Beinn a Chaorainn
9th February 2026
Good stability again today. There had been a little drifting near summits but new accumulations were limited. Most of the snow on our patch is either moist or humid depending on altitude.
Somewhat conflicting views on forecasted snowfall amounts for our area. What we will get will be at higher altitudes (near summits) since the freezing level is expected to be at 1000m and of course below about 900m we can expect some rain. Hand in hand with the higher freezing level goes the potential for falling ice especially from crags at lower elevations.
(Above) The Big Picture. East-facing aspects of Sron a Ghoire et al. Noticeable snow loss at lower altitudes on these windward aspects over the past couple of days.
(Above) Inset of previous photo. Telephoto shot showing the Post Face of Coire and The Window.
(Above) Beinn a Chlachair. More snow on these NW facing slopes on SAIS Creag Meagaidh’s southern border. Quite a lot of the snow shower activity on over the past few weeks seemed to terminate at Glean Spean giving our southern sector a whiter look.
(Above) A glimpse of the snow cover on the Creag Meagaidh plateau far left. The Moy Wall can be picked out on a near skyline.
(Above) Coire nan Laogh. A lee slope and still holding a lot of snow. One of the few proper West aspects steep enough to avalanche (in normal circumstances) in our area.
(Above) Old cornice debris from an event a week or more ago, I think.
(Above) The misty skyline is the profile of Beinn a Chaorainn’s East Ridge, still with rimed up rocks at higher altitudes.
(Above) The lower section of the East Ridge, now quite black after a few relatively mild days.
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KEITH HORNER
9th February 2026 6:41 pm
Intrigued by the difference between a moist and a humid snowpack – moist presumably with some degree of water content but humid? How does altitude affect the difference between these conditions and are there any surface characteristics to differentiate them on the ground?
And yesterdays teaser – burrow or someone who hadn’t quite grasped the concept of where or how to construct an Abalakov belay?
meagaidhadmin
9th February 2026 9:21 pm
Great question! Moist snow I would define as snow with some free water between grains and look ever so slightly ‘glassy’, but not saturated which would be wet snow. Moist snow might leave a trace of water on your glove if you made a snowball from it – we use this test when carrying out snow profiles. Humid snow would have a lower water content than moist snow, look quite white and make a really good snowball for throwing!
(Disclaimer. Ahem…utterly non-technical descriptions which you won’t find in any glossary of snow types.)
Abalakov belay – Maybe! Never seen anyone ‘pitching’ the ascent to The Window but could be a first!