Going the extra mile: 300 volunteers summit 130 Archies for epic fundraiser
Climbing a Munro is an achievement, but summiting 130 of Scotland’s highest peaks in one day to raise funds for charity is astonishing
In an epic feat of co-ordination, more than 300 people summited the highest mountains in the country – the Archies – on the same day earlier this summer.
The mammoth fundraiser was in aid of the Archie Foundation, which works to improve healthcare for children and families in north and east Scotland – and the namesake of this newest grouping of Scotland’s peaks.
The Munros are the 282 Scottish hills of more than 914 metres (3,000 feet), but the Archies are an even more exclusive and elusive bunch, comprising the 130 summits that stretch higher than 1,000m (3,280ft).
Dr Paul Fettes came up with the name after taking part in a fundraising relay across the 1,000m peaks for the foundation in 2015. And, this year, he decided to organise an even bigger fundraiser – to have every Archie summited on the same day.
It was a organisational challenge but, in response to his online appeal for hikers, volunteers of all ages signed up for their chosen peak – from Cac Carn Beag at 1,155m (3,789ft) on Lochnagar, the farthest east, to the farthest west, Ladhar Bheinn in Knoydart, at 1,020m (3,346ft).
June 4 finally arrived, and Archie Base Camp was inundated with photos of peaks reached successfully, ticking them off the map to count down to number 130.
In fact, they received their first summit confirmation before they even got up. “I awoke to a text from Murray Wilkie who camped at the summit of Ladhar Bheinn,” Paul says. “By lunchtime we had summited about half and messages were coming in fast to Archie Base Camp.”
Among the hikers was a group of 25 from Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, who scaled Cairn of Claise, by Glenshee, and quadruple amputee Jamie Andrew, who ticked off Stob Coire nan Lochan, Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreabhach in Glencoe.
Final confirmation came at 11pm – Carn Mairg in Glen Lyon, 1,042m (3,418ft) had been summited. “We did it! We had at least one person on the top of every Archie,” Paul says. “In most cases there were a handful of people and, in some, lots.”
“I was hoping the people who took part would feel part of something bigger. Judging by the amount of social media posts, hopefully that dream was turned into reality.”
At the time of writing, the fundraiser raised more than £33,000 for the Archie Foundation.