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 48 mph, gusting 60 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
• Rain: 100% chance of rain, about 16.8 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 100% and humidity 100% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 4°C at the summit, down to 1°C, feeling as cold as -7°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:19, sunset 16:44: 9h 25m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 10h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Ben Alder tomorrow?

Marginal Tomorrow Thursday 29 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 28 mph, gusting 38 mph. That is past the Marginal line (wind 25 mph or gusts 45 mph): expect to be pushed about on ridges and the summit.
• Rain: 0% chance of rain, about 0.8 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 99% and humidity 100% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 5°C at the summit, down to 4°C, feeling as cold as -3°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:21, sunset 16:41: 9h 21m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 10h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Ben Alder this weekend?

Good Saturday 31 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 17 mph, gusting 21 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 34% chance of rain, about 1.5 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 88% and humidity 98% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 6°C at the summit, down to -3°C, feeling as cold as -5°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:25, sunset 16:37: 9h 12m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 10h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Good Sunday 1 November

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 13 mph, gusting 16 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 4% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 52% and humidity 97% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 2°C at the summit, down to -4°C, feeling as cold as -7°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:27, sunset 16:35: 9h 7m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 10h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Weekend forecasts firm up during the week; check again the day before.

What the verdict covers, and what it doesn't

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. That is all it measures: the weather forecast at the summit.

It does not know your fitness or experience, whether you can navigate in cloud with a map and compass, or what you are carrying. It does not see the state of the path, river levels, snow and ice already on the ground, or how the forecast is changing during the day. A Good day can still go wrong if you start late, turn an ankle or lose the path in mist, and a Marginal day can be fine for an experienced party on the easiest route.

On any day, carry waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves, food, water, a head torch and a charged phone, and know how you would navigate if the top is in cloud. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be down. In winter conditions you need an ice axe and crampons and the skill to use them, or a guide.

Route notes for Ben Alder

Dalwhinnie via Culra and the Long Leachas

From Dalwhinnie (Loch Ericht track). A long track runs beside Loch Ericht towards Culra. The Long Leachas ridge then climbs to the plateau with some easy scrambling. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 10h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (21.9 km one way, 739 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Ben Alder routes page.

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers called out through the police. Give your location (a grid reference from a map or phone app if you can), what has happened, how many are in your group and your phone number, then keep the phone free. If you have no signal, try to move to higher ground or text 999; you need to have registered your phone with the emergencySMS service before for a text to work.

Questions about Ben Alder

Is it safe to climb Ben Alder today?

Today, Wednesday 28 October: moderate rain, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -7°C, summit wind 48 mph gusting 60 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Poor. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Ben Alder tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Thursday 29 October: mostly dry, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 28 mph gusting 38 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal.

How does Peakify decide whether Ben Alder is safe to climb?

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. It does not judge your fitness, kit, navigation or the state of the path.

Who do I call in an emergency on Ben Alder?

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (a grid reference if you can), what happened and how many are in your group. Stay with the casualty and keep them warm.