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.
Starting at the Ski Centre in cloud, we walked up into coire An T-Sneachda, eventually coming out the mist at 950 metres. Crampons, axes and helmets on we ascended point five gully on well consolidated snow pack. we dropped down into Loch Avan basin via Coire Domhain, dropping through into thick mist again. we walked to the shelter stone, and then up onto Beinn Mheadhoin via Alt nan stachan Dubha. luch was eaten on the barns in alpine conditions, before descending back down into mist to ascend up onto Carn Etchachan. we "Trudched" across over Feith Buide in thick mist on a bearing to Cairn Lochan before eventually coming out of the mist about 700 metres to the spur to the east of Creag An Leth Choin.
