Oscar Eckenstein’s handy invention.
30th January 2023
After yesterday’s rain at all levels and the drop in the freezing level overnight, the existing snow slopes are now very firm and icy. Most of the steeper slopes of the Northern Cairngorms also have some unpleasant looking runouts into boulders and required care to travel across.
There are some unstable accumulations of windslab in wind sheltered locations above 900 metres, with good visibility these are generally shallow and avoidable, they did give a brief respite from the crunch and bite of our crampons.
We are expecting tomorrow to be a ‘challenging day’ with storm force Westerly winds and further snowfall.
Crunch, crunch crossing onto the East side of Cairngorm
Descending the Cas ridge with Meall a’Bhuachaille (810m) in the background
A view into Coire an t-Sneachda. Hard and icy on the plateau.
Looking South across the plateau towards Loch Etchachan.
Very glad we had on Oscar Eckenstein’s invention (the modern crampon). The older existing snow was firm and icy with serious runouts.
A view across to the lower slopes of Beinn Mheadhoin. (credit HM)
Looking across to Shelterstone and Carn Etchachan – slightly more black than white. (credit DG)
Looking at the South side of Cairngorm, Stag rocks, Hells Lum and Coire Donhain. (credit DG)
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