Return of colour
11th February 2023
Today was mild and dry with light winds. The visibility improved and there was even enough sun to wear sunglasses. The mountains have become more colourful as the snow retreats.
The thaw has reduced the snowpack quite a lot and the cover is now patchy. The greatest accumulations remain on North to East facing coires above 900 metres.
Although the temperatures are mild and the snowpack is thawing many of the snow patches are still quite firm under foot, with nasty runouts in rocks or boulders. I was very glad of my crampons today to access the snow pit site.
Very sad to see water running out of snow patches on some steeper slopes. Glide cracks are also visible on some of the steep convexities and coire rims, where the snow is under tension.
The mild conditions look set to stay with us for a bit longer but hopefully a return to winter conditions soon.
Lochnagar, the ratio of white to black is going the wrong way!
Looking into Coire Fionn
Some sunny patches amongst the snow patches. Looking across to Cairnwell.
Running water in Coire Loch Kander
Looking North toward the Cairngorms
Glide crack on a steep convexity above Coire Loch Kander
Walkers dodging snow patches on their way up to Carn an Tuirc.
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