Drumochter 4

[gman]

drumochter 4 actual 7-2-2013.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

First hills of the year, thought Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor looked like an easy day with the option of adding on the other 2 if I felt up to it

Hadn't been on the A9 past Perth before so that was interesting, got to the layby & set off about 8:30. Followed the road to a railway underpass:


Then wandered up the landrover track, drifting snow was deep in places but mostly ok:


First bridge over Allt Coire Dhomhain and ridge to Sgairneach Mhor:


Second bridge, straight up from here on an easy gradient:


View from the ridge including the Sow of Atholl and the low cloud which I was just about to walk into :


No views today, but here's the first cairn/trig point:


Pattern for today - get to claggy cairn, down to bealach, back up to claggy cairn etc. Sometimes there were fence posts to follow:


Beinn Udlamain cairn, my favourite so far despite the lack of a trig point:


More fence:


Decided to go for the four, got pretty cold on the way to A' Mharconaich so I was hoping for a worthwhile cairn. Instead I got this :


Onwards into the murk:


Another cairn on the way to Geal-charn, impressive after the last travesty :


Mountain hare for company:


Down to the bealach...and finally! A view! Loch Etricht:


Geal-charn sporting a bonus cairn:


Time to head back down out of the clag:


More cairns on the way back to the road:


Cloud lifting on A' Mharconaich now grrr :


Headed straight back towards the cottage instead of following route so I missed the start of the track, which would probably have made the descent easier. On the track:


Level crossing:


And back to the road, there's a path at the side so no probs:


Easy start to the year, I would go for the 4 if you're travelling far as 2 would be a pretty short walk.

[The Rodmiester]

A fine day out on the hills gman, pity about the low cloud It looks though a lot of the snow has dissapeared from the summits, which allowed reasonable walking. Nice to get out, and good distance covered

[Alzay]

Thanks for the report I'm doing the southern two next Sunday, I did the north two a few weeks back but the weather was that bad it stopped us doing the four in one day.

[The Rodmiester]

Thanks for the report I'm doing the southern two next Sunday, I did the north two a few weeks back but the weather was that bad it stopped us doing the four in one day.

Hi Alzay, mind to include the wee Corbett The Sow of Atholl when you head off to do the two Southern munros, hardly any extra walking. See report 'Big 3 tame the wee 4 plus 1'

[balgonie]

Good report gman and pics are pretty much like mines as I was there that same day we probably passed eachother in the clag like passing ships in the night

[PeteR]

A good effort getting these four done in the one go. Shame about the clag though. Seem to recall that's all I saw when I did these hills Still, I'll go back on a crisp, clear winters day and get the benefit of the views then Have to say it looks a cold day when you were there.

[gman]

Conditions were good for walking, not too cold & the trudge back up the road was probably the worst part

Thanks for the report I'm doing the southern two next Sunday, I did the north two a few weeks back but the weather was that bad it stopped us doing the four in one day.

Hope you get better views than I did!

Good report gman and pics are pretty much like mines as I was there that same day we probably passed eachother in the clag like passing ships in the night

Saw 3 other guys when I was heading up Geal-charn? Other than that it was just me & the rabbits