CHANGING LIGHT & GOLDEN EAGLES ON BEN MACDUI

Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine & Braeriach from Ben Macdui

Morning light on Fiacaill Coire An-t Sneachda

Fiacaill Coire An-t Sneachda

Fiacaill Buttress

Braeriach

Family of Ptarmigan

loch Avon from Castlegates Gully

Constant changing light and clouds this morning

A 'tour' of the Cairngorm-Ben Macdui plateau today. Early start and up Fiacaill Coire An-t Sneachda ridge. The cloud and light coming and going across to Ben Macdui. On the summit the cloud was swirling about and just has the tops were clearing a pair of golden eagles were soaring above. Then the skies cleared and they were gone. Brilliant. It was chilly hanging about near the summit (finest views are not on the summit trig point by the way). Winter not far away, in fact there was some ice and verglas on the ridge and across parts of the plateau. If there was any precipitation today I would have thought it would fall in the form of snow. After mid day the cloud filled in but still above the summit. Escaping the crowds (never seen so many folk on Macdui) I took a wander over to Carn Etchachan across pathless terrain, guaranteed to see no one. There are more grand views from here looking down to the Loch Avon basin. A trot across the plateau again and descended down the Goat Track. Nice day, no wind, great views and cold.