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| Stunning weather |
Abi & Caitlan out with me today in the Cairngorms. They originally booked for 2 days with the intention of an overnight camp up high, in the snow. Unfortunately intense stormy weather was forecast for most of Wednesday. With gusts reaching over 90mph on Cairn Gorm we made the right decision of cancelling the camp yesterday.
With a much improved forecast today we got out for plenty of essential winter skills.
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| Coire an Lochain |
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| A beautiful sunny morning |
We headed into Coire an Lochain. The high winds were blowing snow from the plateau but any fresh windslab was easily avoided as we made our way up high.
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| Enjoying the sun and snow |
Plenty of hard, refrozen snow up on the plateau. The winds all the time easing as we got to the summit of Cairn Lochan.
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| It's very much winter |
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| Spot the climber |
There was the brief, light snow shower and the visibility came and went around early afternoon.
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| Poor visibility at times |
The sun came out again and it was a glorious afternoon. I love the light this time of year. The days are much longer, the sun much higher and snow on the mountains. What's not to like?
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| Looking across to a very snowy Ben Macdui |
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| Fiacaill Buttress & ridge |
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| Fingers Ridge |
Abi and Caitlin are training towards an Arctic ski expedition next winter in Norway. No pulks or skis used today but these mountains are very similar to the plateaux of Norway. Today's skills included boot,crampons and axe techniques. Avalanche awareness, planing a route in winter and we finished with some axe arresting.
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| Coire an t-sneachda |
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| Step cutting and boot technique |
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| Axe arresting to finish off |
Good luck to the ladies on their Arctic expedition, I'm not jealous at all. The skills learned today will put them in good stead.
Winter camping next year, perhaps.
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| Beautiful late afternoon sun |
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