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After a few solo walks another trip together with my friend and work mate Mark as we both had the same day off work. Very strong wind and gales forecast, rain in the West...we decided for Cairngorms, there was dry forecast at least for morning and rain later afternoon, but strong wind all the day.
I knew that Mark really wanted Ben Macdui since he started walking hills - it was very high on his to-do list so I prepared route for Ben Macdui and Beinn Mheadhoin, then we also added Cairn Gorm again on the walk back
I did Ben Macdui ( with The Devil's Point, Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Braeriach ) and also Cairn Gorm two years ago and Mark had done Cairn Gorm already.
I tried got to bed at least for two hours on friday - the day before our trip, worked since early morning...prepared my outdoor stuff and checked the forecast again. Alarm set for 23:45.
We met at 01:00 and left towards North at 01:15 - shortly after midnight
I enjoyed my porridge on the way, shortly before arriving in Cairngorms. It was just 04:00 when we arrived in the big car park at Ski Centre. £2 donation paid for parking, nearly daylight and cold strong wind welcomed us there
We started our walk at 04:07, it was 2nd time this year I have used my insulated jacket and the 1st time from the beginning !
The jacket was in my rucksack always before...just in case...on my all winter walks / climbs,,,now used in July !
Strongest wind - gale on the summit of Ben Macdui, but basically in the wind all the walk.
It was a great day in the cairngorm's wilderness, beautiful area especially around Loch Etchachan and Loch Avon, sometimes misty and also snow on some ( many ) places, but mostly good visibility
...and still the wind
We connected three Munros on our route ( pity no more time to add also Carn a'Mhaim as Mark needed be back home earlier, but we managed at least some shots of Carn a' Mhaim ), counted just one new for me and two repeated, but who cares when the walk was really enjoyable and I always prefer adventure feelings and enjoyment rather than just numbers
Also happy to help Mark with his dream finally - Ben Macdui
Photo story below:...and some Mark's photos: