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.
A weekend with Whittingham Rover Scouts practicing Winter skills , Starting at Ski Centre we headed into coire an t Scheachda where we did some ice axe practice and crampon practice. we headed up the steep ground to the east summiting the top of coire chais at the 1099 spot height and handrailed/navigated around both corries before heading down the west side of Coire Lochan and back to the car park. Snow was wet and there was a few inches of fresh snow on top of partly consolidated older snow.
