I’ve contacted most of the winners and left repeated messaged when I haven’t. They are getting till to contacxt me the end of Feb and the prizes will be re-raffled. There have been some touching moments when I’ve been contacting folk. The winner of the Iain Roy print, a Scotsman living in Yorkshire, was the only one to offer to pay for the postage!!  A cop from Northern Ireland and Lesley Walker from the Walk Highlands website both re-donated their prizes to make more money…..Fabulous!!!  The best moments though have been ringing a prizewinner and hearing that this was the first time winning anything : ) Worthwhile!!

Over the next couple of days, I’ll be posting the winners etc on the blog and some photos too!! Oh and feeling fab as well…..had the hip replacement mid-January : ) Feels fantastic and to be pain-free, getting a full nights sleep and NO morphine……no feeling like it!!

The feedback supports this. Although the ideal behind £2 per ticket seemed reasonable at the time, folk are buying 2 tickets instead of a book. So for an extra £1, they get 5 chances instead of 2!! And as one of the guys at work pointed out, I’m not trying to re-coup cash for the prizes, they were donated free. In hindsight, the tickets should’ve been £1, but I’ve never done this before…….so I hope you will understand

Do I really sound like that

Having just returned from Spain and being a very busy band, they were very quick to get in touch and congratulate me on finishing the ‘Challenge’. It’s going to be a great night!! The guys have even cleared it with the theatre that I can sell raffle tickets alongside their CD’s!!!!! I’m really looking forward to meet the band and say thanks in person…..

Have a look and listen ….. http://www.wolfstone.co.uk/videoclips.htm

The trip started on Thursday with a wee change of plans. Instead of the early train journey from Perth to Corrour, via Glasgow, John drove to Coirrechoille, just outside Spean Bridge (great base!!) We headed into the Lairig Leacach and onto the bothy for the night. My hip was causing a bit of concern on this fairly short path, but fortunately, after lots of stretching, held up fairly well over the next 2 days. Homemade chilli and a wee decanted Chardonnay went down very well!!

The next morning, fabulous weather and we reached Stob Ban in record time!! Good idea….head for the bealach, ditch the packs and summit from there. Tricky on the scree,. but no real problems.

Headed back down to the bealach, still in awe with the terrain and what was coming next

The Grey Corries is a fabulous range which can be altered a wee bit from the www.walkhighlands.co.uk route, descending from Sron an Lochain instead and camping beside a smashing lochan 741247. Both of us agreed that this is excellent spot for us to come back and explore from. Anyway, the rest of the range passed with jaw-dropping views.

The only tricky section of The Corries produced a ‘Deja Vous’ experience that’s never happened before. John had sprinted off down Stob Coire Easain and onto Stob Coire an Laoigh…… me, I treaded very carefully!! And didn’t take any photos!!!

On the Saturday, the ‘Mountain Goat’ was reined in a wee bit!!!

Anyway…. on part of the ascent of Sgurr Choinnich Mor, near the summit, the path erodes a bit. Quote… “I don’t fancy that! John ‘ Alan Wells’ Burgess was nowhere to be seen!!! The left side of my view….a steep slope with rocks…seen that before!! So I decided to nip up a bit higher then bum-slide back to the track. Unfortunately, the heavier pack and a 3 foot manoeuvre looking down towards 800 feet slope with rocks was just enough to warrant ‘jelly legs’ and a rapid reverse!! I headed up via the middle of the ridge, surprisingly!!!

We reached the summit and looked over at the Aonachs, both us coming to the same conclusion…..Let’s get these two out of the way before tomorrow. Andy Ross of http://www.mwis.org.ukwas meeting us at the bealach below Sgor Choinnich Beag for a camp. So at least we’d get an update on the weather!!!

Unfortunatelty Andy had a breakdown……well his car did!!! So we never managed to meet up.. John and I carried on the summits of Aonach Beag and Aonach Mhor. A fantastic decision, in terms of the time that we made up the next day, but even better the sunset and looking at the CMD arete and Tower Ridge!!

I just wasn’t happy with this ascent….the more I looked at it, the less happy I felt. Andy had mentioned on the phone of another way up from the bealach. Obviously Andy was’nt there, but we figured a good route!!

The gully was steep but, for me, it was more attractive than the usual route. The gully steepened the higher we got and I did struggle a bit. I moved over to the right away from the grass and onto a bit more rockier ground. Yet again, the pack was proving a problem and I was concerned that my zigzaging would cause me to slip. John came back down and helped me with my route. He offered to take the pack, but taking it off would’ve been impossible. The midges were aggressive and it was very hot outwith the breeze, but I made it and felt relieved on the top. I could see a bit of the CMD arete, but it was the views over The Mamores and back down the Grey Corries that were incredible.

We’d decided to camp at the bealach between Aonach Mor and Carn Mor Dearg but first had to get there. There is a small stone marker where the best (only) descent should be made, however it’s very steep and loose!! There were no photos taken here, complete concentration was the only thing that I was concerned in!! Once onl the bealach, we made camp and got the food going….Wayfayrers Beef Stew and Dumpling for me….very tasty. I was soon asleep and slept well until I was woken up at 0645 by some amorous deer!!

We’d received an update on the weather, the poor conditions wouldn’t be arriving till very late in the day. We took our time heading off as we had planned to meet Oban MRT on Carn Mor Dearg at mid-day.

