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Dragon Bowl

Glencoe

The remote bowl that is clearly visible from Glencoe Mountain, but is only skied by the committed!

Ski Touring Difficult

Distance
7.2 km
Ascent
864 m
Descent
841 m
Duration
3-4 hrs
Low Point
631 m
High Point
1.1 km
Gradient
48˚
Dragon Bowl Map

Nestled between Stob A’ Ghlais Choire and Creise, the Dragon Bowl has a real ‘out there’ feel, and for that reason can remain untracked long after the last snowfall, whilst making a fantastic journey for keen ski tourers to complete to get way out of the resort boundary.

Description

Take the various lifts up to the top of the Main Basin T-Bar which then gives access to the summit of Meall a’ Bhúiridth via a short walk. The summit of Meall a’ Bhúiridth is a fantastic vantage point to look across Rannoch Moor and towards the distant north eastern munros beyond this plateau.

From the summit of Meall a’ Bhúiridth, bootpack your way down the west facing ridgeline that leads its way off the summit. This ridgeline connects Meall a’ Bhúiridth to Mam Corie Esain, which ascends steeply up to the summit of Mam Corie Esain from the saddle of this ridgeline (some may be glad crampons and an axe in poor conditions here).

Once up on the top of Mam Corie Esain, follow the northern ridgeline up to the summit of Creise where you can attach your skis and ski down the north ridgeline of Creise which gives access to the wide Dragon Bowl on your right hand side, with a whole host of drop-ins to choose from along this bowl rim from Creise to Stob a’ Ghlais Choire.

A locals' favourite is the drop-in located on the north eastern side of Creise, which drops steeply passed rocky buttress after rocky buttress down into the Glas Choire.

Keep skiing down as far as the snow line will take you, to then attach your skins to start the mellow ski tour back up to the bowl rim, where you can take the two ridge lines back to Glencoe, or access more descents in the region.

Difficulty

Difficult

Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.

Low Exposure (E1)

1 out of 4

Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.

Remoteness

2 out of 4

Away from help but easily accessed.

Best time to visit

between January and May

Equipment required

  • Skins