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.
First Winter Solo overnight exped intending to speand two nights in Courrour Bothy in the Lairig Ghru. Day one was relatively still but there was a thick mist from below the ski carpark requiring careful navigation to the summit of Ben Macdui. However as a special treat, and not apparent until well on the final climb to the Summit, the cloud top was at arounf 2150m meaning that the very tops of the highest peaks were just out of the cloud. I`d set off reasonably early, keen to give myself ample time for any navigational difficulties but as everything had gone really smoothly founf myself on Macdui at 11am. Having missed Beinn Mheadhion the previous day I ambiotiously detoured down to Coire Etchachan, thinking I might take it in, only in the final analysis to remember that I was working on a Cairngorms scale and that I`d have added the better part of 700m of ascent to the day to do so. So I contented myself with and explore around Loch Etchchan before reascending then decending via Tailors burn, another careful navigate in the misty conditions, with an ocassionally virtiginous-feeling descent as the Braeriach side of the plateau gave occasional glimpses throught the cloud. Arrived in Corrour just before dusk.
