The spectacular Glencoe valley in the Scottish Highlands played host to the 2002 Salomon National 36-Hour X-Adventure race. The Boghoppers had taken part in the three Salomon single day events in Wales, The Peak District and Kielder Forest leading up to the National Event and the team looked forward to the challenge ahead.

Adventure racing in 2002 was one of the fastest growing sports and consists of various activities such as mountain biking, fell running, canoeing and abseiling.

The format of the event was based on mixed teams of four, with three competing at the one time and the 4th member resting. There would be 4 stages, with Teams swapping members in and out between stages.

The Boghoppers consisted of, from left to right, newcomer Yann, in his first adventure race, team regulars, Sarah & John, Julie acting as van driver and support crew, and me, Alan.

STAGE 1 – BIKE/KAYAK/SWIM

The race started at 06.00 from the Glencoe Ski Centre. Stage 1 took teams by mountain bike along the West Highland Way and then offroad to Taynuilt where they would pick up rafts and descended down river for half an hour, finishing with a short swim to the end of Stage1.

The cycling was bone jarringly fast down the West Highland Way, before turning West at Forest Lodge. The route then consisted of single track and many many river crossings, some of these were pretty deep, after a few hours we eventually hit the land rover track and headed towards the rafting section of the stage.  

The rafting, organised by local firm Vertical Descents, consisted of negotiating 2Km of rapids on inflatable canoes, the wetsuits and buoyancy aids that were part of our kit bag transported there by the Organisers came in handy as teams struggled to maintain stability in the fast flowing water and there were a few capsizes on the route, however it was fast and a lot of fun!.

Out of the kayak and a short run to the Taynuilt jetty  (still in the wetsuit and PFD) for the plunge into Loch Etive and swim across to the jetty. The water currents were noticeable in the swim to the shore, halfway across a seal popped its head up beside me to see what was going on, and it was with some relief, when we waded across the finish of Stage 1.

The early finish also caught our support crew Julie & Yann by surprise who had thought they had time for a few hours extra kip –they were still tucking into bacon and eggs at the B&B in Ballachulish whilst their team crossed the finish line and started to wonder where they were…

STAGE 2 – KAYAK/RUN

From Taynuilt, Stage 2 would take the teams 15Km, the entire length of Loch Etive in Canadian Canoes, leading onto a 10Km road run before making to the mountains of Glencoe, up the Devils Staircase and descend into Kinlochleven for the overnight camp.

For the canoes, the organisers had said that the tides would be in our favour.

Sarah sat this stage out, so Yann, full of (baked) beans and energy was raring to get going.

We got off to a flying start, sitting in third position for all of three seconds. Unfortunately our rhythm changed from Hawaii Five-O to the Owl and the Pussycat; it was to be a long 2 hours. It was a beautiful paddle, but a few rain showers came in to make sure we weren’t having too good a time.

Photo credit: Sleepmonsters

After the canoe came the long run from the head of Loch Etive to Kinlochleven.

Photo credit: Sleepmonsters

The steep climb up to the top of the Glen , where a marshall in a bivvy bag gave a cheery wave, was followed by a downhill, wading through marshland and peat bogs, in some places thigh deep.

The sun was setting as we climbed the devils staircase.

By the time we reached the top, it was clear that John wasn’t feeling 100%, which really wasn’t like him at all. We took it steadily down the track towards Kinlochleven.

The welcoming sight of the finish line and the cheers of support from onlookers and support crew spurred us towards the finish line at 10.30pm and the reward of some hot food.

STAGE 3 – MTB / CANYONING/KAYAK

Day 2 and the start of Stage 3, John still wasn’t feeling 100%, so Sarah, Yann & I, took to the start line

The stage began at 04.30am, in total darkness, the teams were to bike the length of Loch Leven to reach Inchree, where we would be subject to the most amazing canyon ever seen in a British Adventure Race, again courtesy of the Vertical Descents crew. (We still talk about this stage, over 20 years later).

After the bike, the Teams changed into wetsuits and were led into the canyoning section for their wake up call..

Teams proceeded down the enormous jumps, 40ft at one point, and water chutes to reach the bottom as the refreshed and exhilarated teams exited the canyon. What a rush!

After a short bike ride back to the loch, teams had the option to take the canoes to paddle back the 8Km to Kinlochleven, or, cycle back with loss of some stage points.

The Marshall at the canoe stage advised us that there was a strong head wind and that the tide would be against us. A quick team meeting and a quick study of the ducks being blown backwards, helped sway the decision towards the bike option and the chance of a longer rest before Stage4.

