No wifi for team Munro, so apologies but you have me tonight (Rach). Will just be giving you the basics though as not much of a writer! Matt rang through an update so here goes...
Dan was super quick today and even tagged on Ben Klibreck finishing at 6.30pm. Tomorrow is an early and enthusiastic start at 6am, to cycle first and then master the final Munro, Ben Hope, between 8-8.30am and make the Munro 2014 complete in 42 days. So get up early you tracker follows to see the final sprint for the finish and get those Champagne glasses ready!!
Monday, 26 May 2014
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Oy oy!
Another successful day as Dan gets nearer and nearer to his goal, in fact, now so close, he can almost touch it. Rumour has it that he's feeling bold enough to agree a start time of 8am tomorrow, quite a contrast from today's 6am start. Maybe he's after a few pints in the Oykel Bridge hotel?
The weather was certainly not as forecast. Dan, with Tom, Astrid, Sue Wood and Andrew Wilby set off up Ben Wyvis at 6am into wind and rain. At 8.30am he made it back down to a midge infested car park to then cycle back up to the west end of Loch Glascarnoch with the ever reliable Aled to lead the way. 11 miles and 40 minutes later Dan was back to where he landed yesterday at 5.30pm.
The team that headed out north into the hills at 10am included Ross of the clan Bannerman, David Wilby and Martin Bagness. Martin's navigation skills were essential as the clag was well down on the tops. Dan was well supported and delivered safely, and in good time, to the top of Seana Bhraigh.
Both Mark and Lou Roberts were on hand at Strath Mulzie to see Dan home but unfortunately both managed to miss him. Astrid and Tom also appeared to shadow Dan's descent and offer some moral support. And the day is done, in good time. And we're all sat, drinking beer, eating food and starting to accept the possibility that on Tuesday Dan's Munro round will be done.
In the morning he has a 25 mile chug on his bike up to Inchnadamph, followed by 5hrs of hill walking to tick off Conival and Ben More Assynt. He ends the day with an awkward 33 mile dog leg bike ride up to Altnaharra.
The talk tonight is of finishing, how to finish, and what to do next. Are we tempting fate? Is it still a little too early for Dan to relax and imagine he's done it. Let's hope not. The boy (and everyone he knows) need a rest from all this.
The weather was certainly not as forecast. Dan, with Tom, Astrid, Sue Wood and Andrew Wilby set off up Ben Wyvis at 6am into wind and rain. At 8.30am he made it back down to a midge infested car park to then cycle back up to the west end of Loch Glascarnoch with the ever reliable Aled to lead the way. 11 miles and 40 minutes later Dan was back to where he landed yesterday at 5.30pm.
The team that headed out north into the hills at 10am included Ross of the clan Bannerman, David Wilby and Martin Bagness. Martin's navigation skills were essential as the clag was well down on the tops. Dan was well supported and delivered safely, and in good time, to the top of Seana Bhraigh.
Both Mark and Lou Roberts were on hand at Strath Mulzie to see Dan home but unfortunately both managed to miss him. Astrid and Tom also appeared to shadow Dan's descent and offer some moral support. And the day is done, in good time. And we're all sat, drinking beer, eating food and starting to accept the possibility that on Tuesday Dan's Munro round will be done.
In the morning he has a 25 mile chug on his bike up to Inchnadamph, followed by 5hrs of hill walking to tick off Conival and Ben More Assynt. He ends the day with an awkward 33 mile dog leg bike ride up to Altnaharra.
The talk tonight is of finishing, how to finish, and what to do next. Are we tempting fate? Is it still a little too early for Dan to relax and imagine he's done it. Let's hope not. The boy (and everyone he knows) need a rest from all this.
Saturday, 24 May 2014
We got it done
It's a bit weird this evening. I'm sat in the back of the Altguish Inn, a few miles west of Ben Wyvis, the Champions League final is on the one screen in this roadside pub. Opposite me, framed by a few of the hills through the pub windows, Dan is holding court as he avidly organises the next day of this enormous challenge. I laughed earlier, as Dan said to me, 'Tomorrow's a big day'. Where have I heard that before? And that is the point, even with the end in sight, every day is still a big day. A really big day.
The Fannichs are ticked off. Jim Lowden, saw Dan round the group in good time and the got them done with Dan appearing at the west end of Loch Glascarnoch at about 5pm. An emotional moment. Helen and the girls have travelled up through the day, and Dan was over the moon to see them. Helen and I will the share the driving of the van over the final few days of the challenge.
