Whichever meet that was going to be after Lagangarbh would have struggled to compete, so I think Mill Cottage was good for a nice relaxing time.

After passing where Milehouse is, on the way, and realising that Mill Cottage is in fact a totally different hut! (Remind me never to be meet secretary) Me, Colin and Rab arrived at the hut on Friday to find Dave, Lucy, Matt and Lorna sitting comfortably in front of a wee toasty coal fire.

There wasn't really an early start to be had by anyone on the Saturday. Me, Dave and Lucy left for Aviemore to go ski-touring, which I'm starting to get into and can't believe the ease of going up hill! We arrived at the overflow car park, due to the crowds enjoying this exceptional winter, later to be greeted by two more bumblies heading up the hill. Rab and Colin were heading to Coire an T-Sneachda for some climbing, so the skiers headed up an off piste gully to the left of the ski area, which we later skied back down with big grins on our faces. Arriving at the Ptarmigan station in proper white out conditions, we decided to go to the summit of Cairngorm. Going up to the summit wasn't too bad, it was coming back down that proved to be the problem for me! Nothing to do with my skiing but my navigational skills.  Some how losing Dave and Lucy, then heading in the direction that I thought they were in, but they weren't, had me ending up on the other side of the ski area.  I had to steal some person's piste map then ask them to show me where I was on it (remind me never to become a guide as well).

On the other side of the hill Rab and Colin were loving their route 'Opening break' (IV,5) which was in tough conditions, having to clean out iced up cracks to get protection in. Colin also found the top-out to be quite amusing, when he arrived to find a nice big juicy cornice to cut through. He found the best technique was to plunge your axe as far as it will go, then use your fist to smash it that little bit more. Which he later found out the next day gives you sore hands!

Chris, Kath, the wee one and Sue swapped places with Dave and Lucy who headed down the road for some D.I.Y duties.

Sunday did have an early start from Chris and Matt. Their plans were to head over to Ben Macdui but decided against it as visibility was still really poor. Instead they opted for a climb up 'Goat track gully' (II), then a descent down by Fiacaill Ridge.  Me and Rab also went into Coire an T-Sneachda to climb a route called 'The Message' (IV,6), leaving Colin in the hut cradling his so called sore hand. Rab climbed the the crux corner, which neither thought was going to be the crux, in good form. Colin and the rest of the folks went for a wee stroll around the surrounding area of the hut. 

Ally

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