BROTHERS AND SISTERS
5 Sisters photo Margaret Dearman
9.6 miles 1492 metres
Start Saturday 17.41
Aonach Meadhoin 18.16
Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg 18.41
Saileag 19.07
Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe 20.08
Sgurr Fhuaran 21.04
Finish 21.50
Squares - yellow changeover, red finish. Circles green current leg, red done, purple is currently a Munro but not in 1990. Rob did it anyway. Courtesy Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 3.30 Actual 4.09
Rob writes:
A lot of waiting around at Cluanie but not too keen to wait at the col. Was ill prepared for waiting and not very visible to Dave. Lesson 1 – always take a flag. A strange meeting – just a hello between strangers in a remote spot.
Grateful to be off at last – all the waiting and anticipation over and a fine day to start too, a bit too hot though. Strongly up the first hill and anticipating the ridge ahead but too hazy to see the last 2 summits.
A broad path along the ridge on this much used route – parts were surprisingly narrow and rocky and used my hands a few times. Started too fast – lacking sleep – underwatered and underfed, began to run out of steam badly.
The continuous ups and downs of the ridge were now very demoralising and the last two summits a nightmare – so much I was barely conscious of my surroundings – just one foot in front of the other – very slowly. Stopping occasionally on the climbs and dreading the final descent. I was already tottering – would my legs hold me up? They had to and they did – though the final part was desperate – cramp and falls and finally a river to ford. A shattering run and a very poor start. As I eat – 2 hours after finishing – Ian notices my hands shaking.
Peaks done 20 time taken 19 hours peaks to go 257
John drove Rob back to the mothership at Cluanie in the van whilst Alwyn drove Diana and Tony round to Ben Sgritheall in the car.
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