Beinn a Chaorainn
14th April 2018
(Above) A final hurrah! on Beinn a Chaorainn today. A view of Beinn a Chaorainn’s East Ridge viewed from the forest. Warm on the approach track and alive with buzzing and flying insects, which is something we don’t often have to contend with in our line of work! Sunny for a time in the morning but it soon clouded over.
(Above) Part way up the East Ridge. It’s a rock scramble at the moment with snow only on the final section.
(Above) Looking over to the snowy groove of Coire nan Laogh, with the summit of Creag Meagaidh on the top centre sky line. Good general snow cover on plateau areas.
(Above) The purpose of the visit to this western outlier was to have a look at Beinn a Chaorainn’s infamous cornices. The cornice line around the two main E-facing coires is more or less complete with large overhangs of snow. These particular coires attract very few visitors so the danger is from stepping onto one of these treacherous cantilevers from above when hillwalking/ski-touring etc.. Large cornices like these can collapse many metres back from the edge so it’s well worth giving them a very wide berth.
(Above) Evidence of recent cornice collapse in the coire immediately south of the East Ridge.
Last report and blog of the season, folks.
It’s been a long haul this winter but with a fairly even distribution of ups and downs.
Musn’t grumble, though. A snowy winter is always a good winter.
So it’s goodbye from me. And goodbye from him.
Comments on this post
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Stan Wygladala
14th April 2018 5:58 pm
Interesting info and great photos all season. Have a good spring, summer and autumn and hope to hear from you in December.
Thank you,
Stan
meagaidhadmin
14th April 2018 6:12 pm
Stan, thank you for all your contributions. You’re a reliable fount of wise and amusing counsel, and always a pleasure to read.
Until next season then!
Grahame Duff
14th April 2018 7:50 pm
Thank you for an informative and enjoyable blog this season, I hope the rare good days more than covered for the bad. One question is did the real estate sell or has it had to be improved with sun roofs?
meagaidhadmin
14th April 2018 8:57 pm
The good days did outnumber the bad. Sorry our blog followers had to put up with our whingeing and moaning at times though. When we stand back and reflect, we know we’re lucky to work in such a beautiful place – whatever the weather – even if our actual job is a bit weird. (Telling someone you do avalanche forecasting for a living always elicits a more than somewhat bemused reaction.) I lived in God-awful city once and earned a living doing regular work so know only too well how lucky I am to be doing this job…if what we do can be called a job. When I post photos of ‘Meggie I always imagine there’s people out there in some city, sitting at a desk all day & anchored to a screen who are sneaking a little time looking at our blog. Maybe…just maybe…they get some vicarious enjoyment from it and it lightens their day a little. I hope so.
Re. Real estate (The snow holes). Sold to a Russian oligarch sight unseen. He’s hoping to enjoy an August holiday there…
(Money’s been banked and I’ll be lotus-eating in some faraway place by then.)
Steve Ryder
14th April 2018 8:02 pm
Thank you very much for a winter’s-worth of brilliantly informative updates.Enjoy a well-earned rest!
meagaidhadmin
14th April 2018 9:01 pm
Thanks for your comment, Steve.
Looking forward to resting the legs!
Lester Humphreys
14th April 2018 9:28 pm
Many thanks for the blog – always informative, often amusing and (when the weather has allowed) some truly stunning photos this winter. Have a good break – you deserve it !
meagaidhadmin
14th April 2018 11:15 pm
Hey, thanks, Lester!
John and Tina Cuthbertson
15th April 2018 1:12 am
My brother who is an estate agent in the West Midlands was keen to add your kind offer of the excellent real estate to his rental portfolio but was beaten to the purchase this time round. Maybe next year when weather conditions allow? Please keep us in mind!
What are we going to do in the long dreary days of summer without the stunning images and heart warming humour to keep us up with a giggle on the kindle. Onwards to next winter.
meagaidhadmin
15th April 2018 7:01 am
Thanks, John & Tina!
Not snow holes but tell your brother we may release onto the market some desirable emergency shelters next winter. A bit more ‘bijou’
crampedthan the snow holes and next to a busy thoroughfare (The Window), but, we feel, with excellent buy-to-let potential. Ideal for a budding property magnate! A hefty deposit would give him first dibs….Helen Rennie
15th April 2018 9:57 pm
As always, have found your blog interesting, educational and amusing. Appreciated the photos, especially those that included the very fetching ( if not digging) Apprentice ! Many thanks for all the hours you have spent outside and behind a computer so we can enjoy your daily adventures. Enjoy the remaining snow and choosing when to visit it rather than having to visit it in all weathers !
meagaidhadmin
16th April 2018 5:32 pm
Thanks, Helen.
Thought I might bump into you on the path in the latter part of our season. Some good couloir skiing still to be had at ‘Meggie. Tempted?
Alan Hugill
16th April 2018 1:58 pm
Enjoy your non-winter break! Like many, I read all of the SAIS blogs and forecasts but always go to yours first as they are so very interesting and educational….and the photos are fantastic. Your work and effort is appreciated and it keeps so many people in much safer place!
meagaidhadmin
16th April 2018 5:33 pm
We aim to please but looking forward to the break as well!
Many thanks for your comment, Alan.
Grant Duff
16th April 2018 7:49 pm
Thanks for all your effort and going that extra mile to keep us informed and entertained.
meagaidhadmin
16th April 2018 10:20 pm
It was a long season and there did indeed seem to be extra miles especially towards the end!
Thanks for your comment, Grant.
Ruth Love
16th April 2018 9:45 pm
Iâll add my thanks. Had a great Easter three days (Pumpkin, Diadem, Fairy Godmother) as well as another day on Creag Meagaidh.
Re: real estate, my husband and colleagues built an igloo on The Meadows, Edinburgh and weâre considering put it on AirB&B!
Serious thanks again. Enjoy the summer.
Ruth
meagaidhadmin
16th April 2018 10:25 pm
The Meadows igloo: Knowing a little about the Edinburgh rental market I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the igloo had been booked out!
Many thanks for your comment, Ruth.
Kevin Maule
25th April 2018 9:12 am
Thanks very much for the detailed info, photos and a good deal of laughs. Your blog really added value to the reports and helped every visit.
Ta
Kevin
meagaidhadmin
25th April 2018 2:36 pm
Many thanks for your feedback, Kevin; much appreciated.
Have a great summer!
From the SAIS ‘Meggie guys.
Shougle
26th April 2018 1:12 pm
Thanks for all your efforts and obs. One last ski in the Corrie hopefully for me this weekend.
Cheers,
Mark
meagaidhadmin
26th April 2018 4:30 pm
Re. the week-end. Sounds like a good plan before it all eventually disappears. Something steep, Mark?
Many thanks for your comment.