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Beautiful January morning forecast - haar on the coast - but lovely weather once we got away from the sea. The plan was to climb Cairngorm from the ski car park and come back the same route. This was to be the start us getting back to regular hill walking after a couple of very lean years - and to get fit for a trekking holiday in the High Atlas in October.
Had a brilliant walk up - very easy path, a little snow and ice - (skiers were using artificially created snow and few runs were open) ice around the Ptarmigan caused by lots of people trampling over the snow. Avoided that on the way up. Got to the top and took some photos, chatted to the other people up there, and set off down. We decided that we'd made good time so we'd just head back to the car for lunch - when whoosh - I walked over some ice I'd avoided on the way up and landed rather gracefully on my bum
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Given the difficulty in putting any weight on my left arm I guessed this slip would have complications. Thank goodness for the ski patrol who are first aiders - I was very quickly seen, assessed, patched up and given a free ride off the hill on the funicular - and we headed straight to Raigmore. More excellent treatment there - but a broken arm and dislocated wrist did mean no more hills for 8 weeks. Consolation - the Ptarmigan is a great place to have an accident in the Scottish hills
