Bright spells…
13th February 2025
Some nice bright spells in the Northern Cairngorms today despite a cold wind early on. There were extensive rime deposits from the cloud and wind of recent days as I dropped down from the summit of Cairn Gorm. These might get broken up and readily transported in the wind tomorrow, giving a random assemblage of crystals that will inevitably produce some thin and avoidable windslabs.
The headline however is one of moderately bonded windslab from recent days. This is mainly around the coire rim and in gullies of a North-West and North aspect above 900 metres. It also presents as cross-loaded deposits in specific locations such as deeper wind sheltered gullies and on crag aprons. Although this windslab is cohesive, in many places it is still harbouring weaknesses at depth. The cohesive nature of the snow surface will make an agreeable climbing medium, but it is worth treating these accumulations with a degree of suspicion. These weaknesses are unlikely to dissipate in the cold temperatures, and settled conditions we are experiencing at the moment.
This headline should also be balanced with the bigger picture of firm snow and scoured ground in many locations. The wind also creates areas of stability as well as instability, and it remains feasible to crunch around on some nice Scottish névé. The Avalanche Hazard is Moderate.
Looking down into Coire an t-Sneachda from the summit slopes of Cairn Gorm. Conditions are still lean in relative terms, with plenty of bare ground showing. Despite this there is some sensitive thin windslab, combined with some older deposits which continue to hold weaknesses at depth.
Looking down into ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, Coire an t-Sneachda. Note the tell tale signs of wind drifted snow. There was also cornicing in this location, which isn’t well represented in this image. I wasn’t going to get much closer!
Very shallow accumulations of windslab are present a variety of aspects, this one was on an East aspect at around 950 metres. These exhibit near surface faceting (facets – granular sugar like crystals, that give little cohesion). This is only of a passing interest at the moment, but may become significant if we get snowfall in the coming days. These thin deposits have been a feature of recent days, and have actually moved around a bit as the wind has subtly changed in direction and velocity. To make a oblique reference for children of the 1970’s it much like the game of ‘Whac-a-mole’. In avalanche terms having observed it in one place, you find it popping up somewhere else the next day…
Ben Macdui with a thin veil of cloud this morning.
A partly abseiling into ‘The Seam’ to get the main pitch this morning.
Nice to get a shot of this Snow Bunting strutting around the plateau in one of the sunnier spells this morning. The rime covered snow surface was thin enough that it was pecking through to get the green moss below.
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Bimbling
13th February 2025 9:54 pm
Thanks for your work, but I’m really just wanting to say what a lovely picture of a sun warmed snow bunting almost looking like it’s glowing.
ncairngormsadmin
16th February 2025 3:17 pm
Thanks, frequently seen on the plateau, but not easy to photograph!
Joe
14th February 2025 6:52 am
I second Bimbling. Lovely picture of the snow bunting
ncairngormsadmin
16th February 2025 3:18 pm
Thanks Joe.
Lesley
14th February 2025 8:42 am
As a keen hill walker, not so much in winter, I find the forecasts and your daily blogs and photos fascinating and so informative.
You help make the potentially arduous mountain conditions safer for those venturing out in winter.
You do great work… in all weathers.