Beinn a Chaorainn
29th March 2025
Today weather forecast promised gale force Westerlies and continuous heavy rain. I can confirm the forecast did not disappoint. To say I was a ‘little damp’ when I got off the hill would be an understatement. The precipitation was only falling as sleety snow on the highest tops, and the summits remained in the cloud all day which limited photography.
Further snow had developed on the Creag Meagaidh hills since my visit yesterday, it looks superficially white above around 800m. Most of this snow was very sticky, damp snow, overlying wet ground so is not likely to remain for long as the temperatures rise later on Sunday and into next week.
Some isolated pockets of windslab are present on North through East to South-East aspects above 950m. These areas will gradually stabilise during Sunday morning.
The photos below will give you a ‘flavour’ of conditions today. Much of the lower snow is expected to thaw during Sunday afternoon.
Looking across to the NE ridge of Beinn a Chaorainn, a popular mountaineering route. The cloud level would have been around 950m when I took this photo. This was the best view I got today. Apart from the final 100m ascent of the ridge, the snow would be very soft/wet.
Only one team ascent of the ridge today – a guided party. Photo taken around 600m. (Thanks for the lift to the Laggan Coffee Bothy guys 🙂
Looking up into Coire na h-Uamha. On the upper right of the photo you can just make out one of the small cornices which are present on North through East to South-East aspects. The corrie rim here is around 1000m altitude. Also, quite telling in the left hand side of the photo is a ‘black line’, this is running water. A burn line, which indicates how wet the ground was under the snow.
Photo above typical of the snow cover at summit level. Here at 950m the superficial snow cover was wet and thawing.
And finally, a rare treat. A large, red fox crossed in front of me on the summit plateau of Beinn a Chaorainn. I watched him for several seconds, purposefully heading into wind and disappearing from view into the mist and corrie below. From nose to tail tip he looked to be a good meter in length. Beautiful big bushy tail. After 40 years wondering the Scottish Hills this is only my 3rd sighting of a fox high up in the mountains. Needless to say, I was too slow with the camera, but at least I have evidence of the paw prints.
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Jonathan Preston
29th March 2025 9:49 pm
We must have been a good way behind you… (no electric bike…) Good effort on your part Heather. Eventually bailed… East ridge was pretty unpleasant… ATB JP
Lee
29th March 2025 10:11 pm
That sounds such a beautiful encounter with that fox, thanks.