Ben Lawers
From car park, skis on after about 200m, followed ridge towards Beinn Ghlas, but then decided to detour back down into Coire Chonnaidh as we could see lots of ski tracks and a couple of skiers heading up. Up the Coire, then back down to the saddle before Ben Lawers. Up Ben Lawers by the north slope, which was in reasonable condition over a hard base, though some patches exposed and a bit scary to traverse. Ski down was good, though intimidating being such a large open slope and about 30deg. I fluffed half the turns, which I blame on the wax being to sticky and Hammerhead binding in the wrong setting (ok, it was my crap technique).
Back down Coire Chonnaidh was superb, snow excellent turns good (and better set up and more confident). We carried on well down then cut across the shoulder back to the start. Heavy snow lower down, then a toboggan run down a burn line, pisted by all the skiers.
About 800m elevation, probably climb 1000m in all, and stiff calves to prove it!
A surprise was how many skier out on the hill, about 1: 4 skiers to walkers perhaps. Mostly on Alpine touring kit, a few taking in the gully from the south of Beinn Ghlas, which joins into Coire Chonnaidh. Even one set of tracks off the top of Ben Lawers south gully. On the way up Ben Lawers, one guy passed with a video camera on top of a ski pole sticking out of his rucksack. (hope he posts on youtube). Another couple unfortunately had to be lifted off by helicopter, one had broken an ankle in the heather at the bottom of the hill.

Sunshine all day, fantastic views, unbeatable Scottish ski-touring.

Very good

Mark & Martin