Quality of Drinking WaterDuke of Edinburgh Gold AwardExpedition Presentation

Joanne Hay, Magnus Judge, William McFarlane and Andrew Thomson

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ContentsIntroduction 3 The Team 3Practice Expeditions 5 Biggar 5 Campsies 5 Glen Feshie 7Planning the Expedition 9 Aim of Expedition 9 Determining Route 9 Preparation 10The Expedition 11 Day One 11 Day Two 12 Day Three 13 Day Four 15Water Analysis (Project) 17 Collection Process 17 Technical Assistance 17 Testing Process 18 Parameters Tested 19 Test Results & Comparison 21Conclusion 25Appendices 26 Personal Logs 26 Route Cards 36 Maps 40 Letters 45 DWQR Data Extract 49

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IntroductionThis document forms part of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition presentation. It logs the experiences of each member of the team during the qualifying expedition as well as all the work that went towards preparing for it. This includes all the practice expeditions that took place; how a project and route was selected; and the outcomes from the project.

The expedition took place in the Cairngorm region in August 2010. During the physically demanding route that was followed, a number of water samples were taken which were to be analysed and compared against branded bottled water at a later date. This document includes the findings from this analysis and comparison.

The TeamJoanne Hay

Joanne became a member of the Scout Association at the age of 14, having previously been a Guide. She has attended many international camps including the World Jamboree in Essex and the World Scout Moot in Kenya. Joanne has completed her bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards and on completion of her Gold Award will also receive the Queens Scout Award.

Magnus JudgeMagnus has been a member of the Scout association since he joined as a beaver at the age of 6.   He is currently a Scout leader in Glasgow as well as being one of the Clyde representatives on the SSNC. As a Scout, Magnus has complete the Chief Scouts Gold Award and is currently nearing the completion of both the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and the Queens Scout Award.

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William McFarlaneWilliam has come up through the Scout Association since he joined beavers when he was 6 years old. He is now a member of Scout Network, and an Assistant Scout Leader in Glasgow. He is also Treasurer of the Scottish Scout Network Council, which meets to develop and support the section.

Some of the highlights of his Scouting life include attending the World Jamboree, going to Blair Atholl International Jamborette, and

completing his Chief Scouts Diamond Award.

Andrew ThomsonAndrew has been a life long member of the Scout Association and has progressed through each section until becoming both the Beaver and Scout section leader at his local troop.

During his time in Scouting, Andrew has achieved the Chief Scouts Award and Chief Scouts Challenge. Upon completing the Expedition section of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, he will have completed this award along with the Queens Scout Award.

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Practice ExpeditionsBiggarThis was the first chance of the group getting together, to meet our advisor properly and to get to know each other. Andrew, Magnus and William attended this practice.

We left the cars at the track near Culter Allers, and started by walking up the track up a gentle hill, keeping track of our progress going along, using landmarks and the map. As we reached the second group of Trees on the right, we turned to head up the hill. This was a shock to the system for us all as it was a fairly steep hill on the way up. We passed some stone structures, probably used for grouse shooting or similar.

When we reached the top of Coulter Fell, we then navigated along to King Bank Head, before taking it in turns to find different spots on the map, according to rises and falls in the land. We stopped just above the larger of the wooded areas, before returning down to the track and down to the cars.

After the short day hike, we had a chat with our advisor, who was happy with our skills, and went on to chat more about the equipment we should consider getting. We also talked about food we would need for our hike and what was best to take. We also considered how it was important not to walk too quickly, as over a day this would tire us out.

CampsiesOur second practice hike took place in the Easter holidays in the Campsie Fells. To build on our experience from the previous hike we had planned a two day expedition. This length of walk was chosen so that we became accustomed to carrying all the necessary camping equipment but did not have to worry too much about planning the food we would need for a longer expedition. To make sure our navigation was up to standard we were accompanied by our trainer, Robert, for the whole expedition. While we were in charge of the navigation ourselves, Robert would check that we were on the correct route as well as setting challenges for us such as accurately estimating the time it would take us to get between two points on the route.

