Mountaineering in the Cairngorms

(20 May 2010)

Three staff (Mssrs Jones, Wallace and Kime) and five pupils (Lewis Fraser, Stuart Kirkley, Matthew Smith, Andrew Swinburn and Michael Swinburn) spent six days of the Easter holidays walking and climbing in the Cairngorms.

Although they set off with some splendidly settled weather in prospect, by Pitlochry the forecast was less promising and by the time we had dug our snow-holes on the Cairngorm plateau there were the signs of a storm ahead. While 200 cms of snow fell at the Ski Centre, we remained in our holes for 40 hours before battling on through gales and snowdrifts.

Collecting boots and crampons in Aviemore we set off from the Coire na Ciste car park at midday and had a very pleasant stroll taking it in turns to navigate up to the plateau. Visiting ‘Point 1028’, Cnap Coire na Spreidhe (1150m), around Ciste Mhearad to the summit of Cairngorm (1244m). Blue skies and a hot sun, tempered by a gentle breeze, were sufficient to enjoy excellent views of the snow-clad hills all around. The air quality was exceptional and the feel of the hill alpine. Onward to ‘Point 1141’, an important marker cairn on the plateau in a whiteout, onward to Stob Coire an t-Sneachda (1176m) and down to Coire Domhain to find a snowy bank to dig (or hopefully to find one already dug) snowhole.

The usual site was already occupied by three other groups and so another bank was located and three hours later two holes, one for staff and one for pupils, were constructed. A change into warm, dry clothes, an alteration in inclination from vertical to horizontal, a struggle into sleeping bags and water-proof bivvy sacks then a hot drink and food was needed by all before we settled in for the night. 40 hours later the storm abated and we were able to walk to safety.

Paying tribute to Mr Kime's contribution to outdoor pursuits over the past nine years Mr Jones said: "I would like to thank Mr Kime for his support of Adventurous Training over the last nine years. It has been a significant commitment; in this time Durham School has seen him grow as a Mountain Leader, as a World Challenge Leader and now as carrier of the ‘dragon’ for the local mountain rescue team. His contribution will be greatly missed."

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Monday, 06 September 2010

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