Aviemore to Loch Einich

Out on my mountain bike today for a cycle around the Rothiemurchus forest trails and on to Loch Einich. No photos as I forgot my camera but the weather was pleasant and the tracks dry.

Cummingston

My rock boots got their first summer airing today at Cummingston. Ron and I had fun on the routes around the sea stack then we went on to play on the Prophet Walls climbing the centre, right and then left routes. All good fun and great for getting back into outdoor mode!
Still a bit chilly around Cairngom with a hard frost this morning in Aviemore and more of the same forecast.

Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm

It was a lovely day for hillwalking - just warm enough with a light breeze and views across the whole of the Cairngorms.

Maggie and I went out to collect a couple of the Cairngorms Munros so we started off from the ski area car park and walked up the ridge alongside Coire an Lochain and on to Ben MacDui enjoying the views over to Braeriach and Cairn Toul. From Ben MacDui, we dropped towards Loch Etchachan but cut across to Derry Cairngorm to "bag" that summit too.

It was a lovely walk back around the lochain and down to Loch Avon then a bit of a slog back up to Coire Domhain but soon we were back up on the plateau for a pleasant walk back over the plateau.

A Cairngorm journey

Another lovely sunny day and even warmer than yesterday!

I walked up the Fiacaill Ridge for a wee bit of a scramble then down Half a Gully rather than walk across the plateau. Aladdin's Couloir looked fun as a way back up and then I was off to the summit of Cairngorm as it was just the kind of day for being on a summit to enjoy the views. As a change to walking down from Point 1141, I walked back over to the top of Jacob's Ladder and climbed down there.

There weren't as many folk around as I expected but it was a very sociable day and nice to chat to the two skiers at the top of Half A Gully, the two climbers who were having a picnic on Aladdins Seat who I later bumped into again as they climbed out of Jacob's Ladder as I was about to go down and Ron who had been on a navigation course with me a while back who was out today with his friend Raymond.

Ron was out with his client Stephen on the summit of Cairngorm collecting the views.

Central Gully, Pygmy Ridge and Jacob's Ladder

A warm day on Cairngorm though we found the snow in the gullies surprisingly firm underfoot. With warm, dry rock on Pygmy Ridge, it all felt very Alpine. We bumped into Su on our way down Jacob's Ladder as she was climbing up Jacob's Right Edge with Rob.

More form Ron here

Winchester College CCF Easter Camp Cairngorm

From last Friday till Tuesday I was working with Winchester Collge Combined Cadet Force on their Easter camp. We began with a day of winter skills for one group with myself, Basher and Gavin whilst the other group were out mountain biking with Richard and Chris then we changed the groups around for day two so more winter skills for me. Our first day was very windy so we found shelter in Coire na Ciste then on Saturday, we went back though we had a much less windy day. The snow was great for practicing skills and doing a little bit of navigation. On Sunday, I went with Gavin, John and Ian up to Ciste Mhiread for our snowholing expedition and the cadets dug furiously creating two comfortable snowholes. Whilst we were returning on Monday, the wind was gaining strength and we almost flew back down to the car park. Luckily the heavy rucksacks kept our feet on the ground! Basher and Richard decided that with the strong winds, they would go for a navigation journey from the Coire na Ciste car park culminating in an overnight stay at Ryvoan Bothy. On Tuesday morning part of their group finished off by climbing Meall a Buchaille.