We started off at Auchengillan campsite on a beautifully sunny Saturday morning and, after Robert made sure that we all had the correct equipment, took a direct route to the foot of the Campsies. After climbing up the steep slopes to the north of Dumgoyne we were soon on the plateau of the Campsies. The ground here was undulating and boggy so the going was quite slow. The chosen campsite for the night was at the Corrie of Balglass on the

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northern edge of the Campsies. We took a compass bearing for a point on the edge of the corrie and headed directly for it. It was clear to us from the map that the decent into the corrie would not be easy as there were cliff faces all around the edge of the bowl. This turned out to be true but we soon figured out a safe route down the dangerously steep slope and made our way to the campsite. While we cooked our meal and waited for the other group to join us the evening we were treated to a fantastic sunset. Looking to the north towards the Trossachs and highland mountains, it was as if we were in the middle of nowhere, despite being so close to Glasgow. It had been an enjoyable day in the hills and it was great to be camping out in the wilderness. After the sun went down, Robert and Richard gave us some training on night

navigation. This exercise was to improve our navigation in conditions where visibility was limited, such as dense fog. This showed us all our own navigational strengths and weaknesses and helped to prepare us for the navigational challenges which we could be faced with on the final expedition.

We were greeted with another hot and sunny spring morning on the second day of our expedition. The route back to the starting point was quite straightforward along the northern edge of the Campsie Fells before following part of the West Highland Way back into Auchengillan. After being taught some alternative navigation skills the previous evening, we had little difficulty in navigating our way over the rough hillside towards the West Highland Way. The only slight problem we had during the day was the temperature. None of us had predicted it to be so warm in early April and several people were slightly sunburnt when we got back to the cars. Nevertheless, we all had enjoyed the weekend

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and, having learnt some new skills, felt ready to tackle a slightly longer hike to build up our experience before the final expedition.

Glen FeshieThis practice hike was scheduled to take place in July and was to be the last before the qualifying hike took place.

The route was designed at the same time as the qualifying route and as such allowed us to create a fairly similar route so that we would be fully prepared for the qualifying expedition in slightly over a months time. The devised route was planned to be carried out over 3 days with the final day to be slightly shorter than the previous 2 days to allow for the journey back to Glasgow/Edinburgh.

The first day's walking turned out to be fairly easy as not much navigation was required, as in many places there was an obvious track to follow. Furthermore, we knew that we couldn't go wrong as long as we kept the stream on our right hand side.

The only difficult part of the day came just after lunch, when the river split into two. At this point the terrain became very flat, with large pools of water obstructing our route. We were faced with the decision to either cross each of the pools in turn or to seek higher ground instead. We went with the latter option and decided to climb up a fairly steep slope until we found a track (of sorts). We then managed to follow the track/contour round bypassing all the pools of water.

The rest of the journey was relatively flat with a very subtle climb leading up to our campsite for the night. This remaining part of the journey seemed to take forever as we had to walk through large areas of thick heather. We were a little underwhelmed when we arrived at the campsite. According to the map we were planning to camp outside a bothy. However, the bothy turned out to be some corrugated iron sitting on top of four posts! With no place to really socialise we decided to have our dinner and then call it a night (an early one at that).

The next day we woke up to what we thought was rain... surprisingly it turned out to be midges hitting off the side of the tent! It was agreed to pack up our tents as quickly as possible and to have breakfast later when we could find some shelter from the midges. An hour later we found ourselves at a bridge that crossed a waterfall which was an ideal place to sit and relax whilst enjoying our breakfast.

After breakfast, we continued following our route; always keeping the stream to our right. The route was of similar difficulty to the previous days. However, the terrain played havoc on our ankles as much of the days walking consisted of following a contour line up a stream. It would have been much easier if only our right legs were very slightly longer than our left!

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Despite the more difficult terrain we managed to arrive at the planned campsite slightly ahead of schedule. Our tents were quickly erected for a well deserved rest and a wee snack. However, not before long our sense of adventure got the better of us and we quickly devised a route up the nearest Munro. After an hour's walking we started to regret our decision as our feet began to throb. However, upon reaching the summit the pain was quickly forgotten.

