walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Drumochter 4 in the clag and snow

Drumochter 4 in the clag and snow


Postby jamesb63 » Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:03 pm

Munros included on this walk: A' Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain, Geal-chàrn (Drumochter), Sgàirneach Mhòr

Date walked: 31/03/2016

Time taken: 5.33 hours

Distance: 24 km

Ascent: 1100m

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

The forecast looked good for today so I decided to head up the A9
and do the west Drumochter 4
Arriving at 6.50 the clag was down on the tops and it did look to be clearing
so with just the boots to put on I set off towards Balsporran cottage
and over the railway


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



DSC03803.JPG
Looking toward Balsporran from the carpark


There had been a bit of frost overnight so the path was not too bad :D

DSC03805.JPG
Looking back down the A9 where I would be walking back at the finish


DSC03807.JPG
Looking back down to the start


Now instead of cearing as forecasted down came the clag and there
had also been fresh snow overnight not even a trace of a footprint on the path
well except for my walking partner who like to keep ahead of me :lol: :lol:

DSC03808.JPG
Jake in the clag


55 mins after leaving the car we were on the summit of Gael Charn
with nothing to see it was a quick pic and move off towards A' Mharconaich

DSC03809.JPG
Summit of Gael Charn


On the ascent to A' Mharconaich I got a VERY brief glimpse of Loch Erict and
Ben Alder Lodge that was about as good as I got on the walk :(

DSC03814.JPG
Ben Alder lodge awesome wee house lol


Back came the clag and soon we were at the amazing cairn on A' Mharconaich :lol: :lol:

DSC03815.JPG
A' Mharconaich Cairn wow so good I spent 10 mins looking for another


Once more no point in spending time looking at clag so moved off now towards Beinn Udlamain
starting the ascent the snow came on and navigation had to be spot on as with both snow and clag
visibility was down to a couple of metres
So I was pleased when it cleared a bit and I seen the cairn about 100yds away :D

DSC03820.JPG
Beinn Udlamain summit cairn


I had not stopped for a bite to eat and decided I would just wait till I got back to the car
so moved off now towards the final top Sgairneach Mhor
starting on the ascent jake stopped in his tracks and stood staring I had to look carefully
to see 2 Ptarmigan only yards in front and was surprised that they started to walk along
to the side of us for a short bit then just walked off :o

DSC03823.JPG
Ptarmigan


The snow on the north side of Sgairneach Mhor seemed to stretch on for ever :lol:
About 500m from the summit I met the only walker I seen all day a gentleman who was Irish
he was planning just to do Sgairneach Mhor and Beinn Udlamain
After having a short chat I moved along the the summit and this was my 90th Munro
in 11 months and in reality it was just 7 months as I had 4 months out my my dads illness
and passing away ,It was also jakes 83rd in the same time period

DSC03828.JPG
Summit of my 90th Munro very pleased


DSC03835.JPG
Cornice on Sgairneach Mhor


DSC03840.JPG
Looking back to Sgairneach Mhor and the clags got thicker again


Only thing left to do now was the trudge back up the A9 to Balsporran carpark
and have a bite to eat and a nice hoy cuppa :D
On a sad note on getting home I had to make the aweful decision to a have
Jakes mother put to sleep as she had been struggling with walking and her
legs seem to have gave way :( :(
User avatar
jamesb63
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 398
Munros:218   Corbetts:3
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Apr 14, 2015
Location: Alexandria

Re: Drumochter 4 in the clag and snow

Postby Petr Dakota » Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:22 pm

Well done James again and congratulations to your 90 and Jake's 83 ! :clap: :clap: :clap:
The 100 in horizon now :thumbup:

I could see you from the opposite side today - did the East duo :D
User avatar
Petr Dakota
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1274
Munros:247   Corbetts:28
Fionas:8   Donalds:4
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:19
Wainwrights:12   Islands:1
Joined: Sep 3, 2014
Location: North Lanarkshire

Re: Drumochter 4 in the clag and snow

Postby Jaxter » Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:57 pm

Wow what a difference a day makes :shock: :shock: :shock:

Glad you at least got some views at least :thumbup: I guess it's the difficult days that make us enjoy the great ones even more. Good job on doing it in much harder conditions :clap:
User avatar
Jaxter
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1486
Munros:217   Corbetts:139
Fionas:90   Donalds:49+13
Sub 2000:129   Hewitts:69
Wainwrights:81   Islands:35
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Drumochter 4 in the clag and snow

Postby jamesb63 » Fri Apr 01, 2016 1:36 pm

Petr Dakota wrote:Well done James again and congratulations to your 90 and Jake's 83 ! :clap: :clap: :clap:
The 100 in horizon now :thumbup:

I could see you from the opposite side today - did the East duo :D


Thankyou Petr and well done on your 150 :clap: ,cant believe you were just across the road
I am sure we will meet up sometime :)

Jaxter wrote:Wow what a difference a day makes :shock: :shock: :shock:

Glad you at least got some views at least :thumbup: I guess it's the difficult days that make us enjoy the great ones even more. Good job on doing it in much harder conditions :clap:


Definetly Jaxter the poor visabilty days are soon forgotten when you get good days
I mark down the clag days so as to return to them at some point in better weather
User avatar
jamesb63
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 398
Munros:218   Corbetts:3
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Apr 14, 2015
Location: Alexandria

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 33 guests