X-adventure Raid Series
Plan C – Miserable Weather
Rob / 10.05.2003
The weather for the start of the race forced the organisers to resort to plan C. They’d already given up hope of crossing the Carn Mor Dearg arête, and settled for plan B – the bad weather course. But with torrential showers sweeping in off the sea, low visibility and snow falling on the summit there was no choice, they had to switch to the course for ‘miserable weather’. (You’ll have to imagine the French accent.)All the teams were told about the change (and no one was surprised) as they gathered at the end of the Glen Nevis road at 6.00 am. They then jumped in their vans to head back towards the new start point at the foot of the tourist track up Ben Nevis, though some missed the turn to the car park and went into Fort William. The new start time was 7.00 am and the shortened course would not to the summit, but just cross the shoulder of the mountain to take teams to transition one at the foot of the Aanoch Mor Gondola.
It was raining hard as they set off in a mass start on the river bank and two stiles in quick succession caused some pile ups before they got onto the main path and began the climb. Even on the lower route they ran in snow for a while but by staying below the main cliffs and the snowfields the route was a safer one. For teams who have travelled so far it was a disappointment and doubly so for the race organisers who have twice now tried to run the race over Ben Nevis and been defeated by the weather.
The route crossed a col before slanting down below the North face to a mountain hut, then crossing another ridge before teams dropped to the transition area through forest where route choice and good short cuts saved some teams time. First in were the favourites Les Arcs-Quechua but they were less than a minute ahead of Saab Salomon and the top 6 teams came in close together, including Saab Salomon GB and Nokia Adventure. The general consensus was the conditions were ‘not too bad’, or as Pete James put it “mildly horrible�.
The support crews were waiting and had been trying to set up tarps, awnings and umbrellas to keep out the heavy rain as they prepared the bikes for the next stage. The most effective were the Swedish team FJS who had a large tunnel team and were much envied. As soon as teams arrived they swung into action, helping them into dry clothes and providing drinks and food. Teams with more support fared better and those who only had the 4th team member (waiting to go out on the next stage) didn’t have so many comforts. See All Event Posts
