Strathmore & The Glens Rural Partnership
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Strathmore
& the Glens Rural partnership Blairgowrie and District Next Steps
28 May 2006
Press Release Eastern Cairngorm Challenge 2006 - Jock's Road - Glen Doll to Auchallater
A team from the Blairgowrie and District Next Steps walking group took part in the inaugural Eastern Cairngorm Challenge on Saturday 27th May 2006. This involved walking 21km from the Glen Doll car park via Jock's Road to Auchallater, on the Spittal to Braemar Road. For
many this was the first high level long distance walk and it was an eye-opener!
The day started overcast but warm and wind free through the woods.
This was soon to change as after the first snack stop, just prior to the
new footbridge we were exposed to the growing wind.
This was also the start of the steady climb up to the plateau.
Having started the event at 10:20, 35 minutes after the previous group we
were gratified to at last see their backs at this point.
However, it wasn't a rapid overtaking manoeuvre as they were at the top
and we were at the bottom, 1km away and 170m higher! Eventually
we crested the track and came upon the second checkpoint.
The marshalls were grateful as it allowed them to start moving and follow
on as 'sweepers'. After the wind swung away from head on, accompanied by
occasional hail and rain showers we arrived at the third checkpoint just as the
previous group did. Just after this
point both groups stopped for another snack break in the lee-side of Crow
Craigies. After 15 mins we
re-started and left the other group behind to finish their break. At
this point the path petered out and it was a case of following a bearing and map
across a relatively featureless gradual descent slope.
Eventually we found a marker leading us to the fourth checkpoint, which
was hidden in a hollow on the steep descent into Glen Callater.
Dropping down to sporadic paths we crossed a number of small burns, not
without incident as several of the party slipped and got muddy and wet. Once
the glacial moraine remnants were passed we walked along the north shore of Loch
Callater to the fifth checkpoint at its head.
While this showed we were getting close to the end it also meant having
to walk on a hard land-rover track for another 5 km! Finally
the finish hove into sight, and as a group we crossed the line and received our
finishers medals. The day was an excellent achievement for all, finishing in a time of 7hrs 20 mins, only just outside the predicted time of 7hrs 16 mins. And approx 25 minutes ahead of the previous starting group. In all we covered a distance of 21.2km and a total ascent of 778m. Not bad for a group of 11 with combined age of 667, and average of just over 60! A
minibus awaited to transport us to the Highland Games arena, where a bowl of
pasta awaited, in readiness for a ceilidh. This was hosted by BBC’s Fred
MacAuley, also from Blairgowrie. A
pleasant few drinks and drams was had by all and some even forgot their sore
feet and legs and danced. We were
fortunate that Sue and David had been our mini-bus drivers for the day, even
though they had also been at the Community Market in the Wellmeadow.
Thanks go to them for enabling us to participate in the event. Contact
details for BADNS can be found on www.badns.org
or visit the regular Wednesday Stride for Life health walks and speak to Nick
Cole.
Photo:
At the finish line (c) Nick Cole From
L to R: Nick Cole, Sheila Robertson, Helen Stanghon, Anne Easson, Shirley
Davidson, Chris Campbell (crouching at front), Bob Ellis, Marjory Campbell, Mike
Brunton, Margaret Taylor, George Shepherd.
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