The last day of the practice hike was designed to be much shorter than the previous two da'ys route. This meant that spirits were high early in the morning and especially once we realised that the Munro we climbed the previous night was the 3rd highest! The route consisted of a short climb before a long walk downhill back to the car park where we left our cars 2 days ago.

On the journey back to Glasgow/Edinburgh we had a chance to reflect on the practice hike and the things that we had learned from it. We identified some equipment that we felt would be beneficial for the qualifying expedition such as midge nets and at least 2 pairs of walking poles. Furthermore, we also felt more confident in our own navigation skills and fitness following the practice. We felt that we were now ready to tackle the qualifying expedition.

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Planning the ExpeditionAim of ExpeditionIt was advised that we should decide upon a project for our expedition before deciding on a route to take. This way a route could be planned that would help us to better achieve our goal.

Various ideas were discussed such as looking at the geography/land features of the area as well as looking at the areas unique fauna and flora. However, we ended up deciding on comparing the quality of water found in the Aviemore area against that of branded bottle water and tap water.

We wanted to investigate how clean fresh Scottish water is and whether or not we should be worried about drinking it without treatment. Furthermore, we thought it would be interesting to compare the quality of fresh Scottish water against that of branded bottled waters which many of us buy every day.

Determining RouteOnce we had agreed upon an aim for our expedition we began discussing possible routes that we could take. From the outset we decided that we wanted to partake on a physically demanding route that would really test ourselves and push us to the limit. We thought that this would make the experience more rewarding upon completion and would leave us with a greater sense of achievement.

By talking to our mentors, family and friends we identified a number of 'nice' locations in the Cairngorm region. Using Memory Map we plotted these locations into the computer. From this we discussed ways in which we could link these various locations, thus creating a route.

We also had to take into consideration that the route should pass through areas that contained various different types of water sources such as loch, streams and rivers. Furthermore, we also wanted to take samples of water from different positions in a stream as it flowed from its source, down the mountainside into the river mouth.

The use of Memory Map proved to be extremely beneficial as it enabled us to keep a close eye on the length of each day's route and it allowed us to quickly and easily try alternative routes. An added bonus of Memory Map was that once the route had been plotted down, route cards could be created at a press of a button.

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PreparationUpon embarking on the qualifying expedition we all felt fully prepared. We all learned things about ourselves and each other during our practice expeditions in Biggar, the Campsies and in Glen Feshie.

These practice expeditions gave us the opportunity to get to know each other and allowed the team to bond. They also gave us the chance to feel confident in each other's navigation skills and to learn the pace at which the team walked at - this was particularly useful when creating the route cards.

On the run up to the qualifying expedition we had a number of meetings with our mentors to discuss plans and determine who was doing what. Email was also used to discuss some last minute details on the last few days before we left for Aviemore.

On reflection, the only thing that wasn't planned well was where we were going to stay the night before the expedition began. We had assumed that a campsite in Aviemore would be available and would be fairly cheap. On entering Aviemore we discovered that a motorbike convention was taking place and that most campsites were fully booked. The only campsite that had space left were going to charge us £25 for a one man tent! We decided that the money would be better spent on a steak dinner, accompanied with a pint. We spent a rather long and uncomfortable night in a cold car instead. I think we made the right decision in the end...

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The ExpeditionDay OneRoute DescriptionWe began the hike from the bottom ski centre car park where we left our cars. Our first leg took us 2.28km upwards with a 101m ascent to the top Ski Centre Car Park next to the ski lifts. This was a fairly easy walk on a road. After a short break at we headed on upwards to Ben MacDui. We followed the path to Ben MacDui Ridge, about a 40m climb and headed on up another 413m up a very steep path for quite some time, around 2.7km.  The incline continued as we continued on to March Birn. This was only a 100m climb and gave our legs a bit of a rest. This was our final rest point before we reached the summit. The walk to the summit included a 2.2km walk climbing 189m whereby we followed cairns to the final summit. On arrival we had completed our first Monroe of the expedition. After the steep incline all morning we all looked forward to the descent. The decline was fairly rapid taking us to the top of Coire Sputan, then following the path to our final destination. Our campsite was situated in a sheltered spot next to Loch Etchachan.

