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Flew into Inverness and saw lot of fresh snow over Cairngorms. met Susan for coffee then train to Aviemore staying with matt at the scruffy Mackenzie Inn for 2 days guided by Johnny Walker. MWis said clear skies sunshine so went for Big day on ben Macdui but loads of fresh powder meant we hired snow shoes which was a good move as 2 feet or more of deep powder meant breaking trail would have been impossible.
set off at 9 from ski centre up Lurchers ridge in class which on the plateau at 1085m turned to whiteout.
Johnny had to take a bearing and navigate on dead reckoning from the compass for 4k thru narrow ridge between lair Ghru and eastern edge of plateau but he was dead on and although considering turning back at one point, GPS paving his navigation spot on and then cloud clearing spurred us on to the summit. My legs strong in the las climb braking trail to snowy summit among amazing views across the guru to Braeriach munro and Garbh Choire.
from summit we descended eastwards across thick powder only encountering skiers to look over shelter stone crag to Loch Aan which was frozen and coated with fresh snow. Then a plod to head of north corries for a vertiginous look over wall of Choice An T Sneachda down the goat track, encountering guys noe on the way up Macdui in improved visibility (Sun now shining brightly) but struggling without snow shoes. Walked along choire edges and then final tilted pull up to Cairn gorm for a cold snack at the radio mast with some skiers before quick descent down windy ridge back to the car.
Snow shoes the whole way, never got the axe or crampons out. Brilliant big winter day in first whiteout then sunshine. Well earned pints of Trade Winds in the Cairngoem Hotel later. See JW's blog:
http://www.johnnywalker.co.uk/blog/cairngorm-snowshoeing-par-excellence