Ventured out today with the intent on practicing skills and studying the recent effects of the weather in the snowpack. From lower car park practiced navigation and relocation along ridge line west of Coire Laogh Mor.
A moderate risk had been given regarding north aspects so we were keen to safely check out the slopes west of the headwall of the coire, far from the headwall itself, to see if it fit our expectations. At the lower levels (700-800m) we noticed a thin layer of ice crust at the top and with saturated consolidated snow beneath. This snow however was poorly bonded a little lower down and a pit test showed the weather layer and a clean shear. We carefully negotiated our way up to the flatter ground, ensuring to steer clear of steeper sections and picking our way between rock anchors. At around 900m we noticed a big change in the snow, noticing many deeper pockets of both fresh powder and windslab higher up, with a much colder and drier snowpack. Our expectations that recent activity must have occurred were proven in noticing the recent effects of a massive avalanche in coire loagh mor, of which had a disastrously long runout.
We continued up to the tongue-featute on the index contour north of Cnap Coire na Spreidhe. Winds were bitterly cold and we decided to return down via ptarmigan and Sron an Aonaich. On the way down we noticed more activity when looking into Coire na Ciste. On the safer lower slopes we practiced ice axe arresting and bucket seats/buried axes before heading back to the car park to conclude an intriguing day.
Area :
The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are ‘a little piece of the arctic in Scotland’ according to the SMC Munros Guide and the area contains many of the tallest peaks in the East Highlands. Ben Macdui (1309m), Cairn Gorm (1244m) and Braeriach (1296) are probably three of the better known and the whole area is full of steep corries and high plateaux. Access to the mountains is typically from Aviemore or Braemar.
