Winter Weekend – Aviemore 20th to the 23rd of February 2026
The York MC Winter Weekend trip over the 20th to the 23rd of February was well supported with 19 club members heading to Scotland, 16 staying in Aviemore Hostel and 3 extras self-accomodating. Experience levels of those attending was a healthy spread between newcomers to the concept of wandering around in the snow up to those who wonder why they've been doing it for such a long time. A few were able to travel on the Thursday but the majority arrived on Friday, ready to hit the hills on Saturday morning. Thankfully the weather was good enough for us to see something of the Cairngorms and have a full weekend of activity.
Charley S and Elise P spent Thursday in Cumbria, exploring the frosted top of Skiddaw and making a lunch stop on Friday at Route 74 Truckstop where, coincidentally, they met with Dave M, Gav H and Phil H as the three consumed their 6 wheeler breakfasts. Brian Y spent Thursday night in Aviemore and walked a low-level circular route on Friday to Ryvoan Bothy and Meall a Bhuachaille. David Cu braved the elements and aimed high for Ben Macdui. No photographs were taken from the summit but the pictures of Coire an Lochain confirmed that the recent easterly wind and heavy snow would make climbing an impossibility in certain areas.
Everyone arrived in good time on Friday evening. Plans were made, taking account of the conditions and the anticipated capabilities of the group.
Carl R and Brian decided on a gentle walk towards Cairngorm summit. David Cu, feeling less vigourous today, elected for an even gentler walk up to the Ptarmigan Station. The recently repaired Funicular Railway was actually working this weekend, however, David assured us that he declined to use the train. Dave C, Matthew, Charley and Elise did a low-level walk to Meall a Bhuachaille, Creagan Gorm and Craiggowrie.
Derek W and Martin P were initially planning to scramble on Fiacaill Ridge. After achieving their objective and as the conditions were better than expected they decided to extend their day with a trek across to Ben Macdui. Despite the late, ambitious change to their plan they made it back in good time without the need for a head-torch.
The main group of the day headed into Coire an t-Sneachda for the newcomers to have a first go at winter mountaineering and later, if possible, a traverse of Fiacaill Ridge and the Coire top. The conditions were ideal for pointing out the threat of avalanche and how the weather can vary with time, terrain and wind direction.
The weather conditions improved as the day went on so Fiacaill Ridge became an achievable aim. The group split into three roped teams for the upper parts of the ridge although the technical sections were largely avoided. Dave M was with Alex D and Rich B. Gav H with Tom G and Charley G. Phil H with Anabel C.
The cloud had cleared for a while when the group were on Fiacaill Ridge but visibility dropped again during the traverse around the Coire towards point 1141. The walk round the rim gave further opportunity to see the difficulties of navigation and hazards such as the tops of huge cornices.
Everyone had a good day out. Quite tiring for some but most of us were revived and rehydrated after a brief visit to Macdui's before the Tamanna Restaurant for our team evening meal. It was great to see Nathan and Amy who were in Aviemore for a short break and a spot of tourism.
The conditions on Fiacaill Buttress were good for climbing on Sunday so Dave with Matthew and Anabel and Gav with Phil climbed as two teams on the right end of the buttress. The crag was busy but perhaps not so many climbers as the day before. The intended route was a variation of Trump Towers (II) but both teams apparently ended up doing a variation of Who's Line is it Anyway (II/III). Good fun!
Brian and Tom were heading for home together on Sunday afternoon so hatched a plan for a walk up Sron a Cha-no which could continue up to Cairngorm summit if time allowed. Dave M, Charlie G and Rich joined them for the walk. Cairngorm summit was not achieved. Time went by too quickly and the westerly wind picked up, especially in showers so the route was shortened by traversing around the top of Coire Laogh Mor and descending Creagan Dubh.
Derek and Alex followed in the foosteps of previous days and stayed at low level around Ryovan. Martin had a rest day in order to prepare for a climbing course starting on Monday. Elise and Charley S had a short walk in the area before heading for home.
Anabel drove home from the hostel on Sunday evening. Others made their own way home by car or train on Sunday and Monday. The remaining six of us intended to climb again on Monday before going home. An early start, reaching the Ski Centre car park at 7:30am was not quite early enough as the temperature there had already risen to +2 and it was raining. Dave M, Phil, Gav and Derek decided to bail but Matthew and Dave C chose to walk into Sneachda to see if conditions were workable. They made it to the Stretcher Box before calling it a day.
Despite the mixed bag of weather and snow conditions we managed to accomplish most, if not all of our objectives for the weekend. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and all the arrangements for travel, at the hostel and in the restaurant worked well. Thanks for coming. Well done for everything that was achieved and we hope that the rest of the trips planned for this year can enjoy the same level of success.
Cheers!
Dave M