When Katy Boocock, of Inverness, was approaching her sixtieth birthday she determined she would really like an enormous celebration with mates. However reasonably than internet hosting a conventional social gathering like many different individuals may, the eager walker and runner launched into a formidable self-propelled spherical of 130 of Scotland’s mianland mountains often known as Archies.

In addition to mountain climbing the entire Archies, that are outlined as summits of 1000m or extra and with a 100m prominence, Katy walked, ran, cycled and kayaked between the mountains, too.

It took the retired NHS paediatric physiotherapist simply 38 days to finish the spherical, which prolonged to a complete distance of 1800km and a complete elevation of 80,000m, which is the equal of 9 occasions the peak of Mount Everest.

On the summit of Ben Wyvis, her closing mountain, surrounded by mates, she mentioned; “I’ve loved an incredible 38-day birthday celebration. It has been a magical expertise.”

The origins of the Archies

In 2015, a relay crew, together with Katy, accomplished a spherical of the so-called Archies to boost funds for The Archie Basis. The Archie spherical was developed as a technique to increase funds for the charity, which helps the Highland Kids’s Unit and funds specialist gear, superior employees coaching, emergency grants for sufferers and their households, in addition to out of doors backyard areas.

sixtieth birthday journey for charity

Katy has seen first-hand the nice work of the Archie Basis and a part of her self-propelled spherical has been to boost funds and consciousness for the charity.

She mentioned: “I actually loved the relay spherical of the Archies with many mates and acquaintances in 2015 and I believed it will be a really cool to do one other spherical of the Archies however this time as a solo problem.

“I additionally needed to proceed to boost funds for the Archie Basis. I’ve seen the work the charity has achieved at Raigmore Hospital within the youngsters’s unit and the way that has added worth to the youngsters and their households.

“As well as, I can consider nothing higher than spending all day, every single day within the hills with pretty individuals.”

Katy began the Archies on Beinn Ime within the Arrochar Alps on June 1. She celebrated her birthday on July 4 reaching two Archies in Torridon in north-west Scotland. She completed on Ben Wyvis, her “native” Archie, on July 8.

She spent between eight and 14 hours finishing the problem every day.

Katy spent most nights sleeping within the campervan pushed by her husband Peter Ferguson. She additionally made use of varied bothies, the place handy, and wild camped on a number of events.

Peter offered the primary help for his spouse’s Archies spherical, together with being at transition factors and end spots. He additionally cycled Katy’s bike to numerous places to assist her with the spherical.

Katy mentioned: “Peter has been superb. He has been an awesome help and I couldn’t have hoped to attain this problem with out him.”

She wore 4 pairs of path trainers, together with these made by inov-8 and Decathlon.

Every day, Katy was joined by completely different mates, who walked, cycled and kayaked alongside.

Katy mentioned: “I’m very grateful for the superb help and crew work from mates going above and past.

“They’ve been out in completely crappy climate, driving miles to carry kayaks, carrying tons of tenting gear in to fulfill me, protecting me laughing and giving me a great deal of encouragement. They’ve additionally introduced me scrumptious truffles, sandwiches and meals.”

Whereas the match sexagenarian loved sunny, dry and heat climate in the beginning of the spherical, she additionally confronted some robust situations, together with torrential rain and powerful winds.

Katy added: “The climate has been combined however I’ve loved loads of good situations. On the primary bivi on Beinn Ime there was a temperature inversion and the views had been unbelievable.

“One other good climate spotlight was a kayak out and in of Barrisdale Bay on the Knoydart Peninsula and, in a while within the spherical, we had been fortunate with the climate on the Liathach ridge in Torridon.

“I liked tenting excessive within the Cairngorms and Glen Strathfarrar, too.

“I’ve additionally managed to maintain to my every day schedule, even when the climate pressured a significant change. Fortunately, I used to be capable of work out a reroute to catch up and this meant that total the logistics all labored easily.”

