50+ at 30 Part 4: A9 idiocy
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:43 pmAs mentioned in "50+ at 30" Parts 1, 2 and 3 at the end of March my other half (RTMcB) turned 30. To celebrate we spent four days bagging 10 Munros:
Day 1: Creag Meagaidh circuit (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20068)
Day 2: Three Monadhliath Munros (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20088)
Day 3: Bynack More & Cairngorm (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20172)
Day 4 arrived. We were heading home via A9 to bag an oozy-woozy double to the east on route; Carn na Caim and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag. One problem - we dreaded the A9
. Back at the start of the snow season last year we'd headed out to bag the 4 western Munros and while munching on mini stollen slices on Geal Charn we weren't to know that it would all ended in stupid decisions, lost maps, confusion, a missed summit and admitting we were lost only 30mins shy of sunset - thankfully informing EwaMH and agrubb of our circumstances (just in case), RTMcBs "calm on the outside" demeanor, and a phone signal which finally provided us with a map that hike ended better then it might have. I should also thank the farmer who drove us up the A9 to our car - that man will receive a bottle of wine when we return to bag Sgairneach Mhor. So the A9, ain't our favourite place.
The night before we'd checked the route and I distinctly remember stating "we'll know we're in the right place cause we'll pass a snow gate and Dalwhinne" and RTMcB agreed. However, as we drove down that dreaded road for reasons neither of us will ever understand we parked up at the layby for Meall Chuaich. We hadn't passed the snow gate we were looking for, we hadn't seen Dalwhinnie Distillery and we certainly hadn't headed south of the Dalwhinnie turn off. Yet there we were, booting up at the wrong layby
. The words "going through a gate onto a vehicle track, passing under the pylons" from the WH description was in my head. The thing is to get on to the MC walk you do the same thing (except the gate is locked). Once away from the road we realised things weren't as the should be. RTMcB decided we should head south for a bit along the track to see what we could see. Soon we could see Dalwhinnie Distillery. We really were in the wrong place and the depths of our stupidity became thoroughly apparent once we were heading south down the A9 towards the proper start. We've decided that the A9 is some kind of paranormal activity hot-spot like the Bermuda Triangle. I vow never to spend a night in Dalwhinnie and I fear for what could happen when we do attempt to bag Sgairneach Mhor or Meall Chuaich
Anyway we got there in the end and headed up in baking heat. By the time we got to our first summit Carn na Caim it was evident that our usually speedy pace wasn't with us - the previous 3 days had taken their toll a little bit. One thing worth a mention is fence posts. The WH description mentions the fence posts which aid navigation to Carn na Caim but neglects to mention the handy line of fence posts which lead the way directly to A'Bhuidheanach Bheag - always handy in poor conditions. As we sat at the trig on A'Bhuidheanach Bheag sharing a large pork pie and sipping brandy we found ourselves contemplating whether we should bag the other 936m point. We decided yes. But after only 20 metres decided no
and promptly headed back along the fence posts.
Heading down the track from the quarry was a painful experience - our feet and knees were really starting to ache and the intense heat of the day wasn't making it easier. But soon enough we were back at the car and heading home (with me sipping on the remains of the brandy and able to take in a lovely view to Carn Liath (Beinn a'Ghlo) as we passed in the car). Must admit these two Munros weren't the most exciting but a good shout for tired legs and would probably offer a great day out under snowy conditions - although I could imagine them being a little problematic in poor visibility. But they're in the bag and probably won't be revisited.
11 Munros had been climbed (as we did Cairngorm twice) over four days in great conditions and despite the "Moan-dhliath" experience those four days had been ace
. Thankfully we could still walk that evening as we carried all our things up three flights of stairs to our 3rd floor flat. The pain of our final descent was far from our minds which were far too full of fun good memories of the last 4 days. The following morning I felt up to do it all again but alas the real world called 
Day 1: Creag Meagaidh circuit (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20068)
Day 2: Three Monadhliath Munros (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20088)
Day 3: Bynack More & Cairngorm (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20172)
Day 4 arrived. We were heading home via A9 to bag an oozy-woozy double to the east on route; Carn na Caim and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag. One problem - we dreaded the A9
. Back at the start of the snow season last year we'd headed out to bag the 4 western Munros and while munching on mini stollen slices on Geal Charn we weren't to know that it would all ended in stupid decisions, lost maps, confusion, a missed summit and admitting we were lost only 30mins shy of sunset - thankfully informing EwaMH and agrubb of our circumstances (just in case), RTMcBs "calm on the outside" demeanor, and a phone signal which finally provided us with a map that hike ended better then it might have. I should also thank the farmer who drove us up the A9 to our car - that man will receive a bottle of wine when we return to bag Sgairneach Mhor. So the A9, ain't our favourite place. The night before we'd checked the route and I distinctly remember stating "we'll know we're in the right place cause we'll pass a snow gate and Dalwhinne" and RTMcB agreed. However, as we drove down that dreaded road for reasons neither of us will ever understand we parked up at the layby for Meall Chuaich. We hadn't passed the snow gate we were looking for, we hadn't seen Dalwhinnie Distillery and we certainly hadn't headed south of the Dalwhinnie turn off. Yet there we were, booting up at the wrong layby
. The words "going through a gate onto a vehicle track, passing under the pylons" from the WH description was in my head. The thing is to get on to the MC walk you do the same thing (except the gate is locked). Once away from the road we realised things weren't as the should be. RTMcB decided we should head south for a bit along the track to see what we could see. Soon we could see Dalwhinnie Distillery. We really were in the wrong place and the depths of our stupidity became thoroughly apparent once we were heading south down the A9 towards the proper start. We've decided that the A9 is some kind of paranormal activity hot-spot like the Bermuda Triangle. I vow never to spend a night in Dalwhinnie and I fear for what could happen when we do attempt to bag Sgairneach Mhor or Meall Chuaich Anyway we got there in the end and headed up in baking heat. By the time we got to our first summit Carn na Caim it was evident that our usually speedy pace wasn't with us - the previous 3 days had taken their toll a little bit. One thing worth a mention is fence posts. The WH description mentions the fence posts which aid navigation to Carn na Caim but neglects to mention the handy line of fence posts which lead the way directly to A'Bhuidheanach Bheag - always handy in poor conditions. As we sat at the trig on A'Bhuidheanach Bheag sharing a large pork pie and sipping brandy we found ourselves contemplating whether we should bag the other 936m point. We decided yes. But after only 20 metres decided no
and promptly headed back along the fence posts. Heading down the track from the quarry was a painful experience - our feet and knees were really starting to ache and the intense heat of the day wasn't making it easier. But soon enough we were back at the car and heading home (with me sipping on the remains of the brandy and able to take in a lovely view to Carn Liath (Beinn a'Ghlo) as we passed in the car). Must admit these two Munros weren't the most exciting but a good shout for tired legs and would probably offer a great day out under snowy conditions - although I could imagine them being a little problematic in poor visibility. But they're in the bag and probably won't be revisited.
11 Munros had been climbed (as we did Cairngorm twice) over four days in great conditions and despite the "Moan-dhliath" experience those four days had been ace
. Thankfully we could still walk that evening as we carried all our things up three flights of stairs to our 3rd floor flat. The pain of our final descent was far from our minds which were far too full of fun good memories of the last 4 days. The following morning I felt up to do it all again but alas the real world called 
