A Walk On The Mild Side.
11th March 2017
(Above) Misty and mild again this morning with a few hours of early rainfall. Clear enough though to spot some cornice collapse debris below Bellevue Buttress. Also, more recent avalanche debris present on some very steep NE to E aspects, all from relatively small wet snow slides.
(Above) Was aided & abetted today by SAIS Torridon lead Avalanche Forecaster, and ‘man of parts’, Andy Cunningham. Here in characteristic pose scrutinising the cornices above ‘Cinderella’, the NE facing Grade I/II gully in the Inner Coire of Coire Ardair. Cornice debris in the foreground from a collapse yesterday. Summit of ‘The Window’ top right of shot.
(Above) Looking up to The Window. The mist cleared and skies brightened after midday. A group of winter hill walkers timing their ascent to higher ground – and good visibility – to perfection. Relatively slow progress in moist snow if trail-breaking today.
(Above) Coire nan Gamhna in momentary sunshine when viewed from the Inner Coire this lunchtime.
(Above) Looking into ‘Cinderella’ with a cornice line still intact above it.
(Above) More recent cornice collapse debris this time on a steep North aspect between Bellevue Buttress and Coire nan Gamhna. Cornice collapse will remain an issue until we get a significant re-freeze or reach a point where they’ve all collapsed/slumped.
Quite a lot of deep wet snow is lodged on the many inclined ledges of the Post Face and Inner Coire. Remaining relatively mild below 950m on Sunday so there is still some avalanche potential, in particular in the form of minor full depth avalanches. Cooler conditions at higher altitudes will improve stability in those locations.
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