Orion M.C.

For the third year in a row a poor forecast made us rethink plans for a summer solstice camp on Beinn a'Bheither
So instead we headed east to make the best of the sunshine.

Gavin, Neil and myself made up the advance party and left Glasgow mid afternoon with sacks laden down with all sort of
treats. The intention was to have a feast on the top of the hill. However, frightened that we didn't have quite enough grub to
gorge ourselves on, we stopped twice in Blairgowrie to supplement our supplies...Tesco's for general supplies and the specialist cheese
shop for an over indulgence in various cheeses and oatcakes

We duly arrived in Glen Shee made use of the track up the ski slopes to quickly elevate us to the top of Glas Maol



Camp was set up about 30m below the summit, as it was too rocky on the top, with a cracking view to the corrie at the head
of Glen Isla.



Dinner was soon eaten followed by lots of treats and wine



Jon and Gordy arrived soon after.



We went up to the summit cairn in the hope of a spectacular sunset to the west, but there was just too much high cloud hiding
the sun



So instead Gavin and Gordy had a duel



I went to bed really early for me at shortly after 11.30pm feeling rather bloated and ill after all the food
consumed that evening. I couldn't even finish my bottle of wine

The following morning was bright and sunny and we were up early for breakfast...





...and then had a post breakfast walk to Little Glas Maol (a good Munro Top bag) with spectacular views into the corrie.





Back to camp before dropping the tents and heading off to Cairn of Claise



There were Mountain Hares all over the place. Here's two of them...



Gavin does a jig on the top of Cairn of Claise



Gordy and Jon left us here as their itinerary varied from ours. Neil, Gavin and I then headed off to Tolmount. View over
Loch Callater to the Cairngorms from the top of Tolmount.



We then took in Tom Buidhe before Druim Mor, the second Munro Top of the day.

Setting off from Tom Buidhe to Druim Mor. Druim Mor left, Cairn of Claise right and Glas Maol in the background.



Summit of Druim Mor looks like a rounded lump until you get there...



A quick brew at the top before we set off on the walk back to traverse the side ofGlas Maol and down to Glen Shee and the bongo.



All in all a great high camp and a fine days walking...4 Munros (although Gavin, Neil and I have each been up them all at least once
before) and 2 new Munro Tops for the three of us. As Bob always says, and this time he would be right, when it comes to the
weather east is best

Yep, generally a very good weekend, the only downer for me being Jon 'pan-vandal' Knott making scrambled egg in my fine titanium pan on my MSR stove using a metal fork, leaving the bottom with scratches like a ploughed field, buckled, distorted and burned. That pan survived 10 year of heavy use, but 5 minutes with Jon turned it to near scrap!

Yes, a great couple of days - and I have the sun burn to prove it!

Here are a few more photos...

Photo taken at about midnight on Saturday night..


Jon and Neil kicking back into the wee small hours of the morning...


Neil arising from his Bivi bag...


The morning after the night before...


I went for a morning jog to bag Creag Leacach, whist the rest were out at Little Glas Maol. Photo looking back at Big Glas Moul...


Wandering on the plateau..

Hey Neil, we actually went over three Munro Tops...Meall Odhar on the way up the ski slopes to Glas Maol is on the list Mind you I'm pretty sure that we've all been over that lump in the past at one time or another.

Check out this short video of Gavin and Gordon dueling on the summit of Glas Maol at sunset


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ptYVh3O9oE[/youtube]

Hmmm ... the perfect warriors, eh?

I was camping with the wife and weans at Duror at the weekend, at the back of Beinn a Bheither (the original planned site of the solstice camp for the past 3 years) and Fraochaidh. Weather was beautiful all weekend, although the midgies were horrible both nights, and the evening alpenglow on the aforementioned hills was simply stunning

Would have been great for a high camp on the west shoulder of Beinn a'Bheither...och well, next year for the solstice


And incidently the wee campsite round at Duror would make a good option for anyone looking for an alternative base for Glen Coe. It is very quiet, in a lovely location, within driving distance of the glen, is close to a pub and has good walks like up to the James of the Glen bothy and Cuil Bay.