Well another great day on the hill, I had an early start to make sure I had enough daylight to get up and down one of the Cairngorm 4000′ Breariach. The weather was thawing and the avalanche conditions had come down, so I went for it despite the threat of 60mph winds on the tops. After a bit of a hike to actually start the route via the Chalamain Gap, an aptly named geological feature and the Laraig Ruh.
I even met some of the Reindeer from the Cottage, on the way back they were so chilled out I got to walk among them, but I suspect that this is the herd they use to show the tourist, so they are very tame and used to use humans by now.
Anyway, back on the mountain the over night frost had cause a surface crust that I broke through almost constantly, usually with a few expletives to go along with it. It rain, it sleeted, it snowed, and I even got those 60mph winds the met office had promise. So a proper winters day on the hill. I made it up to the final short ridge to the summit platueax, about 500m away from the summit, and decided that the winds were too strong for me to attempt it. I had already been in the whiteroom for over an hour making my way point to point, and now had to head back through feeling my way back, now with even less of a view, as I needed googles to keep the sleet, snow and rain out of my eyes.
Anyway total goosed now, and the weather has 90mph tomorrow, so I feel more rest coming on as the weather is improving for sunday, monday and tuesday.
