On the cusp?

2nd 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)  Some uncertainty over forecasted snow amounts for overnight and tomorrow. The Met Office have Creag Meagaidh (green asterisk in the photo) on the cusp of the heavy snow zone. Our formal SAIS area by area forecast provided by the Met Office is giving ‘Meggie a 24hr accumulated total of 1.5cm of snowfall, whilst MWIS refer to ‘extensive’ and ‘incessant’ snow. In the event of more pronounced snowfall, route choice out there in the mountains should be very conservative on Wednesday.
(Above) Binnean Shuas, just to the SW of Loch Laggan, this morning. Strong and persistent ESE winds whipped up snow readily and was actively redistributing it as windslab but only in very sheltered lee areas.
(Above) Ventured into the Moy Corrie (spelling as per OS maps) to seek out one of Creag Meagaidh’s rare and elusive W aspects. Good cover and best on the slopes to the East of the main burn. Skis or snow shoes essential in this or similar places if you’re to make reasonable progress.
(Above) Near surface instabilities fairly widespread at the moment. No big problem here but could become one if buried under an overburden of new, deep windslab. Well formed facetted grains showed up in the formal snow profile too just above a buried crust-like feature.
(Above) Looking SW out from the top end of the Moy Corrie (sic). The early brightness morphed into flat light and gloom as the anticipated cloud cover rolled in during the early afternoon.
(Above) Wouldn’t be Scotland if there wasn’t a bit of low key snow/heather surfing to finish one’s ski tour! Looking up into the entrance of the Moy Corrie.
(Above) A glimpse of the Post Face of Coire Ardair – left of centre – from Laggan this afternoon.

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