Spring Corn

19th March 2021

Covid -19
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service issues information to support permitted activity under current Scottish Government guidance.
Please be aware of current mandatory travel restrictions in Local Authority areas within Scotland and respect local communities by referring to Scottish Government guidance and safe route choices for exercise. For further guidance please refer to the following information for hillwalkers and climbers and snowsports on ski and board.
This blog is intended to provide hazard and mountain condition information to help plan safer mountain trips.
Another warm day with plus six degrees Celsius recorded on the summit of Cairngorm. The snowpack remains consolidated and stable throughout.
Below 900 metres the snowpack is patchy and depleting rapidly, and will continue to do so in the mild temperatures. Drooping cornices remain around some corrie rims, and in some cases there are glide cracks and fractures well back from the edge. These will be one of the main hazards over the next couple of days particularly if they get the direct sunlight in prospect for tomorrow.
Snow cover remains good at higher elevations, with excellent cover on the plateau. The spring “corn” snow makes for good travel on ski for those prepared to walk to the snow line.

The snowpack at the moment consists of melt freeze grains with some crusts. [The crystal screen here is inserted just to give a bit of definition]. It is all rather granular, and unremarkable.

 

 

The warm temperatures of recent days has resulted in flowing water in the corries. The lochans here in Coire an t-Sneachda are thawing, with pools of water visible.

 

 

Sagging cornices above Jacob’s Ladder in Coire an t-Sneachda.

 

 

Cornices in many places have gone, but even the remnants look a bit suspect in places.

 

 

Material from the old bridge over the Allt Mor being lifted out today.

 

 

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