SCRAMBLING, NAVIGATION & LIGHT RUCKSACKS

Stuart enjoying the scrambling along the Fiacaill Ridge

Atmospheric cloud on the Fiacaill this morning

Sun and cloud and rock

Coire an Lochain

Snowhole Coire Domhain

Lunch in the snowhole

Feith Buidhe slabs, snow diminishing

Female Ptarmigan

Shelterstone Crag from Hells Lum

Loch Avon & Shelterstone Crag

Loch Avon basin

Snow hole City holding strong

Stuart was out with me today for a day of scrambling, navigation and just being out in the glorious weather. This was a Birthday present and what better gift could you have?. We had lovely weather with sunshine and some great atmospheric cloud through the morning and early afternoon. A chilly, moderate wind took the edge off the temperatures. Although my rucksack is now a tad lighter with all the winter gear taken out I still carry plenty of warm clothing this time of year. We had a fab blast along the Fiacaill of Coire Sneachda, now completely free of snow. There is still some big patches of snow across the Cairngorm plateau and in the usual spots of Coire an Lochain and Coire an t-Sneachda, especially around the Goat Track area where you will still need at least an axe to get up or down it. After we reached the plateau, Stuart was keen to get some navigation practice in. He is a competent and experienced hill walker with good navigational skills but  it is always good to have some refresher training and some new tips. After lunch we headed over to Hells Lum for some lovely views then we returned via the Cairn Gorm to bag a Munro before heading down. Top day out and nice to be floating about with a lighter rucksack :)