
ROUTE: From Coire na Ciste Car Park, route as described in SMC Guide The Munros. Bynack More via Bynack Beg, return via A' Choinneach, The Saddle, Ciste Mhearad.
MEMBERS OF PARTY: With Marion, plus friends Anne and Andy, Maura and Sean.
CONDITIONS: Light winds. Overcast but clearances around early afternoon. Cloud base falling to below tops late afternoon. Snow cover above around 900m.
DURATION: Just over 8 hours car to car. 15.75 km and 1230m of ascent.
SKILLS PRACTISED: Planning the walk by consensus from a number of options on the Friday night. Managing and leading a group. Navigation with map and terrain in generally good visibility - short period in thick cloud at the top of Ciste Mhearad, but the ski-tow and the terrain feature of Coire na Ciste was sufficient to allow a confident descent without using the compass. Ice axes and crampons carried - not required in good snow conditions and relatively gentle slopes.
MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT: The essence of the Cairngorms in winter. Quiet, a real wilderness atmosphere: huge sense of space on the snow-covered plateaux - a Nan Shepherd vibe! Excellent visibility in the middle of the day allowed us to appreciate the scale of the Strath Nethy and Loch A'an glacial trenches. Superb views to the Shelter Stone crag and Ben Macdui, you felt as if you really were in the centre of the massif. Pair of Ptarmigan on Bynack More summit rocks!
KEY LEARNING POINTS/CONTRIBUTION TO EXPERIENCE: Another superbly enjoyable day leading inexperienced friends on their first significant winter walk. It was a tough challenge for some, but they were all thrilled by the experience, and talked enthusiastically about returning - (and buying their own upgraded winter gear!)
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.