BEN CHONZIE
The final summit push on a rather nicer typical day. Phot tms.nickbramhall.com
7.0 miles 711 metres
Start Wednesday 02.11
Ben Chonzie 03.20
Finish 03.54
Squares: blue - start and finish. Circles summits: green this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 1.45 Actual 1.43
John writes:
“Dawn on the most boring hill in Scotland” (or so I was assured by Ian and others.) Rudely awoken by Eddie and Diana for my first night leg. It's pouring with rain and very dark. Ian drove me to the start of the track at Invergeldie and I set off up the track, slight wrong turn in the farm where dogs didnt know what to make of rustling runner in cagoule, overtrousers and headtorch at 2.15 a.m.! Hence lots of barking, hope they didn't disturb anyone.
The track was reasonably easy and in smoother patches I could soon move without headtorch. Followed it all the way to the end then set a bearing and squelched off across the moor, there followed lots of careful movement through the cloud and dim light, tripping over wire from the fence that goes right to the summit (if only someone had told me I could simply and speedily have followed it, ignoring all the blind summits and ?rifle butts? which look like cairns.
Anyway coming down was easy and could read the map without headtorch by now – pushed along the track to finish just 2 minutes inside schedule. And it's still pouring with rain!
P.S. You can't see the sun coming upp when you're in the middle of a cloud.
Peaks done 243 time taken 11 days 1 hour peaks to go 34
After the drive along Loch Earn it was Ian's turn.
There is no charge for reading this account but please consider donating to Worldwide Cancer Research, the new name for the charity that we ran for.
Share this page