Is it safe to climb Sgor an Lochain Uaine today and tomorrow?

1,258 m · Cairngorms

Sgor an Lochain Uaine, the Angel's Peak, is a remote 1258m Munro on the rim of An Garbh Choire between Braeriach and Cairn Toul.

Today on Sgor an Lochain Uaine is rated Marginal and tomorrow Poor, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 04:11, 19 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Sgor an Lochain Uaine today?

Marginal Today Monday 19 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 34 mph, gusting 43 mph. That is past the Marginal line (wind 25 mph or gusts 45 mph): expect to be pushed about on ridges and the summit.
  • Rain: 100% chance of rain, about 3.5 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 41% and humidity 77% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 4°C at the summit, down to 0°C, feeling as cold as -7°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 07:57, sunset 18:02: 10h 6m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 9h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Sgor an Lochain Uaine tomorrow?

Poor Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 45 mph, gusting 56 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
  • Rain: 98% chance of rain, about 11.1 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 100% and humidity 100% at summit height. Air that close to saturation means the top is likely to be in cloud, so plan to navigate by map and compass. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 4°C at the summit, down to 0°C, feeling as cold as -7°C in the wind.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:00: 10h 1m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 9h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Sgor an Lochain Uaine this weekend?

Poor Saturday 24 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 55 mph, gusting 69 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
  • Rain: 67% chance of rain, about 5.6 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 98% and humidity 91% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 1°C at the summit, down to -1°C, feeling as cold as -7°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
  • Snow: About 3.4 cm of snow forecast at the summit. Snow hides paths and edges; winter conditions need an ice axe, crampons and the skill to use them.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 08:07, sunset 17:50: 9h 42m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 9h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Poor Sunday 25 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 61 mph, gusting 76 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
  • Rain: 71% chance of rain, about 5.8 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 87% and humidity 92% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 9°C at the summit, down to -1°C, feeling as cold as -7°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 07:10, sunset 16:47: 9h 38m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 9h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Weekend forecasts firm up during the week; check again the day before.

What the verdict covers, and what it doesn't

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. That is all it measures: the weather forecast at the summit.

It does not know your fitness or experience, whether you can navigate in cloud with a map and compass, or what you are carrying. It does not see the state of the path, river levels, snow and ice already on the ground, or how the forecast is changing during the day. A Good day can still go wrong if you start late, turn an ankle or lose the path in mist, and a Marginal day can be fine for an experienced party on the easiest route.

On any day, carry waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves, food, water, a head torch and a charged phone, and know how you would navigate if the top is in cloud. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be down. In winter conditions you need an ice axe and crampons and the skill to use them, or a guide.

Route notes for Sgor an Lochain Uaine

Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy and Cairn Toul

From Linn of Dee car park. A long walk in by Glen Lui and the Lairig Ghru reaches Corrour Bothy. Steep ground leads up to the ridge and over Cairn Toul to the Angel's Peak. Graded Hard: steeper, rougher or longer than the moderate routes, with more time on high, exposed ground. About 9h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (17.8 km one way, 1,139 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Sgor an Lochain Uaine routes page.

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers called out through the police. Give your location (a grid reference from a map or phone app if you can), what has happened, how many are in your group and your phone number, then keep the phone free. If you have no signal, try to move to higher ground or text 999; you need to have registered your phone with the emergencySMS service before for a text to work.

Questions about Sgor an Lochain Uaine

Is it safe to climb Sgor an Lochain Uaine today?

Today, Monday 19 October: moderate drizzle, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -7°C, summit wind 34 mph gusting 43 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Sgor an Lochain Uaine tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Tuesday 20 October: slight rain, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -7°C, summit wind 45 mph gusting 56 mph, 98% chance of rain. Rated Poor.

How does Peakify decide whether Sgor an Lochain Uaine is safe to climb?

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. It does not judge your fitness, kit, navigation or the state of the path.

Who do I call in an emergency on Sgor an Lochain Uaine?

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (a grid reference if you can), what happened and how many are in your group. Stay with the casualty and keep them warm.