This was based at the very comfortable Raeburn hut between Lagaan and Dalwhinnie - just off the A9. 6 of us travelled up on Thursday evening arriving just before midnight. We awoke to strong winds and torrential rain and after a late breakfast decided on a valley walk. We were encouraged by a rainbow as we left the hut and our walk down the valley from Newtonmore was sunny but very windy. Other members of the group arrived Friday evening.
Saturday we divided up. Richard, Dominic and Karl set off to climb a gully on Creag Meagaidh, Chis and Joe went to climb at Aviemore. Debbie and Ann led a walk along the valley in Creag Meagaidh, while Julia, Anne from Bristol, Paul and myself led by Simon headed for the summit of Creag Meagaidh. After lunch in a snowhole which we'd found we eventually found the summit in the mist. Stopping for a break at about 4pm we got our first view of a Loch Laggan in the gloom and the route down. Then the fun began - Julia lost a bag of spare hats and gloves etc to the wind but fortunately not her Mars Bar. We slid through snow and saw a solitary mountain hare before climbing down heather strewn rocks to two streams in the valley. Having crossed these it was now completely dark so head torches on we walked straight across the open moor to the main road and walked back along it, getting to the car park after 7pm.
Sunday we again divided into two groups valley and mountain. The mountain group did Geal Charn (Mondadh Liath) - again mainly in wet snow and mist. However on the way down there was one of those wonderful moments which makes walking in the mountains so worthwhile, the sun broke through the clouds and backlit the mountains in the valley and a solitary pine tree by the side of a loch looked like a ship in full sail. Again we had a long walk back on the road as darkness fell and returned to the hut to find the Man City supporters celebrating the win over United at Old Trafford much to the group from Bristol who had joined us and chagrin of Paul the only United supporter.
Monday we awoke to bright sunshine and a heavy frost. After tiding up the hut we left the cars by the A9 and headed towards Meall Chuaich, first along a track and then a very long slog up grassy slopes. However our efforts were rewarded by great views of the whole area from the summit. A great end to a great weekend.
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