On and Off
8th March 2017
My waterproof jacket was ‘on and off’ for most of the walk into Coire an Laoigh on Beinn Eighe and so were the showers on and off until they became more intense and prolonged just before I reached the profile site! Considerable amounts of spindrift around the summits during and immediately after the showers, with obvious cross loading occurring in the gale force Westerly wind. However, much of the snow was being blown to lower levels whereupon it melted.
(Above)Â The snow cover on the southerly and south-east aspects of Liathach this morning. The dark colour of the mountain crags would suggest that the freezing level is at a high elevation.
(Above)Â Jacket on as the next shower trundles up the glen.
(Above)Â Jacket off as one shower passes eastwards.
(Above)Â Tail end of a shower. Spindrift at higher elevations on Sgurr Ban and Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe of Beinn Eighe, with coss loading occurring in the gully lines on the southern aspect.
(Above) An unconsolidated layer of old graupel (top left in the photo) in the snowpack at the profile site. It poured out as it was exposed! Fortunately, this poorly bonded layer is not widespread in the general snowpack.
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