Meall Chuaich has it all ....... today.
Route description: Meall Chuaich, Drumochter
Date walked: 20/01/2017, Time taken: 4 hours, Distance: 8.8miles/14.1 km, Ascent: 615m
First trip to Munros this year and target was Meall Chuaich, Dalwhinnie. Forecast was looking so good that we were tempted to head for grander hills, but finally opted to stick with the plan and had new company in the shape of Stuart, to keep us right, if the fog didn't lift.
Usual early start. Five thirty, is just not right, however managed to keep the motor on the road and made it to the start point without mishap. Hills were well shrouded in clag, but forecast predicted clear sun by 9a.m. As we headed off another group of lads arrived and unloaded their bikes. Should we have done likewise? Anyway, we made good pace along the landrover track towards Loch Cuaich. There's quite a few roads criss-crossing here, however Charles kept us on the straight and narrow, or followed the cyclists, who passed us near the hydro plant 😊
Following the road round, there's an obvious cairn which marks the departure point up the hill. Fairly boggy for the first few hundred yards, but steadily becomes drier. As 10 a.m. approached, all sorts of questions were being asked about the Met Office prediction of clear sun, as we followed the very obvious path, eventually joining up with the 3 cyclists from Aberdeen area. Not long after, we emerged into a different world. A sea of cloud below us, stunning sunshine and not a breath of wind.
We were soon treated to a Fogbow and Brocken Spectre, although neither being the greatest examples and typically, I had left my camera at home :( Nearing the summit, gets into boulders and stones, requiring a bit more concentration, but nothing to really impair progress as the gradient is not steep. Only a few small pockets of snow. Before long we were at the summit, where we spent plenty time enjoying the vista of hills pressing above the cloud inversion, which was a great pleasure to see, finally topped off by a fly past by a Typhoon Eurofighter, then two other jets, heading the opposite way to finish off the spectacular display. Great views of surrounding hills and ranges. Indistinguished? - Not today :D
Grub and drinks scoffed, we made our way down and back to the car in four hours, just as the bikers pulled in at our backs, so for us, we were happy enough having left the bikes at home. Bit of a long trek home, but a refreshment stop in Killin, to reflect on the days amazing images, always helps soothe the tiredness :lol:
23 окт 2024