This turned out to be a wise decision as we could see the difficulties other teams were having as we whizzed along the lochside road back to the finish.

STAGE 4 – TREK/RUN

Stage 4 – The final stage of the race was to be a real sting in the tail. A gruelling mountain run from Kinlochleven, first scaling the impressive Mamores Mountains and then the Nevis Range before dropping down to Aonach Mor via an abseil to the ski station and the finish.

Boghopper team Captain, John(ny) “Munro” Patchett was feeling a lot better so was raring to go as he jollied everyone along to the start..

Sarah said she really didnt fancy this stage (wise move..wish I’d said it first), so John, Yann and I (now on 4 stages for 4) lined up for the start.

John used his knowledge of the area and decided to lead us in the opposite direction to the other teams. When we reached the valley below the first ascent, we noticed that we were one of the first teams to begin the steep climb. John, fresh from a long lie after resting on Stage 3, was spurred on by this and cajoled Yann & I onwards and upwards!

The climb was gruelling, even the mountain goats could be seen to avoid this area.

Photo credit: Sleepmonsters

At the top of the Mountain, a horizontal rain shower came in as we traversed along the ridge from Stob Coire A’Chairn towards An Garbhanach. At the cairn I asked “John…where’s the finish?” John said “You see that forest away in the distance?”, I squinted my eyes “..the one beyond the hills of Mordor?”, I asked, tentatively, “Yes…” said John, “Well….its behind that..”.

That didn’t help my morale…as I looked all the way down into Glen Nevis 800m below and then followed the route back up the other side and the bealach between Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag in the distance, to what looked a long way to the end of the forest.

The steep descent was tough on the knees as we descended into Glen Nevis past the Steall Waterfall and crossed the Water of Nevis via the cable bridge.

Photo credit: Sleepmonsters

We trudged East along Glen Nevis, the fatigue was beginning to show for me as we began the climb over to Aonach Mor, we had several hundred metres to climb to the bealach and I was struggling. Yann took my rucksack to ease the load, whilst John patiently coaxed me up the track.

Eventually we made the ridge, but the view from the ridge told us we had a long way to go in a very short space of time before the cut off time (and time penalties occurring accordingly). The ground was saturated and the going heavy, it was more a case of controlled falling as I tried to just keep moving.

It was with relief that we at last made the forest track for the final 2km.

By now, teams were making a dash for the finish. The sounds then sight of the finish was an incredible relief as I collapsed over the finish line with 10 minutes left to spare, much to the surprise of our support crew who had given up all hope of us making it back in time.

The photo finish shows how exhausted John & I are, whilst Yann is looking fresh as a daisy talking to Janet.

Two hours and a complete change of blood later and you suddenly remembered why you put yourself through such punishment. It’s an event that we still talk about over 20 years later and it had a spectacular route.

Adventure racing brings all elements of physical endurance, teamwork and tactics together and sets it all in the most spectacular scenery, no matter how tired you feel at the finish the sense of achievement tops it all. 

Race Results

1	Looking for a sponsor	840	17:53:16
2	Team Wales	840	18:31:27
3	North Face	840	20:18:20
4	Team Kona	840	21:17:22
5	Kiwi Connection	840	22:44:35
5	Sealskins High 5	800	23:21:56
6	Thomas Cook	800	23:37:41
7	Winged Sherpa	760	21:34:24
8	SCAR	720	22:26:34
9	southernspiders.com	720	22:28:14
10	Smurfs of the Apocalipse	720	22:29:04
11	Ultima Thule	720	23:42:53
12	The Boghoppers	660	22:29:40
13	North Downs Mountain Rescue	540	23:04:44
14	Gorillas in the Mist	540	23:44:30
15	Norfolk & Chance	540	23:46:49
16	Hastings Runners Carpe Diem	540	23:53:28
17	Cotswoldoutdoor.com	100	24:47:22
18	Skiworld	-240	24:23:58
19	Monkey Magic	-300	25:36:23
20	Team Northern Lights	-540	18:16:18
21	Perpetual Motion	-600	15:54:53
22	Sheffield A&E	-740	17:01:38
23	Stobhill Roughnecks	-1100	25:51:42
24	Bridgedale Ireland N/C	820	24:29:03
25	Putney Speedo N/C	680	22:52:30
26	3YT N/C	-200	23:11:59
27	Rockhoppers N/C	-560	16:07:33