EventsFour water sample collection stops were planned for this day.  • The first sample was taken at a stream on the ascent where the route flattened. • The second sample was collected from the March Birn and Loch Buidhe. • The third sample was taken from the top of Sputan Dearg on the descent. • The last sample was collected from Loch Etchachan, our campsite. We did not take many breaks during Day 1 due to the adverse weather conditions, however we did take two breaks followed by a very long rest upon reaching the campsite. Our first stop was at the Ski Centre at the foot of Ben MacDui, where we could get some shelter from the walls of the buildings, and not so exposed to the weather. We took our second break to eat some food for energy in a small shelter made out of stones on the ascent to the summit. The weather was very bad by this point so we did not linger long.

However our biggest rest came when we reached the campsite and were in the shelter of our tents. We all got some food and a well deserved sleep.

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ChallengesOur main challenge of Day 1 came from the weather. We faced extreme wind and rain all day getting worse as we became more exposed the closer we got to the summit. There were even hailstones. The poor weather meant it was difficult to find a sheltered spot to stop for breaks and our intension to stop at the top for lunch was not manageable in the conditions. However we had stopped not long before in a small shelter we had found. We all appreciated our rest in the shelter of the tent at the end of the day. The weather also led to poor visibility and made the navigating harder than it could have been. We had to make use of our compasses in trying to find a safe route off the summit. We worked well as a team supporting each other in the harsh conditions.

Day TwoRoute DescriptionFrom our campsite at Loch Etchachan we followed a stream 1.54km down Glen Derry to the Hutchison Memorial Hut. We were now sheltered from the wind which had been buffeting us the previous day so the walking was much easier. After a brief stop at the hut, we continued a further 1.95km down the Glen until the valley floor began to flatten out. From here we had originally planned to stay on the east side of the river to stay as high as possible on the hillside.  However, our assessor advised us that the path we were planning to take was falling into disrepair and that the best route would be to follow a newer path on the west side of the river. We followed his advice and after walking 2.69km were at Derry Lodge on schedule. The path following the river was slightly undulating so the total height climbed was 27m. The route led along a wide track for 2.04km until we turned off to head towards Clais Fhearnaig. This is a long narrow gulley with a small loch in the middle. It was a bit of a climb to reach the start of the gulley (129m). Once we reached the end of Clais Fhearnaig it was a case of walking a couple of kilometers down Glen Quoich towards our campsite for the night. EventsA further five water sample collections were completed on day two.

• The first water sample was taken downstream of the Hutchison Memorial Hut.• The second was from the river in Glen Derry, directly across from Coire an Lochain

Uaine.• The third was further down Glen Derry as we crossed the stream after entering a

large patch of forestry, across from Coire na Saobhaidh.• The forth water sample was from the small Loch in Clais Fhearnaig at its widest part.

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• The final water sample for this day was at the river crossing, upstream from where two rivers met, near our campsite.

 We had several considerable stops scheduled for this day. As the weather was greatly improved from the previous day, we were able to keep to this schedule for the most part. The first notable stop was at the Hutchison Memorial hut where we had to a water sample collection. We stayed for a while to refill our own water supplies and have a look around the bothy. By the time we reached the bridge across the river the sun had come out for the first time on our expedition. Although it was not the exact time and location we had planned to have lunch, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to stop and have some food whilst drying some of our wet gear in the sun.

Our final notable stop was after a short sharp climb to Clais Fhearnaig. We had a short rest to catch our breaths before descending down to the campsite.

