Ben Macdui
A camping trip in arctic conditions
With the Cairngorms still in full winter conditions we went on a camping trip, heading from Glen More up to Bynack More, spending the night at Loch Avon. On the second day we continued up to Loch Etchachan, Beinn Mheadhoin and Ben Macdui, before descending back to the car park at Coire Cas.
While the mountains were in full winter conditions, there was definitely a touch of Spring in the valley. This is the Green Lochan near the Ryvoan Pass
Looking back over Abernethy from the ascent to Bynack More
All signs of Spring left behind near the summit of Bynack More
Barns of Bynack, Cairngorms beyond
Approaching Loch Avon, from the Saddle
Frozen shores of Loch Avon
Camping by Loch Avon
Last of the sunlight illuminating Shelter Stone Crag
Pink skies over Cairn Gorm
On the summit ridge of Beinn Mheadhoin the next morning. It was insanely windy here, the weather station at Cairn Gorm recorded gusts up to 80 mph and we were using both poles and crampons to be able to stand up.
A frozen Loch Etchachan
Approaching the summit of Ben Macdui
Looking across the Lairig Ghru to Cairn Toul and the Angel’s peak
The hardly visible summit cairn of Macdui. Not hard to see why these mountains are regarded to be very serious in winter
Braeriach, third highest mountain in Britain
Descending across the Feith Buidhe plateau back to Coire Cas
Looking back to Macdui
Descending back to the Ski Centre