Winter solstice: out of the darkness, into the light.
21st December 2025
Quite frosty overnight down to about 800m which gave the surface of the snowpack a crust until milder temperatures asserted dominance before dawn. General snowpack stability is good. We still have cover down to 800m though it is quite thin and moist at that altitude. Best and deeper cover is on N to E aspects above 950m. Plateau cover looks complete from a distance but I think the photo of it below flatters to deceive.
Quite a few cornices collapsed a day or so ago and those that remain are going to weaken again and could be prone to collapse during the forthcoming mild and damp conditions. The remaining cornices we have at the moment are over N and E-facing aspects.
On the subject of cornices, I was on Beinn a Chaorainn today – traditionally the home of very large, gnarly cornices – and although there were a few they were a lot less developed than anticpated. See photo below. Our most recent snowfall and drifting event seemed to bypass this particular mountain even though it’s only 5km away from Coire Ardair where we had quite a lot of cornice collapses and some avalanche activity on Friday night/Saturday am. The contrast may well be due to Beinn a Chaorainn having much less (nil?) high level plateau from which snow can be stripped and redistributed, missing the kind of snowfall/drifting intensifier effect that nearby Creag Meagaidh and the crags of Coire Ardair ‘benefit’ from.
(Above) Looking West this morning towards Sron a Ghoire, the Post Face of Coire Ardair and The Window.
(Above) Telephoto shot of Beinn a Chaorain from Luiblea, close to the A86 road.
(Above) Party of 3 on Beinn a Chaorainn’s well-known East Ridge this morning.
(Above) Cornices are present around the edge of one of Beinn a Chaorainn’s mega-coires – top of the East Ridge is over on the right – but not as big as anticipated. Even though small it’s definitely worth navigating away from them because they’re notoriously fickle and can collapse with little extra weight especially in mild, damp conditions. I’m reminded of a quote made by Jack Nicholson in the film ‘The Bucket List’ to “…never trust a fart”. Same applies to cornices.
(Above) Just the top section of the East Ridge is missing from this photo. Apart from the last lateral 75-80m near the summit where there is snow, it’s a bit a rock scramble at the moment but you’ll need to be fully equipped with the requisite winter mountaineering gear if contemplating this popular route.
(Above) Looking across to part of the Creag Meagaidh plateau – with the line of the Moy Wall prominent – and Loch Laggan on the right.
(Above) A misty view across to Geal Charn 1132m and Aonach Beag 1116m with Coire na Coichille. Looking a little more wintry over there compared to Beinn a Chaorainn.
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