Aonach Beag
28th March 2022
It was another sunny day in Lochaber. The snowpack had hardened up in the clear conditions overnight. Through the day it softened in locations exposed to the sun, but tended to remain firm in shady locations. There was plenty of evidence of  both recent cornice collapse, and remaining cornices looking unstable.
Coire an Lohan of Aonach Mor.Â
Sections of cornice remain. These are prince to collapse when it is mild.Â
North-East face of Aonach Beag.
Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg from near the summit of Aonach Beag. An interesting fact about the summit of Aonach Beag is that it is the highest point in the UK made from non-igneous rock (the summit of Ben Nevis made from Andesite lavas, and the high tops the Cairngorms from granite). The summit on Aonach Beag always seems to get a good covering  of snow during the winter.Â
More examples of not very stable cornices in this case close to the summit of Aonach Beag.Â
The view over the central Mamores towards Bidean nam Bian in the haze.Â
The view South over some of the more Eastern Mamores. Hard to make out but Meall a Bhuiridh and Creise are behind.Â
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Mark Figiel
28th March 2022 4:27 pm
Great pictures over the last few days taken from different angles and locations. Nice pictures of East face of Aonach Mor and North East face of Aonach Beag today as well as interesting fact facts of the different types of rock there.
Regards
Mark
Rock Botherer
1st April 2022 9:29 pm
I particularly enjoyed the geological factoid regarding Aonach Beag, this particular one had me reaching for my phone and the BGS app. You are right, Aonach Beag consists of the Leven Schist Formation a metamorphic rock around 541 to 1000 million years old. But don’t forget the Ballachulish Limestone and the Microdiorite of the Ben Nevis Dyke Swarm. So it would also be right to say that all three rock types, Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary are present on Aonach Beag…
Aye, Rock Botherer
lochaberadmin
3rd April 2022 2:50 pm
Glad you enjoyed that wee fact, but suspect with a name like rock botherer the geology of Aonach Beag is a subject that you will know more about than me!