Last year ended on a high for me with the successful climb of 15 munros (same as 2016) ending with stunning Bla Bheinn on Skye.
2018 got off to a false and delayed start with a failed attempt of 2 munros in the east Drumochter Hills back in January due to wind, snow and whiteout conditions.
Credit: Mark Vogan
That day ended with a tour of the nearby Dalwhinnie Distillery so not all was lost, haha.
Due to a particularly cold and snowy February, March and even beginning of April, it took till April 10th and time off work to get back to Drumochter and finish what I started back in January.
Just 2 hours up the A9, I parked in Layby 87 just south of the Dalwhinnie turnoff. Weather conditions were good with great visibility and little wind and around 5C at low levels.
Source: https://outnaboutinscotland.com/2015/06/01/carn-na-caim-abhuidheanach-bheag-drumochter/
The good thing about these particular hills are that there’s nothing steep about them and once you’ve gained height, you don’t loose it.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
No snow down on the A9 but with a little height gained there was the patchy stuff.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking down at Dalwhinnie.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking west and across to the 4 munros I bagged last year.
Credit: Mark Vogan
A’ Mharconaich right (achieved January 2017 and first of the year) and Sgairneach Mhor left (September 2017).
Credit: Mark Vogan
Once up on the top of the main plateau, I realised just how much snow remained in the wake of the snowy past couple of months. Winds were fresh to strong, air about -1 with -6C wind chill.
From here it was a fairly easy trek between the two munros. The combination of wind and snow under foot created some forward resistance, especially en-route to the 2nd munro.
Credit: Mark Vogan
The sky was a nice colour and looked threatening but it thankfully didn’t deliver.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Standing on the summit trigpoint of 3,070ft A’Bhuidheanach Beag. 1st of 2018 and my 36th in total.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
View from the summit.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Close up of Sgairneach Mhor.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking SW towards Pitlochry.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking east
Credit: Mark Vogan
A’ Mharconaich peaking above the snowpack.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking south over the deep snowfields of the Drumochter plateau.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Quite a sharp cut off between where the snow ends and begins.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking across to the towering, dominant mountains towards the west including Ben Alder.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
On approach to a strangely snow free 3,086ft Carn na Caim.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
View from the summit.
Looking southwest.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking north.
Credit: Mark Vogan
On my way back down and came across a massive drift tucked within the Coire nan Cisteachan gully.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Looking down at the Dalwhinnie Distillery.
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
Credit: Mark Vogan
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