Again, the heavier pack was a factor in the time I took to get through the boulders. Lots of hand-work and steeps either side of the ridge. But I managed it OK, with John’s help and enjoyed getting to the summit. I’d been here before, but still in awe at the views of the CMD arete and Tower Ridge.

There had been no contact from the Oban guys all morning and we gave them till 1230, then we had no option but to set off. I knew that from here to the finish would be slow and I wanted to finish as close to 5pm as possible. I’d done the arete before, but the stiffness and lack of flexibility in the hip was proving to be a problem. We slowly made the turn and the initial section was fairly straightforward, even managed some photos

Looking fresh!!

Looking not so fresh!!

After slowly picking our way across the arete, we reached the final part and a choice. The exposed upper section or a faint path lower down on the south side. John felt the latter would be better for me as the heavier pack was causing me to be more wary of my balance. I was causing a bit of hold-up in traffic here as there was no room to pass, but everyone was helpful and understanding. The scariest part of the whole track loomed in front of me. Two hand-holds and two foot-holds about 4 feet apart above a very steep and rocky drop!!

I uttered the words….”I can’t do this John”!!! It was one of life’s defining moments and one that, for me, proved that I had mentally recovered, but that after I had crossed, one situation that I won’t be finding myself in again. At that moment, I knew that my limitations were now reached. A bit more on all fours!!! then up the boulder field to the summit!! Hurrah!!!

The 3 stages were a tremendous experience. I had been disappointed that I had to cancel the route over 9 days, but I’m extremely glad that I did. I would’ve definitely struggled and the effects would’ve been long-term. I can’t contemplate the arete after 9 constant days!!

After a couple of ‘summit photos’, we headed down the horrendous ‘Pony Track’. My leg muscles had been fine all the way, but it was this track that caused the painful quads!! Bah!!  About 10 minutes from the pub, we met 2 members of Oban MRT!! They had been ringing the O2 phone (no Reception)  instead of the Vodaphone and most of them had past us on the way, which is a bit disconcerting!! but as Ian, the Deputy Team Leader pointed out, they found me in the end!!!!

Reasons to be Cheerful!!!

Veronica and Chris...2 months ago he was smaller than me!!!

Dougie "Check-in" Whiteford..get a call from him then it's serious!!!

So it’s all over……not quite!! Raffle and gig still to come….watch this space.

Much thanks to all that helped and took part, also to those who have donated so far……..the list seems endless, but to new friends, old friends and to all those who have touched my life in the last 2 and 1/2 years, thank you and Slainte Mhath!!!

We left the Ski Centre at 1330 hours having left Rory’s camperat the Sugar Bowl car park (good decision!!) and headed up Cairn Gorm. Not the most scenic of mountains,what with the chair lifts and the Ptarmigan restaurant halfway up?? The weather conditions were favourable, a bit breezy but with good visibility. All that changed in a moment!! We had not long passed the restaurant when a horizontal hailstorm hit us and we were engulfed in poor visibilty and very poor conditions. Waterproofs and raincovers were on very quickly and we trudged up to the summit, passing disgruntled folk who had called it a day. Sheltering behind the weather station on the summit, we got ourselves together then headed off, skirting the edges of the Northern Corries. Not that we could see anything!!!

Even though the hood of my Rab Momentum was up and secured, the hailstones were still stinging my ears, we reckoned the gusts were hitting 40mph and the windchill was hitting minus 8. Heading over the plateau towards Ben MacDui, the weather cleared and the views to the west of the Lairig Ghru opened up. After reaching the summit, we descended into the Lairig Ghru via the Tailor’s Burn. A bit tricky especially as it had started raining and the wind had picked up.

Once in the Ghru, we headed to Corrour Bothy and found a welcome bonus….there were only 2 people inside!! So we had a warm comfortable night.

The next morning, the weather was clearing and we were in for an excellent day.

We polished off the Devil’s Point, Cairn Toul and the Angels Peak fairly sharpish, but the long plateau of Braeriach lay in wait!!

On the summit of Angel's Peak and the plateau behind us

Next up…..the summit of Braeriach and the last of the 4,000 feet peaks of the Cairngorms!! Only the 4 on Stage 3 left!!

The views from the summit were incredible. It’s the first time I’ve been here and had clear skies.

There was still a good 3 hours ahead until we reached the end of Stage 1. The delights of the Chalamain Gap still to come. Rory mentioned ‘leg-breaker’ which was a bit disconcerting!  I’ve always tried to avoid it, but not today.

Oh no I'm next!!

Because my right arm doesn’y fully straighten, this was tricky and I wouldn’t fancy it in the wet. Still, made it!!

So, the end of Stage 1 and three good friends made. The hip stood up very well, no tweaks and looking forward to Stage 2 on the 30th!!

More photos and reports on http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1230

Next up, walking through the town on the Saturday telling Craig about a guy I hadn’t seen since school who moved to Inverness. He was in a band called Schiehallion and his son was my eldest son’s best pal. Not 100 yards further, there was a chalk board outside Gellions Pub  ’Schiehallion 5pm till 8pm’  Tried to recruit Kenny to the gig at The Griffen….he was keen but they have a wedding reception that night…… great band though   http://spanglefish.com/Schiehallion    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYW5bnI9PlE&feature=channel_page

Will definitely be back…