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Historical trip report
Synopsis Up the bulldozed track into the steep v-shaped valley at its head then up the fall line to summit.
Breaking in brats to Munros is becoming a bit of a hobby! This was daughter Molly's 2nd Munro, son #3's 10th or so and friend Blair's 1st.
The 13-year olds were depressingly fleet of foot and as we left the bulldozed track and attendant heavy yellow plant in our wake, they started whinging about the boring route. "How about straight up the fall line, then?" says I.
"Ok".
This was how we came to be peching up the steepest slope of Beinn Udlamain - the last (for me) undone Drumochter Munro. Gloomy Hill is its translated name but we found it in cheerful mood. There is a don't care where the wind is from cairn, with little doocots all around affording shelter from the inevitable, it would seem, howling gale.
A sole yomper strode by, without touching the cairn or saying much at all. He had Australia on his hat but maybe he'd just visited.
The girls declined either of the two-fer Munros on offer so it was back down the direct line for us, sometimes by butt-slide.
When we reached the main stream, they wanted to wade in it. Too weird. Offered a lift by the road crew, we declined. Tut tut they intoned looking askance at the soaking teenagers. They need better equipped than that - it's October y'know.
Further down still, they went for it knee deep. Impervious to fatigue or cold it would seem.
Weather was mixed sun, scudding black and white clouds, good views and maybe twenty knots of blow. Sleet for a few seconds too.
- Los tres niños - and some Mitsubishi plant
- Jack on Munro #10 with his first in background. Allegedly 20M less in height, its horizontal-ness from Udlamain made me trek all over the summit plateau just in case our mega cairn wisnae the top. It was. Jack had to borrow a fleece from his gran. It's pink he said. No it's fuchsia she said. The entire walk the girls ripped him for his pink jacket. Years later it still comes up.
- Not nearly cold or wet enough!
