HOME GO BACK

The Ramsay Round or Sore and May Hurt
by Willie Gibson


Ben Nevis Youth Hostel
8:58 am

It was not until I joined Carnethy that I first heard of Ramsay’s Round. Then I assumed that Ramsay was some historic figure (well I suppose he is!). There is something about the round that I find attractive, whether its is the scale of the run or maybe the fact that the climb is around the same as Everest, I am not that sure. Perhaps it is my memories of my first summer job in the Commonwealth pool, seeing Charlie Ramsay going running regularly and thinking that it was a strange thing to do, and then my first marathon where Charlie was running. It did not click with me that Ramsay’s Round was named after the guy from the 'Commy' that I remembered and that I thought was strange with his running obsession.

Anyway, having had a Tranter's attempt where we were rained off the hill and then A Ramsay's attempt where I turned it into a successful Tranters in thick mist., it was time for what I thought would be a serious attempt. Cathi's parents had booked a holiday home in Norfolk for a week in June and somehow had forgotten to count me in, so I had a free week.

I had always wanted to do the round unsupported, I feel that these things were meant to be done that way, but I was glad of Moira’s help, at least to meet me half way and perhaps pick up the pieces. A week or so before the chosen weekend, Jamie Thin had contacted me asking if he could join me for the attempt. I was happy for the company but a little worried that my natural pace (or lack of it) might be affected by company. But we met up on the Friday night (27th June 2003) and prepared for the run the next morning. Jamie’s pal Mick James was coming up to run the Mamores section on Saturday morning.

Binnean Beag
15:14



Jamie and Mick descending Binnean Mor
15:14

 

The weather was not too promising in the morning so we held off the start until 9am when we stood outside the youth hostel in Glen Nevis and took a photo before saying goodbye to Moi and heading up Mullach nan Coirean. It was not a great day but we had a good blether on the climb. I heard the story of Mick’s mountain experiences and enjoyed the fact that I was not alone. At the top of Mullach nan Coirean I found a hat sitting on the cairn, that'll do me I thought as I put it on to keep the drizzle off my glasses. There was not much to say about the first few hills. The going was fairly leisurely but steady and the weather was improving. Moira met us on An Gearanach, where she had been sitting trying to work how to use her new mobile phone for some time (bought especially for the support role). She left us after giving us a few jelly babies and said she would see us at Fersit. It was about then that I pulled my 1.5 Litre Tango bottle out of my rucksack much to Mick’s amusement. As we ran to Binnean Beag there was the odd opening in the cloud and the weather really started improving.
We reached the end of the Mamores in about 8 hours, by this time the hat I found on Munro 1 was beginning to dry out and started to smell, I decided to leave it on the the cairn of Sgur Eilde Mor. I wondered how many times that hat has traveresed the mamores?
Jamie and I said farewell to Mick and headed for Loch Trieg. This was the first time that we had been off paths but there was still a bit of bounce in the old legs and it was a pleasant run down to Luibelt. Then Jamie followed the river, while I followed Jamie, along a track that was rather less of a track than I had imagined. This is the part of the round where keeping up the pace was important. About 6 miles of flat, and that is exactly how I felt FLAT. Without Jamie ahead I would have been walking far more.

Climbing Beinnn na Lap with Corrour in the background 19:29

A good excuse for a rest 19:29
We eventually reached Loch Treig and followed a better track, round the Loch, which went under the rail bridge and then started up Ben na Lap. It was a slog and it was Jamie’s turn to feel tired. After being on a track it was hard to lift the legs over the heather but, as we climbed, the heather got less tall and by now the weather was looking rather good. Once at the top, the hills were very runable and the evening light was amazing. I took a few photos as we went round but realised that we were going to be running off the last hill in darkness. The route off was interesting. I have done this part of the round 4 times now and have never found a good way off, but this was the best so far.

Climbing Chno Dearg
20:20

Looking to The Ben
20:20

The evening light climbing Stob Choire Sgriodain
21:37

A stunning sunset desending to the dam
21:38

What an evening looking to Glen Roy
21:38
. We were both fairly knackered as we reached the Dam and met a Midged Moi at 10:30pm. Moira had used her womanly wiles to get the key to the gate so that she could get to the Dam in her car. She had been there 4 hours by the time we got there She fed us with cakes, chocolate, tea and coffee as we huddled in the car. Jamie decided to call it a day. I was tempted but decided to carry on anyway. By this time I reckoned that getting round in under 24 was not on, but I would be close.
Moi escorted me along the track and part of the way up the first, Easain, in the pitch darkness and then left me alone on the hill. It is an eerie feeling being alone on a hill in the darkness, especially when you are heading up on a compass bearing unable to keep to the track. The climb seemed endless but then the Dam was the nearest to sea level on the round, so its not surprising. The top of the first, Stob a Choire Mheadhoin, eventually arrived, and then I realised it was just a marker cairn! This seemed to go on for ever, when I eventually got to the top there was no mistaking it and I could follow the path over to Stob Coire Easain fairly easily.

