Liathach – the Northern Coires
4th January 2023
A mild day. Thawing at all levels except on the highest summits. It was generally cloudy with hill fog, drizzle and pulses of rain through the morning. Brighter spells in the afternoon. Wet snow instabilities exist where recent windslab has gained depth and extent on steep terrain, most notably affecting Northerly aspects at higher elevations. Otherwise, the general snowpack is consolidating with improving stability.
(Above) A monochrome south side of Liathach and Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig from Glen Torridon.
(Above) Spidean Coire nan Clach (background) of Beinn Eighe with Stuc Coire an Laoigh on the right.
(Above) The northern coires of Liathch; (L to R) Coire Duibh Beag, Coireag Dubh Mor, Coire na Caime and Spidean a’ Choire Leith the central summit.
(Above 3 photos) Looking into the spectacular northern coires of Liathach. The buttresses are largely clear of snow, with most snow remaining at higher elevations in gullies, couloirs and summit slopes. There is evidently much ice still hanging in there, but will be thawing. Falling ice and rocks are objective dangers under heavy thaw conditions.
(Above) Much snow remains on the NE to SE aspects of the Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe – Creag Dhubh ridge of Beinn Eighe.
(Above) The best colour of the day was ‘Calum of the Glen’.
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mick tighe
5th January 2023 8:41 am
Dear avalanche forecaster, I am trying to ski all the Munros before I die and still have a lot to do in the Torridon area, so can you please provide more snow for ski-ing and better pictures of Slioch, Happy New Year meanwhile. Mick.
torridonadmin
5th January 2023 1:53 pm
Dear nevismick. Don’t do it…! Should you be skiing at all at your age? And on wooden skis and cable bindings. I’ll see what I can do for more snow in the Torridon area. In the meantime, a Good New Year to you and yours. Cheers Andy C.