Quite cold & wintry early doors today.
1st March 2026
A smattering of overnight snow was detectable above 800m with some limited drifting onto NW to NE lee areas above 950m. The expected freezing level rise to beyond summits really only kicked in after midday meaning underfoot conditions were still very firm (hard?) on the old snowpack, with even the vegetation still quite frozen in places above 700m at midday. The windslab I found above 950m tended to be localised in distribution, made a great snowball (ideal for chucking!) and was well bonded at the time of reporting. I’m guessing it will have weakened a bit once the milder air temps asserted dominance later in the afternoon.
Quiet today. Just a handful of cars in the car park first thing and only one team of climbers spotted (in Raeburn’s Gully) + a few dog walkers on the path.
It’s going to be quite wet and mild overnight when there might be some limited wet snow instability, though much better general stability is expected during daylight hours on Monday – save for a little new windslab development. Cornices won’t like the milder, wet conditions so the usual health warning applies.
(Above) Unprepossessing shot of Sron Coire a Chrochairein left and Carn Liath far right plus its associated plateau area. Lacking in scenic glamour – definitely – but does illustrate where we had snow down to overnight – circa 800m.
(Above) Looking out from the entrance to Coire nan Gamhna toward the Post Face of Coire Ardair, Lochan a Choire and the Inner Coire – with The Window lurking in the mist beyond.
(Above) The wee lochan close to the entrance to Coire nan Gamhna. The previous shot shows precious little snow cover down low but above 800m on N aspects, like here, there were expanses of unyielding snow-ice this morning.
(Above) Approx midday. Still winter-like with water ice fringing some burns at 700m, and frozen turf, too.
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