The Drumochter Four

An early winter outing across A' Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain, Geal-charn (Drumochter) an and Sgairneach Mhor

Looking back to the final peak of Sgairneach Mhor

It was good to be back out with Liam and Michael on what was anticipated to be a fairly straightforward route over largely heathery hills. Despite recent snowfall at height the forecast promised to be cold, crisp and clear.

Simply meaning 'White Peak', it's not surprising to learn there are several mountains and hills dotted around Scotland with the name 'Geal Charn'. This particular one just makes it into the Munro listings at 8ft over the required 3000ft elevation and sits 3rd bottom of the height tables.

As we set off from Balsporran Cottages the early morning sky was illuminated in wispy shades of rhubarb and custard - pale yellows and dusky pinks washed into one another as the sun heralded it's appearance.

Rhubarb & Custard and Crème Brûlée.......

The cold air caught at the back of my throat as the ascent steepened and breaths draw bigger. Fortunately, even at lower elevation the emerging vistas and pastel washed backdrop gave us plenty of reason to stop and admire the surroundings. The track gave us a reasonably easy start before we veered off and from there it was a straightforward slog over snow covered heathery slopes. The only real hazard being the opaque sheets of ice which concealed bog and mire below. Rather like cracking a open the top of a dark chocolate filled crème brûlée.

Cairn in sight

The gentle but gradual rise was decpetively long and we covered around 1km from leaving the track to the Cairn, the horizon seeming to retreat before us as we chased down the summit. Despite it's placing in the overall Munro Height Table, 3000ft is still 3000ft and the views over Loch Etricht to Ben Alder were very fine indeed.

Thereafter the pattern of the day played out on repeat - down though Bealach and up heathery slopes to summits. Far be this from a monotonous occasion, as the Winter blanket that covered the landscape conspired with the shifting sunlight to create ever changing scenes, like a winter theatre production where the lighting and scenery technicians were working flat out to dazzle, inspire and enthral.

Only in the 4th and final act of the winter fantasy did the plot thicken as, from nowhere, the hitherto hidden protagonist in our production emerged suddenly from the wings in the form of a short sharp burst of severe weather. We had noticed it from a distance a few hours previously but it came upon us far quicker then expected as we were leaving the final summit. The fierce wind whipping up crystallised ice similar to a sandstorm and combing with driving sleet that accompanied dark clouds. It was over and past before you could shout 'It's behind you'.