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.

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.

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.

No snow down on the A9 but with a little height gained there was the patchy stuff.

Looking down at Dalwhinnie.

Looking west and across to the 4 munros I bagged last year.

A’ Mharconaich right (achieved January 2017 and first of the year) and Sgairneach Mhor left (September 2017).

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.

The sky was a nice colour and looked threatening but it thankfully didn’t deliver.

Standing on the summit trigpoint of 3,070ft A’Bhuidheanach Beag. 1st of 2018 and my 36th in total.

View from the summit.

Close up of Sgairneach Mhor.

Looking SW towards Pitlochry.

Looking east

A’ Mharconaich peaking above the snowpack.

Looking south over the deep snowfields of the Drumochter plateau.

Quite a sharp cut off between where the snow ends and begins.

Looking across to the towering, dominant mountains towards the west including Ben Alder.

On approach to a strangely snow free 3,086ft Carn na Caim.

View from the summit.

Looking southwest.

Looking north.

On my way back down and came across a massive drift tucked within the Coire nan Cisteachan gully.

Looking down at the Dalwhinnie Distillery.

Tags: A'Bhuidheanach Beag, carn na caim, munros