Drumochter 4 in the clag and snow

[jamesb63]

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

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Looking toward Balsporran from the carpark

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

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

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

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

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

Ben Alder lodge awesome wee house lol

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

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

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

Ptarmigan

The snow on the north side of Sgairneach Mhor seemed to stretch on for ever
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

Summit of my 90th Munro very pleased

Cornice on Sgairneach Mhor

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
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

[Petr Dakota]

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

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

[Jaxter]

Wow what a difference a day makes

Glad you at least got some views at least 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

[jamesb63]

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

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

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

Wow what a difference a day makes

Glad you at least got some views at least 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

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