X-adventure Raid Series

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From Ben Nevis to the Cairngorms

Rob / 09.05.2003

At the race briefing, just before the maps and routebooks were given out, the organisers warned teams to be prepared. “The weather has been bad, with snow falling on the start area today, and you can expect heavy showers and cold conditions. It will be cold so take plenty of clothes. The mountains here are low but it will feel like you are at 3000m tomorrow!�

The start is planned to be an ascent of Ben Nevis followed by the Carn Mor Dearg ridge, but given the weather that may not happen. The organisers are being cautious as they planned the same route last time they were here and had to call it off. Hence the rather extreme insistence on boots and crampons too. From here teams cycle on fast trails, up the side of Loch Lochy, before continuing up the Great Glen in canoes and onto Loch Ness in sea kayaks. (Again the organisers have learned from past experience this may not be the place for the inflatable canoes.)

There is a spectacular flying fox next (across the same waterfall used 4 years ago) before they tackle the wide open spaces of the Monadhliath mountains on bikes and on foot. And that is just the first day! After a brief overnight camp comes a long paddle down the river Spey and then to stretch everyone’s legs again a 10km in-line skating section. Next comes a ride through the ancient Rothiemuchus Forest, followed by a climb up to the Cairngorm massif. Then the courses finishes as it began, with a big mountain trekking stage on the Cairngorms, including an abseil off the cliffs of Cairn Lochan.

The stages are:

Trekking – 15 km
Mtb – 43 km
Canoe – 15 km
Kayaking – 18 km
Ropes – 4 km
Mtb – 28 km
Trekking – 21 km
Camp
Canoeing – 20 km
Skating – 10 km
Mtb 17 km
Trekking and ropes – 13km
Trekking – 9 km
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