Winter Conditions Slowly Building.
20th December 2025
A bit of a quieter day today than of late, cloudy in the morning but some clearer spells in the afternoon. The freezing level was fluctuating around 1100 metres through the day. Visibility was better than yesterday, but still not great. Winter conditions are building on the high crags, there are a series of photos below to show how things have changed over the past 9 days or so. Looks like a few milder days, and then turning colder and generally dry around Christmas eve. Hopefully won’t have lost too much snow by that point.
The mobile phone mast on Aonach Mor covered in a thick layer of icy rime as were most objects above about 1100 metres. I suspect many of the crags would also be quite verglassed at the moment.
Looking over to the crags at the South side of Coire nan Lochan.
The area around the top of right twin taken today (Saturday the 20th). Below are a series of photos of the same location from earlier in the week which quite nicely show the development of the snowpack. The cornice in particular is significantly bigger today than it was on Thursday the 18th (photo below).
Above, the area on Thursday the 18th. A bit of build up as compared to the 15th (below).
Above the view 5 days ago on Monday (15th). Not really that different to three days before on the 12th (below).
Above, the view 8 days ago on Friday the 12th.
A view of the Left side of Coire nan Ciste on Ben Nevis today courtesy of Abacus Mountain Guides. All but the steepest crags are holding a fair bit snow/ice. I would doubt this would be very good snow ice yet, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. Let’s hope it survives the mild temperatures forecast for the next few days.
The area around Number Three Gully on Coire nan Ciste. Again the photo is courtesy of Abacus Mountain Guides.
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