Igloo - Britains Highest Building? Traditional Geocache
Teuchters: Another one gone.......
Igloo - Britains Highest Building?
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A cache situated near the summit of Cairngorm, Scotlands sixth highest mountain
A short distance south of Cairngorm summit cairn is the "Igloo". This is an emergency mountain rescue radio station and also a remote weather sensing site.
The building is known as the Igloo, as in winter, it is often completely covered with snow and ice. (Digging required!!) It contains emergency safety radio relay equipment so that mountain rescuers can remain in contact with their base near Aviemore, whilst deep in the heart of the Cairngorm mountains, which is otherwise a complete radio and mobile phone blackspot. It also houses two sets of remote weather sensing equipment. One set is owned by the Met Office, the other by the Physics Department at Heriot Watt University. The HW system is housed in a black "dustbin" on the roof of the Igloo and periodically rises up (like the Tardis innards) from its heated container to take wind and temperature measurements. The building has an interesting history - it was built by boys from a "correctional institute" as a community project to house the then experimental mountain rescue radio equipment back in the 1960's. It is also the highest building in Britain with mains electricity!
The cache setter is also the maintenance officer for the radio equipment and occasionally has to sleep on the floor inside during protracted rescue incidents!
The funicular railway runs up to the north of the summit. Travellers on the train can go out onto a viewing terrace but are NOT allowed onto the mountain due to access agreements put in place to protect the environment beyond the summit - so no quick or easy access is available for walkers (or cachers) from the train. There are no such restrictions if you wish to walk up from the car park.
Walkers who have slogged up however, may enter the funicular top station (for a cup of tea or use of the toilets) and can then travel down on the train if they buy a ticket.
There are two popular paths from the Ptarmigan train station but in winter these will be covered over. In snow free conditions, there is a well marked direct path straight up from the top station, or another around into the Ptarmigan "bowl" and up the Marquis' Well path which is slightly east of the direct route. Cairngorm itself has fantastic extensive views in good weather and is the sixth highest hill in Scotland at just about 4100 feet. However, in poor weather, this is no place to be. Some of the highest windspeeds in the country have been recorded by the weather station here - well over 140 mph.
To do this cache, you should take full responsibility for yourself in the mountains - correct equipment and expertise are just the minimum requirements. You should be a competent navigator and in winter, should be fully equipped with axe and crampons - and know how to use them! The local rescue team don't want to be called out to look for missing Geocachers!! (It has happened here already!) I am no longer a member of the local team - I recently retired after over 20 years membership - you are on your own!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Uvqqra yrsg bs gur qbbe. Ybat nezf hfrshy.