This area is listed in the SMC Munros Guide as ‘The Drumochter Hills) and covers the hills and mountains between Loch Rannoch and Newtonmore. Loch Ericht forms the western boundary and Glen Tromie the eastern boundary, with the Pass of Drumochter (the A9 and the Highland Main Line) dividing the area in two. Among the seven Munros in this area, only one is over 1000m (Beinn Udlamain is 1011m).
Two nights out backpacking before meeting the Inverness MC for a day walk. The bus dropped me off at Dalwhinnie Road End and I made my way up the cycle route to Balsporran Cottages where I followed the track up towards Creagan Mor, leaving the path to find a camping spot above the gorge in Coire Beal an Sporain. The Saturday saw me exploring the area on Creagan Mor above Loch Ericht towards Gael-charn. This had been planned on a poor visibility forecast as navigation practice, but it turned out clear and sunny. I immediately started spotting mountain hares so began searching them out instead and recording them for the Volunteer Mountain Hare Survey. Ptarmigan were also spotted. The trackless route up Gael-charn was a delight. However from there to the summit of A'Mharconaich it made little sense not to take advantage of the munroists path. This was reached in thick freezing mist, the turf above 950m still being frozen hard. A bearing was taken from point point 971 for a direct descent to the saddle below with An Torc. Long bands of steep hard snow had to be negotiated. Crampons and axe were carried but in the end not required. A camp was made down near the railway as I was meeting members of the Inverness MC for a day walk. We ascended Sgairneach Mhor returning via the Alt Coire Dhomain. A gale force freezing north wind made hard going, and after a great buffeting the group retired for coffee at Ralia.
