ALPINE CAIRNGORMS, FIACAILL RIDGE? OH GO ON THEN!

Another fabulous day on The Fiacaill Ridge

It couldn't be any more Alpine

Claire & Robin loving it!

High up and away from the crowds

Fiacaill Buttress

Alpine Ridges of Te Cairngorms!

Spindrift off Cairn Lochan

So much snow!

The Ficaill in profile

The Pinnacles

Coire an t-Sneachda

Half way along

Ups and downs

Full snow cover across all the plateaux

Braeriach looking just just beautiful

Cairn Gorm

Another Alpine like day, another day in paradise on Scotlands winter mountains, another day of absolutely stunning scenery. Today Claire and Robin were up for one of the finest days out in the Northern Cairngorms, The Fiacaill coire an t-Sneachda ridge. With a forecast of wall to wall sun and light winds it was just wonderful. I mentioned to Robin and Claire before setting off that it was likely to be a bit quieter as it's mid week and mid March. How wrong was I! Was everyone throwing a sicky today? Or is it blogs and social media to blame ;) ? We encountered a mass of 20+ folk all wearing bright yellow over trousers doing some winter skills at the foot of the ridge. On speaking to the main man (French) it turned out they were all Salomon Outdoor folk, gear testing. After trying to cadge some free gear off them and me trying to flog them a publicity photo we headed off up the hill. The views just got better and better, it was shades and sunscreen the order of the day. Views in every direction crystal clear. There was a queue at the first pinnacle, we were on the bypass slopes, just below the pinnacles but soon encountered another big group moving slowly in front, but hey it was a great sociable place to be and just nice to soak in the sun and views, sunbathing as we waited our turn. Then we saw Team Salomon coming up the ridge and it was time to flea the 'Bright Yellow Trouser Brigade' and onto the plateau. Claire wanted to add another Munro to her collection so we wandered across the plateau and up to Cairn Gorm to finish a top day out with fantastic company and we came down with big smiles and red faces. Fabulous!