A massive thank you to Sue and Phil Clark for their amazing support and dedication over the last 11 days or so. They've been with Dan every step of the way, enduring his robotic morning routine and horrific foot damage management practices. On the drive up Sue rang through with a suggested shopping list; air freshener took priority. In a final hurrah, Phil even made it up a Munro today, much to his delight.
A whole host of others are 'in town' to support the final push over the next few days; Dan's parents (Dorothy and Jim), Aled Butler, Tom and Astrid and Martin Bagness (Bilbo). A few more are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
An early start tomorrow as Dan pushes there and back up Ben Wyvis. The plan is for Aled to take the brunt of the cycle ride back up to the west end of Loch Glascarnoch, followed by a tricky route north ticking of 6 more hills up to Oykel Bridge. A mountain bike drop will see Dan with a short ride north to finish. The weather today was kind on the whole, with a little cloud on some of the summits. It looks like more of the same tomorrow, with maybe a drop of rain. Nothing like the weather encountered previously. But you know what they say, 'it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings' and she's not even here yet!
The Fannichs are ticked off. Jim Lowden, saw Dan round the group in good time and the got them done with Dan appearing at the west end of Loch Glascarnoch at about 5pm. An emotional moment. Helen and the girls have travelled up through the day, and Dan was over the moon to see them. Helen and I will the share the driving of the van over the final few days of the challenge.
A massive thank you to Sue and Phil Clark for their amazing support and dedication over the last 11 days or so. They've been with Dan every step of the way, enduring his robotic morning routine and horrific foot damage management practices. On the drive up Sue rang through with a suggested shopping list; air freshener took priority. In a final hurrah, Phil even made it up a Munro today, much to his delight.
A whole host of others are 'in town' to support the final push over the next few days; Dan's parents (Dorothy and Jim), Aled Butler, Tom and Astrid and Martin Bagness (Bilbo). A few more are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
An early start tomorrow as Dan pushes there and back up Ben Wyvis. The plan is for Aled to take the brunt of the cycle ride back up to the west end of Loch Glascarnoch, followed by a tricky route north ticking of 6 more hills up to Oykel Bridge. A mountain bike drop will see Dan with a short ride north to finish. The weather today was kind on the whole, with a little cloud on some of the summits. It looks like more of the same tomorrow, with maybe a drop of rain. Nothing like the weather encountered previously. But you know what they say, 'it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings' and she's not even here yet!
Friday, 23 May 2014
Wine???
I'm sorry to say, but Dan is clearly winding down. I don't know if it's the influence of the temptress Sue Clark but tonight he is celebrating a big day with a glass of vino. In fact he was on his second. The whole thing is starting to sound like a bit of a holiday. Ok, fair enough, he's tramped his way across 30 miles of wilderness and summited another big bunch of Munros on the way (8 in all - see yesterday's blog for the names) but I hope he doesn't take his foot off the gas. He even had the audacity to suggest that tomorrow is 'steady', only 11 hours at best. I don't know if Jim Louden will de disappointed or relieved.
Mind you, he did today in 14 after predicting 15 or 16. The weather was windy, wet and claggy but Alec Keith did a great job with Andy Cox, using his navigation skills and local knowledge to get Dan round all in one piece and in an impressive time.
As mentioned Dan is joined by Jim on the hill tomorrow, and by evening the north of Scotland will be filling up with friends and family intent on sharing the last few days of Dan's adventure. You can share in this by listening to BBC Radio Cumbria on Tuesday morning, there may even be a live interview at about 7.45am with the man himself. You can read about his adventure in Cumbria Life this month too. Oh, the fame!
A big thank you to James Thurlow for sorting out the tracker. Hopefully we'll replace the straight line from Kintail to Torridon with a more accurate line. Thanks also to Graham Patten and Chris Upson for looking into this.
And finally (again) a big thank you to all of you who answered Helen's plea and pledged some money to Dan's chosen causes. It looks like he might reach his fundraising targets as well as completing the challenge.
Mind you, he did today in 14 after predicting 15 or 16. The weather was windy, wet and claggy but Alec Keith did a great job with Andy Cox, using his navigation skills and local knowledge to get Dan round all in one piece and in an impressive time.
