Vrackie Sunrise

[tall-story]

I always knew this would be a busy hill so I opted to leave it for a silly o` clock start to get some sunrise photos . So it was a 4am alarm ! Packed an ready to go by 4.45am, so that got me to Pitlochry and the car park at Moulin for 6am and an empty car park (for the time being anyway).
This was my first winter walk in the dark so I did hope that there wasn't too much snow higher up and also it was Juras first winter/dark/night walk so I was a wee bit concerned for the dog at least.
I actually quite like night/dark walks as you generally get a clear walk ahead with the local wildlife often still a bit sleepy, so you can see more than maybe later in the day. It was a fairly quick walk with no issues at all other than Jura being a bit too interested in a camper who had set up home at the end of Loch a`Choire as it turned out she was there for the same reason I was, Sunrise photos!
So on we went and it was time for the dreaded steps I know theses things save on erosion but I think they have to be the most awful things especially on the downward trip (my knee just disnae like them at all). Things were going well though and as it was soo early the ice on the steps was dry and crusty so not particularly slippy . After a few stops just to look at the views of the rapidly changing colours in the sky

Early view to the East

Easterly View

;-)

it wasn`t long and we were at the top

Summit plaque

and a quick look at the time and I realised that we were 45mins ish early for the sunrise (845am). So as it was far to cold to sit around off we went for a wee wander around the summit and out to the eastern end of the hill for some photos and a warm up.

Early View of Vrackie

Vrackie 2

Also to my surprise wee Jura seemed to be coping very well with the snow and ice

Jura looking very proud ;-)

. Time wasn't long in passing and almost by surprise the sun started to appear and it was just superb, it would have been nicer with some cloud, but what do you do??

sunrise 1

sunrise 2

As the sun was rising there was a light snow shower passing over which imo added to the effect of the sunrise colours.

sunrise 3 summit cairn

sunrise 4 summit cairn

summit 5

sunrise 6

Vrackie 2

Small cornice and Vrackie summit

One last look east ;-)

Beinn a`Ghlo pano

After around a half hour or so it was time to go as I was bloomin freezing what with gloves on then off then on again for photos,

Loch a` Choire on the way down

still it wasn't long when I was out of the wind and almost at the Loch again the gloves were off as I had warmed up well.

Jura and Ben Vrackie

The walk back was fairly swift with one or two stops for photos and to chat walkers on there way up, some who were quite surprised that I had been to the top and on my way back by that time (which was around 9).

View south on the way down the path off

I must have passed around 20 odd groups of walkers which was one of my reasons for doing this hill so early, just to avoid the crowds. When I got back to the car park it was full with what seemed like an overflow just down the road a bit being pretty full also. So if you cant be doing with crowds on the hills either go early or I guess later in the day and you should miss the worst of the hoards, a very popular hill That was that so onwards to Dunkeld for me to meet up with friends for a very welcome bowl of soup

[litljortindan]

Looks like you got a great reward for the early start.

[Beaner001]

Well done wee Jura, your early start has been rewarded here mate.
Cheers

[scottishkennyg]

A1 photographs, well worth the early start and exposure to the cold weather. Cheers Kenny