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 group of adults wishing to do some winter hill walking. Started in the Coire na Ciste learning the skills to move on steep ground using crampons and an ice axe. Then we followed the ciste up to the Ptarmigan and onto the summit of Cairngorm (1244m). We returned to the car park at Coire na Ciste via the Windy Ridge. Next day the group walked into Coire An T-Sneachda and ascended the goat track to Stob Coire An T-Sneachda (1176m) on hard neve snow. The climb was made extra spicy by stone fall coming down off the Goat Track Gully. the group carried on to spot height 1141 and then down the Chais ridge back to the car park. The weather on the first day was clear but with gale force winds. The winds had abated on the second day but visibility was poor on the tops with some light snow.
