Cairngorms, A Magical Place in Snow
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 9:29 pmWe parked up around 0830 at Linn of Dee hoping to do a circuit of 4 Munros, however we were not expecting as much snow ! Meatball had been in the Mamores a couple of days earlier and there had been none ! We set of on the long walk to Derry Lodge (we are never walking this road again ! ). At the bridge we could see todays first target in the far didtance, a cone of white snow !
We were then passed by 2 fellow WH members on bikes !!
After around 50 minutes we passed Derry Lodge (did I mention we are never walking this again
) followed the path through the trees and started the long pull up Derry Cairngorm.
Soon the cone shaped summit of Derry Cairngorm came into view or was it a false summit ! Meatball seemed to take great delight in telling me " its another false summit ! "
Whilst I took this picture I noticed it was quite a drop to Glen Derry !!
Cairn Toul then came into view as we approached the summit
We then hit the snow line and I got some ice axe practice and to pose for some shots as directed by Meatball !!
We were then on the summit and the views were awesome, with Ben Macdui in the background.
We then headed off towards Beinn Mheadhoin which looked away in the distance.
Coming off Derry Cairngorm the snow was hard and icey and care was required. Loch Etchachan came into view and have to admit I could of stayed here all day, it was stunning.
However Beinn Mheadhoin was waiting.
The conditions were perfect !!
There was lots of snow on Beinn Mheadhoin and I had to use my ice axe on the route we took up, it was great fun !!
We were then approaching the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
We were then on the summit and Meatball scrambled up first.
Meatball then comes and down and tells me " there is no point nearly being on the summit". So it was my turn, I took a deep breath (Im still getting my confidence for scrambling and exposure !)
So here are my pictures heading up !!
We then started to head down and the views to Loch Etchachan were first class.
As we were leaving Loch Etchachan we spotted 2 walkers heading up Beinn Mheadhoin, can you see them ??
We then started our way down leaving the snow behind and passed the Hutchison Memorial Hut
We then had a decision to make, 2 Munros or 4 ? Meatball wanted 4 but when I worked out the timings we would not get home until 11 !! I persuaded Meatball to settle for 2 as my wife would not let me back in the house if I turned up at 11, sorry mate !!
We picked up the pace and headed for the long walk back to the car, although the views were still stunning
And we were then treated to some local wildlife !
Its amazing the difference snow makes, this was one of the best days in the hills I have ever had ! Im starting to love the Cairngorms !!
- Derry Cairngorm in the far distance
We were then passed by 2 fellow WH members on bikes !!
After around 50 minutes we passed Derry Lodge (did I mention we are never walking this again
) followed the path through the trees and started the long pull up Derry Cairngorm.- Looking back at the long walk in
Soon the cone shaped summit of Derry Cairngorm came into view or was it a false summit ! Meatball seemed to take great delight in telling me " its another false summit ! "
- Derry Cairngorm
Whilst I took this picture I noticed it was quite a drop to Glen Derry !!
- Glen Derry
Cairn Toul then came into view as we approached the summit
- Cairn Toul
We then hit the snow line and I got some ice axe practice and to pose for some shots as directed by Meatball !!
- Action shot !!
We were then on the summit and the views were awesome, with Ben Macdui in the background.
- Summit pic
We then headed off towards Beinn Mheadhoin which looked away in the distance.
- Beinn Mheadhoin in the distance
Coming off Derry Cairngorm the snow was hard and icey and care was required. Loch Etchachan came into view and have to admit I could of stayed here all day, it was stunning.
- Loch Etchachan
However Beinn Mheadhoin was waiting.
- Heading towards Beinn Mheadhoin
The conditions were perfect !!
- Perfect conditions
There was lots of snow on Beinn Mheadhoin and I had to use my ice axe on the route we took up, it was great fun !!
We were then approaching the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
- Approaching the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
We were then on the summit and Meatball scrambled up first.
- Meatball on the summit
Meatball then comes and down and tells me " there is no point nearly being on the summit". So it was my turn, I took a deep breath (Im still getting my confidence for scrambling and exposure !)
So here are my pictures heading up !!
- Starting off !
- Meatball shouts "trust your grip!!"
- Almost there !!
- On the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
We then started to head down and the views to Loch Etchachan were first class.
- Loch Etchachan
- Loch Etchachan
As we were leaving Loch Etchachan we spotted 2 walkers heading up Beinn Mheadhoin, can you see them ??
- Can you spot the 2 walkers ??
We then started our way down leaving the snow behind and passed the Hutchison Memorial Hut
- Hutchison Memorial Hut
We then had a decision to make, 2 Munros or 4 ? Meatball wanted 4 but when I worked out the timings we would not get home until 11 !! I persuaded Meatball to settle for 2 as my wife would not let me back in the house if I turned up at 11, sorry mate !!
We picked up the pace and headed for the long walk back to the car, although the views were still stunning
- Stunning views
And we were then treated to some local wildlife !
- Local wildlife
Its amazing the difference snow makes, this was one of the best days in the hills I have ever had ! Im starting to love the Cairngorms !!
. Lovely clarity to your pics 
.