After last week’s wee adventure, everything was lining up just nicely for today’s activation, with the weather forecast being absolutely lovely. Plus with the rain and some time since the snow, the roads should be in better condition. 
After some back and forth, Fraser, @MM0EFI, suggested Stob Coire Easain, GM/WS-015, together with the non-SOTA Munro on the way there. It would be a seriously snowy adventure 
, new for both of us, but in glorious sunshine should be delightful.
Rendezvous a la cludgies was set for 0620, and alarms set appropriately. It was a cold morning and we were out before the gritters, this meant Bellabeg was a black ice rink and I almost missed the turning, and not for lack of trying. We continued in Fraser’s Polo GTI, but the rain shower turned to snow on the Lecht and we couldn’t make it past the viewpoint.
Fit noo?
- Wait for the gritter
- Go back for the landy
- Go back to bed
Last year, the gritter didn’t show up to about 10am, although the gates were closed that time. So we decided to head back to Fraser’s and get the 110. This meant an extra hour of travelling plus now we were on 40 y/o landy speeds vs. GTI’s, and Easains were nae mair. As my eyes scanned the yellow and above dots on the sotlas map, Fraser suggested The Fara, GM/WS-106, and so our new destination was set.
We did pass the gritter loading up and he’d been up to the top, although they stops at the county line, so it was a good decision to go 4x4. It also helped for parking opposite the Dalwhinnie quarry as the single free space was taken. Four hours after I left home, we finally set off for the day, and what a day! 
The first river crossing has a fancy concrete mattress to help you over, and at this, we both thought of our dear friend Chris, @2M0RVZ.
The higher we climbed the better the view became.
The snow was firm and crunchy but not icy, and sparkled beautifully in the sun. 
We reached the top in about 1:40, and I will fail at articulating the surroundings and sights. Not only was it blue skies and sunshine, crisp snow underfoot, but there wasn’t a breath of wind. Perhaps -1°C air temp but you couldn’t feel it.
Even though we didn’t manage our original plan, this was still top quality SOTA. Speaking of which, it was time to setup. I was on 40m with the KX2 and 41’ EFRW; Fraser had his QMX with 20m EFHW.
40m was good for me, with plenty of chasers. Fraser, on the other hand, wasn’t having much luck on 20m. I did see Archie’s, @GM4KNU, spot on 2m come up for GM/WS-146 and whilst I was listening and trying to see where he was on a map, he came through loud and clear. Fraser got one more on 2m, Brian ex-GM8PKL, now GM3EMP, but after several more CQs he made use of my station and hopped on to 40m.
The day before I called into Aldi on the way home from work, but I only had my jacket pockets (on my bike) so no mince pies today - they wouldn’t fit - but instead a nice brick of Aldi Christmas cake expertly sliced with Fraser’s swiss army knife - finally using the christmas cake blade in it. On the way up Fraser had pointed out Meall nan Eagan, GM/WS-247, and the heather bash him and Mo had done back in March this year. As we had time, and it’s a CNP summit I’ve not done, he submitted to climbing it again. So aff we ging than!
We pretty much took a straight line route towards the summit, descending from 911m to 450m and then starting the steep climb up the other side. We’d spotted a fence line on the map and so followed that up, but this was a four legged climb up the scree.
At the top of the scree I thought we were there, but looking up I saw there was still another 100m to go on the next climb!
Quite the slog to get to the top, but still lovely views to make it worthwhile (again for some). Just a quick activation on 40m and 15m for me, and Fraser tried 20m and 2m but nothing on VHF this time. The sun was getting low and the air getting chillier, so it time to head back to the landy over a fair bittie of heather before we found the track to take us back.
You get to play a game of Frogger crossing the burn on the way back. The estate has installed a lot of footbridges but you can’t always tell if you should cross the river or keep going. We only lost one point for an unnecessary crossing.
The ride home passed quickly, mostly as I dozed in the 110 dB engine white noise and 110°F cab temperature as the heater was set to “ON” (vs. “OFF”). Although soon awakened by the -4°C bogs and ice under my car’s wheels.
We had a grand day out, but anyone would have, on any hill today.
And the wind was strong and damned cold. As such I needed my Tellytubby hat.
(i Wonder if chatbots can manage that?)
. Especially chocolates!