Up the windy ridge to the café with a cup of coffee, then up the new track directly to the summit. From here we went down to the Marquis Wells and back down the slightly quieter track to the Restaurant. From here, a slow descent down the `road`. However, this was also taking my 71 year old mother up her first Munro so was very much a good ML test.
- I planned and led the day
- Navigation skills were required away from marked paths as I took us off piste for a bit in the clag.
- UK hills
- Knowledge was increased and skills practised. This was wholly unfamiliar territory to my mother and despite her determination to see me operating in my natural habitat (as she puts is) I had to really work hard to get her to the top (and even harder to get her down again). She is not fit, hill fit, has no experience, no navigation or outdoors skills whatsoever and was 71 at the time so I felt the pressure to perform. I appreciate the remit for a QMD normally excludes family, but she has never done much exercise at all so was a wholly new experience. Not the usual 'going out for a day with the family'. I am prepared to justify this day.
- Attention was paid to safety as well as ensuring my 'client' had an enjoyable and memorable day.
- Five hours or more journey time
- No adverse conditions were encountered, but my mother struggled with the winds never having experienced such before. For me it's part of being in the British mountains but I was conscious that I needed to ensure she was OK so in effect the wind proved a potential problem.
Area :
The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are ‘a little piece of the arctic in Scotland’ according to the SMC Munros Guide and the area contains many of the tallest peaks in the East Highlands. Ben Macdui (1309m), Cairn Gorm (1244m) and Braeriach (1296) are probably three of the better known and the whole area is full of steep corries and high plateaux. Access to the mountains is typically from Aviemore or Braemar.
