Bike: Linn of Dee to Derry Lodge.

Hike Up: Luibeg - Sron Riach - Sputan Dearg - Macdui.

Ski: Garbh Uisge Mor, and off Sputan Dearg towards Etchachan.

Hike Out: Etchachan - Glen Derry - Derry Lodge.

Bike out to Linn of Dee.

Blue skies and calm at Dawn on Midsummer Day. - Sunny most of day, some cloud late afternoon, but summits clear all day. - Cool start, which kept snow in good shape for early birds.

Midsummer Hike 2008: I am getting too old for this lark, but what a day for it, and lovely snow, all to myself.

Gained Macdui Summit by 11am. The overnight chill had set up firm snow, with just top inch soft. Skis ran nicely, with just slight stickiness easily overcome by gaining momentum.

Garbh Uisge Mor better than expected, great width and maybe 500-600ft vertical, starting near summit running nearly 1km down stream bed. - A dream to ski at Midsummer. : )

Hiked back to Sputan Dearg, and reliable patch that runs toward Etchachan. About 300ft vertical, also good snow.

Generally much more snow than I'd hoped for. - Wonderful Midsummer skiing.

HTH

hjborr at btinternet dot com

Gleann Einich - Angel's Peak - Braeriach - Gleann Einich.

Ascended Braerich plateau via NW facing, snow covered burn and then onto Angel?s Peak via the Wells of Dee. Dumped ski boots and skis approx 1.5km from Angel Peak.

Left Jungle to ski off one of the north faces below Angel Peak while I bagged the summit(saw from afar some canine activity near where I had left my ski gear so didn?t on the peak too long. Found my boots eventually - doggy obviously had a good time chewing up my boots and filling them with snow!) Met up with Jungle at Braerich via the cirque, while he ascended Braerich from the west of Stob Choire Etchachan having crossed An Garbh Choire at about 2600ft.

Skirted around Loch Coire an Lochan on the descent of Braeriach and back to Gleann Einich via the same burn.

Scorchio!

30-40 min climb to get to the burn from Gleann Einich. Good snow cover on the plateau, cover complete to Braeriach if you are prepared to skirt around the cornices.

Some frighteningly steep descents still available off the cirque between Braerich and Angel Peak

Jungle, 12point

Cycled up Gleann Einich. 15 minute walk to snow at 650m. Straight up Braeriach but unfortunately misty on top so returned by same route.

All mountains clear of mist except for Braeriach!

Some patches down to 650m.
Wide snow cover further up above 950m.
Snow heavy - like skiing on porridge.

Neil

kitching dot family at tesco dot net

Ben Avon - and most of its 16 tops from the North.
Sorry its a bit wordy but there is 14 hours daylight.
Started up Burach Mholach after a nights camping in the valley, 800m walk to the snow. Skinned up up past the atonishing rocks of Clach Bun Rudhtair onto continious snow cover. Thence by Stob Bac an Fhurain and spot 1136, to the summit Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe 1171m. South to Carn Eas, down the Eas Bhig, back up Stob Dubh, down the Eas Mhoir (good) and up again to impressive Clach Choutsaich. Then due North over Mullach lochan nan Gabhar and plunge down the Caol Ghlean to the frozen loch. Time to go home but snow good so back up to spot 1023, dodge rocks to Big Brae. Down by East Meur 935m and through the col just West of Meall Gaineimh to follow a snow strip on the right of the burn to 550m, only 600m from my tent.

Wind SE 20-30. Dry. Broken could above summits.
FL around 1000m.

For North slopes.
Snow strips to 550m East and South of ridges. very soft, but reasomable depth. Patchy general cover from 600m continious good cover from 800m.
On the tops South facing and ridges now getting quite thin but remain complete.
Snow is granular refrozen below 900m. It seems little changed above 1000m, rather good to ski.

James

jamesdalgarno at btinternet dot com

Beinn Mheadhoin via Cairngorm summit and Coire Raibert. Ascent and descent via southen and northen ends of Loch Avon. Return via the Saddle

Gusty with snow showers. Outbreaks of visibility, though on the whole, poor vis.
Freezing level say 1000m

Snow generally firm, though quite heavy around Loch Avon. Incomplete snow cover on plateau of Beinn Mheadhoin - approach to summit from SW in boots.

Jungle and 12point