On Bare Ground
12th March 2025
With the overnight forecast to remain cold with occasional showers possible, today was about getting high to assess any potential changes and the impact on the remaining snow patches. From down in the Glen an obvious dusting on the highest summits could be seen.
Meall a Bhuiridh is always the easiest to get high and heading up towards the East ridge this dusting, above about 800 metres, was both new snow and rime thinly covering the now mainly grass and rock, with isolated snow patches, these being generally frozen and firm. Areas exposed to the warmth from the sun, both the new snow and rime, were slowly melting away, and the existing snow patches, softening slightly at least on the surface.
With the freezing level around 900 metres the higher aspects remained colder, further occasional showers adding only cosmetically to the existing dusting on bare ground. Ice had formed in shallow water courses with some more notable areas covered, but still easily avoidable. Checking other aspects on the way down it was clear that windward slopes had been most affected, tying in with the rime forming and with so much bare ground there was plenty of wind sheltered pockets amongst rocks, boulders, tufts and shallow scoops.
It continues to remain cold and dry so little change is expected. Stronger winds this evening will ease tomorrow.
An obvious dusting on the Aonach Eagach ridge.
A dusting and the remaining snow patches on the Northerly aspects of Stob Coire nan Lochan.
A less obvious dusting on Stob Coire nam Beith.
The typical covering, North-Easterly aspect, with new snow, rime and old patches, water ice was present in amongst some of the vegetation and on rocks, snow patches were generally firm.
Not sure I’ve ever noticed snow and rime so obviously in amongst lichen before.
Classic new snow and rime on vegetation.
Scalloped pockets on old snow patches, enough to form wind sheltered pockets even on windward aspects.
A passing snow shower over Clach Leathad with the Black Mount summits behind.
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