Team Geared Up

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Geared Up Blog) - Shane Ohly has set a new winter record for the ramsay round in 29hrs and 59mins and 34seconds. To date there have been only 45 successful finishers of the ramsay round. Charlie Ramsay was the first person to complete the round in 1978 in a time of 23hrs and 58 minutes. It was another 9 years until the next successful attempt and also the first person to complete the round solo an unsupported.

Shane Ohly:

“My round was solo, unsupported and largely ‘on-sight’ as my recce efforts earlier in the winter were consistently thwarted by poor weather.

I chose to travel clockwise taking on Ben Nevis and the Aonachs first. I wanted to get the highest and most technical section of the round completed first, when I was fresh, and I also didn’t fancy descending the stony path down Ben Nevis at the end of the round.

The first 10 hours or so were a joy. I chatted with walkers on the summits, felt fresh and was comfortably keeping under my sub 24 hour schedule. Then my body died. I’ve analysed my food wrappings and calculated I ate less than 5,000 calories the entire time I was out! I was basically ‘bonked’ for the last 2/3 of the round. I don’t know why I stopped eating but it’s something I need to think hard about before my next attempt. The last 1/3 of the round was truly painful. I was seeing sleepmonsters (think mythological creatures) and hearing music (despite being alone on the hills). In the final stages, cutting down through the forest near Achriabhach, I caught myself on some brambles and nearly burst into tears. As for winter conditions, I was hoping for the hills to be ‘whiter’ than they where. However, I am happy that the Round was sufficiently wintry and in keeping with the other winter rounds of the Ramsay.

I definitely believe that the Ramsay Round can be done in sub 24 hours in winter and I have already decided to have another go next year. The whole experience was fantastic with the long night section being particularly memorable….and cold!”

-Eoinod-