Ben Vrackie GM/CS-065
The loose Plan
Tim @G5OLD was working his way south, having completed his Excellent Outing to Fisherfield. He’d be coming down the A9 from Inverness to Perth. Plenty of summits on offer. With a poor weather forecast for the morning of Thursday 26th June, we opted for a late start, so we’d climb Ben Vrackie GM/CS-065, a shapely 842m peak which rises above the highland town of Pitlochry.
Interruption
On my journey over, I planned to chase Alex @GM5ALX and hopefully get a complete for Carn a’Ghille Chearr GM/ES-041. Despite me parking on the high ground of the A974 Moulin moors road and waving my 2m beam around, nothing was heard. Despondent, I got back in the car and headed off to meet Tim. On Whatsapp, Alex suggested HF and Tim said I had time. Only one problem. I had neglected to pack a mast, despite carrying my Shack in a bag.
Then a tree appeared on the horizon. Probably the only roadside tree on the moor. I parked on the verge, pushed the hazard light button and grabbed my kit. I chucked the end of the 41’ wire over a branch that was perhaps 3m up and set about trying to hear Alex on 40m. After much crackling and QSB, we eventually made the QSO, 41 and 31 signal reports exchanged. As I finished the QSO, I glanced to the roadside to see a bemused cyclist riding past, wondering why there was a guy crouching down and shouting at the heather. One minute later and I was on my way to the trailhead car park and Tim (and Shadow).
shouty at the roadside
The Hike
The car park is up a wee side road, alongside the Moulin Hotel but more about that later. I think we set off up the well-signed 5km hike around 1230 BST. Initially on a minor road, then footpaths and nice woodland, before emerging onto a heather clad moor. Is it just me, or has the heather flowered earlier this year? Tim and Shadow needed water, so they found a stream and filled up. Later, we came across a loch, and Shadow went for a swim, with Tim’s permission.
Tim and Shadow on the path
first glimpse of the summit
After the loch, the path steepened considerably. Rock steps took us to a small bealach, and a sharp left up to the pointed summit. I forgot to mention that it was a breezy day, and we had been sheltered from this on the last bit of ascent. Not now, though! A strong SW wind whipped across the summit.
summit selfie
Tim quickly set up his HF kit, and I, despite having been being lent a mast by Tim, decided to try VHF. I had my rather good TidRadio TD-H8 and 100g yagi. I could see the Paps of Fife in the distance, knowing Edinburgh lay beyond. A good choice, given that two of my four contacts came from there. (Thanks Andy @MM7MOX). Jack @GM4COX was the other, with finally Alex from his second summit of the day, Creagan a’Chaise GM/ES-038. Another complete for me.
we took over the summit!
Tim, possibly regretting his choice of shorts!
Tim had a run on 40m and 20m, tried the higher bands and then called it a day. Shadow chilled out by the trig, in lieu of the wind, which was still unrelenting. Only a couple of other hikers appeared at the top, which was nice, as it is a popular summit, and we’d completely ruined anyone’s chances of getting their next Instagram pic or selfie.
cold on a warm day
We packed up and immediately dropped into calmer conditions. I pointed out to Tim that we were well within the AZ and this would have been a better place to operate from. However, we are masochistic purists and didn’t consider this option.
The descent was speedy. Shadow had dried off by now and had resisted the temptation to launch himself into the loch in the pursuit of some ducks. That didn’t stop him diving in to a brown bog hole near the edge of the moor, resulting in one wet and mucky dog arriving back at the car park.
Après SOTA
A foreword. I’d driven past the Moulin Hotel and Ben Vrackie many times. Always with the thought that I must visit, however always on the way to some other peak or a far off motorsport rally. Well. today I’d ticked one off and now it was time to visit the other. The hotel has a micro brewery, which I had visited many years ago. Maybe it was one of the first? Edradour distillery is nearby, and that used to be Scotland’s smallest. Maybe not now, with new distilleries popping up everywhere. I digress…
Tim and I enjoyed a couple of low and non-alcoholic drinks and had a nice dinner there. Home cooked food, with a local twist. Game meat everywhere, as well as sausages from the local butcher. Too much to choose from, so we both opted for the simple dish called Vrackie Grostle. This was followed by amazing puddings of the sticky toffee variety (for Tim) and a brulée topped apple crumble for me. It was a lovely afternoon and we ate outside. Shadow didn’t miss out, politely accepting a treat from the waiter.
drinks at the hotel
Vrackie Grostle
Summary
So, there we have it. If Carlsberg did SOTA days. A fine afternoon hike with a friend. Nice trail and a lovely mountain top. Played radio on the top. Nice food and a blether after. Oh, and two more completes for me. Alex tells me I have just 13 chases to go now, to tick off all of GM/ES Completely.
