OMM Breadalbane

Race: Original Mountain Marathon, B Class, Day 2 (24k/1560m)
Peaks: Auchnafree Hill, A'Chairdh
Area: Breadalbane, Perthshire
Time/Position: 6:18:34 (19th from 180 [2nd Vet team])
Prospects looked much better this morning, with a higher cloud base, lighter winds and good morale after extensive refuelling at the overnight camp in Glen Almond. Nice views up to Meall nan Oighreag and other peaks, and even a little bit of blue sky allowing us to get a feel for this fine area at last. After an easy start, we planned to contour round for the next two CPs high above Glen Almond but went a little too high and so it became more logical to climb steeply over the spur of A'Chairdh to dib CP2 before another very sharp climb led to runnable terrain below Auchnafree Hill. The early weather optimism soon disappeared, and tricky nav in deteriorating conditions meant we had to skirt the rim of the cwm to descent the NE spur to CP3. Then an easy contouring line gained the next checkpoint, in fine and surprisingly dramatic Highland scenery just below the cloudbase, before a steep climb began the next crucial leg over the plateau of Auchnafree Hill. Huw was getting stronger and stronger, and our prospects began to look quite good. We followed an obvious fence line in more persistent rain, over the subsidiary peak of A'Chairdh, to gain the fine eastern cwm of Ben Chonzie. Tricky terrain, very boggy, and a big crocodile of competitors to follow (the first time in the weekend that I really felt we were following a big line though, which is a good indication that the area worked as a venue). After dibbing in a little high cwm, we had another critical leg in thick mist over the curving southern ridge of Chonzie: sticking to a precise bearing was critical. There were features, though, and we soon emerged from the mist to good views over the fine terrain above Loch Lednock. The views got even better as we negotiated the final checkpoints - with a superb sunburst over Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin to the west. The final run-in above Glen Lednock was a long haul, and we had to concentrate throughout, although Huw just got quicker until the event culminated in a flat-out sprint to the finish above Comrie in Betws-style oak woodland and pretty streams. A cracking weekend for my 4th OMM: good teamwork with Huw, which is what it's all about, and particularly pleasing for it to go reasonably well given my less than glorious record at this blue-riband event.