Zero Visibility…
9th February 2026
Another day of zero visibility, above around 900 metres at least. I was optimistic that it might clear up a little, but observations were again limited.
Unwilling to accept another day of limited data I decided to press on and enter the cloud, traversing from Coire Cas, into Coire an t-Sneachda and then into Coire an Lochain. Peering through the mist and cloud there appeared to be two large sets of avalanche debris in Coire an Lochain and multiple fragments of cornice that have lost their fight with gravity. Detailed observations will have to wait until we have LIDAR, or just a higher cloud base.
From here I climbed up to Miadan Creag an Leth-choin and Pt 1083, which is a favourite location for view over to Braeriach and the coires of Sgor an Lochain Uaine. [Spoiler – not today!]
It was relatively quick down the well filled in stream bed of ‘Lurchers Gully’, where I did actually break through the cloud. At lower elevations here the snow was quite “sticky” under the skis, although it skied well where there were existing tracks. Thanks to the parties that have been this way in previous days. An interesting situation which I suspect is due to the snow being subject to ‘work hardening’.
Slightly colder conditions are expected tomorrow, combined with snowfall on South-Easterlies. Correspondingly, we can expect some windslab development around coire rims and gully tops. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.
A single poor image from today. Avalanche debris in Coire an Lochain.
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