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On looking out the hotel window this morning, the weather looked wonderful
.
It was my intention to ascend a small Marilyn above Loch Tay called Drummond Hill. It only took about one second to decide that Drummond Hill could wait for another day - the weather was too good to waste on a viewless tree-covered molehill.
Last-minute decision time, what would I go up instead?
I checked the map for nearby Munros that I still required for my second round. Geal-charn and A’Mharconaich fitted the bill perfectly - a reasonably short day and on my way home.
I drove to, and parked at Balsporran Cottages, where there is a large car park.
I last ascended Geal-charn and A’Mharconaich together with Beinn Udlamainn and Sgairneach Mhor, back in the summer of 1998.
Click here to see a map of the route undertakenFrom the car park, I undertook the standard anti-clockwise circuit of Geal-charn and A’Mharconaich
Not going to say anymore about the day, other than it was really enjoyable and the views were excellent.
Geal-charn must be one of the easiest Munros, with maximum reward for minimal effort.
I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story.
Balsporran Cottages:
Geal-charn:
An Torc and A’Mharconaich:
Ascending Geal-charn:
Looking back towards Balsporran Cottages:
View towards Glen Feshie:
Looking across to A’Mharconaich from cairn en-route to the summit of Geal-charn:
Looking towards the summit of Geal-charn from the cairn at 840m:
Looking back towards Creagan Mor and 840m cairn:
The Fara, Loch Ericht and Creagan Mor:
View from the summit of Geal-charn:
Looking across to Loch Ericht and Ben Alder from cairn:
Ben Alder and Ardverikie Forest Munros:
Culra Bothy (zoom):
Long and Short Leachas ridges of Ben Alder (zoom):
Loch Ericht and Ben Alder hills from a short distance below the summit cairn:
Looking back to Geal-charn:
About to ascend A’Mharconaich:
Ascending A’Mharconaich:
Loch Ericht from A’Mharconaich:
Ben Alder Lodge (zoom):
Airplane (zoom):
Rime-covered fence post:
Schiehallion (zoom):
Looking towards the summit of A’Mharconaich:
Snow-covered small summit cairn of A’Mharconaich:
Looking towards large cairn from small summit cairn:
Descent from A’Mharconaich:
Looking back at initial descent from A’Mharconaich:
Geal-charn from A’Mharconaich:
Descent towards Balsporran Cottages:
Approaching Balsporran Cottages:
I hope there are many more days like this this winter
.