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 winter skills course for 2 adult participants. The snow was very lean but we used hard neve snow laying in the Ciste gulley to practice movement on ice and snow with crampons, cutting steps, self belay, and self arrest. The participants were ML summer and so were keen to learn some belaying skills so we looked at building a bucket seat and backing up the stance with an Ice axe and snow bollard (read for that ice bollard!).
