4 At Drumochter

[Backpacker]

I couldn't make my mind up during the week whether to do these 4 or the 5 round Lochnagar.

After a chat with a mate who I hadn't seen for a while it, we decided that I'd pick them up in Perth and that we'd head up to Drumochter, great, another early start, I was up and away for 5am

We arrived at the B&B shortly after 8 and were suited and booted and ready to go for around quarter past.

We crossed the railway and headed straight for the track up to Geal Charn, oops, no it wasn't, it's 2nd on the right not the 1st. The pull up to Geal Charn although slow wasn't too bad once the legs had decided to warm up and the views down Loch Ericht towards Dalwhinnie were pretty good from this side. We arrived at the top, I had my summit ciggie and took a few photos, there was going to be a theme to today, the views on the ascents and descents were going to be better than the views from the summits.

We descended down ready to start our ascent on A'Mharconaich, which was pretty quick as it is a short climb to the plateau, just a bloody long walk to the summit again, summit ciggie and some more photo's before turning round and heading off towards Beinn Udlamain (cracking name for a hill) this was probably the easiest ascent of the day, a nice gentle pull up towards the summit and some cracking views over Loch Ericht towards the Ben Alder lodge. At the summit we had an extended break to recharge before the final assault on Sgairneach Mhor, this hill really does troll you, on the way down it didn't seem to flatten out before ascending again, finally reached the summit and almost collapsed in a heap, I was gubbed my my feet were really starting to complain a bit too loudly for my liking, I still had to descend and get back to the car, at least another 4 miles.

The descent down, well it was slow and boggy (must be something about me, everytime I'm out I end up in boggy bits) and we finally reached the landrover track, not far now. We were a bit naughty and so seems are a lot of folk at this point, instead of following the track down to the next crossing point, we opted for the more direct approach to get up to the A9.

Tarmac bashing, I despise, still nothing for it, one foot in front of the other and just go, no stopping till I was back back at the car.

I learnt a few things on this one, new pack with bladder is an absolute god send, treat previous blisters properly and don't leave the tape and compeed on the kitchen work top where you are going to forget to pick it up


Looking North up the railway by GaryE1872, on Flickr


Looking South down the railway by GaryE1872, on Flickr


Cairn on Geal Charn by GaryE1872, on Flickr


Wind Shelter on Geal Charn by GaryE1872, on Flickr


Summit Cairn on A'Mhacornaich by GaryE1872, on Flickr


Summit Cairn on Beinn Udlamain by GaryE1872, on Flickr


Summit Cairn on Sgairneach Mhor by GaryE1872, on Flickr


Sgairneach Mhor Trig Point by GaryE1872, on Flickr

Remaining photo's can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151750314511926.1073741832.545136925&type=1&l=8a8953c614

[Driftwood]

It looks like you had some great weather for it, even if these flat summits mean you get to see a lot more of the sky than of the surroundings.

It's too late now, but walking these as a circuit starting from and returning to Drumochter pass cuts the tarmac stretch to a minimum (though means a slightly rougher approach to A'Mharconaich and turns Geal Charn into an out-and-back). I agree with your loathing for tarmac when there's the delights of scree, heather and welcoming peat-bog to be trodden!

[Backpacker]

It looks like you had some great weather for it, even if these flat summits mean you get to see a lot more of the sky than of the surroundings.

It's too late now, but walking these as a circuit starting from and returning to Drumochter pass cuts the tarmac stretch to a minimum (though means a slightly rougher approach to A'Mharconaich and turns Geal Charn into an out-and-back). I agree with your loathing for tarmac when there's the delights of scree, heather and welcoming peat-bog to be trodden!

Those are far more preferable to tarmac

[gmr82]

Did these 4 yesterday aswell setting off around 7.40. Was half the way up Geal-charn, turned round and a few other cars were parked up around 8.10, so you may well have spotted me ascending the first one. Haha I see the 1st right path caught you out, I was very close to doing the same but had my map to hand at that point! Stunning views over to the nearby Munros

[Backpacker]

Did these 4 yesterday aswell setting off around 7.40. Was half the way up Geal-charn, turned round and a few other cars were parked up around 8.10, so you may well have spotted me ascending the first one. Haha I see the 1st right path caught you out, I was very close to doing the same but had my map to hand at that point! Stunning views over to the nearby Munros

I had mine in my pocket

It was double checked from then on in, wasn't doing that again

I didn't see anyone doing the ascent though we were overtaken a couple of times