Lairig Ghru

Cairngorm offered up another good day today - though the ambient temperature was around  -5°C the absence of any significant wind meant that it felt far warmer than recently.
We opted for a big day into a less popular part of these mountains - this had the huge benefit that we only saw a couple of folk all day - it did however mean that we were breaking trail for most of the day - I'm exhausted.

We departed from the low car park and walked in along the reindeer fence - but they weren't playing ball. Heading through the Chalamain Gap we paused and remembered the three poor souls who perished here, caught by an avalanche in Feb 2013. It's always been an atmospheric place, more so now.
Then we made our way in to and along the spectacular Lairig Ghru, cutting a rising traverse across the left flank - our destination Lurchers Crag - more specifically the steep South Gully - another winter grade I/II climb. Whilst theres a lot of snow theres been very little consolidation of the snow pack - so the climb though technically easy felt like really hard work - but any climb that emerges at a summit is a bonus - and crossing Creag an Leth-Choin as the light dimmed was spectacular enough to take our minds off the long long walk out along the North Ridge.

Extra is one of the many many ptarmigan that were about today