HIGHLAND HILLWALKERS, WINTER SKILLS

Glorious and windy day

Axe arresting

Good cramponing snow/ice

Windy

drifts at lower altitudes

Full croak

Another high winds day in The Cairngorms. The cold NE was blowing lots of loose snow around today, quite atmospheric at lower altitudes. There was glorious blue skies and sunshine in the morning but cloud later. Tough walking conditions once more, at high and  lower altitudes. The ridges were windswept and easier walking underfoot but of course quite exposed to the gales. I was running a one day winter skills for the Highland Hillwalking Club who I have been working with for the last 3 years seasons. After checking through the Avalanche report we headed over to the foot of the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda ridge. Relatively sheltered around here. After lunch we descended down into Coire an Lochain and then up onto the plateau where we were blasted with the high winds again. Well done to the team, coping in the gales, drifted snow and very cold temperatures. A good exfoliation day in the Cairngorms.