Up the Ben

Looking up toward the Orion Face

Number Three Gully Buttress and Creag Coire na Ciste
Carn Dearg Buttress


I was up the Ben today. The higher buttresses were looking well hoared up. There was some ice in the seepage lines on Carn Dearg (Waterfall Gully, CIC Hut Icefall, Gemini etc). The Orion and Minus faces were looking quite white, but how much of that is useful ice starting to form,and how much is cruddy snow was hard to tell (although I suspect much of it was the latter)
The longer range forectas suggests a thaw then cold Easterly winds. This will stabalise the snowpack and, as long as it is not too long a thaw, is likley to improve climbing conditions.
Blair

Snow, Snow,Snow

It just does not seem to stop snowing in the the Lochaber hills. Southerly winds have been moving the snow about. For example the drift to the right of the skier in the top picture was not there yesterday, and as it has snowed quite alot it the few hours since I took the picture is probabley even bigger now.


The other picture shows some raised foot prints. These were formed by someone walking through soft snow (probabley yesterday). The wind has then increased, and eroded the surrounding soft snow to leave the hardened footprints standing proud. In many locations the eroded snow will end up being redeposited onto steep slopes, where it will show poor stability.

Although I could not see much higher up the hill, it is a safe bet to say that there to loads of unstable snow in many of the gullies at the moment, and that a few avalanches will have occured today. So just be careful if you are going out and about in the hills for the next few days.
Blair

Avalanches

About to Abseil down Morwind. Note the spindrift near the gound.

A combination of a Westerly wind and snow showers has created some unstable condtions on the East side of Aonach Mor. A guided team was seen about to abseil down Morwind to (hopefully) climb back out again. For those determined to climb in the current conditions, this is a safer option than decending Easy Gully.

Plenty of avalanche activity was noted on the east side of the Nid Ridge.
Blair

Lots of Snow

Loads of snow on Aonach Mor today. The skiing looks good for the weekend. The climbing could also be quite good, although the walk ins could be quite hard work and care will be needed on the appraoch slopes and in the gullies. Here Lucy, the mountaineering dog, shows off the latest in canine mountaineering equipment as she checks out the summit plateau.
Blair

The snow is here

There was some heavy snow showers this morning. Despite a clear afternoon (note the sunshine in the background) there was still plenty of snow blowing around in the strong winds.
Lots more snow forecast tonight and tomorrow.
Lets hope so
Blair

Up the Ben

Looking towards the West side of Tower Ridge

Looking up Number 3 Gully

It won't look this wintry tomorrow!

Graham

Winter again

Certainly felt like winter again today. (picture of Aonach Mor). All the old snow is refrozen and pretty solid. Some localised areas of fresh windslab which shows marginal stability

Is there anything left?

Here is a view of the Ben from the path.

On the bright side, it is getting cold again and the snow showers feel quite wintery. Hopefully get a better view of things tomorrow

Graham

Not a heathly day for snow.

It was been a stormy weekend, with heavy rain and gusts of over 100mph both days. Yesterday was a bit cooler with some fresh snow on the tops, but today was super mild. The forecast is for colder conditions tomorrow, in which case the snowpack will become very hard and icy.
Blair

Cloudy but no snow.

It was very cloudy on the Ben today, but we didn't really get much fresh snow. There remains some good snow ice in the high up gullies, and some water ice is beginning to form form at lower levels. However, as this picture of Carn Dearg shows, there is not much snow lower down. The CIC hut ice fall is probablely climbable if you were feeling brave.

On a non-snow related topic, last Monday (29th) I gave a couple of lads from the lakes called Chris and Donald a lift. One of them left their headtorch in my car. If you know them, then get them to get in touch at SAIS.Lochaber@gmail.com to get it back.
Blair

Another lovely day on Aonach Mor

It remained dry and cold on Aonach Mor with a good number of climbers enjoying the conditions.

New Year Hill Race.

Areas of water ice on Aonach Mor, very slippery.




People running up a big hill.



To start the year it was the traditional Aonach Mor hill race. About 100 competitors raced up the hill from the Nevis range car park to the Snow Goose restaurant. I took the gondola (and beat them all).

On the hill the snow remains very hard. Large areas of water ice are a hazard. Crampons are necessary for safe travel on these.
Blair