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Heading back up for another run, but we were not the first tracks today.
Helen gets in her first run of June 2012 and month 32.
Wide view of the Ciste Mhearaidh snowfield, this is from further back than the photos last summer and still doesn't fit the frame.
Tracks from my first June run.
Setting off for a run of just over 500ft below the Tor on the back of CairnGorm.
Though not linked to the upper snowfield, there was complete cover in the burn gully to waterfall in Ciste Mhearaidh.
Helen gets the maximum run in below the Tor.
Getting a turn in below the Tor, best snow of Saturday.
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A mission to bag some Summer turns and with it being June also notch up myself and Helen's 32nd consecutive month of sliding with linked turns on snow on CairnGorm Mountain.
A very stark difference in temperature from last Saturday, thankfully for walking up, but it was dry, part cloudy with some sunny spells. It was -3°c this morning on the Summit but the snow was soft by the time we got up to the snowfields on the back of CairnGorm. However we were not the first with tracks earlier in the day at both the Ciste Mhearaidh and at the Tor patch.
Probably a bit over 500ft of vertical still possible beneath the Tor so still some good turns to be had and that area is a bit steeper with a more fall-line snow patch than the Ciste Mhearaidh. Further out onto the Plateau there is some larger snowfields.
We are planning an informal get together for a post Solstice mid-summer slide on Sat 23rd June on CairnGorm Mountain, meet between 10 and 10.30 in the Cas Bar or at the Ptarmigan around Noon, or simply pop up and head over to the Ciste Mhearaidh. We'll be there or round at the Tor. Check forum for updates. You have to walk up, but it is possible to take the train back down which is good for the knees!
Another mid-summer slide is planned on Sun 24th at Glencoe, if your keen/mad enough why not do both?