Patchy and firm…
24th February 2025
As the temperatures fell last night the snowpack has gradually become firm. With colder temperatures again tomorrow a firm snowpack and icy footpaths are anticipated.
The patchy nature of the snow distribution means that an uncontrolled slide or fall may be stopped by boulders or bare ground, “serious run-outs” will remain.
The greatest extents of snow are generally above 900 metres on Northerly and Easterly aspects, unsurprisingly in the high coires. Here many of the gully lines remain unbroken, even if the snow has disappeared from the crag aprons in the preceding days.
Tomorrow some trace snow showers are expected which may result in some shallow, thin windslab accumulations in very steep wind sheltered areas. These will present as isolated and avoidable accumulations. No Avalanche Problem is posted for tomorrow, and the Avalanche Hazard is Low.
There is some information about Avalanche Problems here on the SAIS website: Avalanche Problems explained.
A group negotiating the boulder field in Coire an t-Sneachda. Note the snow distribution under the ‘Mess of Pottage’ (centre right).
Some cornices remain, seen here on a Northerly aspect near the top of ‘Jacob’s Ladder’. These are likely to be a bit more stable given the cold temperatures. But they are the most untrustworthy of features…
Looking west across Coire an t-Sneachda towards the Fiacaill Buttress.
As avalanche forecasters we are inevitably focused on an operational task, and that means looking at snow in most cases. But today is another reminder that the absence of snow exposes other interesting things to see. The lichen, club mosses, porphyritic texture in granite, or in this case some small quartz crystals in a drusy cavity. Worth a look.
In other news the Red Arrows were transiting through Strathspey on route to RAF Lossiemouth today. Somewhat north of the Northern Cairngorms area are Tain Ranges where they are practising formation flying tomorrow, which might make interesting viewing from Ben Wyvis given good visibility.
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Nathan Johnson
24th February 2025 7:04 pm
A short thank you for doing all the ‘leg work’ to allow me to track the conditions over the last month to have a safe and enjoyable trip last week. Viewing the photos each day of the Cairngorms from the very south of England brings much joy to a work day screen break ! Thank you for your efforts.
ncairngormsadmin
25th February 2025 12:05 pm
Hi Nathan
thank you, best wishes from North Cairngorm’s team.