Scottish winter starts early!

Yesterday Erick and I ventured North to the Cairngorms to sample some of the early winter conditions. 3 inches of snow greeted us in the Cairngorm car park and we eagerly made our way up into Coire an t'Sneachda. After a brief interlude involving Ericks left foot and a lochain we ventured up Fluted Buttress Direct, a fairly mellow route at IV,5 for my first Scottish route for 3 years. While the south of Scotland was bathed in sunshine it was definitely winter up here.

Erick on the first hard pitch:





With increasing winds and some heavy snow flurries we topped out, headed back into the Coire for our bags, and wandered off through the deepening snow back to the car, Erick evening things out by finding a lochain with his right leg this time for a 2 footed squelch back down the hill...

Near the car park:



The slopes around the car park were busy with folks out sledging and snowman building, and with snow continuing to fall right down into Aviemore town centre it looks like the wintry conditions could last a bit longer...