Sròn Coire a’Chriochairein
2nd January 2026
Fresh snow at all levels made for a very different trip into the Creag Meagaidh area this morning. Thanks to Rory from NatureScot who cleared the road up to Aberarder and Paul on his usual run with the snow plough from Laggan to Spean Bridge.
There is 10-20 cm of snow lying at lower levels, with slightly less lying in the heather in Coill a’Choire were it has been subjected to the wind. Higher up, observations were frustrated by the visibility but deeper drifts of knee to waist deep snow were found in sheltered depressions and burn lines. Above 950 metres soft windslab has become a bit more widespread, although often thinner cover and vegetation can be found nearby.
Accumulations of soft windslab are very sensitive harbouring multiple instabilities, particularly around gully tops and the coire rim. For climbers seeking out Creag Meagaidh’s mixed lines, these will present a very specific avalanche problem, and careful route choice will be an asset given the scarp slopes and steep gully tops high in Coire Ardair.
Parties were variously travelling on foot, ski and snowshoes today demonstrating the depth of the snow cover. Further showers are expected over the next 24 hour period although Creag Meagaidh may miss the more significant snow amounts expected in the Northern and Southern Cairngorms. As a side note there appears to be a greater amount of snow on the summit to the east of the core Creag Meagaidh forecasting area, such as Geal Charn, Beinn Sgiath and the hills to the north of Laggan and Balgowan. In any case a welcome return to winter conditions after a hiatus.
Looking into Coire Ardair. A very different view, and worth comparing with the images on yesterday’s blog post.
Hard going in many places, with fairly consistent ankle deep cover, with 10-20cm elsewhere. Deeper drifts in sheltered depressions or burn lines were between knee and waist deep.
Ice at Creag Dhubh near Newtonmore. Interestingly ‘Dhubh’ on the OS Map of the area, but usually spelt ‘Dubh’ in climbing guidebooks as I recall. Anybody know why, or which is correct?
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Ross
2nd January 2026 8:26 pm
‘Dubh’ is Scottish Gaelic, ‘Dhu’ is the anglicised version. ‘Dhubh’ possibly corruption of spelling, or even misspelled.
meagaidhadmin
3rd January 2026 7:54 am
Thanks Ross, I always hesitate over the ‘h’ on the keyboard. My natural inclination would be to to use ‘Dubh’. Thanks for the information.