Busy!
13th January 2024
(Above) The view west towards with the rounded bulk of Sron a Ghoire et al, the Post Face of Coire Ardair and ‘The Window’ prominent. Busy day at Creag Meagaidh today. Car park was 2/3rds full and not surprisingly quite a lot of foot-traffic on the main Coire Ardair path. The snow in the photo is either hard, firm or crusty.
(Above) Far from the madding crowd. The east and south-facing aspects of Coire Chriochairein enjoying their moment in the sun. A beautiful coire that’s one of SAIS Creag Meagaidh’s ‘go-to’ locations for sniffing out unstable snow, and really infrequently visited by the hill-going public but not today. If you zoom in you should find a couple of folk enjoying some medium angle winter sport in one of the broad gullies.
(Above) Raeburn’s Gully and Easy Gully (largely hidden) divided by Pinnacle Buttress, and the Post Face of Coire Ardair. Ice-covered Lochan a Choire in the foreground.
(Above) Looking across the Post Face into Easy Gully. Both Easy Gully and Raeburn’s received ascents by a few parties today.
(Above) The entrance to the Inner Coire of Coire Ardair with the twin defiles of ‘The Pipes’ prominent at the top of the shot.
(Above) There’s a team on South Pipe Direct centre left. ‘The Pumpkin’ is the square cut corner further right, currently with developing ice.
(Above) The NNE-facing crags of the Inner Coire. Both ‘The Wand’ and ‘Diadem’ top centre received ascents today – teams are visible in the shot.
(Above) Hill walkers breasting the summit of ‘The Window’, the high bealach above the Inner Coire. Still with a lot of exposed rocks and boulders on the approach slope.
(Above) An old firm, refrozen cornice line hangs above the line of ‘Cinderella’, one of Creag Meagaidh’s low grade gully routes. ‘Cinderella’ also, I think, received an ascent today. (More accurately, there was a purposeful-looking group of 3 in the mouth of the gully shaping up for an ascent – visible in the shot).
(Above) Bumped into this jolly gaggle of folk making their way up the main Coire Ardair path in search of the high mountain ambience and grandeur provided by crags that loom above Lochan a Choire. Well met!
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Mike
13th January 2024 10:44 pm
We were one of many today. Almost got knocked off my feet by the wind on Stob Poite Coire Ardair.
Good recce on the climbs but surprised how little snow your patch has.