Mulll expedition - Martin's 284th

Mulll expedition - Martin's 284th

Here is a brief description.

Walkers and their stats at the start of the day:
Martin (283 Munros)
Phil (141 Munros)
Jhimmy (80 + Munros)
Nick (zilch)


The day started unusual - we left camp early at 8:30 - maybe it was this
omen that caused the dramatic events at the end of the day. We used Martin
as the driver and the bicycle runner - Phil had brought his origami bicycle.
So Martin dropped us off at Knock and drove to Dhiseig where he left his
car and cycled back to us. We then hid the cycle. The day was bright warm
and sunny - oh how it would change.

We followed a landrover track to Glen Clachaig - after watching a golden
eagle flying over Beinn Ghraig. The Path after the LR track became a boggy
mush and we slowed right up. By the time we reached Creag Mhic Fhionnlaidh
it was blowing a strong wind and the light rain blasted into our clothes. We
all changed into wet weather gear - except me I didn't bring my rain pants.
We reached what was probably a cattle drovers shelter - a cave and ate our
eleven's at 12:30. We were not going to reach the top of Ben More at
Martins designated time of 1:23 pm 4/5/06. Cloud was now thick and the rain
was getting heavier. Occasionally cloud cleared slightly and we were met by
the scree slopes of A Chioch looking steep and bleak- it was also
Relentless. Poor Nick was having trouble not only by the weather but now
scree slopes. This was actually his first attempt at a Munro and this was
serious Munro at that, no namby pamby Ben Lomand tourist path here.

Martin and me reached the summit of A Chioch in a howling gale we sought
what little shelter we could on the other side while Phil guided Nick up the
thick clouded scree slopes. When they arrived Phil mentioned he heard
thunder - we hadn't. After a brief discussion we all agreed to continue
onto Ben More, Martin mentioning "If I'm going to die, I might as well be
hit by lightening on Ben More after I've bagged it."

From A Chioch to the top of Ben More - it really was a bit of the same
weather - cloud rain and very windy. On the Summit of Ben More we shook
hands and congrats both Martin on his completion and Nick on his first. Phil
proposed a toast to Martin and his Munros and to absent friends. With a lack
of rain pants I was getting cold after 20 minutes on top and I started to
think about starting downhill solo to get below the rain. I think this move
started us to gather pace and we ambled downwards.

Now the fun really began.............

At about the 850 m contour I was leading when I saw the cloud lift for about
3 seconds and I could see the whole route down. I was pleased. Then all of a
sudden the wind really picked up and blasted us with a hailstorm. The wind
was blowing us about like rag dolls. It would ease up slightly then attack
us again and again and again. At the 600 m contour the stone path made way
for treacherous boggy mush, our feet getting totally soaked. The hail made
way for rain. The boggy mess getting worse and making us all slip. Nick
being the least experienced made the most slips - I could see he was very
tired and was wondering what had hit him. By the time we got to the 200 m
contour, lightening and thunder was all around - flashes and bangs every 30
seconds or so.

I kept thinking, I had a metal trekking pole in my hand - anyone want to
carry it for me? After the next 10 minutes I couldn't have cared less I
just wanted down onto the road. Even getting to the road meant having to
cross (now) fast flowing burns. Evenually we arrived at Martin's car soaked.
Poor Martin, we all just sat in his car soaking his seats. Even the drive
back to camp was eventful. A dozen loose cattle blocked the road until
Martin used a passing place to overtake them.

At Salen we had to wait until a huge rainstorm cleared slightly before we
could arrived back at camp. The campsite was right next to the river and
luckily only just missed breaching it's banks. We were all so exhausted we
just dived into the tents not caring how hard the rain would fall. The
celebration meal at Sagars would have to wait a further 24 hours.

Yes, we enjoyed it!
---------
Jhimmy













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