Snow ablation

16th February 2021

Covid -19
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service issues information to support permitted activity under current Scottish Government guidance.
Please be aware of current mandatory travel restrictions in Local Authority areas within Scotland and respect local communities by referring to Scottish Government guidance and safe route choices for exercise. For further guidance please refer to the following information for hillwalkers and climbers and snowsports on ski and board.
This blog is intended to provide hazard and mountain condition information to help plan safer mountain trips.
(Above) More mist again today. The flat light always make photography a bit challenging to say nothing of the gusty wind. The upper part of Coire Choile Rais pictured. Quite significant snow loss at lower elevations, that is below 800m. Last week this coire would have had wall to wall coverage at this altitude – photo taken at 650m. Wet soft snow in the bottom of the glen here which was a bit sub optimal for skiing though skinning in was much easier than the Shanks’s pony alternative. Incidentally, the usual parking spots for access to this coire was busy with forestry contractor traffic today. You might need to park somewhere else for the foreseeable future if Coire Choile Rais is the chosen venue for your exercise.
(Above) Lochan Coire Choile Rais at exactly 800m. Much better snow coverage everywhere above this altitude. Though still moist, snow is consolidating everywhere at the moment. Some snow showers on Wednesday are likely to result in new windslab above about 900m on N to E aspects. A return to more typically Scottish weather and winter conditions compared to what we’ve had for the last month, I think.

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