Ski Mountaineering on the Plateau

Cairngorm 1,244m    Stob Coire an t-Sneachda 1,176m    Cairn Lochan 1,215m Fiacaill a’Choire Chais 1,141m

What an amazing day. We parked at the top car park and caught the train up to the ptarmigan building. We then skinned up Cairngorm, a beautiful sunny day with only a little wind. My ski mountaineering bindings had been put on my old atomic skis which were a lot lighter. From Cairngorm we headed down towards point 1141 but in fact skirted round towards Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. It was just a bit too rock at first but then there was enough snow to whiss down. WE then carried on to Carn Lochan but as there was a bit of cloud coming in and we were not sure of the snow conditions we decided to head back the way we had come to Stob Coire an t-Sneachda and Fiacaill a Choire chais. From there we went down a very narrow and icy ridge to pick up the Fiacaill traverse and followed the ski runs back to the car park. I think it is fun but there was a lot of faffing about putting skins off and on. Today ( the day after) I ache a bit!

Cairngorm Summit Beinn Mheadhoin and Shelter Stone CragCairngormShelter Stone CragSkinning towards Stob Coire an t-SneachdaOn our way back to Cairngorm

At point 1141