30th Jan

Not such great views as yesterday. Strengthening winds started to transport any soft snow around the mountain, depositing unstable, but not extensive areas of windslab. Fresh cornices were limited in size, but would readily collapse if tapped with a ski pole.

29th Jan

It started off a cloudy day, but cleared up through the afternoon. Here are some pictures taken as it cleared.

The crags of Coire an Lochan, Aonach Mor

The Ben and Carn Mor Dearg

Aonach Beag just about peeking out from the cloud.

The shadowy internal world of the snowpack

Sometimes a cornice will creep or slump rather than completely collapse. This usually happens when the temperature is close to freezing and the snow quite ductile. At lower temperatures any failure tends to be more brittle, which is more likely to lead to complete collapse. This creeping and deformation sometimes opens up a large cracks a little way back from the edge. In Coire Dubh on Aonach Mor, about a 30 metre long section of cornice slumped earlier this week, producing a crack wide enough to climb into at various points. A few days of consolidation, it felt safe enough to crawl into this for a wee peak at the strange, blue, internal world on the Scottish snowpack

Sat 22dn Jan

Some pictures from Aonach Mor today.

Looking south to Aonach Beag.

A boarder enjoying Summit Gully

A busy day at the top of Easy Gully

Another wet day on Ben Nevis

Sub-optimal weather on the Ben

The weather conditions for most of the day. Not the finest of mountain days.

The weather cleared up just as we were heading down. Some fresh debris was noted below Number 5 gully, and below Number 2 gully. There seems to be a fair bit of snow and ice surviving the thaw at higher levels. The snowpack is soaking very wet and so climbing conditions in the higher gullies could become very good if/when it freezes.

Up the Ben

North East buttress round to Coire na Ciste.

Coire na Ciste looking quite rimed up.

Carn Dearg buttress. Although the CIC hut cascade is complete, it is reported to be hollow and wet at the base.

It was cloudy on Aoanch Mor today, so no good pictures I am afraid. It was also cold, with summit temperatures of -7 degrees C and a bitter wind. Here are some photos from Ben Nevis yesterday (7th Jan).

Back to Beag

A quick stomp round the top of the snow pit, and the top 10cm to 15cm of the snowpack sheared off quite easily.

Looking South to Aonach Beag.

Some pretty substantial cornices exist. Although you can't see it in this picture, some large cracks exist about 5 feet back from the left hand end of this cornice.

It was back to Aonach Beag for me today. Most of the way over Aoanch Mor with in thick cloud, but it cleared up for a brief period when I got to when I got to the col. The snow down to the col had a slight wind crust on it, making for some quite tricky skiing. At higher level there has been a fair bit of fresh snow over the past few days. It was quite mild when this started to fall, and then turned colder, so the deeper layers of this fresh snow are quite well bonded. However, the top layers are not so well bonded (see top photo).

Aonach Beag

Climber belaying on Coire an Lochan. Conditions were reported to be quite verglassed.

Looking East over the Grey Coires

The Ben

Aonach Beag.

Despite a slightly threatening sky it was quite a pleasant day on the hill. I took a wander over to Aonach Beag. The snow is generally pretty firm with crampons being necessary on all but the gentlest of slopes. Although isolated there are a few wee pockets of slab about.