A day focussed on Grade I terrain.
Ski stn CP to Lurchers into the teeth of a gale and descended South Gully (Grade I). Ascended as if to climb Collie`s Ridge (Grade II) but near the base a monumental gust hit us, making the decision not to be soling a Grade II ridge an easy one.
Headed back towards South Gully and ascended an unnamed yet far more pleasing and technical gully than South Gully. Comfortably Grade I terrain.
Cut across to Coire an Lochan, bearing around a cornice and loaded slope. Started up The Couloir (Grade I **) and reached 1180m, 30m from the top, before Ali called it (he was fretting about a badly fitting crampon). So we reversed (a left and downward traverse), stayed high and traversed around to the ridge (Angel`s ?) separating Lochan and Sneachda (Grade I). Topped out, headed to the summit and then headed to examine a descent of the Goat Track. Although there were tracks there were also cracks and a loaded slope. We headed on over Stob Coire an Sneachda and descended in troublesome cross wind down Choire Chais ridge.
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.