As mentioned Dan is joined by Jim on the hill tomorrow, and by evening the north of Scotland will be filling up with friends and family intent on sharing the last few days of Dan's adventure. You can share in this by listening to BBC Radio Cumbria on Tuesday morning, there may even be a live interview at about 7.45am with the man himself. You can read about his adventure in Cumbria Life this month too. Oh, the fame!
A big thank you to James Thurlow for sorting out the tracker. Hopefully we'll replace the straight line from Kintail to Torridon with a more accurate line. Thanks also to Graham Patten and Chris Upson for looking into this.
And finally (again) a big thank you to all of you who answered Helen's plea and pledged some money to Dan's chosen causes. It looks like he might reach his fundraising targets as well as completing the challenge.
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Not such a torrid time
Firstly, apologies for stating that Dan would be heading up Ben Wyvis on Wednesday - madness. I've corrected the blog! Secondly, apologies, if like me, you were ready for the tracker to burst into life today on your screens. A replacement is now in Dan's possession but it has spent the day being recharged. Brace yourself, as tomorrow it will burst into life, and you will be able to monitor Dan as he completes one of the biggest days of the trip yet. More of that in a minute.
I spoke to Dan at 7pm, and unusually he'd just awoken from an afternoon nap. Yesterday went well, thanks to the support of Chris Upson on the hill and the rest of the crew working away behind the scenes. Today went even better, Andy Cox, amongst others, has answered the call and spent nine hours with Dan today ticking off the 6 big Munros that lie to the north of Upper Loch Torridan. A predicted finish time of 7pm got eroded down to 3.20pm. Not a bad day's work and maybe as a result of Sue's sandwiches (the best of all those made on the trip so far apparently - if you've been responsible for Dan's sandwiches on the trip at any point in the last 5 weeks please don't take offence, this is not a complaint).
So after the plea put out a few days ago, one or two faces have volunteered their support to Dan's efforts over the next few days. Tomorrow, as well as having Andy Cox on hand, Dan will be joined by Scottish fell running legend, Alec Keith, and Rob Beaumont for the day's efforts. This is a really good thing, as tomorrow is a monster. I know I've said this a few times, but anyone who knows this part of the world will understand what I'm talking about if they look at the schedule.
The boys will set out early to tackle Slioch ('a big old lump'), and then head 7 miles further north into the wilds to visit the Fisherfield 5. Way beyond them sit the two Munros of An Teallach, and hopefully, before dark, the team will drop down to Dundonnell.
Once done, if done (the forecast is grim), this achievement will very much herald the beginning of the end. There's still a few big days, but things are looking good for a finish on Ben Hope toward the middle of next week. Should I put the champagne on ice? (Not just yet Matt, steady on old boy!)
I spoke to Dan at 7pm, and unusually he'd just awoken from an afternoon nap. Yesterday went well, thanks to the support of Chris Upson on the hill and the rest of the crew working away behind the scenes. Today went even better, Andy Cox, amongst others, has answered the call and spent nine hours with Dan today ticking off the 6 big Munros that lie to the north of Upper Loch Torridan. A predicted finish time of 7pm got eroded down to 3.20pm. Not a bad day's work and maybe as a result of Sue's sandwiches (the best of all those made on the trip so far apparently - if you've been responsible for Dan's sandwiches on the trip at any point in the last 5 weeks please don't take offence, this is not a complaint).
So after the plea put out a few days ago, one or two faces have volunteered their support to Dan's efforts over the next few days. Tomorrow, as well as having Andy Cox on hand, Dan will be joined by Scottish fell running legend, Alec Keith, and Rob Beaumont for the day's efforts. This is a really good thing, as tomorrow is a monster. I know I've said this a few times, but anyone who knows this part of the world will understand what I'm talking about if they look at the schedule.
The boys will set out early to tackle Slioch ('a big old lump'), and then head 7 miles further north into the wilds to visit the Fisherfield 5. Way beyond them sit the two Munros of An Teallach, and hopefully, before dark, the team will drop down to Dundonnell.
Once done, if done (the forecast is grim), this achievement will very much herald the beginning of the end. There's still a few big days, but things are looking good for a finish on Ben Hope toward the middle of next week. Should I put the champagne on ice? (Not just yet Matt, steady on old boy!)
Cheeky Plea
Dan is now in his last week of this mad, crazy challenge and I'll be heading off with our girls up to meet him on Saturday. Hopefully we'll see him through the last few days to complete the round on Tuesday. Before I go up there I just want to make a request to all of you reading this. It will be amazing to see Dan complete his challenge next week, but it would also be amazing to see the amount Dan has been able to make for his chosen charities creep up too - this is the bit you can help with. Please consider making a donation to one of Dan's chosen charities. It will mean a lot to him.
