BEINN DUBHCHRAIG GM/SS-009 & BEN OSS GM/SS-005

View towards Loch Lomond

SUNDAY 17TH APRIL 2011

I had these two Munro’s pencilled in for a while,so routes and map were printed off during the week and with the wx looking good for the weekend,the decision was made to climb both on the Sunday.I also got word of Neil NCM through email that he was planning on activating Ben Oss on same day so we timed our plans as best we could to avoid tramping on each others toes.

Fell out of bed around 06.30 and was more prepared this time having made up the sandwiches the night before and packed the rucksack except for last minute items.Grabbed some breakfast and walked the dog before heading North up the A82 Loch Lomondside,where you branch off to the left at Crianlarich towards Tyndrum.The car park is a few miles short of Tyndrum at Dalrigh.Beinn Dubhchraig was to be my first ascent of the day and started the walk at 9am.Firstly crossing the West highland way then along a track which was soon left to cross the Alt Gleann Auchreoch water by boulder hopping.The path was followed through some ancient pine forest which was pretty boggy under foot as it passed by some rock pools and large waterfall before opening up to open moorland and a clear SE route up towards the summit of Dubhchraig.Fine views of Ben Lui are to be had at this point which lies just to the on the other side of Ben Oss.On reaching the summit (978 metres)i sheltered behind the stone cairn from the Westerly wind and had a food break in glorious unbroken sunshine,looking down on the full length of Loch Lomond.                    

The 3 element beam was set up and hooked up to the VX-2 as usual.Seemed to be a good vhf position as i was able to work some nice contacts which included 5 summit to summit contacts including one of 240 miles(386 km) down to Wales where Barry BDV/P was to be found,others included COX/P on GM/CS-010,PKT/P on GM/CS-043,EYO/P on GM/CS-005 and XXP/P on GM/SS-003.Many thanks to the others that called by which were regulars;YMM,AXY,HMZ,IOB & GAX.As much as i would liked to have stayed put on SS-009 it was time to move on.I waited with the rubber duck for some time after bringing the beam down hoping to catch Neil NCM who i knew was on route to Oss but nothing heard and it was up sticks time and off to Oss.

VIEW SOUTH FROM BEN OSS

The route retraced my steps back down the ridge where there was still some large pockets of snow lying,the rocky route passes some small lochans and continues onto the Bealach Buidhe where there is a nice view over Loch Oss,i continued on a stalkers path before heading up onto the NE top of Ben Oss (1029 metres).On arrival i could see Neil’s antenna near to the summit,he had found himself a nice operating position out of any wind and we had a chat and took some photo’s while i caught my breath back again.Ben Oss was in and out the sunshine unlike Lui where XXP/P was operating from &  despite being just the next hill was almost always shrouded in cloud on the summit.Dubhchraig on the other hand remained soaked in sunshine.                                 

I started my qso’s from Neils handset which were my first ever 4m contacts with Bobby GAX/P and Alan XXP/P s2s from Ben Lui,then tied up a few more summit to summit contacts with Jack COX/P who had now moved onto GM/CS-041 also Robin PKT/P still on GM/CS-043 & Alan XXP/P this time on 2m.Stations were also heard on this summit from G,GI & GW but was unable to contact perhaps because of only running 1.5w.Thanks to all the other stations that called in again,mostly from the central parts of Scotland.

OSS AND LUI GM/SS-005 AND SS-009

Time was beginning to run away so thought it best to break the station down and on doing so Neil decided to call it a day too.It was going to be a long walk out back to the car.We made a decision on our route and decided to make a shortcut as neither of us fancied a gruelling 350ft  climb back up our inward route.Instead we cut across the Western slopes of Dubhchraig from the bealach like a couple of mountain goats,not much of a shortcut in terms of time but maybe saved a bit of energy,dont think i would recommend or repeat this way if ever doing it again though.After a short while we picked up my original track which turned out to be slightly different from Neils approach and continued over lots of squelching and tree dodging on the return.Neil had a quick look at his gps and predicted his much drier route would be a better idea,both agreeing,we diverted off aprx 500 metres towards to one side where we picked up a bridge that safely led us to normality again.Once on the recognised path we were back at the car to be greeted by Neil’s other half Cat and the moonlight night drive home back down LochLomondside.                                                                                                                                                            

I made it home just before 10pm,scoffed a full plate of mince & tatties before heading off for a well earned snooze.A fantastic day out in the hills with another two munro’s under my belt along with 14 sota activator points.Many thanks to Neil NCM for his company and for putting up with my lengthy and waterlogged route.Thanks also as usual to all the callers and to the spotters.

Until the next time-73′s

Graeme..       2M0GIL