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.
Day 1 of winter skills course for a gentleman and his two teenage sons. Typical winter skills weekend content, with aspiration towards them doing a future guided ascent of Jebek Toubkal. Lots of movement coaching seeking out ground of variable conditions - bootwork and crampons. Lots of drilling of carrying/using ice axe including lots of self-arrest practice. Very useful conversations with father re: avalanche risk - they weren't aware of the avalanche risk creeping up due to strong winds redistributing existing snow (in the absence of new snowfall). We (correctly) predicated a retrospective adjustment of the avalanche hazard up to 'Considerable', which was made in the 'observed' hazard level. Some individualisation by keeping the sons engaged/busy/warm digging shelters, whilst talking to the father about snow in more detail.
