So Russ and I are again entered in the Highlander and we head a long way North to Kinlochewe, the area for this year’s event. Out journey follows a similar pattern, a mid-morning set-off and then late lunch in Tiso on the edge of Perth.
We arrive in Kinlochewe in good time for registration and food and park the camper for the night at the village hall, the event HQ. Registration is a fuss-free process and we are soon heading to the Kinlochewe Hotel for beer and possibly food; however, all the tables are booked so after a couple of pints we head back to the Whistle Stop Café for a sumptuous dinner.
After a good night’s sleep, a hot shower and last minute panic over what kit to take, we head to our start, the parking area for Slioch. We are in the B course, so less decision making for us this year. Our first control at a small lochan, 300m above where we start. We climb well and soon locate the control; next is a long section a NNE direction, it starts to snow but this is no big deal, the wind is light and the snow dry.
Again we easily find the control and are again filmed by the Scottish Adventure Show (not sure when this will be screened). Some route choice for us here, we decide shorter with more climbing and I agree with Russ that this makes the most sense. Up towards Slioch, then a contour and again easily find the control. Controls 3 to 4 are short and then we follow a good stalkers path to Lochan Fada. We are moving well, the weather is still on our side and life is good.
Across the end of the lochan and then a steep climb to control 5 on the bealach. We find a good contour route to 6 and later see that we are the quickest team, on this leg. Short section to 7, where we could have easily been caught out by the confusing ground, and then steadily down to 8. From here to the day 1 finish was the usual downhill charge and having dibbed we then wait at Loch Maree for the short RIB ride across the loch and the overnight camp.
We set-up camp and learn that we are 5th in our class, finishing in 6hrs 21mins – a good result for day 1, we need to keep this going on day 2. We sleep well and wake to falling snow, it looks like it this might last all day and visibility is poor. However, 10 minutes later the sun is shining but we are in for a cold day. We chat with Charlie and Lawrence who are competing and leading in the Score class.
We set off and decide to run along the old road and then a short, sharp climb to control 1; this again proves a good plan. 1 to 2 is arduous, a 7km trudge along Strath Lungard, but the views to the Torridian mountains helps to make this less of a struggle. From 2 we cross and tussocky area before a big climb into the snow to control 3 at a small lochan, North of Meall Ghiuthais. The end is in sight, 3 to 4 is quick running and then we follow a decent path most of the way to 5. 5 to 6 and 6 to7 pass quickly and we then have a short run along a surfaced path to the finish at the village hall.
We had run well again and finished the day 5th and were 5th overall in our class, and picking up a prize for 1st place in the Vet category. Happy days. The Highlander again proves to be a great event in a spectacular area, I’m sure we’ll be back again next year.
