A Pleasant Day
7th February 2024
Today was the first day in a long time that I would describe the weather on Aonach Mor as pleasant. It was chilly with temperature of around minus six degrees Celsius. However, winds were relatively light, and there was some spells of nice sunshine. The old snowpack which got soaked a few days ago is now very hard and icy. In the current conditions, a slip or trip on this snowpack could have very serious consequences.
There was a bit of fresh snow overnight. Fresh deposits tend to be localised and isolated. However, as suspected, it is not very well bonded. There was a small natural avalanche in Easy Gully overnight. In these conditions it is not the avalanche or cornice collapse itself that is the greatest hazard. It is the potential for a small avalanche/cornice collapse to knock someone over or off the climb they are on, and the resultant fall/slide on the rock hard old neve that is the greatest concern.
Nice view over to Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis this morning.
Looking East over the Grey Coires. On Westerly aspects there tends to be little old snow and just a dusting of fresh.
The South Side of Coire an Lochan. There was a number of teams out climbing in the Coire today (although none visible in this shot)
The crags on the North Side of Coire an Lochan. Unfortunately the cloud had rolled in by this point, but it will hopefully give you an idea of how conditions are looking.
Easy Gully. The crown wall of a small natural avalanche can be seen cutting diagonally leftwards. In general the fresh windslab and cornices are not very stable, but fresh deposits are not deep or extensive, and cornices are relatively small.
A recently formed cornice. Not particularly large, but not very stable.
The view over to Aonach Beag. Not a great deal of snow in A Cul Choire as compared to normal years.
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