of Rocks and Trust

I felt more adventurous in Montana last March than I had I felt in months.  Mountains, snowmobiles, snowboards and loads of snow – how could I not?  So when an email arrived in my inbox from a friend here in St Andrews, asking if I’d be interested in taking her husband Alan’s spot in a hike this June in Scotland as part of a fundraiser, I said “Sure!  Why not?”  I like hiking.  And Scotland.  And fundraisers.  Ok, more the first two than the third one.  But they came as a package in this particular email. 

Well, I’ve returned to Scotland and to my desk, the books and the library.  The snow, snowmobiles and boards are long gone, and with them has fled my sense of adventure—at least for this adventure.  Little did I know what I was agreeing to last March when I felt oh-so-confident in myself.  Now I know.  And I’m freaking out.

Here’s what I agreed to do: be a part of a team of four people who summit three peaks, Sgurr nana Gillean, Am Bastier and Bruach na Frithe, all considered the North Cuillins on the Isle of Skye.  All three look something like this…

 

Just for the record, ‘Am Bastier,’ means, “The Executioner.”

Narrow, jagged cliffs, sometimes less than a meter wide and dropping hundreds of meters down to the rock fields below.  Ledges, steep scree fields, nerve racking scrambles… all providing jaw dropping views—assuming, that is, that you yourself don’t drop off first.  Internet sites say these are three of the tallest peaks in Scotland and two of the most difficult to climb peaks in Scotland.  Put the two together and what do you get?  Near death.  Stupidity.  Me on June 17, 2012. 

This picture makes it look insane, but really, I don’t think it is – at least not totally.  I have read plenty of blogs about peoples’ adventures while hiking this ridge and they all seemed to survive just fine.  In fact, one woman wrote about how her Corgi hiked it with her.  Never mind that many of the blogs end their description of their hike with something like, “Have fun.  Be careful.  Don’t die.  Some have.”  Check.

Did I mention that this is a fundraiser?  That should make it worth the risk, right?  Charity events are huge over here.  Nearly every day there are students selling baked goods for charity outside of the library, or people walking through pubs with a “coin can” asking for spare change for charity.  The other week there was a “Chariots of Fire Fun Run” on West Sands beach raising money.  Charity shops line the streets (think very small Goodwills) and churches are constantly having charity fundraiser “coffee mornings.” 

Here’s a bit about the charity, The Rock Trust, that is putting on this mountain climbing fundraiser:  “The Rock Trust aims to prevent youth homelessness and to support young people to build better futures.  We work across Edinburgh and the Lothians with young people aged 14-25 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, this includes young people who are in transitions, do not have sufficient support systems, are leaving care or home, those involved in offending, alcohol or drug misuse. Our role is to advise, educate and support young people to enable them to build the personal skills and resources required to make a positive and healthy transition to adulthood whilst avoiding or moving on from homelessness.”

And here is where I come in:  “On the weekend of the 16th and 17th of June 2012 we plan to have every one of Scotland’s 283 Munro's (a mountain over 3,000ft) climbed by supporters of The Rock Trust. Each walker (their word for ‘hiker’) will take on the challenge as a sponsored event and we hope to raise enough funds to allow us to purchase a new supported unit (a training center of sorts) - so that many young people in the years ahead will have a chance to learn the skills required to lead a fully independent life, and one full of hope for the future.”

So on June 16th and 17th I’ll be putting my neck out (or up rather… just hopefully not over) to support this fundraiser.  Hundreds of people will be hiking Scotland that weekend, which happens to be the weekend nearest to the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.  This far north that translates into a whole lot of daylight. 

Would you consider supporting this effort?   By clicking HERE you’ll go to a more full description of my larger team and what we’ll each be hiking that weekend.  In the description, my name is Alan.