BEINN FHADA
The stunning W ridge of Beinn Fhada. Dave's route is out of shot. photo Margaret Dearman
10.4 miles 2032 metres
Start Saturday 14.01
A' Ghlas-bheinn 14.47
Beinn Fhada 15.43
Ciste Dubh 17.15
Finish 17.41
Squares: green - start, yellow - changeover, red - a road finish. Circles: green - this leg, purple - to do, yellow - smaller hill, blue - now a Munro but not in 1990.Courtesy Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.00 Actual 3.40
Dave writes:
After a 3 hour wait watching ferries at Kyle of Lochalsh, Ian finally came across, ran up the pier and handed over the baton. We had parked strategically so only one car had got off the ferry before we were underway. The adrenalin was still flowing when Pippa dropped me off at Dorusduain car park.
I ran off up the track, through some felled trees and onto the hill. I was soon drenched in sweat, there was some cloud but also a lot of sun and the afternoon was getting very warm. After several false summits and about 45 minutes I reached the top of A' Ghlas Bheinn, far far too fast considering what was to come. I drank most of the Isostar I had brought.
On the descent I met a couple headed up, and looked over the top of several small cliffs before detouring to the left. I went round the east side of Meall an Bhealaich and climbed onto the main ridge leading onto Ben Fhada. Still moving fast and sweating heavily, I finished off the Isostar. Why did my stomach feel like lead?
The views from the top were hazy, and I couldn't see my next hill Ciste Dubh till I was further round the west ridge of Fhada. I took the plunge and headed down the steep flank of Fhada to a refreshing stream. Drinking and eating here turned out to be a mistake. I crawled up Ciste Dubh, was sick on the summit and ambled down to the changeover. Maybe I didn't get my pacing quite right.
Peaks done 15 time taken 15 hours peaks to go 262
Knowing Dave's speed, I was worrying about Rob's dilatoriness in departing for his rendezvous with Dave. It was obvious that the scheduled times were mere guidelines, and that people must be into changeover positions in plenty of time. I also told him he should take the flags we had for hill changeovers, but he said he wouldn't bother as the weather was so fine. I could not relax to sleep until he had gone.
Dave came off the hill confirming my concern that Rob should have taken a flag. Pippa had met him on top of Ciste Dubh alarmed at his sickness after putting in so much effort to beat the very tight 4 hour schedule for his leg. Not seeing Rob they had walked down the last bit. Apparently they neither saw each other until late, and I suspect that Rob was barely there in time.
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