BLACK CUILLIN
Ian starting his leg. Photo Bryn Roberts
8.2 miles 1950 metres
Start Saturday 07.07
Sgurr Alasdair 07.30
Sgurr Mhic Choinnich 07.50
Sgurr Dearg 08.20
Sgurr na Banachdich 08.40
Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh 09.10
Sgurr a' Mhadaidh 10.00
Bruach na Frithe 11.40
Am Basteir 12.10
Sgurr nan Gillean 12.25
Finish 13.07
Squares - start (green) finish (red) changeoer (yellow). Circles Summits - today (green) done (red) significant lower (yellow). Courtesy Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 7.30 Actual 6.00
Ian writes:
Skye! Well what can I say, superlatives fail me. This leg was epitomised by excellence in scenery, the weather and company. The climbing team brought in to support the event were both skillful in their craft and ready to issue welcome encouragement. Days like this are to be remembered for a lifetime.
The Thearlach Dubh gap was as hard as I remember, the In Pin (Sgurr Dearg – the Inaccessible Pinacle) was a “knife edge ridge”, and Collie's Ledge was indeed “a narrow defile on the edge of a plunging void”. All these difficulties were met and overcome and strength welled within me from strength that flowed from soaring heights.
It seemed all too short a time in paradise as I plunged down a gully into Coire Bhasteir below. A run down to a good path and a distant orange flag egged me on to the awaiting terminus. One glimpse back at the pinnacled skyline and a memory of a world only open to the privileged few who “dare” to conquer unreachable heights.
Peaks done 12 time taken 10 hours peaks to go 265
The climbing team with the Sctottish based runners. Standing John Clarke, Chris Schiller, Tony, Ian, Dave. Crouching Eddie, Bryn Roberts
Tony was waiting for Ian and writes:
The ferry was perfectly placed. We drove straight on, and to the front of the vessel – last on and first off! The ferry sailed as soon as we were on – couldn't have planned it better if we'd tried. I force Ian out of the car and tell him to display his relay tee shirt so that Dave would know that this was the one.
Meanwhile, Pippa and Dave had driven me over to the mainland, from where I took the van and drove up to Cluanie where the mothership was now waiting with the rest of the crew. Colin had driven through the night, with Diana keeping him awake whilst the runners slept in the back. I briefly met John for the first time, and took myself into the loft to get some shut-eye. Colin's gentle protests as Diana's organisational prowess reorganised his vehicle permeated my fitful sleep. But really I wanted to know how things were going.
In the early afternoon Ian and Tony arrived enthusing about the luck they had had with the ferry. There was among some of us a feeling of elation – we had cracked Skye, and after the drive, were ahead of schedule. Most however had still to do anything, and whilst there was great satisfaction in filling in our board, the 265 to go was a forbidding number.
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