Summer is here and hopefully to stay!

Diana and I popped over to the northern Cairngorms on Wednesday for another good hill day.  Without a set climbing objective we followed out noses and the sun down to Loch Avon. Given more time i would have been keen to get further afield either to the crags demanding  longer walk in or away to the west.

So given that Stac an Faraidh was partially dry (a number of climbs on both the west and east flanks!); which is quite surprising due to the amount of snow melt still going on.

Damage to paths due to the hard winter.

Diana with Carn Etchachan and the Shelterstone crag in the background.

It was Diana's first multipitch climb and she was up for a challenge being a fitness junkie and all!  We opted for Macks Dilemma (VS**) on the West Flank as it followed the driest line up the left edge of the crag.

 Stac an Faraidh.  Macks Dilemma (VS 4c**) follows

the main left slab up and onto the left bounding wall.

We were both in agreement to carry our bags on the climb to save us time (even if it added a grade to the climbing!).

Nice easy slabs.

A comfy belay (minus the odd drip of water).

Moving up the second pitch (third in the guidebook).

Leading all the pitches I gave Diana the chance to take in some nice scenery and enjoy the climbing. The first pitch like many on the crags around this area can fool you with their lack of steepness.  The climb steepens with height and then falls away again at the top finishing with a short scrambling section.

Happy on the upper slabs; Macks Dilemma (VS 4c**).

Delirious or delusional?

 

With some interesting route finding for such a short climb (130 to 150metres) we made good progress whilst climbing in the sun.

Where did all the holds go?

Diana did very well to find her way through the difficulties and sometimes distinct lack of holds.

Going up the snow may be hard work but

going down is not just easy but its quick too!

We topped out at about half past five and packed our gear to head home.
Another great day out in the hills.  Let's hope for more of this good weather to let everyone get out and about onto the crags.  So far the mountains (well the northern Cairngorms anyway) have been quite quiet when I've been out).