TOUR OF THE CAIRNGORM CORRIES

 

Late afternoon sun in Coire an t-sneachda 

Third day on the trot of Alpine weather and snow conditions. It was a breezy day up high but not enough to impede walking. Mary & Dennis out with me for an intro to winter hillwalking. With such beautiful conditions we decided on a journey and putting vital skills into the day a we made our tour of Coire an Lochain, Loch A'an and Coire an t-sneachda. 

Twin Burns, Coire an Lochain 

The breeze picked up as we donned axes and crampons from Coire an Lochain to the plateau. It was wonderful watching the loose snow being blown. Some excellent exposed neve for cramponing. 

Cairn Lochan 

Wind slab

Huge amount of water ice in the slopes up to Cairn Lochan. You'd be hard pushed to get up most of the slopes today without crampons. 

Cairn Lochan 

The cliffs of Coire an Lochain quiet today

From Cairn Lochan we headed over to the Loch A'an area for lunch with a view. 

Loch A'an 

Snow shelters 

Fiacaill Buttress 

After lunch it was back over to the Northern Corries and magnificent views again.

Rime ice turning to water ice

Fingers Ridge 

Alladin's Couloir 

Coire an t-sneachda &Loch Morlich 

Full cover on the plateau 

It was a glorious afternoon and the drifting snow seemed to have all 'drifted'. Although there was still some gentle movement of snow heading into the easier gullies on Sneachda. We finished the day by heading down into Coire an t-sneachda from Windy Col.

Hot in Sneachda 

Fabulous snow

Furnace in Sneachda 

It was like a furnace as we made our way to the coire floor in Sneachda. Wonderful afternoon light and fantastic snow conditions. A brilliant end to the day. The flattening in the coire floor was now wind scoured and superb walking. Top day. A bit more wind tomorrow unfortunately. But sunny 🌞. 

Alladin's Buttress in sun

Beautiful afternoon light 

Wind scoured low down

Coire's Sneachda and Lochain