Walk Report - Aviemore Weekend
February 2023
February 2023
We all enjoyed a great weekend of winter hills from our base at Aviemore Hostel over the weekend of 17-19 February.
With a forecast of winds over 100kph on the Cairngorm Plateau Marguerite, Iain and Linda met up near Dalwhinnie and got up Carn na Caim before a strengthening breeze and sleet in the face persuaded us to head for the Apiary Café in Dalwhinnie before another retreat to The Cairngorm Hotel in Aviemore. Maureen and Maggie arrived at the hostel to join in our experiment to see if Harvey’s Maps are fireproof as well as waterproof-they’re not!
Saturday was a complete contrast with snow down to road level and no wind at all. Linda, Marguerite and Maureen made it to Bynack More while Iain and Maggie enjoyed a circuit of Meall a’Bhuachaille which is a cracking Corbett just behind Glenmore Lodge. Another visit to the Cairngorm Hotel was followed by a Club Dinner of Tesco Pizza, salad, cake and some fine wines.
Sunday saw the winds return to Mach 10 levels but this did not put off Ben Gibson from Mountaineering Scotland who took us to Coire na Ciste for an introduction and refresher of winter skills. He managed to keep us out of the wind while finding enough snow to have us cutting steps, using crampons and throwing ourselves down the slope before ice axe braking. The day finished in Tiso’s Café with an introduction to planning a winter journey and the Be Avalanche Aware process.
A great weekend in good company.
