Fionn Beinn
8th January 2025
Tricky driving conditions in the Torridon region today after overnight snow and sub zero temperatures. The vehicle was struggling even with four snow tyres. 15cm of fresh snow overnight had transformed the hamlet of Achnasheen (155m) into a winter wonderland. The only movement were a few vehicles and red deer on the hillside, with snow on their backs pawing at the snow to find some vegetation beneath.
Travel on foot would have been virtually impossible today. Plenty of snow for skinning up the flanks of Fionn Beinn from the road side, but even that was hard work. The snow remains dry, soft and unconsolidated so even skis are sinking deeply into the snow.
The snow showers today were less frequent and prolonged compared to yesterday and interspersed with some bright spells and sunshine. The moderate/fresh North-Westerly wind was drifting snow onto the leeward aspects. Conditions will remain cold tomorrow with the freezing level around 200m, light snow showers and a freshening North-Westerly wind. There still remains multiple weaknesses within the snow pack and further windslab will add to this problem. The avalanche hazard remains considerable on East to South aspects above 700m. Other aspects and elevations are also affected, see avalanche report for full details.
Looking down on the snowy hamlet of Achnasheen. Cold, dry unconsolidated snow is present on all aspects. Travel on the hill is challenging.
Looking SW across a very snowy landscape towards Moruisg and the Glen Carron Munros.
A view from the lower slopes of Fionn Beinn looking NW towards the sunlit eastern aspect of Corbett Meall a Chaorainn (705m)
Typical under ski conditions. Some cracking indicating weaknesses within the snowpack. For the skiers reading this – below 700m there is no base. Just a lot of deep, soft, unconsolidated snow covering the ground. Conditions under ski may be better higher up?
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TeleN
8th January 2025 9:08 pm
Nice one adding in the “skiers conditions report” as an add on much appreciated! ( even if the snow is sub optimal : it’s the thought which counted).