For the annual Cairngorm winter meet, we were hoping to provide the opportunity to practice and develop the skills of walking safely on snow and ice and using ice axes and crampons. Alternatively others were hoping to get up onto the Cairngorm plateau for a walk around the Northern Corries or maybe Ben Macdui. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas! As we headed up the road to the Ski Centre car park, the large neon sign indicated that the road was closed and snow clearing was in progress. We came to a standstill in the long queue of cars at Loch Morlich and as there was no knowing how long the road would be closed, all plans for the day had to be abandoned. Plan B then swung into action and everyone de-bussed determined to do some walking in the snow and meet back in Aviemore.

A small group headed for the café at the camp site and then walked around the forest trails behind Loch Morlich. Everyone else decided it would be good to head for Ryvoan bothy and then a stroll up Meall a’Buachaille.

There was snow lying on the path up to the bothy and it was windy but clear on top of the hill.

A few hardy walkers carried on over Creagan Gorm and Craiggowrie, whilst most took the shorter descent down to the Reindeer Centre and then coffee and cake in the squirrel café, which has recently been renovated. Some decided to make the long walk back to Aviemore and others had a longer coffee break and took the service bus! Eventually all twenty-four walkers met up in the Cairngorm Hotel for a welcome drink, and all agreed it was a good day out despite the earlier problems with the road closure. The bus departed for home at the unusually early time of 4pm to avoid the risk of further snow falls closing the A9 at the Slochd summit. For the record the following people were on the bus: George, Sue, Mandy, Kevin, Dougal, Desmond, Bill, Colin, Ray, John, Steve, Denise, Malcolm, Gus, Bob W, David T, Lenny, Brent, David BD, Bob Mac, Magda, Natacha, Ella & Drummond.

The weather has been bad on the last three occasions for this January meet. Perhaps next year a better option may be to change this meet to February and avoid January altogether. It is always good to have a meet in our “local” hills especially in winter, and sometimes we get lucky with the weather and sometimes we don’t. Maybe we should visit the Cairngorms in both summer and winter each year?

Remember there is no Bus meet in February so the next bus meet will be to Drumochter in March. Please try and support the Bus meets when you can.

It matters not how long you lived
But where you went and what you did!

Author: John H
Photos: John H, Natacha and David BD