MEALL GHAORDIE
Meall Ghaodi from Beinn nan Oirghreag, our route was from r to l. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
3.6 miles 659 metres
Start Tuesday 19.32
Meall Ghaordie 20.19
Finish 20.36
Squares: green - start, red - southern this finish, northern previous finish, Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 1.15 Actual 1.04
Alwyn writes:
Ian's spritely performance of 67 minutes for Stuchd an Lochan had me determined to try for the 1 hour barrier here. However my tactics in attempting a direct ascent up the face of Creag Laoghainn proved dubious; the slope increased from steep to alarmingly steep and necessitated some sideways progress at intervals to avoid becoming cragfast! Once over the nose I ran hard for the summit and reached it in 47 ½ minutes.
I didn't really think 12 ½ minutes was feasible for the descent, but gave it a go anyway. The attempt finally evaporated in bracken covered lower slopes, when the lack of paths slowed progress. The hour slipped by as I thrashed around in bracken, boulders and stream-beds, and I eventually reached the car in 64 minutes.
Peaks done 235 time taken 10 days 18 hours peaks to go 42
I had arrived in Glen Lochay after getting the petrol before Alwyn appeared racing down through the bracken.
Doug Gillon agreed to return Alwyn to the mothership whilst Tony, Colin and I set off for the next section. Alwyn was of course not aware of this arrangement just as I was not aware that his kit was ready in the back of the car. Thus he nearly lost his arm as I was about to shoot off. Fortunately I reacted instantly to his shout, and he got his bag out safely.
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