Sgurr a’ Mhaim
12th March 2025
With little change in the snowpack, I continued the theme of going up hills that I rarely go on (at least when avalanche forecasting). Today, it was Sgurr a’ Mhaim in the Mamores. The path runs essentially straight up the ridge from the parking in Glen Nevis at an altitude of about 60m to the summit at 1099m. It is an efficient (or brutal) was to gain altitude quickly. Interestingly it was far windier on the ridge at an altitude of about 700 metres than it was on the summit, this was the case both when I was going up and also on the way back down again. There was a slight dusting of fresh snow about 900 metres, but that is very thin.
Looking over to Ben Nevis. Not much snow on the South side of the Ben at the moment.
A good example of needle ice that I saw today. Needle ice forms when the temperature of the soil is above 0 °C and the surface temperature of the air is below 0 °C. Liquid water underground rises to the surface by capillary action, and then freezes and contributes to a growing needle-like ice column. The process usually occurs at night when the air temperature reaches its minimum.
The bowl on the North side of Sgurr a’ Mhaim. This catches the snow quite well, and I have always thought it would make a good ski, but have never been enthusiastic enough to carry my skis all the way up there. Maybe one to leave for next season…
The view East along the Mamores.
Nice light in the background of Am Bodach.
The view South along the Devil’s ridge with the Glen Coe hills in the background.
Stob Ban with Ballachulish hills in in the back left and across the loch to the Ardgour hills in the back right.
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Sandy Slater
14th March 2025 12:18 pm
Great photos and report! Would be good to know who is the SAIS staff member/volunteer. Great bit about needle ice.