SCRAMBLING NEWBIES

Scrambling on the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda

All quiet in Coire an t-Sneachda

Coire an t-Sneachda snows

Our route

The fun begins

This is fun

Big blocks

Half way along

Last bit

The top

Lunch time views

Feithe buidhe snows

Ptarmigan on summit of Cairn Lochan

Coire an Lochain

For two folk it was a special day today. Alex and Ian had never been scrambling and joined me for some tuition to take their hillwalking onto another level. Scrambling is that grey area between hillwalking and rock climbing. We headed onto the Fiacaill a Coire Sneachda from Coire an t-Sneachda. Going from the coire gives some steep, pathless terrain and broken ground. To get to many scrambles it involves some of this, it's ideal terrain to get used to. Alex and Ian hadn't much experience of this. It was glorious weather, blue skies, warm sun and a beautiful snow bunting singing it's heart out in Sneachda. We got up to the ridge line and onto the fun scrambling. We had the place to ourselves for most of the way. Ian and Alex did a grand job and we're soon smiles after some initial trepidation. Up on the plateau a strong wind blew so we headed to my favourite view of Loch Avon for lunch and out of the wind. On the way back we did some navigation across the plateau and up to Cairn Lochan. Right on the summit was a ptarmigan enjoying the fine views. No dotterel seen today. They are usually here by this time in May. A grand day and two folk now armed with some scrambling skills to venture off . Great day to be out. The fine weather holding on for some days to come. Make the most of it folks, It may well be our summer!