The first walk of the year promised much on the drive to Gairnshiel with Lochnagar sparkling in the early morning sunshine. The large group of 10 were surprised when Sandy led off in the opposite direction of the hill - deliberately on this occasion. In order to take advantage of the day we headed north from Braenaloin to cross the Gairn at Tulochmacarrick and onto Coire an t-Slugain. We contoured round to the big cairn to get some respite from the bitter winds to have a coff