Saturday
8th January 2022
(Above) Overcast for most of the day but managed to get a shot of the Post Face of Coire Ardair this morning. Just a few folk out today – mostly dogwalkers on the main Coire Ardair path. Poorer stability in the early morning but noticeably better by the end of the day in most places except recent lee slopes above 950m.
(Above) Floundered up the SE shoulder of Coire Chriochairein today. Totally underestimated the depth of snow in quite shallow hollows so it ended up being a bit of a slow wade. The pronunciation of Coire Chriochairein is a bit of a tongue-twister for us non-Gaelic speaking types, so for simplicity we nicknamed it the Stone Coire after the larger and prominent boulder (above) at the foot of the SE shoulder. (No need to comment that we lack imagination on the naming front, we already know that!)Â
(Above) The lower part of the SE shoulder of the Stone Coire, aka Coire Chriochairein, illuminated by late sunlight. This shot gives a better perspective of the shoulder. The eponymous ‘stone’ is visible in the bottom left quadrant of the shot. Today’s formal observations took place just where the small cornice line begins above the sunlit steep mixed ground. Skis would have been a good option today, though the skiing down low would have been poor in moist snow.
(Above) ‘Unexpected item in the bagging area’. Saw this today at the local Kinloch Laggan 4×4 Centre next to the A86 nr Creag Meagaidh NNR. No holds barred offroading into the scenery? More likely, Land Rover Freelander 0, Scenery 1.
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Grant Duff
8th January 2022 10:46 pm
Ian’s old Freelander has been there for the last 3 years and I’m amazed it’s taken that long before someone hit it!
It certainly wont ever be used again on the Ardverikie Estate now.
meagaidhadmin
9th January 2022 10:33 am
A road traffic collision! That makes more sense.
I’d noticed it had been used as an advertising hoarding for quite some time but didn’t know it had been moved into the ‘scenery’ by another vehicle sliding into it.
Must have been quite a long slide off that bend of the A86 and hefty collision at some speed to shift the Freelander through 90 degrees.
Looking more closely at the photo, I notice there’s a bit of police blue and white ‘incident’ tape on the door mirror.
I’m guessing a hit & run…
Grant Duff
10th January 2022 10:46 am
Yep it’s just one of those corners that almost every year sees a proper off road incident!
It’s potentially fatal in summer with overseas visitors stopping at the Loch Laggan beach layby and driving west on the wrong side of the road round that corner. Holiday heads on and one to be aware of.
Thanks for all the essential avalanche information and always interesting blog.