Hill Fog
28th January 2025
In the Fannaichs, a day of hill fog, cloud base persistent at 550 metres through the morning, with light rain and drizzle, wintry above 800 metres. The freezing level was around 850 metres late morning and accompanied by a moderate Northerly wind. The snow is thawing below this level but there is an old icy crust at mid elevations.
The snowpack is largely shallow with generally good stability throughout. Deeper and more widespread accumulations are on North-East to South-East aspects mostly above 750 metres. Inconsequential deposits of fresh windslab noted in steep South to South-West aspects around summit levels.
I’m afraid the photos are a tad uninteresting due to the cloud, but hopefully convey what the conditions were like.
(Above) Looking across Loch a’ Bhraoin in the Fannaichs to Meall an-t-Sithe (600m) The snowline is at 400m and the cloud base just below the summit level.
(Above) Snow cover at 600m on the Druim Reidh ridge of Toman Coinnich, Fannaichs.
(Above) 700m on Druim Reidh.
(Above) There was an icy crust present at mid elevations, generally not weight bearing! Thankfully the snowpack is largely shallow so not really an issue walking though it.
(Above) Icy paths at 750m. Many ridges and exposed summits have been scoured of most snow cover and undergone a thaw and refreeze cycle. Most of the ice was avoidable.
(Above) Druim Reidh at 800m. Not much difference….Deeper and more widespread accumulations of snow are on North-East to South-East aspects mostly above 750 metres as seen on the left of the photo.
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