24E - SGOR GAOITH
Sgor Gaoith view Graeme never got. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
7.8 miles 260 metres
Start Sunday 06.34
Sgor Gaoith 07.21
Finish 07.57
Squares: yellow - changeover, red - finish. Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 1.24 Actual 1.19
Graeme writes:
A perfectly still clear night for my cycle in from Balnascriten but with a chilly frost in the air. As I progressed up the glen my movement disturbed great herds of deer which flowed in great masses across the road in front of me. It was like pursuing wildebeast across the plains from a helicopter in a TV wildlife programme.
Past the bridge at Carnachuin and I dumped the bike to head up the track by Allt Coire Chaoil. The only sound was the chapping of stones on the path beneath my feet. Walking up this path to my bivvy spot at 882936 track junction was the only time on the relay when I craved a certain food. I couldn't get the image of custard and peaches which I'd turned down at Linn of Dee out of my mind. I fended it off with a couple of munchy bars before going to sleep.
Some time later my partly mummified white frosted body was found by Eddie. I hadn't been particularly cold but my body and brain had obviously been slowed by it. My mouth tried to tell Eddie the whereabouts of the bike but the words were slow and slurred or so it seemed to me. Stooping dozily over the map I peered sleepily at various track directions till Eddie pointed me the right way and set me off.
I shuffled along sort of on the track at times which I couldn't fit in with the map and sort of bearing. For those 20 minutes or so I really was doddering about half asleep. I knew that if I fell into Loch Einich then I had veered too far right, but I didn't.
Eventually through the cloud I located Sgor Gaoith all caked in white frost and ice. It certainly had been cold for June. On heading down the Allt a Chrom-alltain to pick up the path I soon emerged from the clouds and into the morning sun which slowly thawed me out. By the time I reached the forest I'd even warmed up and broke into a decent run to pop out and suprise slumbering Ross in the car.
I soon had him whisked away to Drumochter and returned myself to the mobile base at Newtonmore. I did some visiting of friends while here and also grabbed some well needed sleep.
Peaks done 162 Hours elapsed 168 Peaks to do 115
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