The Green Shoots of Spring
17th March 2024
Sunshine and sea level air temps of close to 15 degrees C today no doubt enticed the leaf buds on our Hawthorn tree to burst into life. It felt and looked very spring-like in the Fannaichs. The limited snow cover is thawing at all levels and the recent snow line has risen to around 750m. generally, a bit lower on the shaded (NW, N and NE) aspects. But still looking very wintry high up – from a distance. Very little snow remains on the coastal mountains.
A lovely walk into the Northern coires of the main Fannaichs today. Spring migrant birds have returned to the lower slopes such as Golden Plover, Meadow Pipit and Dippers have moved up to the higher stream lines. And I’m sure I heard the first Skylark above the fields of Achnasheen yesterday.
(Above 2 photos) The northern Fannaich mountains of Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich, Sgurr Mor and Carn na Criche. The snowline is now around 700-750m.
(Above) Sgurr Mor (1110m.) and Carn na Criche (961m.) with Loch a’ Mhadaidh in the fore. The ‘snowier’ terrain is generally of older snow, on N to E aspects, mainly above 850 metres.
(Above) The NW aspects of Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich (954m.) The snowline is around 700m. on this shady aspect.
(Above) The North face of Sgurr Mor where we expect to see the most snow lingering. The strip of snow around the coire rim on the right and the patches on the crag aprons are of old snow. The rocky NE ridge of Sgurr Mor on the left is a classic approach to the summit. The main ‘path’ follows the right skyline.
(Above) Areas of old snow on the NE aspect of Meall a’ Chrasgaidh (934m.), most of which lies above 850m.
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