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Copyright Ski Touring Info 2009
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Ski Touring

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29/03/09

 

Ski Touring on the Cairngorm Plateau

 

Weather: A fresh/strong SW wind with plenty of spindrift blowing about but sunny and hardly any cloud until mid afternoon when it misted in a bit. Beyond the ski area saw only one other party all day, which was surprising given the superb snow cover and blue skies.

 

Snow conditions: Very good cover after recent snowfall. Wind-compacted new snow on the whole, some N-facing aspects scoured down to old icy snow. Area around Macdui and Etchachan is so well filled it should still be good at Easter.

 

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Route description: From Cairngorm ski centre carpark I skinned up Fiacaill a Coire Cas to pt.1141. From there it was excellent snow cover all the way over to Ben Macdui. It was mainly fresh blown snow compacted by wind, about 90% cover on the plateau. Braeriach and Cairntoul faces looked well filled.

 

From Ben Macdui I skied North East down to a well-frozen Loch Etchachan on great snow. From there I skinned up Beinn Mheadhoin linking large drifts on the West side. It was then a 100m of walking on the rocky summit beyond the tors to pick up the big drifts in the shallow coire heading North, then down the stream line on firm snow to Loch Avon.

 

Across the river Avon which was running with ice floes (the definite crux of the route!) then up to the saddle. A final skin up Ciste Mhearad (well filled) followed by a ski on the pistes back to the car.

 

By Adam Bannister

 

 

 

 

Summit of Ben Macdui

Macdui and Etchachan

 

 

 

Loch Avon