Thursday 31 December 2009

Ski Touring in the Monadhlaith- Newtonmore.

Shooting Cracks: a sign that the snow pack is very unstable. We have had lots of snow here with strong winds which transports the snow to lee slopes and this transported accumulations of snow form wind slab. Careful route choice, ( avoiding unstable snow, terrain traps , convex and concave slopes is important when traveling through snow covered terrain. If you are lucky and stay alert you notice many clues on the hill and mountain side as you travel along. Also, squeaky sounds and cracking of the snow around your boots or skis are very good clues. The crack above is a dramatic one indicating very interesting conditions and unstable snow.
Stephen and I had a great ski tour in the hills behind my house yesterday. The snow cover was fantastic!



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