The thaw continues

31st March 2023

Another mild day across the Highlands with occasional rain showers.  The snowpack continues to thaw and underfoot conditions are varied.  The main snowfields are above 1000 metres around coire back walls and the plateau.  It is generally soft especially below coire rims where the most recent windslab is thawing.  The top of steep slopes tend to be much firmer where the older snowpack remains.

A beautiful spring morning in the glen.

Tension cracks on the Cas Head Wall.  In previous days a friable crust was overlain by windslab.  During the 28th of  March the slope was further loaded with new windslab and an avalanche occured.  Currently the snowpack continues to consolidate. (see the debris in photo below).

Avalanche debris from the Cas Head Wall.

Looking across the upper reaches of Coire Raibert towards Cairn Etchachan.

Coire an t- Sneachda.

Ski tourers head up the Fiachaill a Choire Chais. The snow here was firm enough to find harscheisen useful.

Approaching the top of the Fiachaill Choire Chais. (1141m).

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