Lancet Edge. Groping around in the mist.
15th February 2025
(Above) Not a promising start: looking west along Loch Ericht-side today. Low cloud obscures most of Ben Alder. A long and committing approach to get in to this area so was hoping for a little visibility, maybe some views…Oh, no!
(Above) The start of the Long Leachas ridge over on Ben Alder. Shrouded in mist and mottled with crusty snow down low.
(Above) On the lower part Lancet Edge. The mist obliterated everything above 750m.
However, Man of Parts, ‘Sherpa Sam’, had been on Lancet Edge on Friday and was good enough to share the following photos with me for the benefit of the viewing public.
(Above) “Previously on Lancet Edge“. Just 24hrs ago but a world away in terms of atmosphere. Looking straight up the ridge line of this distinctive peak adjacent to Ben Alder.
(Above) Loch an Sgoir was completely frozen over on Friday.
(Above) Summiting. A proper pointy peak, at least from this angle!
Snow-wise, stability is generally good but we still have a weak near-surface crust in many places though with precious little overburden on it. However, the 1cm or so of snowfall we had overnight/early morning had formed really quite ‘touchy’ new windslab on steep W to N aspects above 950m. Thin and localised at present but we may see some redistribution of existing snow as the winds pick up over the next forecast period which may lay down some more on those W to N lee slopes.
Comments on this post
Got something to say? Leave a comment
Andreas
16th February 2025 6:56 am
Hi SAIS Team,
Do you know if there is enough snow at the Window to do snowholing? Thanks in advance.
meagaidhadmin
18th February 2025 5:03 pm
We’ve been round that way today. There wasn’t any evidence of anyone having snow holed there recently. I didn’t check the snow depth in that location but I suspect there isn’t enough.