The John Muir Trust is dedicated to protecting wild places. They own and care for some of the UK's finest wild landscapes including Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Sandwood Bay, Schiehallion, Sandwood Bay, part of the Cuillin Ridge on Sky and 3,000 acres on the remote Knoydart peninsular.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust is the only voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting the wildplaces and wildlife of our beloved home county. They own and care for 43 nature reserves in Cumbria which include flower-rich meadows, extensive peatlands, wild coastal landscapes, semi-ancient woodlands, and limestone pavements. Cumbria has the greatest diversity of semi-natural habitat of any county in England and Cumbria Wildlife Trust works hard to protect it.
Please sponsor Dan if you can. He gets a text message telling him of every donation made, which really spurs him on. I also know that both charities appreciate every gift, large or small, and to Dan it would mean a great deal that his efforts on the mountains are matched by our collective efforts to make this journey as worthwhile for the charities, as it has been for him.
If you have already given, you are amazing - THANK YOU.
Dan would never make this ask by the way, which is why I'm making it for him!
We are hoping the tracker will be up and running again tomorrow, so keep following.
The John Muir Trust is dedicated to protecting wild places. They own and care for some of the UK's finest wild landscapes including Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Sandwood Bay, Schiehallion, Sandwood Bay, part of the Cuillin Ridge on Sky and 3,000 acres on the remote Knoydart peninsular.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust is the only voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting the wildplaces and wildlife of our beloved home county. They own and care for 43 nature reserves in Cumbria which include flower-rich meadows, extensive peatlands, wild coastal landscapes, semi-ancient woodlands, and limestone pavements. Cumbria has the greatest diversity of semi-natural habitat of any county in England and Cumbria Wildlife Trust works hard to protect it.
Please sponsor Dan if you can. He gets a text message telling him of every donation made, which really spurs him on. I also know that both charities appreciate every gift, large or small, and to Dan it would mean a great deal that his efforts on the mountains are matched by our collective efforts to make this journey as worthwhile for the charities, as it has been for him.
If you have already given, you are amazing - THANK YOU.
Dan would never make this ask by the way, which is why I'm making it for him!
We are hoping the tracker will be up and running again tomorrow, so keep following.
Cheesecake with extra toppings
More photos
Just had 5 days scurrying around from Kintail to Torridon trying to keep up with the unstoppable Duxbury machine.
Biblical rain greeted us at Shiel Bridge on Saturday evening, as Dan, Simon and Chris were battling their way over the 12 Munros from Cluanie to Five Sisters. This unremitting deluge was the kiss of the death to the much-loved tracker. Water ingress put the light out on the tracker, but Dan was still fully charged. Sue and Phil were looking pretty tired and frazzled at the van on Shiel Bridge campground. Ellie, Benjamin and I took refuge at the Kintail Lodge Hotel for one night of comfort.
5am Sunday morning, I jogged the 6km up a sodden water-logged track from Morvich to Glenlicht bothy to find Dan, Chris Lumb and Simon Stainer gathering themselves for another battering on the hill in wind, rain, low cloud. After a quick update on where Dan wanted the tent that evening, I jogged back out, had breakfast at Kintail Lodge, then drove in pouring rain back through Glen Shiel to Inverness for new wellies for Benjamin, before hitting the Cannich Campsite to rejoin Sue & Phil. We packed overnight camp kit for Dan, I then headed up Glen Affric, and hiked in 8km to pitch the tent below Carn Eighe.
Monday morning we headed into the stunningly beautiful Glen Strathfarrar, and hung around in peace and tranquility waiting for our steely gazed hero to appear. After seeking him here, and seeking him there, Benjamin was delighted to finally meet Dan - "the man who climbs snowy mountains".
Now it was my turn to climb some hills. As Dan put it, the pacers start out bouncy on Day 1, are broken on Day 2, and ready to go home on Day 3.
So, I was feeling bouncy enough on Day 1, with an easy section over the 4 Strathfarrar Munros. As Graham mentioned in his Patten's Patter, all the Scottish hills have made up Gaelic names that nobody is likely to remember, so you have to call them things like "Stathfarrar 4" or "Fisherfield 5". After an easy saunter over the 4, we arrived at the tents near Loch Monar, lovingly pitched by Phil and John. (Getting the tents back was a whole different story, given that the Strathfarrar gate is locked on Tuesday's, and the road is 16 miles)
Tuesday, my Day 2, would be a whole different story. We were away by 4.55am, and the pace was relentless from the word go.
