Winter returns…with a bite.
22nd February 2024
(Above) Telephoto shot showing L to R the NE shoulder of Sron a Ghoire, Na Cnapanan nearest, the Post Face of Coire Ardair and The Window. The hills wore a white mantle of snow at all levels this morning with obvious signs of drifting at higher altitudes. Huge contrast to the bare landscape of the past few days.
(Above) Periods of bright light and sunshine today pierced the gloom of the snow showers and airborne spindrift. The East and SE facing aspects of Coire Chriochairein. Some limited avalanche activity here this morning. Quite small events – all sub size 1 avalanches.
(Above) The Inner Coire of Coire Ardair. Unrecognisable if you were here on Wednesday! Quite deep drifts in places.
(Above) The drifting didn’t stop after snow showers. Debris from a small (sub size 1) avalanche on the crag apron below The Pipes Direct start – just visible left of centre of the shot.
(Above) The Pinnacle, Easy Gully and the Post Face during a brighter interlude.
(Above) Raeburn’s Gully. Some minor mountain rescue drama here around midday. A climber in Raeburn’s Gully triggered a small avalanche at 10.30am adjacent to the blue icicle (2/3rds of the way up the gully) and took an unplanned, rapid descent down towards the loch. He suffered a knee injury but was able to make his way (slowly!) to the massive boulder shelter beside the rescue box. Very small avalanche with potentially big consequences. He was lucky.
(Above) The red and white paraffin taxi arrived 90 minutes later, did a couple of fly-bys then a landing. Lochaber MRT were on standby for this one.
More of the same sort of weather overnight and during Friday and Considerable avalanche hazard – see the formal report/forecast for details.
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Mehmet Karatay
22nd February 2024 7:08 pm
The helicopter came back once the shower passed and came in near the bench overlooking the lochan. The injured party and helpers made their own way towards it. No boots from Lochaber MRT required, luckily.
It was good seeing you today. (I was the one or with two guests who you chatted to on your way out.) We ended up on the north side of the inner corrie where there was still slab building due to the eddying windy but we avoided it all via terrain choice. It’s my third year out with that pair and the first time I managed to show them windslab.
meagaidhadmin
22nd February 2024 7:37 pm
Thanks for the update, Mehmet. I’ve amended the post to reflect your observations.
Jimbo
23rd February 2024 10:00 am
3 sticks from the team got dropped at the Lochan but thankfully we didn’t have to walk far
Nadim I Siddiqui
24th February 2024 7:34 am
Very useful info, photos and observations. Big thanks. A reminder of how easy it is to get into trouble!
meagaidhadmin
24th February 2024 8:35 am
Thanks for your comment, Nadim.