ChallengesDue to the vastly improved weather, the day seemed to be much easier than our experience from the previous day. Also, the route itself was not as challenging, both navigationally and physically. The majority of the day was spent descending from the height we had reached the day before. This made the walking a lot easier and more enjoyable. Since we had reached the campsite earlier than expected the previous day, we were well rested and didn’t really feel too tired. One challenge we did have to face was the drying of some of our equipment which had been soaked the previous day. The torrential rain had soaked our clothes, tents and even a sleeping bag. Fortunately we found the sheltered sunny spot where we had a lengthy lunch stop which gave us the opportunity to lay out some of the wet gear to dry in the sun. Other than this we had no further challenges and it was one of the most enjoyable days of the expedition.

Day ThreeRoute DescriptionAs we had found a good campsite the night before crossing the river, the first task in the morning was finding a place to cross. Once this was done, we had a gentle uphill walk firstly through some trees before scaling the side of Carn Allt na Bienne. The path was clear all the way up, and included a sharp turn to fit in with the contours towards the top. From here we made the slow climb to north top.

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We decided to have a late lunch over Cnap Leum an Easiach, before continuing our descent. There was no clear way down to the bridge at the bottom, and it was hard going through rough heather. As we made our way down, we struggled to find the tributary on the map which to follow. We made the decision to climb steeply – to try a route similar to our exit marked on the map. There was some concern as to where the bridge was, and indeed it was not visible until the very last moment before a very steep descent down to the stream. The bridge had clearly been moved in a storm, however it was safe enough to cross.

From talking to our assessor in the morning he suggested that we went further than our planned campsite, to camp outside Faindouran Lodge. This was to give us some respite from the midges. From the bridge, we faced an extremely steep climb up to a track before a couple of kilometres trek to the lodge.

EventsWe had 3 water sample spots on the third day.

• Firstly at the tributary just prior to the campsite. There was some dispute as to if we had found the correct tributary, however we think we were fairly close to our point on the map.

• The second was due at the point near the bridge – however there was no safe way of gathering water from here. An alternative location was found slightly further down the river.

• The third, we took from our campsite up at the lodge, as we could safely access the water from this point.

The weather during the day was extremely warm, and therefore we stopped for plenty short breaks for water. However we only really stopped for a longer break at lunchtime, when we were ahead of schedule. We resumed on time. As we went further than planned, we finished around half an hour later than originally planned, due to extra time taken crossing the bridge and the extra distance.

ChallengesOther than crossing a burn first thing in the morning whilst being attacked by midges, the first part of the day was fairly easy. The heat however was exhausting, but slow and steady did the trick. After lunch we did struggle to find the easiest way down to the streams and the campsite, and this involved some extra walking to find the best route. We also became slightly concerned when we could not see the bridge, and the river was far too fast flowing to get over safely. When we found the bridge however, we had to be careful, as it appeared to be lodged securely, however not in its original position. This resulted in a scramble up the bank the other side, however it was short, and we got up with a bit of a toil!

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Day FourRoute DescriptionThe planned route was to start off from our campsite at the bridge crossing the River Avon and to initially take the track to Faindouran Lodge. However, as previously mentioned, we took the advice of our assessor and camped next to the Lodge that night. This therefore reduced the 15 km route that was planned by roughly 2.5 km. As such, this meant that we could reduce our walking pace slightly, which was welcomed as the previous days' walking began to take it toll on our legs.

The first section of the route required us to check the map from time to time as we were not following a track but were instead cutting across the mountainside. The navigation was not particularly difficult as the route could be easily identified by comparing the landscape features in front of us with what was on the map - we were able to leave our compasses in our pockets.

The second half of the route followed a path from Coire Odhar all the way back to Glenmore Lodge, our final destination. This part of the journey was particularly easy as we following a well defined path. We followed the path down a rapid and rocky descent off the mountainside. Upon completing this, the remainder of the expedition was on relatively flat ground.

For a detailed map of the route please see the appendix. The map shows the camp sites; water collection points; and any emergency exit routes.

EventsFour water sample collection stops were planned for this day.

