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Date: 22/12/2019.
Distance: 11 km.
Ascent: 750 m.
Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes.
Weather: Winter conditions high up. In/out of cloud, bit breezy.
We had enjoyed a brief break in Inverness after the end of work/term-time, but it was now time to head down the road. The original plan was to go up Creag Dubh on the way past - a nice easy wander to break up the journey to Glasgow. Down in Speyside, there was a distinct weather barrier - with Creag Dubh on the wrong side. We quickly changed our plans to Meall a' Bhuachaille which was still in the sun. On the way into Glenmore, we had yet another change of plan and decided to head for the Northern Corries. These looked enticing, and Jackie wanted to break in her new winter boots and try out her new step-in crampons. Why not make the most of the remains of the snow up high?
We decided to do a simple circuit, going up Fiacaill Choire Chais and dropping back down off Cairn Lochan. This would give us a quick pre-Christmas taste of winter without making our arrival in Glasgow too late.
Glen More We headed up through the ski slopes onto the Fiacaill. This was manageable without winter gear with care but the temptation to break out the new toys was too much for Jaxter and she just had to get those crampons on and move onto the steeper stuff! I didn't bother with mine, now having considerable pangs of gear envy
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Fiacaill Choire Chais 
The fun Fiacaill 
Looking back 
Time to try out those new crampons At the cairn on the plateau, we turned west and plodded along, the cloud coming and going on the edge of the crags. As if to rub it in, everyone else had the same fancy Grivel step-in crampons on
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On the plateau 
Looking over the edge 
Was trying to work out what climb this was the top of - Jacob's Ladder perhaps? 
South towards the centre of the plateau While the views weren't the best, it did feel like proper winter up here. We popped out of the cloud on dropping off Cairn Lochan at which point I finally put my crampons on too - the snow was hard enough here for them to be worthwhile.
Towards Lurcher's 
On Cairn Lochan 
Cairn Lochan summit 
Lurcher's Crag To make up for the lack of views so far, we wandered over to the edge of the plateau and were rewarded with an excellent winter view through the Lairig Ghru - well worth the minor diversion
. Then it was crampons off time for the descent back to the carpark. We were passed here by a fellrunner in microspikes - he had also passed us earlier and had most likely been out to Macdui and back in the time it had taken us to wander around the corries.
Thru the Ghru 
Lurcher's Crag summit 
Back to Cairn Lochan As punishment for having such nice winter gear, Jackie's feet were now killing her - the price to be paid for wearing such rigid boots for the first time properly
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Almost back at the car We then hit the road to Glasgow, having a long day of driving the following morning to look forward to
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