9th May 2010 - Bynack More Ski

With the snow little changed from the previous week the opportunity to get a swift few hours out on the hill was too much to resist. The thought of a quick tour over the flank of Cairngorm with a ski down to The Saddle and back round via Bynack More and Strath Nethy seemed like a good option.

Interactive map of the route

Seven am at the Coire na Ciste car park in a fine mizzle with the cloud at about 800m didn't make an inspiring start to the day but the forecast was for brighter weather to appear. After snow showers and thick layers of murk on the ascent of the Ciste Gully the promised clearing came in the nick of time as I pondered whether to descend towards The Saddle or not.

The clouds parting to reveal Bheinn Mheadhoin, from the head of Ciste Mhearad on the north east side of Cairngorm, just south east of the top of the ski centre's Ptarmigan Tow.

The descent to The Saddle gave an excellent 1000ft of skiing at first on wide open fresh powder breaking down into more patchy spring snow lower down. 

The descent route to The Saddle

The summit of Bynack More from A' Choinneach, the Barns of Bynack granite tors on the right hand side.

Wide open views across Glen Avon to Ben Avon and Beinn a' Bhuird, both hills still well coated with snow. 

The view south from Bynack More. The Lairig an Laoigh is the prominent pass between Beinn a' Chaorainn on the left and Beinn Mheadhoin in the centre, Ben Macdui rising above all on the right.

North to Moray beyond Meall a' Bhuachaille

The broken descent of Bynack More's north west flank.

A long ribbon of snow provided "narrow" skiing all the way down the Allt a' Choire Dhuibh to nearly 700m. All that remained was the plod down into Strath Nethy and back up over its western ramparts to re-gain the Coire na Ciste car park!

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Jason Bonniface, 08/06/2010

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