An Cearcallach full depth avalanches
23rd March 2015
The view from the A86 of one of the An Cearcallach full depth avalanches.
These events are probably from the last full depth avalanche cycle we had on the 10th to 11th March. An Cearcallach has a corrie immediately to the East of the summit and crags which ski-tourers often use as a descent route when coming off the Creag Meagaidh plateau. The corrie holds a lot of snow and is often a great ski! (Safest descents avoiding cornices are always on the far eastern end of the corrie.)
Big avalanche! Good Size 3. Ran over a bench and then onto the corrie floor 300+m below.
Crownwall estimated to be 5m high in places and 100m wide overall including flanks. Note the secondary slab release to the left.
Steep! Plenty of rocks, earth and heather entrained.
Blocks approx 2m x 3m.
The view down to Loch Laggan from above the ‘bench’.
The coire below An Cearcallach. Some very large and still thawing cornices in our area.
Quite a few Scottish ‘bergshrunds’ opening up behind larger cornice lines.
Second full depth avalanche in the coire below An Cearcallach.
Full depth avalanche in the Moy Corrie. Probably cornice triggered.
Solitary mature tree (centre of shot) at 600m at the entrance to the Moy Corrie.
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Grant Duff
23rd March 2015 6:37 pm
Some real action shots and not too shabby weather either!
meagaidhadmin
23rd March 2015 7:06 pm
Deceptive, Grant! Check out the snowpit for graupel (and hail!) that came through in showers during the day. Painful and punishing….but nice when the sun was out!
Gary Hodgson
23rd March 2015 10:06 pm
Great photos again, thanks. Have been on Meagaidh for last three weekends and it’s fascinating seeing the changes. We had a look at Easy Gully yesterday and as we sat at the lochan there was rockfall activity on the Post Face, so we changed our plans! There’s been some recent rockfall in Inner Coire recently, too. Also noticed a big glide crack on the last crag in the Inner Coire.
Cheers
Gary
meagaidhadmin
24th March 2015 2:18 pm
Many thanks for your comment, Gary. Always grateful for additional reports and input.
There’s been plenty of ice and rock fall in some of our area’s more remote steep coires – a not uncommon occurrence in Spring. Having said that, today’s weather was – at times – a reminder that winter hasn’t yet lost it’s grip!
Grant Duff
24th March 2015 5:43 pm
Looks like my weeks holiday climbing next week in the area may be cold and wet.