SUN RETURNS AND AN ALPINE DAY

Carolyn enjoying the scenery in Coire an t-Sneachda

Alpine looking Fiacaill Buttress

Steep ground toward the Fiacaill Ridge

Coire an t-Sneachda

Enjoying the snow in Sneachda

Coire an Lochain

Axe arresting in the sun

Nice afternoon clouds over Braeriach

Coire an Lochain, Twin Burns

Active ptarmigan and snow Buntings everywhere today

Lean and icy on Fiacaill Ridge

There was a dip in the temperatures last night under clear skies. This morning there was some freezing going on up high and we could see ice again in Coire an t-Sneachda. The sun came out late morning and it was a beautiful looking sky over the Cairngorms. Carolyn was out with me today for some winter fun in the sun. She already had some winter experience and was wanting to build on this. We were soon away from the crowds in Sneachda, making our way away from the Goat Track area and heading over to the Fiacaill Ridge under the impressive Fiacaill Buttress. The snow was still soft in most places but all great fun. We had the Fiacaill of Coire Sneachda to ourselves. The pinnacles looking almost summer like with very little snow left. There was some crunchy ice on the traverse side of the ridge so god to get the crampons on for Carolyn. We had a bit of navigation across Cairn Lochaan before we headed down into Coire an Lochain. Toward the end of the afternoon we did some sliding in the sun which was very pleasant. Plenty of snow in the Twin Burns area so we finished off the day traversing across the coire before heading down. Top day and always good to get moving around the mountain and getting lots of different terrain, snow, ice and of course just fabulous scenery.