• The first sample was taken at a stream situated next to Faindoran Lodge.• The second sample was collected from a stream just before the rapid descent off the

mountainside. • The third sample was taken from a river at the bottom of the rapid descent.• The last sample was collected from An Lochan Uaine, which was situation in forestry

near Glenmore Lodge.

We had a number of significant rest stops during this day as our energy levels were beginning to drop. Our first rest stop was at Coire Odhar where we refilled our water bottles and gave our feet and ankles a chance to recovered from the unsteady ground we had been walking on.

The second stop was just before the rapid descent down off the mountainside. We had lunch here and we also had the opportunity to look back at the landscape we had travelled across during our expedition.

Our last rest stop for the day was at the river crossing just after the rapid descent. Again, this gave us the opportunity to have a drink and to reflect on our achievements during the past 4 days.

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ChallengesBy the fourth day we all began to feel some aches and pains in our feet. This was not helped by the terrain that we were to walk through on the last day. The map shows that the route between Faindouran Lodge and Coire Odhar has a number of rapid ascents and descents. However, the map did not tell us the terrain would be extremely uneven under foot and that there would be a number of potholes ready to catch us out. To make things worse, thick heather was able to camouflage these potholes and as a result our ankles received a battering!

We decided to slightly change our planned route from Carn Dubh to Coire Odhar in the hope to bypass the unsteady ground. Instead of walking directly to Carn Dubh, we walked straight down the mountainside until we reach the stream. We then walked along the waters edge until we reached the track at Coire Odhar. Although this did increase the distance of the route, I have no doubt that we would have taken longer struggling through the uneven ground.

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Water Analysis (Project)Collection ProcessEach stop had a planned duration of twenty minutes. This was so that enough evidence could be collected to aid the analysis of the water samples at the end of the expedition.

The following evidence was collected during each stop:• Time and date of when the water was sourced.• GPS location of where sample was collected from. • 20ml sample of water to be collected in a sterile container.• Photographs of water source.• Photographs of surrounding flora and fauna.• Current weather.

The above evidence was collected for all but the first day's samples. Due to the extremely poor weather conditions on the first day, we were advised to get to our campsite as quickly as possible by our assessor. As such we took the decision to take only water samples and a note of the GPS location at each water collection stop for the first day.

Incredibly, the weather was so bad on the first day that the specially bought waterproof pen and paper did not work! At first we tried to take photographs to document the collection process but as the day progressed the weather became worse and this simply became unfeasible.

The photograph, to the right, was taken at the second water collection stop.

Technical AssistanceOnce the expedition had been completed and the 16 water samples had been collected we sought help in analysing them. Ideally, we were looking to get the samples professionally tested as this would have provided us with the best means to compare and contrast the various samples with each other and with branded bottles of water.

We wrote to a number of organisations and companies hoping that someone would be able to assist us and if at all possible for us to help out in the testing process. These included:

• SEPA - recommended to us by our expedition assessor. • Scottish Water.• Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR). • Caledonian Laboratories Limited.

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Unfortunately, we had a limited response back to our letters. Those who did reply all said that they were unable to assist us due to Health and Safety reasons. However, the DWQR were able to send us detailed results of water samples that they have taken from the Aviemore region. From looking at this data, it was discovered that in the past 5 years the tap water in this region has never failed a single quality test.

A copy of the letter and the responses can be found in the appendix.

Testing ProcessAs we were unable to secure the assistance from a laboratory to help assess the quality of water, we had to look at ways of doing this ourselves.

A number of different home water quality test kits were purchased from the Internet. All of these tests required a dip-stick to be submerged in the water sample for a number of seconds and then compared against a colour chart.

The dip-stick tests were used to test the concentrations/presence of the following parameters in the water samples:

• pH• Alkalinity• Hardness• Nitrate and Nitrite

Each of the above parameters are discussed in more detail in the next section and an explanation is given as to why they are particularly useful in determining the quality of water.

Each sample was analysed in turn and the following procedure was observed so that each water sample was tested in exactly the same way and in the same conditions.

1. Photograph sealed container.2. Note down any visible signs of contaminants in container. 3. Take a note of the colour of the water sample.

