Depressing morning.
Left Faindouran bothy at 0930 and plodded back up valley to Fords of Avon.
Mood improved as I progressed.
Reached refuge 1115hrs and brewed up (determined to manage myself properly today - unlike yesterday)
1145: cake and brew done. Looked for fording point/stepping stones but nothing doing. Walked 5 or so mins upstream. Nothing. Nearly changed the plan but the sun shone, the mountains winked at me and I knew I`d regret being weak and not crossing.
By 1225hrs I`d crossed the partially frozen Avon, climbed the snow bank, replaced boots and socks and was on my way: committed!
Met one other soloist: Adam. Chatted for 5.
Reached Hutch Memorial by 1445hrs. 3 Dutch were there but just leaving. I brewed up and headed out at 1515hrs.
Hard work into spindrift headwind up to Loch Etchachan. Met another WML candidate there - on this way to bothy.
Went well onto the Mheadhoin summits. Sky clearing, late afternoon sunshine spotlighting through clouds. Goggles and balaclava conditions. Felt happy. Glad I forded the Avon!
Crossed to SCE and looked down on the bothy before descended through the rocky ground to complete a loop. Reached bothy around night fall 1830hrs.
9hrs
John, a former jock soldier rocked up at same time with his Rottweiler and offered whiskey (a slug of which hit the spot) and Tenants lager (which I politely declined)
Ben had gone out on a night nav and came in about 2230hrs.
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.
