HUGE AMOUNTS OF SNOW ON BRAERIACH

Late afternoon and finally the views, only my footsteps (and a mountain hare) all day!

Loch Coire an Lochain and it's bounding ridge to the summit plateau

Sun setting behind Sgor Gaoithe

The two corries either side of the final ridge to the plateau

Loch Coire an Lochain well snowed up

Lovely sunlight at 5pm

Hard going in deep snow, everywhere!

Another late shower

Sunset

Sgor Gaoithe

With a weather forecast suggesting clear skies by afternoon, I set off in hope of a nice view on top of Braeriach. The finest walking route to the third highest point in Britain is the remote and lonely Northern Corries which also hide the highest named stretch of water in the UK, Loch Coire an Lochain. Even with the bike ride up Glen Einich it is still a long day and with the deep unconsolidated snow it was even harder and longer! From leaving the bike, every foot step was ankle or shin deep. But hey, what a beautiful covering of snow. Usually by mid March we don't have this amount of unconsolidated white stuff. Even on the final wee ridge to the summit plateau it was hard going. Constant showers and poor visibility plagued my ascent until around 4.30pm when finally the clouds dispersed and there was blue skies out to the west and NW. Stunning light and a stunning sunset on the descent. Nothing like deep snow to keep you fit but when do we get the neve?