After a few activations over the late summer period, the magic 1000 points was very close. I sneaked in a couple more trips to leave the activator tally at 999.
The question was what to do now?
One thought was to activate the first hill I activated from (a 1 pointer) as it’s only a few miles away. However it’s not strong for 2m and it would be nice to include some of the 2m ops over the country who have supported me over the years.
I then had the idea to try and qualify a chosen hill using 13cms. I noised people up regarding an attempt on Ben Challum and enough people supported the idea, so that plan rolled into focus.
Plan - Ben Challum @GM/CS-021 then over the road and activate Beinn Dubhcraig @GM/SS-009 and Ben Oss @GM/SS-008 following an overnight camp at altitude.
Andy @MM7MOX was out for a trip on his motorbike but would be on Knock of Crieff @GM/SS-264 on the Monday so that determined the order of my summits to give the best chance of an S2S with him as Ben More and Stob Binnein would get in the way otherwise.
Monday 13th 5:00am - leave home … arrive at parking for Ben Challum at 8:00am - weather grey overcast and cool but no wind.
I booted up, strapped on the rucksack and set off up the hill - map router suggested 3hrs ascent time - turned out about right!
The initial climb up over the railway (by bridge) was a bit boggy and soggy on the path but a close by quad-track had flattened the grass and was less wet, so I used that for a while.
Starting out…. picturesque graveyard - still in use.
At 650m I broke through the layer of murk and was suddenly in clear sky overhead and a view of the tips of hills above that level - ascended a few more metres and then stopped to admire the view (nothing to do with being out of breath…)
The view was stunning!
Beinn Dubhcraig , Ben Oss and Ben Lui centre..
Ben More, Stob Binnein, Cruarch Ardrain, An Caisteal …..
Anyway after grabbing some pictures, I set off again - into more sogginess on the flatter section mid way up the hill.
Ben Challum plays a mean trick, you ascend to what appears to be the summit, felt high enough, had been walking long enough, there is a nice cairn in sight.. wrong…you then descend 50m and ascend another 75 ish to get to the real summit after crossing a nice bealach - might be “interesting” on a windy day.
It gave a fine opportunity to take more pictures.
Panoramic - I’ll try to get it working in Google photos..
By now all the summits to the south , east and west were showing above a blanket of smooth white cloud, the sun was beaming down, magical…
It was fun to pick them off, Ben Vorlich , Stuc a’Chroin, Beinn Each (GM/SS - 008, 010, 034) then over to Ben More and Stobinnein - round to tomorrows targets then Ben Lui SS-003 …. on and on went the vista.
I leave you these…..
Nevis mid-right.
Ben Alder on the right in the distance
The Glen Lyon hills
Oh well time to try some radio!
Brian @GM4DIJ over in Edinburgh had “seen me” via Lora tracking, so the 13cm group was informed and already on the talkback channel.
I got myself set up and then we got on with the QSOs - once I’d dialled in to the correct frequency we managed 3 on FM and the other via SSB - success - so thanks to @GM4DIJ , @GM4COX and @MM0FMF on who summited Cairnpapple GM/SS-254 and @GM4VKI who went out /P just to join the party!
Andy @MM7MOX was itl too with his S2S. @MM0EFI was just heard on 2m FM as he explore the Isle of Mull shore line - we later worked on 40m.
Once 13cm and 2m dried up, I called on 40m and captured a few more. It seemed odd that some “ground level” people were experiencing cold grey murk and hoping that I was wrapped up
and I explained that I was fine and warm and wishing I’d brought a sunhat! I tried describing the view a couple of times too…
Two people visited the summit while I was there and I had nice chats with both - one chap was on his 6th last Munro, so we spent a while identifying all the hills he’d been up recently.
Time was marching on though if I wanted to get some way up Dubhcraig, so off back down the hill. Found some more soggy places, climbed the fence that the “track” follows a dozen times
(why is it always drier on the other side?)
Back to the car move it a mile to the Dalraigh car park, swap rucksacks and gear and off up the hill.
The route up to Duhbcraig passes through a forest (Site of Scientific Interest) so “Keep to the paths” requests the sign.
Unfortunately the path is a real soggy, peaty, horrible mess in places. In others there is a spider web of exposed tree roots - I “discovered” that they didn’t provide much grip…
Path seemed to go on for hours - well 1.5 anyway, so that was getting me close to sunset - time to look for a spot to camp.
Ben Challum catches the last of the sunlight.
This time of year is deer “rutting” season, so there was much roaring going on during the night!
I’d managed to get just above the mist line to camp, but it followed me up the hill during the night so Tuesday dawned grey.
Took a while to get moving and tackle the steep climb up the final section to Beinn Dubhcraig - once I’d gained 100m or so, I was free of the mist and in and out of the sun.
At the summit, I was “tired” (insert your own favourite word here), so took a few mins to munch more chocolate etc.
To radio!!
Jack @GM4COX had requested 13cms here as it would give him a 13cm complete, so that was done first - not without some trauma of course as a power cable didn’t seem to seat properly making me think batteries were dead. Got that cured and on we went, 13cm, 2m then HF.
Jack has helped on many of my summits and we “played 13cms” when I was over on Arran earlier in the year so happy to do so again.
Side note - Arran was visible beautifully showing above the layer of white in the distance (slightly to the left of centre below ).
South from Beinn Dubcraig
I was conscious that I hadn’t done much HF recently and have over the years appreciated the Worked All Britain operators support on various hills. I heard familiar voices around the 7.090 mark helping a SOTA op, so on finding a frequency free (it was a busy band!) it was great to hear them coming through to help again - thanks chaps!!
20m was hugely noisy so I skipped that and went to 15m where I had a good run including Chris @F4WBN who had been a tiny scratchy signal on 40m (when was the last time he was heard at anything less the 59+++ 
) Much improved on 15m and back to a decent report .
Time had marched on and the legs weren’t feeling the joy of marching over to Ben Oss and back again even if I did leave all the weight at the descent path. So time to eat more, lie back, drink coffee, chat to the couple who came to the summit - on holiday from running their hostel and appreciate the views some more.
Autumn colours ….
Back down the hill, couple more pictures. Slither through the forest and back to the car. Went to get some food for me and the car in Tyndrum then home to get the usual labrador welcome as if I’d been away for a month.
Thanks all for the qsos over the period!
Alan