More minging than a minging thing.
26th January 2016
(Above) Ventured into Coire Chriochairein in the lashing rain (I know, a bit of a cliche normally used to bemoan moderately heavy rain, but actually it’s a really accurate way of describing the rainfall today). Met a UIAGM Guide and his client whilst I was hunkered down in what little shelter there was on the main Coire Ardair path to eat a sandwich before launching myself at the steep bog, heather and slithery rocks that comprise the approach to Coire Chriochairein. They were in good spirits! Given the weather, I was in a slightly curmudgeonly mood but brightened after chatting to this pair who were determined to make the best of a bad weather day. (If you’re reading this guys, sorry, I forget to name-check you when we met). As you can see in the photo, the burns were pretty lively today.
(Above) The bottom of Lifa Gully. Full on thaw during the morning. The rivers in our area rose very quickly during the course of the day. The Spey was threatening to flood the A86 near Laggan on the journey home but had been nowhere near the road first thing this morning.
(Above) Tortured strata on an outcrop on the flank of Lifa Gully.
(Above) Broad expanses of old snow at about 800m in Lifa Gully on the west side of Coire Chriochairein. Evidence of very recent rockfall in many places here and elsewhere. Top of the skyline is just over 1000m. Pretty accurate depiction of overall visibility today.
(Above) Looking back into the top end of Coire Ardair – lochan just visible. Low grade principal gully lines just complete though the bottom end of Easy Gully (far right of photo) looked distinctly quarry-like. The forecasted freeze should help arrest the dramatic snow loss we’ve experienced over the past few days. Freezing level projected to be around 600m tomorrow.
Comments on this post
Got something to say? Leave a comment
Grant Duff
26th January 2016 7:11 pm
Come on the cold! Loved the shot of the outcrop on the flank of Lifa Gully, defo worth a visit.
Louis
27th January 2016 7:24 am
Nice post, thanks for the detail & interest.