A significant avalanche has swept the West Face of Aonach Dubh in Glen Coe. It stretched at least as far as the green line marked on the photo below and is clearly visible from the Clachaig Hotel just below that skyline. Clearly any climbers who were on these routes at the time may have perished. I'm not sure when it released but it could have been overnight, thankfully.

The lesson here is to avoid any west facing gullies or open slopes on that aspect for the time being. Even if approaching a buttress or ridge on that aspect climbers might be exposed to large avalanches before and after climbing the ridge.

What is required now is a period of wet weather to consolidate the snow pack and then a refreeze. The current conditions were formed on top of considerable surface hoar, by the 48 hours of blizzard conditions which fell last week. Any melt which takes place needs to be deep, as much of the remaining hazards are set at over a metre down.




This morning at Lagangarbh. We tried valiantly to trek into Curved Ridge, hopeful that others had blazed a trail. We did not even get to the foot of Great Gully. The views were good though!


Cornice feature at Lagangarbh.

Hi Alan,

Just been out for a ski tour today in the Glenshee area noticed a big avalanche debris chute on Creag Leacach, plenty more still to come down on west facing slopes.

Regards

Dave Basford

Thanks Dave. Anyone else with information on big slides, please send them in.