DEEP SNOW, WHITE OUT & NAVIGATION

Beautiful morning 

Beautiful Caledonian Pines

Gets harder soon

White out on a regular basis

Ric doing a grand job on the navigation

Another snow shower on its way

Summit views

Sgor Gaoithe 

More whiteout on the descent 

Nice end to the day

More snowy pines

Beautiful 

Low snow

Crampons on, icy

There was another day of snow falling to Aviemore level. Snowing for much of the day but much lighter winds than of late and a chance to get onto the high tops for Ric on his second day out with me. We had a fine navigation day today on Sgor Gaoithe,  a favourite hill of mine. It's also brilliant for map and compass skills. It was a glorious morning with some sun shining on the snow covered Caledonian Pines. Soon after leaving the trees it was hard going with shin deep soft snow. Above 800m there was poor visibility and we were in whiteout conditions for much of the day a route to Sgor Gaoithe over a few of its minor tops. Sterling effort and skill from Ric who already has some great navigation skills. The essential,  No. 1 in the winter. We descended on icy slopes back to an even deeper snow over on the lower path back into the trees. We got another heavy snow shower here. In summer this lower path is a doddle and very well made trail. Not at the moment. Shin deep snow and low cloud. A different world! Top day out and we saw no one all day, think we had the mountain to ourselves.