Unexpected visibility…
28th January 2026
A day of unexpected, but welcome, visibility! The forecast was for storm force winds overnight accompanied by snowfall throughout the day. In reality it was much better than expected, mostly dry during daylight hours and even with some pleasant breaks in the cloud.
It won’t come as a surprise to many that Cairn Gorm summit weather station recorded some impressive gusts, the maximum being 130 mph recorded in our last batch of data.
I will let the images do the blogging, but better visibility did allow some avalanche observations. Given the recent snow much of the debris of previously recorded avalanches has been obliterated. But some more recent tell tale signs remain, with small crown walls etc. Activity was noted around the ‘Mess of Pottage’, ‘The Trident Gullies’ and in ‘Point Five Gully’ in Coire an t-Sneachda. While in Coire an Lochain there was debris visible in the Hidden Coire, and a crown wall in ‘The Couloir’. Accumulations on steep coire headwalls and particularly around coire rims will continue to contain multiple weaknesses that can be exploited by climbers, walkers or skiers.
There are some large cornices which will continue to present the threat of collapse, and act as an ideal trigger for the slopes below. Above 900 metres the avalanche hazard will be Considerable, while below this height the snowpack will be subject to slow consolidation.
Looking towards the ski area and the Ptarmigan building (top centre). Note the drifting and accumulations around the snow fences.
Aladdin’s Buttress, Coire an t-Sneachda.
The Mess of Pottage, in Coire an t-Sneachda. It may not be visible in this image but there is a small crown wall at the bottom of the rocks (centre right) with partially covered debris. Directly above this there is an old crown wall in the snowfield just below the coire rim. This small scarp slope readily collects snow in south-easterlies and is known to purge snow readily. This may have occurred in previous days during intense drifting resulting in the subsequent release on the crag apron below. For the climbers it is immediately to the left of the top pitch of “Yukon Jack’ and presents an overhead hazard in sub optimal conditions.
Fiacaill Buttress looking absolutely plastered.
A view into Coire an Lochain.
Comments on this post
Got something to say? Leave a comment
Matt
28th January 2026 8:16 pm
Just commenting to say these blog posts are incredibly useful! The best way to assess ground conditions in the hills from the deep south (Edinburgh). Keep up the good work!
ncairngormsadmin
29th January 2026 4:05 pm
Hi Matt
thanks for your comment, it makes such a difference when the cloud lifts!