…and then the rains came.
7th February 2022
(Above) The main drag in Coire Ardair. Over breakfast was pondering whether skis (rockhoppers/frame bindings. Natch! Read more) would be the best option for passage up Coire Ardair. In the end decided on mountaineering boots and Shanks Pony and for once was proved right when I parked up at Aberarder. A little drifting on the path in a couple of places otherwise it was reasonable ‘going’, as they say in horse racing circles.
(Above) En route to Coire Chriochairein (aka the Stone Coire – see top right). A glimpse of Lochan a Choire at the business end of Coire Ardair. Poor light all day and progressively milder overhead conditions with some light rain. (Summit temp was +1.7 degrees C at midday). A bit of a dampener then, in all meanings of the word.
(Above) The ENE to ESE aspects of Coire Chriochairein. A decent amount of snow here. I’ve tweaked the photo in post-production for more contrast so you should just be able to make out some cornice debris (squint and get your nose very close to the screen to ID it. Sorry!) No avalanche action at the time of reporting but we are expecting some more/heavier rain late on Monday which is when the snow may become more generally unstable on N to SE aspects. Better on Tuesday though. An overnight refreeze should help consolidate everything; thereafter some snow showers, drifting and a little new windslab.
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