Scorchio!
16th March 2016
Sron a Ghoire peeping above the inversion mist this morning.
Quite cool temperatures walking in to Coire Ardair until the mist cleared.
Inversion mist soon cleared to leave a clear and cobalt blue sky.
Someone’s been having fun trying to collapse a snow bridge over the burn in Coire Ardair.
(Above) Really warm in the sun throughout the rest of the day.
Managed to capture this image of a cornice collapse rumbling down Centre Post.
(Above) Photographed this at 1216pm. Most of the remaining cornices are collapse-prone after getting toasted by the sun for a few hours. This one entrained rocks and mud on its descent down Centre Post. It made quite a noise in the still air of the coire!
Quite a lot of old avalanche debris in Easy Gully. Recent evidence of several large cornice collapse events.
(Above) The ice on the lochan was more or less complete and intact today.
Raeburn’s Gully, Coire Adair today. Widespread evidence of falling ice and rocks.
(Above) Much cooler in the shade on this North aspect, and significantly firmer under foot here as well. Falling ice, rocks and cornices significant issues.
Easy Gully. Pretty uninviting at the moment. Loads of cornice debris and large cornices still in place above it.
Opening ramps of Staghorn Gully, the Post Face. Coire Ardair. Lone climber just visible low in the shot.
Minor full depth avalanche debris from some time in the past few days. Note the waterfall upper centre left.
(Above) Quite a lot of snow is perched on steep sloping ledges of the Post Face which may well trundle down as full depth avalanches in warmer conditions. Plenty of water around at the snow/grass or rock interface, too.
Coire Chriochairein. Still a lot of snow on steep lee slopes and favoured gully lines. Becoming quite bare elsewhere.
Steep skier in Coire Chriochairein this afternoon. Skier visible lower left.
(Above) A South aspect at around 2pm today; quite soft and moist snow at this time of the afternoon. A long walk carrying skis at the front and back end of any ski touring/steep skiing jaunt in present conditions.
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Douglas Spalding
16th March 2016 10:17 pm
Impressive photography, sir. So it looks like South Post Direct now starts with a waterfall pitch!!! All the best and hope the sun tan is improving!
meagaidhadmin
17th March 2016 8:28 am
Thanks for your comment, Douglas. Perfect conditions for photography at the moment; so much easier when not hassled by blowing snow or driving rain! Trying to avoid the ‘orange’ person look so industrial-grade sunscreen deployed to reasonable effect so far. The photo doesn’t give much indication but the waterfall is just above the opening approach to Staghorn.