Occasionally we need to get reminded that no matter how fit or experienced we think we are, there is a price for arrogance, complacency and stupidity. Luckily this story has a a happy ending, with a lesson being learnt. A lesson that has been paid for with the upsetting and distress to those closest and dearest to me, which is a price high enough, but at least there is change from what would have been the alternative.
A quick summary of the day. The weekend was for my friend Chucks last Munro. There was 32 people invited up for the weekend, with the plan go up Bein na Lap near Corrour station. For anyone who has seen the movie Trainspotting, this is where they all go for their day in the Highlands . Out in the middle of no-where.. We drove up to Tyndrum on Friday night with a load of kit to cover all weather conditions. Had a few beers, wines and whiskys which led to a 3:30 bed time and a bit of a slow start to the day.. A good breakfast of porridge and a bacon roll was had. Took the train to Corrour at 10:30 on Sat.. Was feeling a little rough on the train so really glad when it stopped and we were able to get out..
We all started our wee trek up the hill, which given that we were starting at about 500m was not that hard. A pretty well worn trail took us to our destination where champagne was popped and pork pies, salmon on bread and other snacks. All of Chucks family were there and a lot of people from the mountaineering club and Hunters Bog Trotters. It was quite cold up top so I put on my waterproof trousers over my running leggings. Walked the descent back to the station with Jamie, chatting away about running, injuries and the like. We made it back down to Corrour about 2:30. Had a cup of coffee with Carrie and we swithered about going up the Corbet just the other side of the train track. The train back was at 18:20, so a bit of time to kill. Knowing that I did not want to spend a whole arvo in the pub I decided to go up. Jamie had left 10 minutes before me but it was a very simple ascent across boggy ground and thick heather. I made it up to near the top after about an hour and and saw 2 or 3 folk from the day out coming down then after about another 10 mins came across Jamie and 2 others. I asked how far to the top. "5 minutes just up that way - you can't miss the cairn - there is a bit of cloud so you wont see much, but its all fine, just follow your footsteps back in the snow. ." .
I swithered for a moment thinking I would just go back down with them and have a beer in the pub but thought not much point coming all this way without getting to the top. They said they would walk slowly back down..It was probably about 16:45 by this stage..
Made the summit in 5 mins, took some photos of me at the cairn then turned tail and followed the footsteps in the light snow back the way I came. It was indeed cloudy and couldn’t see anything below the cloud.
And somehow took a wrong turn and went down the hill .. The wrong side..
Descended about 50m or so and realised that the terrain was not what I had come up in.. So went back up the hill, but could not find the line I needed. If I had a compass, it would have been good, but of course I did not - Yes I am an idiot ! A mobile phone - useless - out of battery. (Yes - I am an idiot - my 'running phone' with a battery that lasts for a week was back in Tyndrum). Map - ?? Nope.
By this stage I was starting to get a bit worried. I decended one more time but still could not see what I needed to see as the cloud had possibly come down a bit more. A mild panic started to settle in .. Then the full reality of the situation . I was going to miss the train. My friends were going to be worried. I would be spoiling their party. My girl Sam, my girls, family, loved ones and other wider friends would also be worried.
"Oh dear - you have really f***ed up this time Keith". I said..
By 18:30 it was dark and I took stock of the situation. I had a mental calculation that Moutain Rescue would be called but it would take them at least an hour to get a helicopter to me .. (I later found out they would not have come until first light due to the cloud on the hill). I could not stay on the hill, it was cold, the ground icy and sodden. I looked for shelter from the light rain, but there was none in the low gorse bushes and rocks. I was lost up a hill in the dark.
On the plus side, I did have adequate clothing. Shorts, running leggings, waterproof trousers, socks, Hokas (I had left my Innov8's back in Edi). T-shirt, long running top, Waterproof Jacket, Waterproof gloves, lycra hat, wool beannie.. 1/2 a Mars Bar, 1 small block of Cadburys Milk and Nut, 2 Carbo gels and a pack of Minties.
I really had to focus on what to do. I could keep trying to go up the hill, looking for the right path to the train station that would be less than 2 miles away, but at the risk of falling on the hill or off a ledge. It was a full moon, but the cloud was playing havoc with visibility. I tried following a number of tracks off the hill but once again these led me to dead ends. As I looked around I saw in the distance the outline of Blackwater Reservoir. Beyond that I saw a light, if this was train, truck or illusion I do not know but I decided to head down off the hill and go that way. I knew that I had seen that stretch of water from the top of the Devils Staircase a number of times, so figured it was as good a direction as any.
