Another busy day at Creag Meagaidh
8th February 2026
Car park was nearly full today. There were early birds (back in the car park for 9.30am having soloed The Pumpkin), the mid-morning crew and the late starters, and most found some steep winter sport at the far end of Coire Ardair. Weather-wise, the freezing level went from 900m overnight to near summits this morning and back down a little later in the day. We had a little overnight snow and limited drifting so only modest windslab development which was near summit level and consolidated in short order. Was also pleased to find that the mid-pack and deeper old windslab on our recent lee slopes was noticeably well bonded today. However, there was some very minor wet snow instability, but only below 950m – below the late morning freezing level – was localised and confined to very steep W to N slopes. Even this was bonding up later as the freezing crept down a little.
Cornices. Can’t say with any certainty what they’re like at the moment since the poor visibility precluded observations. The higher freezing level will however mean any that are in place will weaken over the forecast period. So any that you come across are likely to be a bit of a Pandora’s box.
(Above) Lochan a Choire and the Post Face of Coire Ardair early doors this morning. 700m cloudbase. Not a great start!
(Above) The Pinnacle, Easy Gully and the Post Face of Coire Ardair.
(Above) The Inner Coire. ‘The Pumpkin’ has been a very popular route over the past few weeks. Ice here was reported to be ‘stepped out’ and a bit moist down low today. With the freezing level near summits there’s going to be some potential for falling ice from low altitude crags over the next few days.
(Above) The entrance to ‘Cinderella’ in the Inner Coire. Still a fair amount of rime on the crags above about 850/900m today but this is likely to recede in the near future.
(Above) Came across this burrow(?) on the approach to The Window. Appears to have an entrance and an exit. A mountain hare’s?
(Above) Approaching the summit of The Window. Moist underfoot in many places today but was still icy enough on this popular ascent/descent route to require crampons and ice axe.
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