Cairngorm

[seamus0]

So I first did Cairngorm maybe 15 years ago, before I even heard of Munro bagging but as I never climbed it when I started to count Munros I thought I'd keep it for an easy day in Winter. This trip was my first this winter, and I was going to meet my mate from Manchester who was doing a winter skills course. So I thought it was the opportune moment to 'catch up' and take him up his first Winter climb in a reasonably 'safe' environment the day before his course began. The weather was good if not a bit blowy and we started off from the Ski centre car park in good spirits. I chose to follow the track directly behind the ski centre next to the red telephone box following up the ridge of Sron an Aonaich.

Start of Walk behind Ski Centre

Track up Sron an Aonaich

Walking up the ridge

A decent track was still visible for some of the way but it was mostly covered in ice and snow. Still, it provided a decent line to follow. Not much to say about this walk as it is relatively easy. Once we hit the ski run we followed it up to the Ptarmigan restaurant which took about 2 hrs of easy walking.

Views while walking up ridge

Ski run fence to follow up

After a rather civilized lunch we continued to face the freezing wind and follow the posts from the restaurant directly south to reach the top of Cairngorm. By this time the windchill up top was not one for hanging around in the arctic conditions.

Ptarmigan Restaurant

At the restaurant...winter conditions

Walking up

Visibility had deteriorated so I asked my mate which way he preferred to go back down.....the joint decision was the easiest given the conditions.

Following the posts to the top from the restaurant

Continuing the walk up

Frozen posts

The top

Weather getting worse

The clouds part for a second

Back down to the Ptarmigan

His walking pole had broken and was trying to fixt it in the storm...not the best. So we followed the same route back down. All-in-all a nice day out, and a nice introduction to winter walking in Scotland. Although I think my mate now thinks there will be a restaurant on top of every Munro he climbs

[larry groo]

Nice.

Grand day for it too!

[ancancha]

So often by passed as it is on the beaten track
Fence posts look great with their winter plumage