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After usual bit of dithering over weather, we opted for the Drumochter 4, over the Creag Meagaidh hills. Was it the right decision? Well, we certainly got a warmer, sunnier day than we bargained for!
Anyway, the lads opted to take bikes to ease the return two miles up the A9, but as per the previous bike effort, not all went smoothly! What could go wrong this time! Aside from spotting Big Jesper's bike had a flat, while loading my bike onto the roof-rack, not a lot. A quick swap for another of my bikes and we were sorted, though the value of this change was debated at a later point
We dropped the bikes off at the lay-by on the A9, where one can see the "Druimuachdar Pass" sign, before heading onwards to the substantial parking area at Balsporran Cottages.
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- Druimuachdair Pass. Towards Sgairneach Mhor.
Having crossed the railway line, we contemplated why crossing here is legal/safe when there seems to be many trains using the line, but crossing at Ben Lui, where there seems very few, is deemed illegal? Anyway, just watch you take the right path, up towards Geal Charn, though adjusting is no problem, when you take the wrong one, as we did! It is a bit splashy going up here, but not much of a problem and we reached the top in one hour. Good views over Loch Ericht and Ben Alder.
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- The lads at the first summit, Geal Charn.
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- Loch Ericht from Geal Charn.
We then dropped south off Geal Charn, into Coire Fhar, before turning east following a rough path up to the ridge to the north of A' Mharconaich, then climbing up the rim of the corry, to the summit, some fifty minutes later.
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- Ben Alder.
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- A'Mharconaich, towards Ben Alder.
From here, is a fairly flat, but longer stroll SSW'ly, before a gradual rise to the summit of Beinn Udlamain, highest of the four at 1011m, taking just over the hour. The views to the west are great and there was some wildlife to keep us company too, such a hare, deer, ptarmigan and dotterel, I think?
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- En route to No.3
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- Coming off Beinn Udlamain.
From here we dropped south, across a large snowfield to Coire Dhomhain, before turning east for a fairly leisurely walk to Sgairneach Mhor, which was livened up somewhat by the large cornicing and snow still filling the corry below.
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- Jasper gettin' a bit twitchy!
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- Slightly more relaxed?
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- No.4, and or, 97!
After the mandatory photo's, we continued along the lip of the corry, before descending NE'ly, back down to Coire Dhomhain, where a new bridge now spans the river. The descent was much enlivened by Big Jesper taking the odd nose dive, or two. Thanks for the laughs, Charles
We were back at the bikes, which were still sitting intact in just under five and a half hours. It was here, I realised we could have managed with the one bike, as Big Jesper would have been the ideal candidate to have ridden back to Balsporran and come back to pick me up, but like he said, he can be forgetful, so maybe just as well, I tagged along the two miles, or so back to Balsporran, before spilling the bike, giving BJ a good laugh
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- The A9 - and pylons!
Another fabulous trip, bringing the 100 within touching distance and a wee sherbert quenching the thirst in Killin, rounded things of nicely
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- Sherbert.
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- Non alcoholic sherbert!
