Another example of Macdonald's customer service: In 2012 I bent a walking pole while being blown over on Devils Staircase on 'stormy Sunday'. When checking out next morning I casually mentioned that I was going first to the Ice Factory to buy a new pole. The receptionist promptly reached under the counter produced a pole that had been in lost property for some weeks and gave it to me.

Hi Stan

We probably met that evening at the bar. It was a very wet and wild day, one that I will always remember. The drying room was filled to capacity with clothes and boots.

It was an interesting introduction to the Challenge for me.

William

Indeed we did William. At least two Challengers had planned to camp that night despite the extremely wild conditions but the hotel insisted on giving them an upgrade into a cabin. Others had taken a taxi round from Kingshouse to Kinlochleven as the storm worsened then returned next day to complete that leg. You certainly had a tough induction.