Avalanches

Al and I thought we may have enough time to climb Minus 2 Gully V,5 on Ben Nevis before wind and snow moved in from the north east. Wasn't to be. Walking in towards the CIC hut we could see snow drifting and slab starting to form at our feet. The wind was up and carrying lots of snow. So we started to think of a plan B, especially as a friend Paul who was walking out told us about a group who got away with being avalanched on the west facing slope leading up to Vanishing Gully.

From the CIC we decided to go for the steep cascade just across from the hut, which would mean that we wouldn't have to cross serious ground to get there, which was just as well because we got avalanched on the way (first couple of pictures).
The slab was about 25m x 5 and around 50 - 60cm deep and more than enough to shift us a short way down the slope, which was quite shallow, (maybe 25 degrees), for a slide.
This really isn't surprising as all the hoar frost crystals that have built up over the last week are being buried in sheltered areas by fresh wind blown snow, forming wind slab on top of a very weak layer.

We climbed the cascade, which was excellent, thoroughly recommended.
Unfortunately, unknown to us at the time a chap just to the north of us triggered a small pocket of wind slab which avalanched and was enough to take him off his feet and slide him down serious boulder strewn ground, were he sustained injuries. He was stabilised by a passing instructor and his clients and then lifted by RAF to hospital.

Unfortunately the day didn't end there. I arrived home to receive a rescue call out to Buchaille Etive Mor in Glencoe were a pair had been avalanched.
This party contained significant experience and had made a valued judgement about a safe route off the hill. Unfortunately despite that they triggered a small avalanche which sent them on a long fall down the hillside and as a result they lost their lives.

Today (Thursday) lots of wet snow is falling at sea level and dumping lots more on the hills. Any movement for the next few days up there will have to be highly tactical and require even more careful judgement than usual.
Good coffee drinking weather.

It should be noted that information about exact locations given in the media are incorrect. Many articles are stating that the incident occurred on Curved Ridge and my concern is that this may cause people to form an incorrect idea of what happened and make assumptions based on this.
The chaps involved were descending via the large spur that bounds the west side of Coire na Tullaich and leads down towards Creag a Bhancair - a recognised route if the normal route down the corrie is unsafe.