Mamores challenge route summary

Day 1
5:30 am start, 8:00 pm finish
1.Mullach nan Coirean
2.Stob Ban
3. Sgurr a’Mhaim
4. Am Bodach
5. Stob Coire a’Chairn
6. An Gearanach

Day 2 - Unfinished Business ...
10:00 am start, 10:20pm finish
7. Na Gruagaichean
8. Binnein Mor
9. Binnean Beag
10. Sgurr Eilde Mor

Total Distance ~ 42.5km
Total Time about 27 hours!!!

Heaven and Hell - Day two of the Challenge

As the picture shows we woke up to a glorious Sunday with clear visibility and warm, dry conditions. With reinvigorated spirits and a belly full of bacon and eggs we embarked on part deux of the challenge. We managed to scale the first two peaks in four and a half hours and we enjoyed the hiking compared to the torment of the previous day. However, the skies soon darkened and became more ominous looking as we headed to the third peak. Once again we were forced to don the waterproofs as the rain increased in strength. The going became tough again and our weary legs began to wobble under the strain. Lydia began to lose heart and was tempted to call it a day, but there was no way I was stopping at eight Munros after all that hard work. We were doing this for Pisco and all we had to do was remind ourselves that for each extra Munro we did the more money we would raise. The last peaks were brutal due to their steep, rocky sides and loose scree. We took it in turns to lead and drive each other on, and as they say in Leith, "Persevere", and that's exactly what we did. Eventually we made it to the top of our last Munro at 8:10pm and we were ecstatic with our achievement. However, with the light beginning to fade we had little time to dwell on our success.


Unfortunately in our hurry to get back we took a wrong turn off the mountain and ended up descending an extremely steep, moss covered slope. That was the scariest part of the whole adventure as we knew one slip could result in injury or death and to our dismay there was no mobile phone signal. With a bit of care and help from our walking poles we managed to negotiate our way down the sheer face and were relieved to make it down to more manageable paths. Five and a half kilometers later we got back to Mamore lodge, at 10:30pm. It has never been so good to see a little Toyota Starlet and we groaned with agony as we removed boggy, soggy walking shoes from our damp, tired feet. The last obstacle was the drive back to Edinburgh through a wet and wild Glencoe. We finally returned at 1:30am. The final insult was that I had to get up again at 6am for work! Never again will we be so tired on a Monday at work, but then again, there aren't many weekends when you hike up 10 Munros!

Lost in the clouds

''......on challenges met, competitors bested, obstacles overcome. I've accomplished more than most men, and without the use of my legs.''

-The Big Lebowski

Lydia at the end of day one, six Munros climbed and 16 hours after starting at 5:40 am ... Leon may have tried very, very hard to kill me, but I have lived to tell another tale, another day. The mountain forecast (and MET Office & BBC) on Friday night was showing two sunshines, very light wind and unlimited visibility for all of Saturday! Woo hoo! The day started well enough with a beautiful sunrise, but by 7:15 am the storm clouds had gathered, the fog rolled in and the rain began falling. We spent the next 9 or so hours trying to navigate in the foggy wetness, elusive peaks drifting in and out of view. Despite having a map and GPS, we climbed the second peak twice, after Leon took us down a ridge in the direction of the West Highland Way, needless to say the conversation was non-existent for an hour or so afterwards. It was very slow going, without the slightest bit of dry ground on which to perch and make peanut butter & jam sandwiches. Today, was going to be a damn, tough, brutal, bone-chilling day!

We managed to navigate our way slowly to the 6th terrifying sheer peak, and after a night of wild camping in Glen Nevis and the prospect of injury followed by a soggy, boggy evening in damp muddy clothes, I decided to take drastic action after the 6th peak and insist we de-camp to Kinlochleven, dry out and re-fuel for the final 4 peaks on Sunday. We didn't get back to the campsite in Glen Nevis until 8:30 pm and then had to race round the Mamore range to guarantee our bed for the evening, but it was so worth it (not that we could keep our eyes open.....) The prospect of re-ascent the following day was going to be very tough indeed.... Praise be the Mamore Lodge!

The Mamores Challenge

15 Gruelling hours await.... 10 Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet), 21 miles of walking, 11,150 feet of ascent. This is the punishment we must endure to encourage our friends, family and colleagues to part with their hard-earned cash in the aid of Pisco Sin Fronteras. The car is packed (Jaffa cakes and all) training is complete (11 miles of walking each day to and from work) and the new hiking boots broken-in. The Mamores mountain range (see link below) is among the most spectacular in Scotland, located to the South West of Fort William and in the shadow of Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak. We will drive up to our campsite in Glen Nevis tonight and then start our hike at 5am tomorrow morning. I fear the early start, tiredness and inevitable pains that will greet us with unsympathetic regularity on this challenge. However, I believe our determination and good spirits will drive us on to the finish line no matter the obstacles we face.

Thank you to all those who have generously donated to this great cause.

http://www.stevenfallon.co.uk/mamores.html