Preparations
Originally I was planning on doing some of the Ben Lawers summits, and Fraser, @MM0EFI, and I had even agreed on the “two cars; once through” hike. However, as the weather looked mixed, I was persuaded to save that for a better day, plus one where I had time for dinner at the hotel afterwards. 
As Fraser is getting close to completing all the Cairngorms National Park summits, he suggested we went there instead. He only had five left, which included The Sow of Atholl, GM/CS-078, and Geal-Charn, GM/CS-043. A route between the two, including the other two SOTA summits of Beinn Udlamain, GM/CS-022, and Sgairneach Mhor, GM/CS-028, plus a quick detour to visit the unprominent A’ Mharconaich munro, soon began to form the day before. We considered a two car route for these but instead decided a shared car ride, and a 4 km walk along the A9, would be best. As the forecast was low cloud, and rain showers in the morning, we decided to walk the A9 section first, and start with The Sow. Plus we get the road part out of the way first.
The Sow
After meeting at our establish rendezvous point, and driving around to the parking spot by the Balsporran B&B, we set off up the A9 towards The Pass of Drumochter. This is the highest point of the A9, at 460m, and also the highest mainline railway track - ask Fraser for more. Also features a burger van in the south side layby, should you need. The weather was damp but not much rain as we walked along on the road.
Once over the Allt Coire Dhomhain, the path disappears and it’s a DIY effort up to the top. At this point the rain came to join the wind. 
With a wee cairn at the top, there’s not much shelter. Hoping for a quick activation, we decided to share the HT and try 2m. After several CQs with no response, it was clear HF was going to be needed. Whilst Fraser continued on VHF, I setup HF and we managed to get enough contacts on 40m each before making a hasty descent off the summit.
Sgairneach Mhor - Munro 
Once we were off the summit, the weather started to improve, and by the time we were on Sgairneach Mhor, we had good views all around and even spots of blue sky!
It was here that we saw our first pair of ptarmigans, trotting along the path.
Determined to work someone on 2m, Fraser setup at the top with the slim G again. I went straight to HF and had a quick run on 40m. After a disappointing 20 minutes on 2m, with only Andy, GM6ZAK, on the Tay bridge in the log, Fraser had a quick go on 20m to get his four. Time to move on!
Beinn Udlamain - Munro 
Now we’re on the main munro loop, the track was clear and wide to the summit of the highest peak of the day. At 1,010m it just sneaks into the 8-pointer category. After using my radio for the previous two summits, Fraser was determined to use his own gear this time. A QMX plus a new EFHW for 20m. I left him at a post to setup whilst I went up to the summit cairn.
A glorious cairn it is too - a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, type of cairn. Whilst the rain had long gone, the wind was still strong, and definetly had an autumn temperature to it, so it was nice to setup on the leeward side.
I started on 40m again, and as Fraser hadn’t appeared, I switched to 15m. The silence of 15m made me realise how noisy the static on 40m was. It was about 1pm by now and 15m was in reasonble shape, with my highlight being @W4GO in Virginia.
Turns out Fraser didn’t have much luck with his QMX, and couldn’t transmit, so was back on my radio to get a quick four before we continued on.
A’ Mharconaich - Munro 
Whilst not a SOTA summit, given its 114 m prominence, it is an impressive summit when viewed from the northeast, and it would be silly not to call in as we’re passing. It was unactivated in the HEMA scheme - and remains unactivated still 
. We admired the view - spotting Cairn Toul in the distance, plus many other CNP summits north and east. We even meet a few other walkers.
Time is marching on⌚, and so should we🚶♂️➡️. We retrace some of our steps before heading down and then starting the final ascent.
Geal-charn - Munro 
Determined to (a) use his own radio gear he’s carried around all day and (b) to get some 2m contacts, Fraser once again sets up his slim G. I’m back on HF and start with 15m, but it’s much poorer for me and only two in the log. 40m was very busy, and hard to find a gap and then hard to hear over all the QRM.
At this point Fraser appears empty handed, and I pass the mic so he gets on 20m. He finished the day with a pile up on 20m, and so it’s time to head back to the car - oh I’m glad we did the A9 walk this morning!
Before we get off the summit plateau, and start descending on the path river/bog back to the car, we stumble into a covey of ptarmigans superbly camouflaged in the rocks. If they hadn’t moved, I don’t think we would’ve seen them.
Back to the car, and back home - unfortunately we didn’t have time for Fraser’s red pudding supper - so we had to finish the mince pies instead.
and Finally…
Not as many points as the Ben Lawers route, but every time we looked in its direction, it was in the clouds. We seemed to get the better weather sooner, as the cloud started lifting from west to east. We did manage 26 km, 5 summits, 4 munros, 1 corbett, 4 SOTA qualifications, and 6 mince pies.
I hope Archie, GM4KNU, has a good time on Sunday when he’s out on three of them! Fraser says don’t bother with 2m.
