
And with the pin landing on Drumochter the plan was to see if I could get an early start and complete the 4 Munros to the west of the A9 in a oner


Anyway, I arrived at Balsporran cottages plenty early with the intention of an hour’s kip before heading off (well actually it seemed I’d drove past the cottages a couple of times before I finally realised where they were





As I said the original plan had been to get an early start and push myself to do all four of the hills Geal Charn, A’Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor. But the weather wasn’t playing ball and instead of heading off up the hills I was sat waiting and hoping the weather would improve a bit, as I wasn’t overly keen on a soaking right from the start. Initial signs weren’t good, as the sky turned black and rain turned to snow!!! The thought of heading home did cross my mind on more than one occasion, but eventually the snow passed and the clouds broke



I’ve must say it felt good getting the winter boots on for the first time this winter. I love the changing seasons in the hills (when it isn’t raining of course





Deciding I had the necessary permission I quickly nipped over the railway crossing and headed off along the landrover track into Coire Fhar, until the path branches right just after crossing a burn and heads onto the hill. I believe there is a wide path to follow up onto Geal Charn, but you wouldn’t know with the snow. So for me it was a case of hitting the ridge line and then making my way up as directly as possible.
So far so good. The weather was looking bright...........although, wait a moment, what’s that coming over the hill? Is it a monster, no...........it’s more dark clouds












The photo count during the next phase of the walk dropped off considerably



I enjoyed the walk up Geal Charn. The snow wasn’t too bad and although I was walking blind in the whiteness it wasn’t too long before I was at the first set of cairns on the hill. Although I knew they weren’t the summit they still managed to throw me a bit in the mist.
Stopped here for a few moments to get my bearings and work out the direction for the final summit push.
The final walk to the summit of Geal Charn took longer than it should have, but with no clear point of reference visible I was stopping as often as I needed to ensure I was happy I was heading in what I had decided to be the right direction, constantly peering into the whiteness to see if I could make out any shadow looming which might be the final rise up to the summit. Ordinarily this would just be a simple stole to the summit, but I was being careful given the conditions and eventually the expected shadow appeared and then I was soon at the summit cairn (well, actually to be honest I’m confused by Geal Charn, as it has two cairns. Not sure which is the true summit, so in the whiteness I paid a visit to both just to be sure). Here’s one of them.
Now it was decision time. Although it had stopped snowing by now it was still pretty windy and the clag was hanging on longer than I had expected. So, did I continue on to A’Mharconaich or did I bail and return the way I had come? I wasn’t sure I fancied another couple of hours walking practically blind in all this whiteness, but it just felt too early to bail and so, despite the chilly wind, I decided to hang around on the top of Geal Charn in the hope that the sun would win through eventually. A sad old man twiddling his fingers in the snow and mist stood waiting

But it was another good call on my part as, after a short(ish) wait, most of the cloud seemed to suddenly dissolve and the views opened up.
Queue immediate increase in photo count

There were great views to my possible next destination, A’Mharconaich as well as increasingly improving views across Loch Ericht to the Alder hills. Decision made.........it was time to continue the route as planned.
Looking toward the saddle with A’Mharconaich it looked a deceptively gentle slope up to the ridge of the hill and I was thinking this would be a quick hop and a skip to the top




The snow was a bit temperamental at this stage – one moment it was nice and firm and then the next step it was up to my nether regions in snow. It had me in stitches one time though, as I fell into one particular hole up past my waist and then seemed somehow incapable of getting myself out for laughing



At last though, I was on the broad ridge and heading toward the summit. By now the clear skies I’d enjoyed heading off Geal Charn were being quickly replaced by more cloud, with the wind still whipping about a fair bit too.
I picked up a line of fencepost for a short distance and then headed off up the gradual slope to the summit of A’Mharconaich. The views were better than I had hoped, given the weather closing in again, although didn’t really do the business in the photos I took. I didn’t hang around too long at the summit and was soon heading down the north eastern ridge back toward Balsporran cottages.
The initial drop off the summit wasn’t as steep as I had expected it to be, but perhaps that was because at last the snow was working in my favour and making it easier on my legs going down.
Initially I was enjoying the descent down off this hill and was taking it nice and relaxed – but that soon changed. Lower down the ridge the deeper snow got a bit tiresome as the uncertainty of what I was stepping on returned. One moment firm and the next sinking to my nether regions again


Eventually I gave up on the planned route back via Balsporran and instead made a bee-line for the road and another level crossing over the river, as this would be a quicker route back to the car. I still had to deal with sinking into the snow at regular intervals, but the knowledge it would be over soon enough made it a little easier to deal with


All in all this was a great day out and if this is what the winter has in store then bring it on




