A Scottish Powder Day
20th January 2018
One of those beautiful rare days where it was a privilege to be out in the landscape. If you’d been waiting for the perfect ski descent in the Torridon mountains, today was the day! In all my decades of winter walking and climbing in Torridon, I’ve not seen snow conditions the like. However, it meant that without the aid of snowshoes or skis, I was unable to reach the planned location for today’s snow profile and when the ‘powder’ deepened from shin, to knee to thigh deep, I gave up at 500 metres height! The sun has some strength now and it had an effect on the snow with multiple single point releases on SE to SW aspects on all the mountains.
More snow than yesterday on the road after moderate overnight snowfall.
Trail breaking at 400 metres! Multiple layers of cloud, but generally good sunny spells. Maol Chean-dearg on the left and Beinn Damh on the right.
The south Torridon hills.
Insolation levels are on the increase, with many sun induced single point releases observed on SE to SW aspects with starting zones around 800m. Innocuous in themselves, but when channelled, can form a significant slide.
Snow cover on Liathach.
Snow cover on Beinn Eighe.
Snow cover on the Torridon boulders! This time last year, it was prime bouldering. Check out a great film on YouTube about Torridon Bouldering by Eadan Cunningham, filmed last winter.
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Alan
21st January 2018 9:36 am
Wow
You are very lucky
Great pics and clearly great conditions (with the right gear)
Visiting w/c 2nd feb so delighted to see so much snow