UKC

Where is it just now, please? I have A Project in mind, but it needs there to be loads of snow on the Ben all the way down. See if you can guess what it is

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Skiing Tower Gully?

In reply to craigloon:


I wouldn't need snow all the way down for that.

Do you know where the snowline is, though?

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Took two seconds with Google for you

http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/the-ben-nevis-webcam-fort-william-scotla...

In reply to catt:

Ah, the cloud's lifted a bit. The reason I asked the question because there was nothing visible on there.

It would still be useful if someone could actually tell me what height the snowline is on Ben Nevis.

In reply to Tim Chappell:


So... er... <cough> does anyone happen to know what height the snowline is on Ben Nevis?

<tumbleweed blowing leftwards>

<tumbleweed blowing rightwards>

<silence reigns>

In reply to Tim Chappell:

If it's any use, on Weds, it was down to the CIC hut on that side and where the Red Burn meets the path on t'other (not withstanding that the Ben has more than two sides, but those are the two I was on).

In reply to niallk:

Mind, none of that would be very pleasant to ski as was all denture-loosening neve.

In reply to niallk:

ooh look! Someone's actually answered the question!

In reply to Tim Chappell:

The webcam just got a clear shot of Aonach Mor: the snowline is at about 650-700m. It's a fairly thin dusting of new snow, though: skiable cover will be more patchy.

In reply to Mark Bull:


I think it's pretty clear that my Project isn't on tomorrow, anyway.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Out of curiosity, what was/is this "Project"? Shrouds of secrecy respected if it's something new, but guessing that's unlikely given the location.

In reply to niallk:


It was just to ski the Ben from the top to the bottom. "Bottom" meaning sea-level, or as close as I can manage.

Which isn't on tomorrow, because clearly I'll get nowhere near sea-level.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

What route would you take (snow conditions/cover being equal)? Red burn, then down into Glen Nevis near the tourist path, or skin up to the North of Meall an t-Suidhe and descend behind the aluminium plant? Or something else entirely?

In reply to niallk:

Yes to Red Burn, then, if there was snow everywhere, I think (without having looked closely at all the actual terrain except on a map) I might try and go left all the way round Meall an t-Suidhe from the Halfway Lochan, perhaps ending up near the Ben Nevis Inn. But as I say that's speculative--it depends how feasible a long descending contour round Meall an t-Suidhe would be.

A different project altogether would be to ski down the back--descend towards the CMD arete then use the long slope down to Glen Nevis. Or indeed go up CMD and ski more or less to the Aonach Mor gondola...

In reply to Tim Chappell:


I can't see that ever being skiable: it's steep, rocky and cut by stream gullies. Going right at the lochan and heading for the road behind the distillery might work, though.

In reply to Mark Bull:

Yes, I thought it might be non-viable. It's hard to tell from the map, but from memory and photos I thought it might not work.

Going behind the distillery would get you into the forests and bogs of the old Allt a'Mhuillin path...