12A - ARROCHAR ALPS
Beinn Narnain (l) and Beinn Ime (r), Cobbler between, from Ben Vane. Photo Colin Lamont
6.6 miles 1560 metres
Start Thursday 14.49
Beinn Narnain 15.36
Beinn Ime 16.19
Ben Vane 17.05
Finish 17.25
Squares: green - start, yellow - changeover. Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 2.13 Actual 2.36
This was always the leg that I had thought would be toughest, not because of its intrinsic qualities, but because it was to come only about 11 hours after getting out of my Glen Lochay leg. On top of that, much of this time was spent in moving from vehicle to vehicle and driving around.
Mark was suddenly upon us, but just half a minute late for the huge queue of traffic which had just been released by massive roadworks which had taken us some quarter of an hour to negotiate earlier. Craig was therefore unable to show too much of his driving prowess, and I managed to dissuade him from overtaking 3 vehicles with barely 300 metres to go to my start point.
Foolishly, having already said that I would not run up my first hill, I decided to put on a show to Craig and Mark. I was so tired that the running action was vaguely euphoric and I kept it going until the steepness finally knocked it out of me. Nonetheless I pushed it all the way to the first top, just managing to beat my 48 minute schedule and arriving in phenomenally thick 2 yard visibility cloud.
I turned round and set off. Immediately noticing that I was 90 degrees off course I swung through the appropriate angle and failed to find any rocks I recognised – anyway this route seemed less bouldery than my upward one, so I kept going. Suddenly a rent in the cloud appeared and, “Is that The Cobbler? - maybe but where the hell is Beinn Ime?” Suddenly it was clear I was 180 degrees wrong, nothing for it but to go back over the top. I arrived back at the summit 8 minutes and 44 seconds after leaving it, now in mist thin enough to clearly see my way.
I knew that there was now no way of making my schedule, but I could at least try to be within 9 minutes of it.The weather was rapidly improving and becoming warm as I slogged up the interminable grassy slopes of Beinn Ime. Back into cloud, but no problems this time as I set off north and then easterly to the next col. I got stuck in crags at one point and realised just how tired I was as I found it a great effort to get round them.
Although I scarcely ever eat running on the hills, I now knew I had to, so I got a bar of jelly that I was carrying for emergencies. I breathed in at the first bite and a huge block shot down my throat. As I staggered up Ben Vane the whole bar disappeared a bit more slowly the same way.
The clouds were now evaporating away and hot sunshine tried my body as I eventually reached the top. All downhill now, the dam lay far below, but oh how close to my feet it looked. A previous good ascent route was decidedly less easy going down as it was impossible to pick my way through the crags, and the steepness tested my determination.
Never have I been so glad to reach a slight uphill as I breasted the final ridge before the dam. Finally as I ran across the dam I had to jump two sunbathing bodies lying on the concrete before passing the baton onto Craig.
There was such a strong southerly wind blowing that I actually had to pedal a couple of times on the tarmac road back to the van, but for most of it a speedo would have been interesting and a crash helmet wise.
Peaks done 96 Hours elapsed 106 Peaks to do 181
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