CAIRN GORM, THE FINEST WAY

Lovely cold and clear morning 

Strath Nethy

Lovely snowcover

Minus 5 C at Cairn Gorm

Beinn Mheadoin 

Another Munri to Ric's tally

Blue skies on Cairn Gorm

Great cramponing terrain today

Ciste Corrie

Time for a quick snow shelter

Loch 

Fourth and final day for Ric on his winter course. We had a cracking day on the long Northern slopes running up to Cairn Gorm. This is the finest route up from the north onto the 5th highest peak in the UK. It's also always quieter, especially in winter. We saw no one until Cairn Gorm summit. A beautiful morning with bright sun and drifting snow. Atmospheric conditions with near white out to sunny and clear. The temperature was minus 5 C at the top. We escaped the crowds and headed back via the Ciste Coire, whiteout conditions again here in the afternoon. Some wonderful  wind scoured terrain today. Firm snow and icy conditions. You won't get very far if you dont have axe and crampons just now. A top 4 days with Ric who got probably the best winter conditions so far this year.