Breezy Ben Macdui

Climbed by year and month

Climbed by year and month

I'd had a couple of weeks or so of rest from the outdoors whilst I was recovering from my Humira injection, and producing another release of mapping. But now needed to get out. My default choice was Ben Macdui on a relatively quiet route.

As per usual I was awake before the alarm went off at 6am. Gave Skye her travel sickness tab, had breakfast, etc. Weather was a reasonable breeze but the forecast for the northern cairngorms was for the low cloud to clear and the wind to increase.

After a slow journey to the cairngorm ski centre top car park (where they were installing ticket machines and access control barriers...) it was pretty quiet still with a fresh breeze. Skye and I set off fairly promptly and made good progress along the northern coires path. It was however a harsh slog up the ridge overlooking Coire an Lochan. I'm fairly pleased with the pace, not great but I didn't sit down for a rest at all.

A succession of people passed me but they were obviously young and fit, so I didn't too bad. It also started to get busier. Especially as we got to the summit. I didn't hang around much, just a drink of water and set off back. The wind had got up, and any cloud dispersed so the temperature was starting to climb.