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 Rockhopper MC trip, based in Aviemore. Despite the Spey flooding and closing the road to the ski-resort, we hitched a lift with some ice climbers as the day promised to be the best of the trip, so I agreed to take up some novices to gain axe and crampon experience. The skies stayed clear until the descent above Coire an Lochan. Crampons were required, not least as the ski area at the back of the Ptarmigan restaurant was like an ice rink and for the boulder hopping over the streams.
