Aonach Mòr
{{Short description|Mountain in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Aonach Mòr
| photo = Aonachs_from_Banavie.jpg
| photo_caption = Aonach Mòr from Banavie
| elevation = {{convert|4006|ft|abbr=on}}
| prominence = {{circa}} {{convert|440|ft|abbr=on}}
| parent_peak = Aonach Beag
| listing = Munro
| translation = Big ridge
| language = Scottish Gaelic
| pronunciation = {{IPA|gd|ˈɯːnəx ˈmoːɾ|lang}}
English approximation: {{respell|OON|əkh|MOR}}
| location = Highland, Scotland
| range = Grampians
| grid_ref_UK = NN193729
| topo = OS Landranger 41
}}
Aonach Mòr is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. It is located about {{convert|2|mi|km|0|spell=on|abbr=off}} northeast of Ben Nevis on the south side of Glen Spean, near Fort William. The mountain has a summit elevation of {{convert|4006|ft|abbr=on}} and is classified as a Munro.
The name Aonach Mòr (big ridge) might suggest that the mountain is taller than its close neighbour to the south, Aonach Beag (small ridge) to which it is linked by a high bealach. However, the names refer to the relative bulk of the mountains when seen from the glen, rather than their elevation; the summit of Aonach Mòr is {{convert|43|ft|abbr=on}} lower than the summit of Aonach Beag.
The quickest and shortest ascent route for hikers is to take the gondola to the Snowgoose Terminal at an elevation of {{convert|2133|ft|abbr=on}} and then hike to the summit. More traditionally, the mountain is often climbed from the south from Glen Nevis and in conjunction with Aonach Beag.
Climate
The summit of Aonach Mòr has tundra climate (ET climate in the Köppen classification). The annual mean temperature is {{cvt|2.9|C|F}} and the warmest calendar month of the year, July, is below {{cvt|10|C|F}}. The tree line of the mountain - as with most of highland Scotland - is found at approximately 500 metres (1,600 feet) and above this only stunted tree specimens may be found. Sheltered Coires on the mountain can hold snow throughout the year and this snow can persist from one winter till the next. Aonach Mòr holds one of Scotland's longest-lasting snow fields, located in Coire an Lochain at an elevation of {{convert|3670|ft|abbr=on}} (grid reference NN193736).Snow patches in Scotland{{circular reference|date=August 2021}} During Cyclone Bodil, Aonach Mòr was hit by winds of {{cvt|142|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/251681-storm-with-gales-of-up-to-142mph-batter-scotland-causing-disruption/|title=Storm with gales of up to 142mph hits Scotland causing major disruption|publisher=STV News|first=Mike|last=Farrell|date=5 December 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208041850/https://news.stv.tv/scotland/251681-storm-with-gales-of-up-to-142mph-batter-scotland-causing-disruption/|archivedate=8 December 2013}}
{{Weather box|location = Aonach Mòr, elevation: {{convert|3707|ft|abbr=on}} (1991-2020)
|collapsed =
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan high C = 0.3
|Feb high C = -0.2
|Mar high C = 0.9
|Apr high C = 3.2
|May high C = 6.2
|Jun high C = 8.3
|Jul high C = 10.3
|Aug high C = 10.0
|Sep high C = 8.3
|Oct high C = 4.8
|Nov high C = 2.1
|Dec high C = 0.8
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = -0.7
|Feb mean C = -1.7
|Mar mean C = -1.2
|Apr mean C = 0.9
|May mean C = 4.1
|Jun mean C = 6.7
|Jul mean C = 7.9
|Aug mean C = 7.9
|Sep mean C = 7.2
|Oct mean C = 3.3
|Nov mean C = 1.3
|Dec mean C = -1.4
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = -1.7
|Feb low C = -3.3
|Mar low C = -3.3
|Apr low C = -1.5
|May low C = 1.9
|Jun low C = 5.1
|Jul low C = 5.5
|Aug low C = 5.8
|Sep low C = 6.1
|Oct low C = 1.8
|Nov low C = 0.5
|Dec low C = -3.6
|year low C =
|source 1 = Met Office{{cite web
| url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gfh7n5qpt
| title=Aonach Mòr Summit 1991–2020 averages
| work = Station, District and regional averages 1991-2020
| publisher=Met Office
| access-date=16 December 2021}}
|date=December 2021}}
Nevis Range Ski Area
{{Infobox ski area
|name = Nevis Range Ski Area
| picture = Summit gully.jpg
| caption = Aonach Mòr Summit Coire
|nearest_city = Fort William – {{cvt|2|mi|km|0}}
|vertical = {{convert|3708|ft|abbr=on}}
|top_elevation = {{convert|4006|ft|abbr=on}}
|base_elevation = {{convert|298|ft|abbr=on}}
|skiable_area = 630 hectares
|number_trails= {{ubl|54 total|{{Color sample|green}} 8 easy|{{Color sample|blue}} 16 intermediate|{{Color sample|red}} 11 difficult|{{Color sample|black}} 8 advanced|{{Color sample|orange}} 11 back country itineraries}}
|longest_run = {{cvt|3|mi|km|0}}
|liftsystem = 1 gondola, 3 chairlifts, 8 surface
|lift_capacity = 9600 per hour
|snowfall = {{convert|126|in|cm|-1|abbr=on}}
|snowmaking = yes
|nightskiing = no
|external_link = [https://www.nevisrange.co.uk Nevis Range]
|}}
The Nevis Range alpine ski area is located on the mountain's northern and eastern slopes. The ski area was opened in 1989.http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/history.asp | History of Skiing on Aonach Mor A gondola lift and several chairlifts and ski tows provide access to 35 runs.
These include Scotland's highest pistes and best off piste backcountry skiing itineraries in the back corries of Coire Dubh, Coire an Lochan, Summit Coire and the West Face.
The ski area's name was originally eponymous with the mountain, but later appropriated the name "Nevis" from the mountain's more famous neighbour Ben Nevis. The change sparked some controversy. Whilst Nevis is no doubt easier to pronounce than Aonach Mòr for non-Scottish Gaelic speakers, it was considered by some to represent an erasure of an indigenous name.
Nevis Range Downhill Mountain Bike Track
In summer the gondola is used for access to the top of the downhill mountain biking tracks. The Nevis Range resort has hosted the Mountain Bike World Cup eighteen times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022), and hosted the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2007 and 2023.
The gondola is also used by paragliders to reach launching points.{{Cite web|title=Back Corries|url=https://www.nevisrange.co.uk/activities/ski-board/the-mountain/back-corries/|access-date=2021-07-21|website=Nevis Range|language=en}}
See also
{{portal|mountains}}
References
{{Scottish Munros section 4}}
{{coord|56.81240|-4.96177|type:landmark_region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NN193729)|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aonach Mor}}
Category:Ski areas and resorts in Scotland
Category:Mountains and hills of the Central Highlands
Category:Mountain biking venues in the United Kingdom
Category:Protected areas of Highland (council area)