Am heading up to NW Highlands (Achnashellach to start with) for a 5 day backpack next week.
Has anyone been up in that area recently? I am mulling over whether to take ice axe and crampons given that the hills there now seem pretty bare and no more snow is forecast. I've done most of the big hills there a few times so I've got my eye on a few Corbetts.
I am getting the train so whatever I take with me I have to carry for 5 days so I am slightly reluctant to carry full winter kit.
I am wondering whether I could save some weight and make do with Microspikes for any short patches of snow that might be lingering.
Thoughts welcome...
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.JPG) Hi, where did you get the info that the hills there are pretty bare ?
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| Edited: 25/03/10 09:12 |
NW Highlands - bare.... which set of conditions reports did you get that idea from? Ben Nevis had fresh snow down to 700m on the 23rd according tohere
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 He's going right up to the North West, though. Wester Ross area. Way less snow than Ben Nevis and it doesn't hang around the same. James - Alexander Rae who posts on the Bennachie thread lives up that way. Maybe ask him? I know someone who was up there two weeks ago and there was very little snow about. I'd probably take an axe though, to be on the safe side.
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| Edited: 25/03/10 09:27 |
further north and the snow doesnt hang about the same...well, one lives and learns. Seems contraintuitive that.
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 Proximity to the coast, Simon? Local influences and all that.....
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Not really. Loads of factors have an effect, not just latitude. Edit to add: in reply to Simon
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| Edited: 25/03/10 09:42 |
There's some useful webcams on Steven Fallons webcam page.
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Ben Nevis couldnt be much closer to the coast... but I appreciate the point of multiple factors just it hadnt occured to me
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 Ben Nevis might be near salt water (Loch Linnhe) , but it still has quite a lot of mountains between it and the Western Seaboard at Ardnamurchan. Having spent nearly 2 years living in Glencoe, I learnt that you can't predict the weather/ conditions in one part of the west of Scotland by looking at another area. There are just too many factors at play. Have a look at my pal Alex's blog, that might (or might not!) help: Glencoe Mountaineer
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| Edited: 25/03/10 14:28 |
 Hi JB the photos were taken today, Slioch above. Matt C and AT pointed me in your direction, I have put 4 photos on my gallery Wester Ross ( the last 4 ) to give you and idea what it is like, there is no snow lower down but there is some in some of the gullies higher up, its not bitter cold at present and the burns are not as high as you may expect after all the snow.
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| Edited: 25/03/10 14:35 |
Thanks guys - I would say Ben Nevis is in the Western Highlands. I guess the NW doesn't really start until you get North of Glenfinnan or somewhere like that. The Ben holds snow much longer than the NW - its 300m higher than Liathach for starters!
Alexander, thanks for the photos - will check them out and might drop you a further line if that's ok.
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Hi JB4 Above is another photo i took yesterday of Meall a Bhainne, near Braemore Junction and the road end to Loch a Bhraoin, this one had more snow on it that the peaks surrounding it. It was wet and windy yesterday which will nodoubt have melted the snow slightly and put up the burns,especially in the hill areas.
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This photo was taken overlooking Tournaig on the 25th this month, it is overlooking tournaig and towards Gairloch, as you say they are mentioning snow on the forecast. I normally hang around the Benachie (?) thread in "meets and partners"
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