
Forecast W winds gusting 80mph. Plan made to ascend a lower mountain with the wind behind us in ascent and to drop down below the hill on the eastern side for a sheltered walk out.
Start at the car park at Loch an Eilien. Following tracks through the forest to Allt Coire Follais. There followed a difficult and in places steep, climb up the glen over intermixed snow and vegetation to the Clach Mhic Cailein (the Argyll Stone) a granite tor on top of the ridge. The tor offerd supprisingly good shelter from the intense winds. From there the route followed the short broad ridge to the summit of Creag Dhubh and from there down snow slopes to Gleann Einich.
It was an easy walk out from here back to the car park at Loch an Eilien.
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.