Went for a short walk up into the coire just to see what has been happening up there with the freezing level bouncing around and possibly "doing something" to the snow (as opposed to the higher hills where things just keep building up!).
Amazed to see how much snow has melted off since yesterday over that way, snow line has retreated from 300m up to 500m, must have been a hell of a lot of rain overnight.
Everything up to the base of the cliffs is wet, though the snow would only need a couple days freeze to become useful I think - it's so wet, but there's loads of it in all the main gully lines.
Surprised to see icicles forming in places mind you, up to a few feet long near the tops of the routes. QV Scoop is a banked out snow slope.
Went to have a look at West Gully on the off chance it would provide a climb, but although the snow was getting better with height, it was still above freezing and raining, and didn't like the look of the big cornice hanging over White Caterpillar (most of the routes have fairly substantial cornices over their exits). Turned and bumslid back to the coire floor. And was happy with the decision as the cornice collapsed five minutes later and triggered a freight train of wet snow out of West Gully which ran for a good 100m out the bottom of the gully. One of those instances where happy to have "manned down" really!
Some photos here when the cloud lifted briefly:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152165098155865.1073741858.7386...
Cheers,
Gordon
