Along with Ian Winterburn I attempted the Mark
Rigby Round on Saturday. Traditionally a self supported and unreccied round in
the Cairngorms taking in 18 Munro’s, a distance of about 65/70 miles depending
on route choice and about 19’000ft ascent.
The weather forecast (don’t we love them!) said the rain would
clear at 8pm on Saturday. We set off at 9pm and it hadn’t cleared. By the top of
Cairngorm it was windy, raining and thick clag. We decided to press on and make
a decision after the second top, Bynack More as to whether to abort as we were
already well down on schedule, cold and wet. Descending Bynack More the skies
seem to be clearing and although we were still wet we had warmed up considerably
and so decided to continue. We got a lot of food down us in the valley and while
ascending Ben Avon the skies did clear and the winds drop. Passing a couple of
hardy bivvers we out and backed to Ben Avon then reascended Beinn a Bhuird. Dawn
was breaking and as we trogged across the peat moors to Beinn Bhreac we were
making reasonable progress although it was becoming fairly obvious that it would
be unlikely that we could make up the time that we had lost.
It was roundabout here that my stomach decided it hated me and
overall made my life a misery so I was just head down, plod on behind an ever
bouncy Ian. I had packed 3 Travel Lunch meals (puddings that you make with cold
water). In the Lairig an Laoigh valley I made the first one up – Cream Cheese
with Strawberries. Looking into the mush, as I had put too much water in it, I
thought “this could made a reappearance in about 5 seconds” but gave it a go.
Unbelievably my body thought it was nectar and accepted the whole lot. That soon
had me perked up and for the rest of the day I could eat whatever and whenever I
liked.
We pressed on across Beinn Mheadhoin, Derry Cairngorm, Ben Madui
(in snow) and along to Carn a Mhaim ridge. The wind had been steadily increasing
all day and along the ridge was very unpleasant and cold. We had a tentative
look over the edge for the “gully” but as were being buffeted about and could
hardly stand up decided to take the long way round (Ian did remind me that I am
getting married at the end of July!). Down at Corrour bothy we knew we weren’t
going to get round but decided that we would climb up and do Devil’s Point,
Cairn Toul, Angels Peak then follow the ridge to pick up the Rigby route on
Braeriach and descend to the car parked at the bottom of the Chalamain Gap path.
This is what we did at a more leisurely pace and finished after 22 hours back at
the van. Mark Harvey and Bob had spent the day in Glen Nevis area and drove
across to join us for tea and a beer. Pictures here
Nicky Spinks
Ian’s account
A Rigby Attempt
Over that last year I’ve had the idea of doing the Mark Rigby Round
(all 18 Munros in the Cairngorm Massive) as it was a true mountain
adventure. I managed to persuade Nicky Spinks to join me on this wild
journey. To make it even more fun we had no local knowledge as neither
of us had been in to the Cairngorms before which meant not only
carrying all our food etc but we had to navigate totally new terrain.
From the moment you step off the tarmac you don’t touch any more until
you’ve finished.
We’d already put it off once due to bad weather but last Saturdays
forecast had a hint of being ok. The cold wet front was supposed to
clear by 8.00pm leaving a clear but breezy night with wind slowly
building through the day as the next front approached.
So at 9.00 pm we set off up in thick clag, rain and strong winds
convincing our selves it would have blown through and be clear by the
first top
.
Once on top of Cairngorm(1) with the rain/ wind still hitting us hard
we dropped off on compass bearing through the thick clag head torches
lighting a small bubble around us. We started up Bynack Mor(2) with
little improvement by now we had nearly every piece of clothing on and
it was desperately cold. We topped out to signs that the cloud was at
last starting to break. We struggled down in a pea souper to the Avon
refuge which was full! Here we had our first proper bite to eat as it
had been too cold to slow down and eat earlier. When we decided to push
on to Ben Avon we were committed but although rough going we got a good
line, the sky cleared but the wind blew and temp dropped. We were about
to dump the sack for the out and back to Ben Avon (3) when we realised
the ‘rock’ was a bivvying walker
.
We got to the summit 90 minutes down on schedule! Back to the sacks
which had started to ice up. The ground had also started to freeze.
The sun hadn’t come up yet but it was clear enough to see so head
torches went away and we headed over Beinn a’Bhuird (4). Picking up
some time and on to the long boggy tramp(not unlike Bleaklow) to Beinn
Bhreac (5). Sunrise finally came heading to B. a’Chaorainn (6). The
visibility was good but the wind was already building and heading
straight at us. We dropped steeply in to the first of the big passes
Lairig an Laoigh. Where we had another bite to eat Nicky trying some
dehydrated pudding which looked like radioactive angel delight. The
climb up to B. Mheadhoin (7) is a full on up deep heather and rocks
with no paths but we pulled more time back here although we were still
well down.
By Loch Etchachan we met our first moving walker. It was 8.30am and we
had done 30 miles and 7 munros. He seemed surprised that we had been
out all night given the earlier weather!
Another quick out and back to Derry Cairngorm (8) before the climb up
through big snow fields to Ben Macdui (9). The wind by now was really
knocking us about making the scramble over the boulders hard going. The
long (1700ft) drop down the boulder strewn hillside was hard on the
feet, the alternative snowy gully would have been difficult even with
crampons and ice axe as the snow was like marble. Next was the run
along the pleasant if windy ridge of Carn’a Maim(10).
From here the route’s fast line was down a very steep scrambly gully
(Thanks to Rob W for this info) But as we entered it we could hardly
stand up the wind was blowing that hard and so we made the correct
decision to take a longer safer route off the southern end of the ridge
and then cut back. We were still going strong but we knew we were too
far behind the schedule to get round in 24 hours but decided to push on
and enjoy the day.
We now crossed the very impressive Lairig Ghru/Glen Dee and stopped
above Corrour Bothy for a good feed before climbing up to Devils Point
(11) (named apparently after some male sexual appendage). The clag came
back and brought the odd spot of rain with it. Cairn Toul (12) was
another boulder strewn scramble by now my toes and knees were getting
sore but the hip/back problem I’d had the week before had given me no
problems. (Thumbs up to the Physio)
The route from here now takes in Angel Peak (13) which wasn’t a Munro
in Mark Rigbys day so he didn’t have to take it in. The bad night and
the strong headwind had taken its toll and so we reluctantly
continued on to what should have been (18) but was today (14) the
Mighty Braeriach. The thick clag and wind slowly but not quite getting
behind us as we leisurely started on the long way down over more
boulders/snow and back in to the Lairig Ghru and straight up through
the surprisingly rough Chalamain Gap to the car.
I can’t recommend this trip highly enough for the wild committing experience. Awesome day, Thanks for the company Nicky
We’ll definately be back with our new found knowledge.
Pictures can be viewed here
Stats
Looking at the GPS
We were actually out for 22.45
Climbed 15,000 ft (14 Munros)
Distance 54.2 miles
Pack weighed 5.5 kilos not including water
of which 2.5 was food. I’d divided up the food for fixed spots on the
route so I knew what I’d been eating. Ignoring the food I’d put to one
side for the loop we’d missed I’d eaten everything. (approx 1.9 kilos
plus lots of energy drinks)