- A: Starting and finishing point at the car park by the Funicular Railway. From the base station I went along wide dirt track to reach point B.
- B: A path heading off the track and leading to a gap between Cairngorm and Cairn Lochan. I decided to leave behind the summit of Cairngorm, because I’ve been there already.
- C: The gap. After tiring climb I reached the gap; upper half of the ridge was covered with clouds, so time to time I had to look for the path disappearing on the rocky slope.
- D: The summit of Ben Macdui (1309m/4295ft). I’d planned to go along the cliff towards Cairn Lochan, but in the clouds and patchy snow I mistakenly chose the wrong path; eventually I found the right one to Ben Macdui.
- E: The summit of Beinn Mheadhoin (1182m/3878ft). From Ben Macdui I went westward for about 1 km and then followed the path downwards to Loch Etchachan. From there I climbed Beinn Mheadhoin with characteristic rocky towers. From the summit I headed down on the pathless northern slope to reach Loch Avon.
- F: Crossing river Avon. The river was swollen because of melting snow, so it took me about fifteen minutes to find a good place to cross it.
- G: Crossroads. That is the spot where a few paths cross. One of them leads upward on the eastern slope of Cairngorm. Last part of it went through a valley unluckily covered with deep snow; additionally slanting rain and clouds made climbing more difficult.
- H: Ptarmigan Bowl – the upper station of the Funicular Railway. I felt great relief when I reached the building. But then I had to pass dull, boring bulldozed track downward.
- I: A path heading off the track and leading to the base station. That was good opportunity to avoid repeating of a part of the route.
Jul 10
