NAVIGATION, SCRAMBLING, WILDLAND

Loch Avon from Carn Etchacan

Loch Avon slabs

Breariach

Louisa enjoying the scrambling

Angels Ridge

Castlegates Gully

Shelterstone crag

Reindeer

Braeriach

Ben Macdui

Lairig Ghru

Sisters Louisa and Clare were out with me today on a one day navigation course combined with a 'good day out' in the hills. They picked beautiful day for it. The early cloud lifted quickly and with a northerly breeze the air was clear and views superb.  The beauty of joining on one of my bespoke courses and not a 'group navigation course' is the flexibility and nothing 'off the shelf'. For Louise and Clare they wanted some navigation and more confidence in getting out on the hills alone. We headed out toward Ben Macdui summit, getting to the best viewpoint (which isn't the summit cairn) just as some cloud swirled and gave fab atmospheric photos. We sat here for lunch, always a deserted spot which gives fine views of the Lairig Ghru and the full extent of the Braeriach-Cairn Toul plateau. In the afternoon we did some compass work to get s across to another fine view point, the Loch Avon basin from Carn Etchacan. Once again this whole are is devoid of people (mainly because it is pathless and guide books don't advertise it). The view from this Munro 'Top' of Loch Avon is stunning. For some fun we got back up onto the Cairngorm plateau by scrambling on the wonderful Loch Avon slabs which are nice ad dry and warm. The ladies then navigated over to the Goat Track, descending into Coire ant-Sneachda. A brilliant day out and great fun all the way with lots of laughs, including wine at lunchtime, I thought I was back in the French Alps when they got wee bottles of wine and glasses out of their rucksacks!