Fresh Snow and Poor Visibility

4th December 2025

Looking up from the Glen it would be easy to think that there is very little in the way of ‘winter’. However, up on the summits it is very much ‘winter’ conditions. The freezing level overnight and today was around 1100m and there was plenty of wind drifted snow above that elevation. A windslab problem is present on North-West through North to East aspects above 1100m. Cornices are also building on these same aspects. Fresh snow was lying down to around 950m, but this was pretty damp and consolidating well. Very challenging white out conditions on the tops gave very little opportunity for photographs. Gale force South-Easterly winds forecast tomorrow increasing to Storm force in the afternoon. More drifting of snow expected on the higher tops.

Looking down to the top of the Quad Chair at Aonach Mor (920m). This is the start of the snow line, snow here was thawing and soft. 

Deep drifts of windslab accumulated on the leeward side of snow fences (fence tops just visible). The snow here was well over a meter deep and the same aspect as the tops of the climbing routes on the East face of Aonach Mor.

Ski patrol hut at Nevis Range 1190m.

Looking up the Goose Gully. Photo taken from around 900m. The snow here was soft and thawing.

 

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