A Glorious Morning

22nd February 2021

Covid -19

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service issues information to support permitted activity under current Scottish Government guidance.

Please be aware of current mandatory travel restrictions in Local Authority areas within Scotland and respect local communities by referring to Scottish Government guidance and safe route choices for exercise. For further guidance please refer to the following information for hillwalkers and climbers and snowsports on ski and board.

This blog is intended to provide hazard and mountain condition information to help plan safer mountain trips.

A fine morning with good sunny periods but clouding over in the afternoon. Little change in the spring-like snowpack from yesterday other than a breakable crust had formed overnight at lower elevations allowing the snow to firm up in locations not affected by direct sunlight.

Above 2 photos: A panoramic view of the main Fannaich mountains showing the current snow distribution; patchy between 500 and 700 metres, but good snow cover above 850m. The snowpack is generally firm throughout. It is sad to note that the ice climbs on Carn na Criche (dark triangular crag on the right) have disappeared after being in very good condition recently. Some ice is lingering on Sgurr Mor – but not for long. The two biggest mountains in the Fannaichs, Sgurr Mor (centre) and Sgurr nan Clach Geala (behind Carn na Criche on the right) both around 1100m. have remnant cornice lines below their summits, which may become unstable tomorrow during heavy rain and thawing at all levels. Otherwise, there is little evidence of cornices in our forecast area.

Above; Deep snow at 600m. Even though the snow cover is very patchy below 700 metres, deep snow remains in previously sheltered low lying areas. The probe in the photo is 3m long – the snow is 175cm deep.

Comments on this post

Got something to say? Leave a comment

    Latest Torridon Avalanche Report
    Archives
    Categories
    RSS Feed
    Keep up to date by subscribing to our RSS feed
Service funded by sportscotland
Forecast data supplied by the Met Office
SAIS Sponsors