Shocking Visibility…
8th February 2026
Another day of shocking visibility, with just fleeting views of some of the crags in Coire an t-Sneachda.
As expected there was a period of instability overnight, although the amount of debris was difficult to assess through the mist and fog. Some large blocks of cornice had run out to the coire floor at around 950 metres. Most likely from the ‘Mess of Pottage’ or ‘Jacob’s Ladder’. Any smaller debris indicative of slab avalanche, appeared to be covered by wet snow and sleet which fell for most of the day.
The freezing level is expected to fall to around 1100 metres or so overnight, which should result in slow consolidation of the snowpack. Some limited windslab development is anticipated as snow showers penetrate the Cairngorms from the South-East. While the trend is one of slow stabilisation weaknesses remain at depth in the snowpack particularly on South-West, West, North-West, North and North-East aspects above 1000 metres.
Also of note is a cornice collapse in the stream bed close to the White Lady Shieling (NN995054). The trigger for this is unknown (it may have been natural, human triggered, or by piste basher). These steep features at lower elevations were highlighted in yesterday’s report. Although this feature is in the ski area it provides useful proxy data for other steep locations at lower altitudes which may have been unstable today. Rain and colder temperatures should consolidate these accumulations by tomorrow.
For those interested, particularly those with assessments this week, the snow profiles may warrant scrutiny. Although these represent information from a single location, these layers are likely to be present across the headwalls of Coire an t-Sneachda and Coire an Lochain.
https://www.sais.gov.uk/snow_profile/20778/ 8 Feb
https://www.sais.gov.uk/snow_profile/20776/ 7 Feb
https://www.sais.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interpreting_snow_profiles.pdf – How to interpret snow profiles.
The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.
A large chunk of cornice debris had run out to the coire floor at 950 metres. 125cm long pole for scale. I am sure there was other debris close by, but the visibility was appalling.
A fleeting glimpse of Aladdin’s Buttress, Coire an t-Sneachda. Two climbers visible. Not a bad choice as this left hand side of the buttress can be climbed with an abseil descent, therefore avoiding the slopes above or a descent of Aladdin’s Couloir. Evidence that climbing is possible for those with the pre-requisite skill, experience and the ability to put up with damp horizontal sleet.
Debris evident in Coire an t-Sneachda. This wasn’t visible by eye in the mist, but a hasty shot with adjustments in photoshop brought out the debris. The last few weeks have provided a good use case for LIDAR in Coire an t-Sneachda, the use of which would, without doubt, allow us to log more avalanches!
Visibility at lower elevations was good! The continual strip of snow is Lurchers Gully, the line of which was being traced by a number of ski tourers today.
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