40 - BEN HOPE
Ben Hope left and Ben Loyal right seen from Ben klibreck. Photo https://big-gorse-bush.blogspot.com/
2.0 miles 910 metres
Start Friday 02.37
Ben Hope FINISH 03.16
Squares: green - start. Circles: green - summit and FINISH. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 0.45 Actual 0.39
The plan was to have a mini relay up the final summit just as the 1990 team had done on Ben Lomond. I cannot now remember who did which bits other than that Craig was scheduled to drive from Ben Klibreck. Mark was supposed to get out and jog off whilst Craig parked the car. Then Craig was to pass Mark, and hand over at the top of the first levelling off of the steep slope to the next runner. All runners were expected to walk up at their leisure once they had done their bit.
Everyone had been expecting this to be an evening leg, then it just seemed to go on getting later. Eventually it was nearly 1am when the signal came and people set off up the mountain to their changeover starting places. It was damp foggy night although mercifully the wind had dropped and the fog wasn't too intense.
When Mark and Craig arrived, unknown to us he turned straight back to a vehicle to sleep. Craig also turned round after handing over. Meanwhile the rest of the team having all accumulated at the top waited for them. Colin eventually opened the bottle of champagne that he had carried up and we eventually decided they weren't coming and set off down at about a quarter to five.
It was a very anticlamactic end. When we got down Mark and Craig were out for the count and Ross, I believe, left immediately with Sheila. By the time everyone awoke others had gone as well so the only time ever that all the team were in one place together was at the brief handover from Ifor to Steve between legs 11B and 11C near Crianlarich.
Peaks done 277 Hours elapsed 284 Peaks to do 0
TOTAL TIME: 11 days 20 hours 16 minutes
knocking 20 hours and 52 minutes off the previous record
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