
Poor visibility from start and rain lower down so full waterproofs and wind. Moved along to Fiacalli Ridge. Near the top of first ascent taught winter skills away from the wind in the snow. Taught how to walk in crampons, how to walk without crampons. How to walk with ice axe and how to Ice axe arrest from different angles. Carried on along the top of ridge, poor visibility and gale force wind from Cairn Gorm side forced us to lower on ridge and traverse along snow slope. Having checked avalanche forecast thsi was good. Stopped below the crest and taught how to test for avalanches and ice bucket belays. Carrie don up.
Planned to move to Ben Macdui, White out conditions at top, took compass bearing and started moving before stopping, rechecking maps and calling it on safety grounds to walk to Cairn Gorm and descend there. On way found 3 Scottish men disorientated and unable to descend safely, lost so helped them down.
Second day went climbing at Corrie an Lochain,
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.