Cairngorm ski area to Blair Atholl (Sat 30th Mar - Mon 1st Apr)
Managed an approx 65km continuous tour starting at the ski centre carpark on Saturday. Up Lurchers to the top and then had our only carry of the trip as we descended too close to Lurchers Crag onto rocky terrain. Got back on route and continued down into the Lharig Ghru and up Braeriach. Passed tired skiers nearing the end of the 4000ers on their way down; the last skiers or walkers we would see on the hill for the next 2 days. Continued to the col below Angel's Peak and then down beautiful powder to the watershed linking to Monadh Mor. Camped at the watershed. Very cold!

Sunday, climbed first Monadh Mor and then Beinn Bhrotain. Great descent off Bhrotain, over the shoulder of Cnapan Mor and down towards the River Feshie. Found plenty of snowy routes between the heather down to the lowest point of the tour (536m). Next up Carn an Fhidlheir and An Sgarsoch with another excellent descent down the gully to the SW of the latter. Once again found plenty of lines to take us all the way to the Tarf Hotel (Bothy). Welcomed with a cup of tea by the Czech Walkers who were in residence.

Monday we climbed first Braigh Sron Ghorm and then Beinn Dearg. Continued on to Beinn a Chait which had sufficient snow in the shallow gully on its S face to take us down to the Allt Slanaidh. Skis of at the workers hut on the landrover track (altitude 470m)

Saturday - Blue skis; no wind
Sunday - patchy cloud; light winds
Monday - patchy cloud; light winds

Mixed. Best descents were on gently angled west faces and gullies which had a few inches of soft crystalline powder on a firm base.

Ruth and Donald