EASTER BELTER

The finest view in the Cairngorms, probably. 

Fiacaill Coire Sneachda 

Perfect conditions 

Still brilliant snow cover on the ridges

Hell's Lum cornice 

Droopy cornices 

Fiacaill Buttress & top of Goat Track 

Quiet on the ridge

Great snow cover on the plateau 

Sneachda quiet

Cairn Gorm not so quiet

Alpine

We move into April and this long, brilliant winter continues with no let up. Cold, sub zero temperatures at Aviemore this morning . Wonderful clear skies. Full snow cover to 600m. Who could ask for anymore?
Jo was out with me  and what a belter of a day she chose. Originally she had booked to go out way back in January, unfortunately she had to cancel her day on the CMD arete. She rescheduled to today and it couldn't be a more perfect day. Jo has previously been out on a two day course with me a few years ago. An adventurous day was what she was looking for. A traverse of the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda it was. This must be about the 30th occasion I've been on the ridge this winter. Yes, it is that good! It Seemed very quiet this morning on the hill. Not that many folk heading into Sneachda on a Easter Day and beautiful weather. The ridge itself was very quiet too, with just two folk in front of us. Jo loved the exciting mountaineering along the ridge, plenty of excellent, hard snow still with some fresh snow from the last couple of days. We reached the plateau in fine time and headed over to the top of Hell's Lum for lunch and the finest view in the Cairngorms. In the afternoon we wandered across the plateau and up to Cairn Gorm to add another Munro to Jo's tally.
A brilliant day to be out on the hills. Hope you made the most of it as some more winter weather arrives again tomorrow.  Looking like full winter conditions will continue for some time.