Historic avalanche in Coire an Lochain

7th March 2024

After a foggy morning, clouds dispersed leaving a lovely dry day in the Cairn Gorms.  Generally, stability is improving, especially at lower elevations, however, instabilities are persisting in certain locations.

Thank you for reporting avalanches within the website.  It’s impossible for forecasters to be in more than one location at a given time so this information is extremely valuable.

Above: Coire an Lochain

Above: a report on the 5th March of a size 3 avalanche warranted a visit.  It was possibly a cornice collapse (due to rise in freezing level) which triggered the slope below.  The red line shows the width of the crown wall.

Above: ‘X’ marks the toe of the avalanche, having crossed the Northern most Lochain.

Above: for map learners. Solid line indicates crown wall and arrow indicates toe of avalanche. 

Above: Eastern edge of Coire an t-Sneachda.

Above: Ptarmigan starting to show spring plumage. 

Comments on this post

  • Stuart Barton
    7th March 2024 6:04 pm

    I was walking along the top round Sneachda and Lochan today and theirs a build up of cornices all the way along. Visible cracks at the top of The Vent and Aladdin’s.
    Most of it looks like it might go in the next few days especially as you’ve posted the avalanche on the 5th and it looks like it’s built up again.
    Just my observation.
    Cheers
    Stu.

    ps thanks for the good work you do.

    • ncairngormsadmin
      7th March 2024 6:56 pm

      Hi Stu
      Thanks for your valuable observations. The snowpack is constantly evolving, Safe travels and enjoy the Cairngorms.

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