The four Mullardoch Munros were ticked off before 9am, followed by a long crossing to Lurg Mhor.
We reached the summit of Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich (pron. Cheesecake) in time for a chat with Ian and friend, for Munro no.6. I was still feeling OK at this point, but there was quite a roller-coaster to come.
A fiddly route around Corbett Beinn Tarsuinn, then 3 more Munros, with a short sharp hailstorm on Maoile Lunndaidh. Then the real sting in the tail. A full-blown descent and re-ascent to Moruisg with nothing left in the tank. Dan stormed away from me up the stalkers' path zig-zags. A tiny red speck in the distance. I eventually found him at the summit cairn frantically making phone calls to sort the next few days. An overnight camp had originally been planned before Moruisg, so this was the first day of the trip where Dan bagged an extra top compared with his schedule.
We could see the van and car in Glen Carron as soon as we started descending, and it was a relief to finish after nearly 15 hours, with just over 4500m ascent, and around 30 miles (my Garmin packed in long before the end).
As predicted, Day 3, I was ready to go home. We awoke in Glen Carron to dismal torrential rain and low cloud, but Dan was soon on his bike and battling the spray on the A890 up to Achnasheen.
We plodded up Fionn Bheinn in squelchy sodden conditions. Then back on the bike, a quick bite to eat at the van, and another cycle to Achnashellach. Alan Dawson and Chris Watson just happened to be waiting for us for a quick chat whilst Dan changed his shoes, and we headed off into the driech sodden wilderness en route to Torridon.
The going was pretty fast up into Coir Lair on a good stalkers path, before we broke off for a steep climb to Beinn Liath Mhor. We took a good line to Sgorr Ruadh in the mist, and enjoyed Sue's excellent sandwiches to get us up the final 200 metres.
The crossing to Maol Chean-dearg was a monster 750m drop, a wade across a deep fast flowing river, then a monster 750m climb, thankfully most of the way up a good stalkers' path.
We fiddled around trying to find a decent way down, before biting the bullet and thrashing down a nasty shattered-quartzite boulder slope to pick up the stalkers path all the way to Torridon, to reach the road in just over 6½ hours.
Some panic and exhaustion set in when we realised there was no car at the road, and neither of us had a mobile phone. To increase the chance of finding Phil, we split up - Dan walking north and me heading south towards the Torridon Hotel. Luckily Phil soon appeared, and Dan had already jumped straight on the bike for the cycle to the foot of Beinn Alligin. In Dan's haste, he hadn't bothered changing shoes, so I've no idea how he managed to cycle up the killer zig-zags towards Inveralligin with wet Inov-8s on Look pedals.
A quick change, and we were all seated in the Kinlochewe Hotel for a fine meal and beers.
My work was done, but Dan has it all to do again tomorrow!
Just had 5 days scurrying around from Kintail to Torridon trying to keep up with the unstoppable Duxbury machine.
Biblical rain greeted us at Shiel Bridge on Saturday evening, as Dan, Simon and Chris were battling their way over the 12 Munros from Cluanie to Five Sisters. This unremitting deluge was the kiss of the death to the much-loved tracker. Water ingress put the light out on the tracker, but Dan was still fully charged. Sue and Phil were looking pretty tired and frazzled at the van on Shiel Bridge campground. Ellie, Benjamin and I took refuge at the Kintail Lodge Hotel for one night of comfort.
5am Sunday morning, I jogged the 6km up a sodden water-logged track from Morvich to Glenlicht bothy to find Dan, Chris Lumb and Simon Stainer gathering themselves for another battering on the hill in wind, rain, low cloud. After a quick update on where Dan wanted the tent that evening, I jogged back out, had breakfast at Kintail Lodge, then drove in pouring rain back through Glen Shiel to Inverness for new wellies for Benjamin, before hitting the Cannich Campsite to rejoin Sue & Phil. We packed overnight camp kit for Dan, I then headed up Glen Affric, and hiked in 8km to pitch the tent below Carn Eighe.