However there have been robust occasions. Katy mentioned: “There have been soaked-through-to-your- pants days, epic hail and wind on the Glen Affric hills and there was a interval of feeling and being sick and never with the ability to eat a lot.”

Buddies give reward to Katy

Katy is a extremely skilled open air fanatic and has taken half in lots of solo and crew challenges all through the previous many years. She could be very welcoming and inspiring and seems to most get pleasure from spending time with different individuals whether or not working, strolling, biking, snowboarding or wild swimming.

I joined Katy on a few days throughout her Archies spherical, first strolling three Archies, Creag Meagaidh, Stob Poite Coire Àrdair and Beinn a’Chaorainn, after which three extra Archies on the South Glen Shiel Ridge.

I used to be impressed by her stamina, endurance and unbelievable cheerfulness, even after so many consecutive days of strolling and biking.

Different mates who joined Katy added their feedback.

Cath mentioned: “Katy’s optimistic, can-do angle is so inspiring and she or he’s at all times so joyful to be out within the hills. Assist walkers are joyful to volunteer to assist as a result of you realize that it doesn’t matter what the climate or floor situations, you’ll come again out of your day trip feeling just like the world is an efficient place.

“Strolling with Katy on her Archie’s spherical is like remedy – you get to stroll and chat with a contented individual and simply marvel on the wonders of the panorama.”

Nat mentioned: “Katy Boo conjures up anybody who’s on the hill together with her. Even on day 27 of her Archies spherical Katy was checking the remainder of us had been heat sufficient and okay to proceed as much as the following summit because the rain lashed down.

“She is considered one of nature’s true gems and doing the Archies in her sixtieth yr, smiling all the way in which spherical is sufficient to encourage anybody, no matter their age, to get open air and benefit from the hills.”

Maggie mentioned: “I’ve identified Katy for over 20 years and by no means as soon as in that point has her zest for all times and enthusiasm for journey faltered. She is the strongest and most decided girl I do know, but her drive is just not aggressive however comes from a real love of mountains and wild locations. She has liked the camaraderie and help the Archies problem has generated, and it has been such a pleasure to share a few of it together with her.”

Geraldine mentioned: “Katy’s optimistic angle and outlook on life and real want to incorporate others are traits which have struck me from the very first time I met her. Irrespective of the state of affairs, she is so mild, so variety, so caring and supportive.

“Her smile says all of it. Her love of the outside, particularly the hills, merely shines by. I felt so honoured and fortunate to have shared a tiny little bit of her epic journey together with her.”

Vicky mentioned: “I can see why Katy conjured up the concept for the Archies problem to have a good time her sixtieth birthday.  It appears to symbolize loads of what she is about – the problem itself and likewise her laid-back and quiet strategy, in addition to the way in which she’s gone about it and the way she’s executing it.

“Katy’s consideration to element to the necessary stuff is superb, together with routes, maps, well being, feeding, jolliness, sleep, communication, adaptability, flexibility, deal with find out how to get a job achieved, routine the place and when required, equipment and many others.

“It’s clear to see the enjoyment she is deriving from her personal cleverly deliberate Archie spherical to go well with her capabilities and the way in which she needed to do it.”

Fran mentioned: “Katy bowled me over final yr together with her enthusiasm, skill and sunshine angle when she participated within the Veteran Ladies’s Munro Relay. Her can-do angle and willingness to adapt had been fabulous. She turned a key member of the crew. And now I’m in awe once more of her newest achievement.”

Last phrases from Katy

Katy mentioned: “I can’t consider a greater technique to have a good time my sixtieth birthday. I needed to mark the milestone with an journey and the Archies have been sensible.

“I’m not superb at internet hosting events however I’m good at spending time open air, whether or not it’s working, strolling or biking.

“The Archies is such an awesome spherical and it has been such an excellent problem. It has additionally been unbelievable to fulfill up with so many various mates day after day.

“It has been the longest birthday celebration ever!”