Probably came off the hill about 19:30, in stopping for a drink I lost a glove.. With no head torch I could only use my camera flash to search the ground, although flurescent on one side, it landed face down and hence invisible. Ooops.
The next 8 or 9 hours were spent trekking across the expanses of Rannoch Moor. As I got down to the shores of Blackwater Res. I once again saw lights in the distance - over the other side. So I went left, and avoiding the many little streams, jumping puddles, tripping over gorse, falling waist deep in bogs and got to the bottom. At one stage after about 5 hrs without a break, I got really tired and lay down in the lee of a rock to see if I could just rest. Within minutes the cold had seeped through my body and I knew that if I stopped I would be in trouble. I had a Carbo Gel which was good but made me feel a bit crook.. I was eating the chocolate to keep me going . Had ran out of water, so topped up my water bottle from the loch or running streams.
I could hear Stags in rut, when the full moon was out and the drizzle stopped it was quite surreal. All I could think of was everyone else that would be worried. If I could have taken that out, and known where I was, then I might have even enjoyed it.. I was bloody lucky.. The rain whilst constant was only light. The wind was negligible, there was no snow and the temperature was maybe 3-4C. A heard of geese (I thought they were dogs ) exploded behind me and scared the shit out of me .. I was tired but working hard and not in really any danger whilst I kept moving and focused..
I kept walking, wading and lifting my legs. The ground sucked the strength from me.. It was like a wee walk George and I had done on the SUW back in December, with better weather but without even the semblence of a course, and alone. I finally got around Blackwater and headed North again, to try and pick up the light I had seen earlier. It was really boggy, many times having to pull myself out with my arms as I was deep in the mire. Gorse and heather held me back, lucky I only fell once and landed on soft ground. Rocks turned into houses, moonlight became beacons..
At about 2:30AM I saw a steady light in the west, so started to head in that direction. It stayed still but was a long way away ! A while later I saw a moving light south of the first one which I realised was a car. It was a long way away but decided to use my cameras flash to see if I could signal for help.. I took a bearing on the light and walked towards it .. Unfortunately there were no further cars so I lost the line and was then stuck again so just had to keep heading in that direction. In the light it seemed that a huge loch lay between me and the 'road'. At about 3:30 I turned around and behind me saw what appeared like 2 lights. It meant not heading to the road but I had to make a choice and decided to change course. By this stage I was getting very tired, both mentally and physically. I was really pinning my hopes on this light and every time I dropped down into a dip, or to cross a wee stream, or behind a hill, I would pray that when I can back up the light would be in view.
The last 30 mins as I got closer were really hard. What would I do if the light was just random roadworks ? As I got closer I could see the outline of trees, then had to jump a fence, then ultimately the house appeared with all lights blazing. 2 cars parked in front of the first house, but no answer. I walked past the stables where a dog barked and a horse neighed. The next house was no better - all the lights on, the curtains open and a bed that looked as if someone had just left it .. I tried the bell but no-one home. I tried the door and it opened and into the warmth I stepped. I called out and apologised and after removing my wet shoes, went into the house asking if anyone was home. There was no reply.
At 4:20 AM I lay down on the floor next to a still warm radiator and collected my thoughts. After 5 mins or so I went and found a phone and dialed 999 for the first time in my life. After 10 minutes of speaking with the coordinating police officer I got put through to Fort William Police station and spoke to the very nice Duty Sargeant Kirstin.
"Hello Keith "
"Hello - you might have me reported as missing "
"Yes, we do, there are a lot of people worried about you "
"Yes, I figured that "
"Where are you "
I told her, and we worked out i was about a mile or so from the A82, maybe 16 or so miles from where I started.
"How did you get there "
"Mmmm I don’t really know. "
In the next hour Sam (who had travelled up from Edinburgh during the night with our great friends Nick, Nyci and Perry ) came and picked me up.. She had clearly been very worried. We then went back to Tyndrum where Carrie, Kata, Jamie, Chuck and all the others were waiting and also very relieved. I found out about people who were on their way to come and look for me, of all the stress my little adventure caused.
I have done longer runs and been put for more hours but mentally and physically this was as challenging a few hours as i have ever spent. To be truly lost and alone is a rare thing these days. Looking back now with the memories fading it doesn't seem so bad... I was bloody lucky that despite my lack of kit and basic common sense nothing really bad happened. I still feel really bad for all the upset that I caused and am glad that at least people didn't need to walk around at night trying to find my silly arse. Thanks to all those people who were ready to come and help and of course to my lovely girl Sam who somehow ended u with a broken finger from the night and who was so upset..
So next time , if I am allowed out again, I promise to check the phone, compass and map.. And maybe go with a friend... If you are a potential idiot like me, maybe you should do the same...
