21A - TARF
An Sgarsoch from the Carn Ealar descent. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
19.8 miles 1550 metres
Start Friday 17.01
Beinn Dearg 18.52
Carn Ealar 20.05
An Sgarsoch 20.38
Finish 21.07
Squares: green - start, yellow - changeover. Circles summits: green - this leg, purple - to do. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.19 Actual 4.06
Ifor writes:
This was definitely the leg I had been fearing most it being my longest leg and also coming after a very short rest from the leg before. Steve drove me to the start of the leg but gave the suspension a big bang leaving the car park at the start.
I started by going up past the Falls of Bruar weaving my way in and out of the tourists it was very warm running through the wood and I tried to keep in the shade.
I cut out the twist in the track and cut across to the path on exiting the wood and now things got hard there was a strong headwind and running gently up the landrover track up the valley was a real effort. I followed the track up to the stream at 832750 and then headed up the spur stopping to put on my helly hansen on the way. Low down the going was slow, some deep heather.
Once up on the shoulder above Bruar Lodge I found a small contouring path marked by white stones which I followed for 1km before heading up to the top. The boulders were not as bad as I expected but by this point I was already feeling tired and having to eat a lot. There was a good view from the top and I could pick out my next two in the distance.
Going diagonally down to the Tarf along the north of Elrig 'ic an Toisich was hard with heather and peat hags lower down. Along by the river was pleasant but still all into the wind. I didn't run much going up Glas Feith Bheag constantly changing from one side ot the stream to the other. It seemed to take an awfully long time to get to the top and I was feeling totally drained and running on empty. The view over to the Cairngorms was interesting with fog in the Lairig Ghru.
The run down to the col was pleasant and I had my first snow run but again the climb took up a long time. But by the top I still had hopes of beating the schedule on what promised to be a nice descent with a tail wind for the first time all day. Actually the ridge is quite rocky but lower down I ran by a stream which gave good going compared with the heather around.
From the shieling I tried cutting straight for Tarf but was forced down to the river by peat hags and deep heather. I was very glad to see the “hotel” and Steve but I really was feeling knackered and totally done in. Steve now gave me the bad news the bike had broken just at the bottom of the steep climb.
I spent a little time at the bothy recovering, eating and putting on all my spare clothing. I also put me and Steve in the visitors book saying what we were doing. It seemed a long way down to the stables with no path along by the Tarf, and further over the valley to the landrover track where I found the bike. The back wheel was rubbing against the frame so it was not even possible to push the bike.
I started trying to fix it knowing that Steve had already tried but I needed a rest from walking and wasn't looking forward to carrying it for 6km down the valley. To my great pleasure Steve and Charlie the keeper turned up at this point in a landrover and I was spared the torture. It seemed to take a long time driving out to the van in the landrover so heaven knows what state I would have been if I had had to carry the bike all the way out.
It took us a long time to drive round to the Spittal of Glenshee where we just slept in the van to avoid disturbing anyone.
Peaks done 119 Hours elapsed 134 Peaks to do 158
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