End of the season?

With milder temperatures forecast next week it is looking likely this may be the end of the avalanche forecasting season, and what an up and down season it has been. As seen in the pictures there is still plenty of snow at higher levels, although it all felt pretty sticky and stable today. 

There is quite a distinctive snow line at the moment around 950 metres

 Good cover remains on the summit runs.

Since last weekend there has been a fair bit of snow blown into the top of Coire an Lochan. Note the fresh cornices, some of which are likely to collapse when they begin to thaw properly.

Still looking wintery over in Ben Nevis. 

Winter clings on.....

 A better day for the competitors for the British Downhill championships at Nevis range today. Might not be so good tomorrow.

Plenty of snow at higher levels.

 Some fresh cornices as well.

 The view East over the Grey Coires towards the Cairngorms in the distance.

 A ski tourer enjoying good cover at 1200 metres with Ben Nevis in the background.

Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis as the first of the days snow showers starts brewing. 

It was a lovely morning, but with some showers during the afternoon. There is not much snow left below about 800m, but above about 1050m there is good cover. 

The start of the British Downhill Champs today at 650m. Probably a lot snowier than most folk would have expected! 

Still winter on the tops.

Although feeling pretty summery down in the glens, with temperatures generally below freezing, and reasonable snow cover it still feels quite wintery on the tops. 

 Looking over to Carn Mor Dearg and Ban Nevis.

The South side of Coire an Lochan holding plenty of snow. 

There was some pleasant sunshine first thing, as seen here on the Goose ski run.

Winter in May

Snowpack has receded up the hill since last weekend. Cold wind today with a very light but insignificant amount of new snow. Looks like the forecast for the rest of the weekend is good

A bright sunny day.

View East from Aonach Mor.

Across Aonach Mor East slopes to Aonach Beag.

View West from Aonach Mor.

Sunshine and showers

Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis

Aonach Mor: Coire an Lochan South side

View south from Climbers' Col on Aonach Mor.

Very poor visibility on Aonach Mor.

Aonach an Nid; north end of Aonach Mor.

Aonach an Nid NW slopes during a brighter interlude early afternoon.

Another day with sunshine and light snow showers.

View West from Aonach Mor.

A day for ski-touring on Aonach Mor.

Coire an Lochan crags across to the Climbers' Col.

Carn Mor Dearg East slopes and Ben Nevis behind.

Sunshine and snow showers.

Coire an Lochan and its lochan from the Aonach Mor plateau.

Aonach Mor summit plateau with one of several walkers out enjoying the day.

Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis from Aonach Mor.

Poor visibility on Aonach Mor, again.

Aonach Mor: summit plateau.

Unlike yesterday I didn't see anyone on the hill today. Perhaps given the poor visibility and wet windy conditions this isn't that surprising.

Poor visibility on Aonach Mor.

Lower cloud moving in from the West.

The summit of Aonach Mor.

Although not on this photo there were quite a number of people enjoying a walk on Aonach Mor today.

Not much visibility on Aonach Mor

Along the top of the West Face of Aonach Mor.

Winter is back!

No snow out west. It didn't really get this far. Light dusting on the Rum Cuillin in the distance

Distant shot of the Carn Dearg Buttress on the Ben. With the North Easterly winds, this side of the Ben is pretty scoured. Note the wind transportation in the foreground.

Strong NE winds with the fresh snow has created main deposits around the tops of West aspects. The above shot shows typical accumulations. These lying on grass/bare ground.

Ben Nevis day.

Another mild and spring like day on the Ben. However, a return of colder conditions is expected next week.

The North Face as seen from the approach.

Still a fair bit of snow in Coire an Ciste and Number 5 Gully.

A team of three head up the lower section of Observatory Gully to get onto Tower Ridge. The top of observatory gully might not be the wisest place to be at the moment given the continued risk of rock and ice fall in the spring conditions.


Carn Dearg. The lowest patch of snow, at about 600 metres, is the lowest remaining snow on Ben Nevis, (and possibly in Scotland?) at the moment. It is formed from the debris of the many avalanches which come down the Castle Gullies every winter, and is evident most springs.

Conditions on Thursday and Friday

Relatively cold on the summits today with a cool plus 2 degrees - its been 10 degrees for the the last few days! Certainly not a return to winter though.

Heard a report of somebody snow boarding all the way down Easy Gully earlier in the week so there is still some sport out there for anyone with a sense of adventure.

Forecast for Friday suggests some light rain with moderate NW winds. Freezing level around 2700m with summit temperatures around 4 degrees c

Ben Nevis.

Looking onto the Orion Face, Observatory gully area. It felt more like June than March up there today.

Zooming in on the top of Observatory gully. Three keen skiers can just be seen carring their skis up. Thy are just below the rock which is almost directly above the top of Tower Scoop. There was a couple of climbers on Tower Scoop, and it you look carefully you can just pick one of them out at the bottom of the route.

Coire na Ciste, quite a substantial patch of the snow at the back of this.

The CIC hut with Carn Dearg and Number 5 Gully behind.

Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag

Coire an Lochan SE of Easy Gully

Coire an Lochan North of Easy Gully.

South end of Aonach Mor, from Aonach Beag.

Sunshine : )

Despite the sun beating down the snow on the Goose was hard and icy.

Coire an Lochan.

Alpine conditions on Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg.

It was an amazing sunny day in Lochaber.

The temperature dropped below freezing at higher levels last night which meant that any snow in shady locations was hard and icy. However, on Southerly aspects it was softening in the sunshine.