Infernal aloft…
16th February 2025
Quite a pleasant day at glen level despite the high winds later in the day. However, at higher elevations it was widely infernal, particularly in the high coires and on the plateau.
The South-Easterly to South-South-Easterly winds have resulted in continual windslab development around coire rims and in gully lines, of a West through North to North-East aspect above 900 metres. This is also associated with the development of fragile cornices.
Windslab is slowly becoming more widespread, but is still present in terrain features of similar characteristics. It is still mostly around the coire rim in steep wind sheltered locations. Because of this limited distribution the Avalanche Hazard is Moderate.
But sensitive windslab will exist in the areas mentioned in the forecast. Also of note is of a triggered windslab avalanche in steep ground yesterday (15th Feb) at the top of ‘The Vent’ in Coire an Lochain.
Cracking in soft windslab on a West facing aspect at 1000 metres. This was an isolated steep slope with deeper snow accumulation in the lee of snow fences in the ski area. It is not really representative of the wider landscape, but it does indicate instability in deeper deposits. At the moment these are probably mostly confined to the coire rim and sheltered gullies in steep terrain.
Turbulent gale force winds have resulted in thin snow cover in the coire floor of Coire an t-Sneachda. This party of three brought some welcome and colourful perspective to an otherwise monochrome day. Note: the crag apron at the top of the image – in this case the open slopes below The Mess of Pottage.
This is actually Aladdin’s Couloir, noticeable by the dog leg gully in the centre of the image. Of course this is based on forecaster experience and is hard to justify with any certainty from this image!
Looking North on the way out of Coire an t-Sneachda. Despite the infernal conditions, the coire was providing a high fidelity learning environment for many today. It was definitely “winter” and arguably just a learning environment…
Video: Soft windslab and cornicing at around 1000 metres on a West aspect in the ski area. This is an isolated and very steep feature, but demonstrates the weaknesses in moderately bonded slab, particularly where unsupported e.g. in cornices.
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Damien McGovern
23rd February 2025 11:34 am
Video is a great addition to what is already a fantastic blog