Drumochtor Munros Day 1,Dec 2023

So we managed a last trip up too Scotland,with a forcast of clear skies,cold temps and snow laying already,it was an easy decision

But with the very short days in a December day i had to choose a trip to pick up the 4 Western Munros for my brothers Munro round 

To help with the traveling we (my brother Jamie and I) drove up to Perth and stayed there Thursday night after work.So after a good breakfast,last minute weather check we drove the last section,leaving the car not long after 8 am,at the cottages B&B at the top of Drumochtor pass 

 

Weather looked like it might change but it held fast mostly and gave some superb views out too the other ranges,the temp at the car had been -5c and that was where it mostly stayed for the day 

The snow was the dry dusty version which never holds or clumps together the temp at the car was -5c and that was roughly the average for the day

Geal-charn was the first Munro which opened up the views both too the north and west 

Snow cover was complete with a depth of around 5-7 inch,but it was the dry dusty powdery snow,that never forms or clumps together 

Ben Alder group 

Above the summit of Geal-charn and below a zoomed in pic of Ben Alder lodge 

While the sun shone on us the temperature was ok but in the clag you could feel the extra few degrees of frost it brought with it 

The clag came in then blew past then blew in but as we approached our 3rd and last Munro it cleared again 

As we headed up towards Beinn Udlamains North summit the foot steps we had seen on and off,all but vanished.Those were the last steps we saw till later the next day 

I doubled checked the map and our heading as I thought it strange that no one else had been to the summit,that lay 500m further SE ?

The sun then broke through as we sat on the summit cairn, giving us stunning views.The wind and snow had produced beautiful snow forms on the old fence sections that had been pushed into the cairn,so another quick refuel we headed off into the cold clag

 

As the day ticked on and the sun started to head back to bed,it was time for me to find water and a place for us too pitch 

The map had already given some clues for a possible pitch and water so after some searching,and thanks to wet few months we have had,we found water and soon had our shelters set up 

For this trip is brought i had my Scarp 1,Jamie had brought his Khufu.They were both soon pitched,trusted snow pegs securing the main points,with that done water was soon on for a cup a soup 

Tea was a favorite of mine from LYO supplied from Basecamp foods and was followed by more brews and a tasty pudding too

The cold soon arrived !

I recently changed cameras so I struggled to get things dialled in,to make matters worse the deep cold was causing the camera lense to constantly mist up too,but a few came out….even a touch of Aurora 

Summit to Eats pudding 😋

iPhone shot for fun 

A good first day,heavy packs loaded down with food/water/sharp stuff made for slower speeds but we did 14 k and 990m of ascent,picking up 3 off the 4 Munros on this side of the pass 

Thanks for looking,Safe travels Peter