The Wilderness ARC

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Cold Water

Rob Howard / 29.05.2006

After the quickfire changes of discipline in Glen Nevis teams climbed up into the mountains for the first time. Their destination was Loch Leven and the route took them over the summit of Sgurr a’ Mhaim at 3139 feet on a trek that was wet underfoot (everywhere is wet underfoot) but on which the weather remained largely dry.

With chill conditions and clear visibility the conditions were good for trekking, or running in the case of the leaders, who were already well ahead of the expected schedule. So much so their kit boxes only just arrived in time. As race marshal Andy Mitchell delivered them he pointed up the hill and startled the checkpoint staff by saying, “I don’t want to alarm you, but the first team is coming in.�

That team was Aberdeen Asset Management, who quickly set about preparing for the long, cold swim across the loch. They’d come prepared with boogie boards and flippers, which few other teams had. Behind them total-adventure.co.uk had come with dry suits, but their tactic backfired when Ali Hubbard’s began to fill with water!

Later teams could have done with any of this equipment as most wore 3mm wet suits, which did little to keep out the cold. As teams came ashore the two swimmers, who had been watched over by their team mates who paddled beside them, could barely crawl out of the water. Some could not stand or speak and were shivering violently. See All Event Posts