Avalanches,Navigation, ’Jotown’ at the Centre of the Action-Again !

A really early start today, the weather forecast was good, and I had decided to climb up in the Cairngorm mountains. Firstly as I looked out I could see the peculiar  sky, and overnight snow lying everywhere.. I hoped I could get up the ski road, to Cairngorm in Aviemore..which would make my days climb a lot easier.. After a hearty breakfast, I set off on the snowy roads, to travel the 15 miles into Aviemore, then up the steep and winding road towards the ski centre.. a slightly hairy journey, as the only thing that wasn’t plastered in snow was the road…and lots of traffic on it, all heading for the same place no doubt !

I got to the huge car parks of the ski centre, already the main car park was full, and I had to park in the lower ‘overflow car park’, with a tricky snowy hill to negotiate..hope it’s better on my way out !

I had a look round before changing into my gear, trying to work out my route out of the car park, away from the ski machinery, and up a nearby mountain to climb the shoulder – unfortunately I couldn’t locate my compass, decided I’d left it at home, so had to rely on the electronic compass on my watch, and deciding that no one seemed to be going where I wanted to…meandered along behind lots of other people, hoping to spot a reasonable trail !

I didn’t manage that, but did link up with a nice lady, who I chatted to for an hour or so,who clued me in on the area, took me to the Coire an t’Sneachda climbing area, pointing out the various climbs on the nearby cliffs, and recommended some good climbing routes for me, well within my capabilities ! I had heard of this area, but hadn’t been here before, so well worth not having my compass !

Unbeknown to me then, but I later realised was that around about when these pictures were being taken, just to the right of where I was to climb some climbers were being Avalanched (none injured) on the buttress nearby, and later as I got nearer 3 other climbers were Avalanched, and swept down the rock face..however I’ll tell more later !

I had my last guidance directions from Jo ( thanks Jo), who turned out to be ex-RAF ! as she set off back to the car parks and I set off into the Coire, with the climb of The ‘Goat Track’ ahead of me ! I couldn’t believe how many people were on the cliffs above, everywhere seemed to be various groups of climbers, in the gulley's, on the rocks, all shouting instructions to each other…apparently the Coire is used by many outdoor groups, teaching mountaineering and ice climbing skills… there didn’t seem much ice, just lots of deep  powdery snow, the floor of the Coire being deep snow, although the path/track was quite stable.. I looked ahead, to see my route becoming clearer as I got closer –the snow gully just to the right of the cliffs in the picture… As I got nearer I could hear a lot of shouting coming from further up the Coire, and heard something about ‘We Need HELP’ and ‘Mountain Rescue’ – what was happening ? A young couple were stood at the side of the track looking ahead, and told me that they believed there to have been an Avalanche, sweeping some climbers down the face… Uh Oh ! I could see a small group of people (dots on the wide snowfield ), seemingly lying on the ground, and others had already rushed to their assistance- I could see the Avalanche debris above them, but couldn’t quite work out where they had been climbing, nor how they had come to be swept to where they were (and still can’t ) Enough assistance had been forthcoming, including some instructors, so I continued surveying the scene, as most people just carried on up and over the cliffs ! – I did the same, climbing up my intended gully, checking the snow was stable enough ! All the time I was climbing I could see various things happening with the casualties below , and just as got to the top of the cliffs I heard the ‘whoomf whoomf’ of a Sea King helicopter flying in over the Coire, and hovering above the group below. I did see the medic being lowered up and down from the helicopter, which wasn’t able to land , and for the next half hour or so watched the helicopter flying in and out several times, presumably with differing casualties  - I didn’t stand watching, just kept climbing, and taking note at differing times, as firstly I was on the top of Coire an t’Sneacda 1176 mts, then I walked round the top of the Coire, to a col at the head of Coire Cas, and then climbed up to the top of Cairn Gorm, 1245 mts – made slightly more difficult by no compass, and mist, along with following my intended route in Reverse, so having to swop all my compass bearings round !  You’'ll all be pleased to know, I made it safely to the top of Cairngorm, as the summit weather station appeared out of the mist, along with several other people, who had  climbed up from differing directions ! I continued my ‘reverse route’ and climbed down into the ski area, and passing the skiers restaurant found my way back to the car park – that was different, especially as when I turned the radio on and the headline news was the Avalanche and rescue – none of the climbers being seriously injured,thankfully..it was headline news on the television later… even Jo my guide had texted me making sure I was OK..phew so much bother, and all I did was ‘go for a wander’,oh, and my compass ? It was in my butty bag after all…stupid !!

So, I got home, nice hot bath, and relaxed after a good day done…although I did go to Saturday evening mass in Grantown on Spey, so I could climb again the following day, before bad weather comes in..Goodnight !