Reflections
26th February 2025
Today was remarkably calm and was certainly a day for getting up towards the summits in hope that a view would appear. There had been about 1cm of fresh snow overnight which was lying down to around 600 metres this morning. Conditions underfoot were distinctly variable with a breakable crust in places, knee deep drifts in others and some firm and icy patches mixed in. The visibility was also distinctly variable but became better as the day progressed.
Taken this morning showing the dusting of fresh snow down to the Loch. It felt like the sun wasn’t far away.
A feature of today was some breakable crust. This was at about 900 metres on a North-West aspect.
Looking West to Beinn a’Chaorainn.
The sun briefly made an appearance to give a great view from the top of Pinnacle Buttress back down towards Aberarder. The sun was only out for about 15 minutes but during that time ice on the surrounding rocks quickly started to melt.
The top of Easy Gully and the Post Face. Due to the lack of wind, there was another obvious and ever present sound, the sound of running water.
The summit of Creag Meagaidh on the right and what is known as ‘Mad Meg’s Cairn” on the left. Hopefully the folk pictured got to enjoy a view when they got to the top. They deserved it for breaking trail up to The Window. Thank you – I was very grateful for this on the way down!
I bumped into the group that witnessed this avalanche happen (perhaps cornice collapse?) yesterday. It is in the Inner Coire, beneath Cinderella. They had stopped to discuss entering a key place where the avalanche hazard was moderate (above 950 metres on North through East to South-East aspects, particularly around coire rims and gully tops) and as if right on queue, they heard and saw this appear out of the cloud. Thankfully they were stood out of its reach. Please do report avalanches on the SAIS website if you see one, as this can be incredibly useful information.
Lovely to see a reflection on Lochan a’Choire. Often when it’s not covered in ice, it’s covered in waves and white horses.
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Damien McGovern
26th February 2025 5:46 pm
Cracking photos. Hopefully the snow pack will hang about and build up again, maybe even give us another crack at winter climbing this season
meagaidhadmin
26th February 2025 7:25 pm
Thank you. It was a pleasure taking the photos on a day like today. Let’s hope it stays cold for a bit.
Mick Tighe
27th February 2025 10:12 am
Hi Folks…..just a wee historical update, what is now known as Mad Megs Cairn was built by a man called Joseph McLaren who lived at Moy Farm in the 1890’s. He was known to be a bit doolally and was listed as an ‘imbecile’ in the 1891 census, though strong enough to build a cairn. In light of this, suggest it should be called McLaren’s Cairn or maybe Mad Mac’s which is probably the original version before it got changed from Mac to Meg. More on this and much more at a talk in Roy Bridge Village Hall tomorrow, Friday, 40 years of Creag Meaghaidh by Rory Richardson the Estate Manager….Mick
meagaidhadmin
27th February 2025 1:59 pm
Thanks Mick for the historical update, very intresting. Perhaps see you at the talk tomorrow.
Mr Daniel J Arnold
27th February 2025 10:38 am
Superb pictures and info as always!
meagaidhadmin
27th February 2025 2:00 pm
Thank you.