Sunshine on An Coileachan
6th February 2025
A dry day with warm sunshine in sheltered areas. But, it was bitterly cold on the summits due to the windchill in a strong South-West wind. Yesterday’s new snow cover has thawed with only minor deposits remaining in shaded terrain at height. The general snowpack is patchy, has good stability, with limited amounts of snow remaining below 700m. Much bare ground now even around the summits. Settled conditions will continue with little change expected in the snow cover.
(Above) A nice start to the day with sunrise over the Beinn Dearg mountains.
(Above) Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich, Sgurr Mor on the right. Contrast the snow loss with yesterday’s photo from a similar location.
(Above) The hydro road into Loch Fannaich with the southern end of the Fannaich mountains.
(Above) The classic deep coire of Garbh Choire Mor on An Coileachan. This was a great venue for winter climbing back in the day when we had proper winters. It really requires good snow cover and a low level freeze to come into condition. Not this February….!
(Above) The summit of An Coileachan (923m). Patchy snow cover and bare ground on the top.
(Above) Looking across Loch Fannaich to the north-eastern coires of Fionn Bheinn on the left and Beinn Eighe and Torridon mountains on the right.
(Above) A strip of old snow round the coire rim and tops of gullies in Garbh Coire. Summit of An Coileachan behind left and Beinn Dearg distant right.
(Above) The northern Fannaich mountains of Sgurr Breac / A’ Chailleach on the right and Slioch distant left.
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