Creag Meagaidh showcase
18th February 2013
(Above) Propect of Sron a Ghoire and Creag Meagaidh (Post Face) from near Laggan today.
Good but not quite complete cover of snow above 750m. Ski-touring ‘the round’ is possible but be prepared to carry skis to snow line circa 700m & you’ll have to link patches on the Carn Liath plateau. Best cover (as usual) on the Sron a Ghoire – Puist Coire Ardair – Creag Meagaidh plateau. Get the timing right and you’ll have beautiful corn snow descents, though harschiesen might be needed early on.
(Above) Looking west along Loch Laggan towards the Ben (highest far right) with the Grey Corries centre.
(Above) The Post Face & The Window. Coire Ardair. Looking great!
(Above) Pinnacle Buttress
(Above) The Post Face. Climbers visible somewhere in South Post
(Above) The Pipes Direct. Climber near base.
(Above) The Pumpkin. Inner Coire. The surface snow temperature at the bottom of the route was -3.5 degrees this afternoon, much colder than the air temp. No drips or water anywhere. The snow surface is losing (radiant) heat directly to the clear sky, and is therefore cold, even though the actual air temp is quite high.
(Above) The Wand and Diadem. The Inner Coire
(Above) Cinderella, the Inner Coire. Good snow-ice. Usual old avalanche debris litters the mouth of the gully. An old crownwall visible near the top end, a little below the (cold and firm) cornice.
(Above) Lumps of cornice falling here-and-there on to lee slopes below sun-exposed SE to S aspects. Much softer, moister snow here too after the sun’s been on it for a few hours but likely to be very icy first thing after a sharp overnight frost. Classic spring conditions.
(Above) Old crownwall and avalanche debris next to a steep N aspect beside Bellevue Buttress. Looks like there’s some cornice debris there too. Most recent avalanche activity was 4/5 days ago.
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