The wind funneled down the Lairig Ghru whipping across Creag an Leith-choin so it was One step forward two steps backward (down inna Babylon).
Saw the SAIS guy digging his test pit on the west flank of Coire an Lochain. Hard to appreciate scale in 3rd pic but it shows the Great Slab with threatening serac-looking blue ice peeling off it. Above (looking small in this shot) are classic routes up the cliffs.
On the way down bumped into a bunch of RAF officer trainees en route to camp in Sneachda (last pic). I said to the officer in charge that they might be lucky with shelter and have a cosy night in the coire and he replied in good humour and plum accent, 'oh yeah it'll be fucking roasting up there.'
