As you will all be aware the plans for this day started a few weeks ago & after a fairly lengthy thread we ended up with 7 intrepid adventurers
Chris, his 2 pals Matt & Phil, John (Jupe1407), Luke (Laconic Surf), Pat (Postmand Pat, no sorry Morcambe Monkey) & me
Everyone apart from me was in the area for an early (ish) start, some camping, some sleeping rough in cars & then me who left home at 4.45am, yes 4.45 am, the AA had forecast that it will take 3hours, when in reality with no traffic, me driving at warp factor 5 it only takes 2 hours
So we all introduced ourselves at 8.30am & took a couple of cars to the finishing line which were a very welcome sight 9 hours later
I cannot imagine anyone walking along that road after walking that route, it even seemed along way driving there 
So 8.45am off we set, weather was dry and overcast, the first summit could be seen, it is quite a long walk in, but we were making good progress, bit like a route march, we marched past another group of seven guys who we only saw again briefly when we reached the second summit & that was in the distance
Due to the weather not being very kind I don't we took as many photo's as we could have, having said that I have just downloaded mine & was really surprised to find I had taken 60
- A few photo's from the car park
The climb up the first hill Creag a'Mhaim was a bit of a slog but once on top we gathered together, the 2 mountain goats (Matt & Phil) had to wait ages for us slow coaches at the rear, hope they appreciated the views because they didn't last, but we weren't to know that
- Left to right - Pat, John, Luke, Chris, Phil & Matt
- Fine body of men
- Loch Cluanie, water level quite low, not quite sure why
- Loch Loyne
The walk from Creag a'Mhaim to Druim Shionnach seemed to take no time at all, maybe because the legs were still fresh
- Looking back at the stragglers from the second summit
- The path to summit number 3 Aonach air Chrith
- The path to the next summit Aonach air Chrith
- The other party trying to catch us, failing miserably, well spread out
From now until the last summit there aren't too many photo's mainly because we were well wrapped up & getting a tad wet. This was the first walk this year that I have had to break out my water proof jacket
Our mountain goats who were always way off in the distance tried to take us off one of what seems like the many escape routes after the third summit (I think). It was only when we got below the cloud that we could see that we would be descending & never ascending
So it was a quick huddle round Luke's GPS & back up to where we had come from, 300 feet down & 300 feet back up. I did add that onto the ascent, all these extra feet add up
So back on top of the third summit, we then found the path we should have taken
It is funny how disorientated you become when you can't see where you are going, navigating in cloud is always challenging, round of applause for Luke saving the day
- I think this was one of the next targets, looks pretty scary to me, does highlight the low cloud
I think the next few are off the third summit Aonach air Chrith, but I was already struggling to keep up with which summit we were on, in the grottiness they were a blur - literally
- Getting ready for the wet stuff
- Feeding time
- Our 2 mountain goats galloping off into the distance
- Chris & Luke stopping to look for the sun, failed miserably
- The path to Maol Chinn-dearg (I think), note cloud fleeing across
The next few summits were a bit of struggle in the grotty weather, not many photo opportunities & no chance to see how exposed some of the ridges really were - probably just as well
- Chris & Luke heading off in the murk
- Group discussion, we were joined by a couple who had trudged back up to the summit having taken an escape route (a different one from us)
- Poser, no idea where this was, no doubt someone was paying attention
I think after we left Sgurr an Lochain the cloud lifted slightly & we managed to see some of surrounding scenery
- Pat smiling for the first time
- John trying to smile
After a pleasant detour round Sgurr Beag (which is probably one of the least climbed hills in Scotland, let's face who would want to go up there if you don't have to) we reached the final summit Creag nan Damh & the weather improved
- And so to the descent, we could see where we were supposed to be going
The descent was not the most pleasant experience, I found it strange that all the escape routes could easily be picked up, but we couldn't find the path down
Having said that we did try & take a bit of a short cut, which to be honest was far better than the path when eventually found it, the descent down the grass was easy & been down much steeper slopes The path back to the road was a real slog, loose stones, boulders & on the lower slopes a bit on the damp side
Summing up - a great day, it shows us Brits are not beaten by the elements
Good luck to Chris & Matt who still have another 9 munro's to conquer before the end of the month, 50 munro's in a month is cracking challenge, not that I am contemplating trying it. Am sure Chris will post the details of the charity they are having all this enjoyment for
The thought of camping/living rough etc for a month is not appealing to me, good luck guys & keep us posted Footnote: John apologies for leaving you in my slip stream on the road home, when I started up the satnav it forecast me arriving home at 2323hours and didn't fancy that very much, so went into warp factor 5 mode & was home before 11pm
Clocked up 334miles & the fuel warning light came on about 10 miles from home, first time in this car, so filled up this morning £70 ouch Loved the drive there & back though 
and I spent the remaining couple of hours or so bagging the remaining three peaks in fine weather. 
