Mountaineers return from Arkle

Our four Highfield teams left the wild camp shortly after 8.30 am having had a hot breakfast in the field kitchen that we establish in the old stone cottage at Lone, just at the foot of Arkle. The initial climb is up the open south-east facing slopes with no real path to speak of. A couple of the teams followed the edge of an escarpment that forms a prominent feature sweeping up and around to the plateau of the first summit. The other teams followed a burn line where clear spring water tumbles over little rocky steps and short waterfalls and the pupils can hop around the water and drink from the burn as they go.

All four teams converged on the first of the two summits at around midday before tackling the crescent shaped ridge that links the first and second summits. The Blue Moons team were the first across the ridge, followed by the Red Deer, the Blue Whales and finally the Red Snappers team, setting a faster time to the top than many of the Year 8 teams that we have here.

High cloud helped keep us cool during the hard graft of the ascent, and as the teams turned to head for home the clouds began to break giving lovely warm sunshine for the descent.

The first teams down, and back to the Adventure School, had the option of a swim in the sea loch before we all sat down for supper at 6.30pm. Homemade tomato and lentil soup followed by mango chicken curry and rice. Empty plates, full bellies, and some tired heads at supper after a challenging and exciting day.

The team are doing brilliantly and we plan for the Blues to rock climb and abseil tomorrow with the Reds sea kayaking, and all teams will look at shelter building and a communication exercise that will help them with their preparations for survival island. 

Calm and sunny again tomorrow for more sea kayaking, climbing, shelter building and lobster creeling. The survival island (Wednesday night) forecast looks good too. More news to follow on Wednesday.