Monday morning we headed into the stunningly beautiful Glen Strathfarrar, and hung around in peace and tranquility waiting for our steely gazed hero to appear. After seeking him here, and seeking him there, Benjamin was delighted to finally meet Dan - "the man who climbs snowy mountains".
Now it was my turn to climb some hills. As Dan put it, the pacers start out bouncy on Day 1, are broken on Day 2, and ready to go home on Day 3.
So, I was feeling bouncy enough on Day 1, with an easy section over the 4 Strathfarrar Munros. As Graham mentioned in his Patten's Patter, all the Scottish hills have made up Gaelic names that nobody is likely to remember, so you have to call them things like "Stathfarrar 4" or "Fisherfield 5". After an easy saunter over the 4, we arrived at the tents near Loch Monar, lovingly pitched by Phil and John. (Getting the tents back was a whole different story, given that the Strathfarrar gate is locked on Tuesday's, and the road is 16 miles)
 |
| Looking north from the Strathfarrar Munros (Carn nan Gobhar) |
Tuesday, my Day 2, would be a whole different story. We were away by 4.55am, and the pace was relentless from the word go.
 |
| Sunrise over Strathfarrar |
 |
| Dan at the summit of Carn nan Gobhar, the first of today's 10 Munros |
 |
| Dan romping across the Mullardoch Four |
The four Mullardoch Munros were ticked off before 9am, followed by a long crossing to Lurg Mhor.
 |
| The long crossing to Lurg Mhor |
We reached the summit of Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich (pron. Cheesecake) in time for a chat with Ian and friend, for Munro no.6. I was still feeling OK at this point, but there was quite a roller-coaster to come.
 |
| Summit of Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich (aka Cheesecake) |
 |
| The view from Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich. Just 4 hills to go. |
A fiddly route around Corbett Beinn Tarsuinn, then 3 more Munros, with a short sharp hailstorm on Maoile Lunndaidh. Then the real sting in the tail. A full-blown descent and re-ascent to Moruisg with nothing left in the tank. Dan stormed away from me up the stalkers' path zig-zags. A tiny red speck in the distance. I eventually found him at the summit cairn frantically making phone calls to sort the next few days. An overnight camp had originally been planned before Moruisg, so this was the first day of the trip where Dan bagged an extra top compared with his schedule.
We could see the van and car in Glen Carron as soon as we started descending, and it was a relief to finish after nearly 15 hours, with just over 4500m ascent, and around 30 miles (my Garmin packed in long before the end).
As predicted, Day 3, I was ready to go home. We awoke in Glen Carron to dismal torrential rain and low cloud, but Dan was soon on his bike and battling the spray on the A890 up to Achnasheen.
 |
| Sodden weather in Glen Carron |
 |
| Bike ride up to Achnasheen for Fionn Bheinn |
 |
| Heading up Fionn Bheinn - see the clean new Mudclaws |
 |
| Shoe change after Fionn Bheinn and straight back on the bike |
We plodded up Fionn Bheinn in squelchy sodden conditions. Then back on the bike, a quick bite to eat at the van, and another cycle to Achnashellach. Alan Dawson and Chris Watson just happened to be waiting for us for a quick chat whilst Dan changed his shoes, and we headed off into the driech sodden wilderness en route to Torridon.
The going was pretty fast up into Coir Lair on a good stalkers path, before we broke off for a steep climb to Beinn Liath Mhor. We took a good line to Sgorr Ruadh in the mist, and enjoyed Sue's excellent sandwiches to get us up the final 200 metres.
The crossing to Maol Chean-dearg was a monster 750m drop, a wade across a deep fast flowing river, then a monster 750m climb, thankfully most of the way up a good stalkers' path.
We fiddled around trying to find a decent way down, before biting the bullet and thrashing down a nasty shattered-quartzite boulder slope to pick up the stalkers path all the way to Torridon, to reach the road in just over 6½ hours.
Some panic and exhaustion set in when we realised there was no car at the road, and neither of us had a mobile phone. To increase the chance of finding Phil, we split up - Dan walking north and me heading south towards the Torridon Hotel. Luckily Phil soon appeared, and Dan had already jumped straight on the bike for the cycle to the foot of Beinn Alligin. In Dan's haste, he hadn't bothered changing shoes, so I've no idea how he managed to cycle up the killer zig-zags towards Inveralligin with wet Inov-8s on Look pedals.
A quick change, and we were all seated in the Kinlochewe Hotel for a fine meal and beers.
My work was done, but Dan has it all to do again tomorrow!
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