Dawn on the way up Stob Ban
04:38
Then came the big descent. Slipping, tripping, sliding, falling over rocks into hollows, over peat hags going on for ever and trying to read the map and watch my footing. What I had hoped would be a fun run descent, was a toil. My plan had been to hit this section before dark!. By the time I crossed Allt na Lairig I was feeling done-in. Tthe pathless climb up to Stob Ban was killing me and every time I slipped and fell I felt like just staying there and sleeping. It seemed to take an age but eventually I could see the path up the side and as I climbed the sun was rising. The beauty of the sunrise was breathtaking and I felt a lift as I made the summit and then headed for the Grey Corries.

From Stob Choire Clairig I could see the mist sitting in the glens and the tops were crystal clear. The ridge was stretching into the distance in front of me and the Ben was visible at the end. I was on the home run. Still feeling knackered I was managing to jog all but the climbs and feeling fairly strong until I was coming off Stob Coire Easain.

I always seem to cock up this section. I saw a cairn to the right and it seemed to lead down. Before I knew it I was in a boulder field on a steep slope and had crags below me. I wasn't thinking straight but decided to traverse back to the ridge. With the odd bit of scrambling and cursing I made it back to the ridge and found the straight descent far easier. I was off it. Mentally and physically drained, my relief at getting off was tempered by the fact that here was a Munro I had forgotten about. Who put Sgurr Choinich Mor there!!!


Sgur Innse in the foreground
04:38

Looking to the Ben from Stob Choire Claurigh
05:51
My strength was really going now. I was eating Mars Bars , rolls, jelly babies. I tried everything but got no response. I struggled on over it and eventually saw the large slope of the Aonachs ahead. I had a signal on the phone so called Moi, I had 12K to go, "3 hours hopefully". What a joke! As I tried to climb my heart was pounding and my legs were weak. I was taking 10 steps and then having to rest. I was getting frustrated but could do nothing. I just slogged on and on. I realised my pace had slowed exponentially. This was a wall like I had never hit before. I was 22 hours out, it was the longest I had ever been going and my body did not know how to cope.
The Anoachs were a bit of a blur. I remember running between the two and being unable to catch a walker ahead of me but I kept going. The hours were flying past and I was getting nowhere, no phone signal either! The descent between the Aonach and the Ben was hellish. Going down was no easier than climbing!. Then I had the Ben to face, well Carn Mor Dearg anyway, it is a lovely climb, but it wasn't that day. Sun beating down , no energy and 2000ft of climb. Every 10 paces I rested and couldn't muster any energy to do more than that. The climb took an age and at the top I sat for a moment and checked the phone. There was a message from Moi "I am at the top of the Ben where are you?" I phoned and left a message again and then headed for the Ben along the arete. I was going very slow and feeling rather weary when I saw Moi wating just before the climb to The Ben. I took some food and drink had a blether and slowly climbed to the top.

I meet Moi at the end of the Carn Mor Dearg arette
12:45

A little knackered back at the youth hostel
14:58
The descent off the Ben was worse than I remember. My feet were agony on the rough track and the path seemed to snake down the hill for ever. Jogging downhill being overtaken by walkers is strange, and when Moi and I got to the Red burn we headed off the path. I could actually still descend that and I got down ahead of Moira to see Jamie at the bottom cheering me. I felt I was there! The three of us jogged down the rest of the way to the youth hostel and I got there just under 30 hours after I had set off. The last 3 hours (expected) had taken 8. I was a wreck.
I waddled back to the camp eating an ice cream, phoned Cathi to report (in tears), I lay down on a thermarest and started panting, shaking, and sleeping. I was almost having convulsions, I had stopped and my body didn't know what to do. I was woken up with some coffee and fell back to sleep. I don’t know how long I was there but I was happy just to lie, have some rest, and be looked after. Thanks Moi!

I don’t remember much about getting home. I was in a reclined seat in Moira’s car and just let myself recover. I had a bath and thought about the experience.

Will I try again? Of course I will!
But next time I will want as much support as possible; I don’t want to carry anything or have to think! I will run it the other way round (The Ben at the end it just too much!) and maybe try to do some serious carbo-loading.
I need to Thank Moi for her fantastic support, and Jamie for the company and for waiting to cheer me up on the way off The Ben, and Mick James for his support and stories.
A final thought . Charlie Ramsay is incredible, what a feat all those years ago. Everyone that has completed the round knows how hard it is, I do now and I took 30 hours, only 6 hours too many.

P.S. Anyone that would be available to help next June in my supported attempt please let me know.

P.P.S. If you wondered about the title of this article "Sore and May Hurt" is an anagram of "The Ramsay Round"


In need of a hug
14:58


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Home | Go Back
© Carnethy.com 2014