There were almost as many foxes as folks at five am as I rather shakily rode into town to fetch the dog and go to the pick up point. 

Co worker Fi (see previous mountaineering posts) had agreed weeks ago to an expedition as we were both using up annual leave ahead of the end of the holiday year.

The plan had been to tackle something mutually beneficial but the weather on the west side of the country has been pretty dismal, and after much deliberation and a mini series of WhatsApp messages we finally settled on the Cairngorms for Loki's walk. 

To Braemar! Then onwards to Linn of Dee for 0815. Yes, a long day planned, so an early kick off was required.

I'd completed the Cairngorm Munros two years ago (with today's companion, no less!) so given a choice,  Fi plumped for Derry Cairngorm. It had the benefit of offering an add on if time / weather / limbs were agreeable. 

We joined a procession of mountain bikers and walkers up Glen Lui to Bob Scott's before a grand dispersal saw the multitudes disappear off on their various missions, whilst we crossed the bridge and carried on  through the knee high Heather and elderly Scots pines - straight ahead and onto the lower slopes of DCG.

I'd  last been here in the mid noughties, after a broken metatarsal had healed and I needed a fitness test to assess how the recovery was going. Back then I'd managed fine and remembered a nicely paced walk, with flater sections giving way to slightly less flat sections, but nothing too step - very easy to maintain a steady rhythm and pace. Whilst the skies were overcast, generally we could see much of the majesty of the surrounding bemoths (although Ben Avon and Beinn a Bhuird remained obscured all day) 

So there were bits of the tors of Beinn Mheadoin visible; the bulk of Macdui,  Cairn Toul and the Devils Point dominated the far horizon, Bheinn Bhrotain also peering into the view. 

So it was no surprise that with great comic timing the summit cone of DCG  became enveloped in cloud about 7 minutes before our arrival at the top. 

No matter; after a quick refuelling we set about continuing the traverse of the mountain and dropped down to Loch Etachan. For anyone who's never ventured into the midst of the Cairngorms you've missed a trick. From the exterior, the mountains look big and imposing but ultimately they lack the drama of Torridon or Glen Coe. But once within, they're a joy; and you begin to see why Nan Shepherd eulogies them in The Living Mountain.  Cliffs, crags and corries, lochans and waterfalls, and utter silence.

At the south east corner of Loch Etachan we crossed the river and climbed steeply up an almost staircase onto the summit plateau of Beinn Mheadoin. Where you move swiftly from Scottish hillside to lunar wasteland; especially in the clouds. As we strode across the barren expanse, tors appeared from the gloom, granite lumps looming above us as we picked our way to the furthest tor and the summit. 

The blip is from the dramatic side, but if you pop around the back, there's a less difficult line of ascent... Hell even Loki scrabbled his way to the very top to claim his 21st Munro. He's  not even two yet!

Having reached the furthest point of the day, we set about tackling the 10 miles back to the car. 

Descending in light drizzle, we popped into the Hutchison Memorial bothy before breaking free of the drizzle and settling into the epic trek back to Linn of Dee. 9 -odd hours of walking saw is complete the mission, ahead of the forecast rain due around 6pm. 

The journey home consisted of Loki sprawled out on the back seat of Fi's car and me trying to keep up with events at Forthbank- the Binos were live on BBC v Cove. We managed to forge a 2-1 lead, miss a penalty, and Cove ended up playing the last third of the match with 10 players, but as anyone who's ever watched football will know, Cove conjured up a 92 minute equaliser. 

Loki creaked off the back seat and lead me up the stairs to beef stroganoff and horseradish mash before I eventually summoned of the willpower to cycle home. 

No new Munros for me -244/276. Fi moves to 161; Loki to 21.