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We parked up around 0830 at Linn of Dee hoping to do a circuit of 4 Munros, however we were not expecting as much snow ! Meatball had been in the Mamores a couple of days earlier and there had been none ! We set of on the long walk to Derry Lodge (we are never walking this road again ! ). At the bridge we could see todays first target in the far didtance, a cone of white snow !
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- Derry Cairngorm in the far distance
We were then passed by 2 fellow WH members on bikes !!
After around 50 minutes we passed Derry Lodge (did I mention we are never walking this again
) followed the path through the trees and started the long pull up Derry Cairngorm.
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- Looking back at the long walk in
Soon the cone shaped summit of Derry Cairngorm came into view or was it a false summit ! Meatball seemed to take great delight in telling me " its another false summit ! "
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- Derry Cairngorm
Whilst I took this picture I noticed it was quite a drop to Glen Derry !!
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- Glen Derry
Cairn Toul then came into view as we approached the summit
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- Cairn Toul
We then hit the snow line and I got some ice axe practice and to pose for some shots as directed by Meatball !!
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- Action shot !!
We were then on the summit and the views were awesome, with Ben Macdui in the background.
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- Summit pic
We then headed off towards Beinn Mheadhoin which looked away in the distance.
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- Beinn Mheadhoin in the distance
Coming off Derry Cairngorm the snow was hard and icey and care was required. Loch Etchachan came into view and have to admit I could of stayed here all day, it was stunning.
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- Loch Etchachan
However Beinn Mheadhoin was waiting.
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- Heading towards Beinn Mheadhoin
The conditions were perfect !!
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- Perfect conditions
There was lots of snow on Beinn Mheadhoin and I had to use my ice axe on the route we took up, it was great fun !!
We were then approaching the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
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- Approaching the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
We were then on the summit and Meatball scrambled up first.
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- Meatball on the summit
Meatball then comes and down and tells me " there is no point nearly being on the summit". So it was my turn, I took a deep breath (Im still getting my confidence for scrambling and exposure !)
So here are my pictures heading up !!
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- Starting off !
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- Meatball shouts "trust your grip!!"
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- Almost there !!
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- On the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
We then started to head down and the views to Loch Etchachan were first class.
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- Loch Etchachan
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- Loch Etchachan
As we were leaving Loch Etchachan we spotted 2 walkers heading up Beinn Mheadhoin, can you see them ??
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- Can you spot the 2 walkers ??
We then started our way down leaving the snow behind and passed the Hutchison Memorial Hut
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- Hutchison Memorial Hut
We then had a decision to make, 2 Munros or 4 ? Meatball wanted 4 but when I worked out the timings we would not get home until 11 !! I persuaded Meatball to settle for 2 as my wife would not let me back in the house if I turned up at 11, sorry mate !!
We picked up the pace and headed for the long walk back to the car, although the views were still stunning
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- Stunning views
And we were then treated to some local wildlife !
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- Local wildlife
Its amazing the difference snow makes, this was one of the best days in the hills I have ever had ! Im starting to love the Cairngorms !!
