Friday, March 28, 2014

Full depth avalanche Beinn Sgiath, Glen Markie nr. Laggan

(Above) Full depth avalanche at 800m on a SE aspect of Beinn Sgiath nr Laggan. 

Difficult to date the event but probably sometime in the last 48hrs. 3m+ high crown wall? There are several other similar locations in the Creag Meagaidh area where glide cracks are widening so probably best to give them a wide berth.

Cornices also continue to pose an objective hazard. Many have crevasse-like features at the top and could detach themselves with little or no warning in milder temperatures. The cornices on Beinn a Chaorainn still look massive even though most of them have already partially collapsed.... best stay well back from the edge. As has been mentioned before, full depth avalanches and cornice collapse are outside of the scope of our forecasts but we do try to give guidance if at all possible.