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4. Take a fresh nitrate/nitrite test strip and submerge in container for 10 seconds. Let the strip rest for a further 10 seconds before comparing strip against the colour chart. Note down the values.

5. Take a fresh "Easy-Dip" test strip and submerge in container for 10 seconds. During this time move the strip in a circular motion. Let the strip rest for a further 10 seconds before comparing the strip against the colour chart. Note down the values.

6. Seal container and store sample.

Parameters TestedpHpH is one of the most common water quality tests performed. pH indicates the sample's acidity, but is actually a measurement of the potential activity of hydrogen ions (H+) in the sample.

The pH value determines whether water is hard or soft. The pH of pure water is 7. In general, water with a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic, and with a pH greater than 7, basic. The normal range for pH in surface water systems is 6.5 to 8.5 and for groundwater systems 6 to 8.5.

Water with a low pH (< 6.5) could be acidic, soft, and corrosive. Therefore, the water could contain metal ions such as iron, manganese, copper, lead, and zinc. In other words, the water may have elevated levels of toxic metals. This can have associated aesthetic problems such as a metallic or sour taste. More importantly, there are health risks associated with these toxins.

Water with a pH > 8.5 could indicate that the water is hard. Hard water does not pose a health risk, but can also cause aesthetic problems. These problems include an alkali taste to the water and the formation of a deposit on dishes/utensils.

While the ideal pH level of drinking water should be between 6-8.5, the human body maintains pH equilibrium on a constant basis and will not be affected by water. However, testing the pH of a water sample is a good indication of the purity of the sample and can suggest whether or not the sample contains contaminants such as toxic metals.

AlkalinityAlkalinity is not a pollutant and should not be confused with pH. The alkalinity of water is a measure of how much acid it can neutralise. If any changes are made to the water that could raise or lower the pH value, alkalinity acts as a buffer, protecting the water and its life forms from sudden shifts in pH. This ability to neutralise acid is particularly important in regions affected by acid rain.

Most alkalinity in surface water comes from calcium carbonate being leached from rocks and soil. This process is enhanced if the rocks and soil have been broken up for any reason, such as mining or urban development. Limestone contains especially high levels

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of calcium carbonate. Water may also be unsuitable for use in irrigation if the alkalinity level in the water is higher than the natural level of alkalinity in the soil.

A low alkalinity would therefore mean that water is more susceptible to contaminants having an impact on it's pH value. As such, the water would be more likely to have problems associated with low/high pH. Therefore, water with a slightly higher alkalinity would, in theory, be of a higher quality.

HardnessHard water is water that contains an appreciable quantity of dissolved minerals (like calcium and magnesium). Soft water on the other hand is treated water in which the only ion is sodium.

As rainwater falls, it is naturally soft. However, as water makes its way through the ground and into our waterways, it picks up minerals like chalk, lime and mostly calcium and magnesium. Since hard water contains essential minerals, it is sometimes the preferred drinking water, not only because of the health benefits, but also the flavour. On the other hand, soft water tastes salty and is sometimes not suitable for drinking.

The major difference between hard and soft water can best be seen while doing household chores. Hard water is to blame for dingy looking clothes, dishes with spots and residue and bathtubs with lots of film and soap scum. The elements of hard water are to blame for all of these negative factors, as soap is less effective due to its reaction to the magnesium and calcium. As a result, water companies artificially soften tap water by performing a number of processes to reduce it's hardness. Therefore, striking a balance between taste and it's grim fighting ability.

Good quality drinking water should therefore by slightly hard as it will contain more dissolved minerals and will have a better taste to it.

Nitrate/NitriteNitrites are relatively short-lived because they’re quickly converted to nitrates by bacteria. Nitrate is a major ingredient of farm fertiliser and is necessary for crop production. When it rains, varying nitrate amounts wash from farmland into nearby waterways. Nitrates also get into waterways from lawn fertiliser run-off, leaking septic tanks and cesspools, manure from farm livestock, animal wastes (including fish and birds), and discharges from car exhausts.

High concentrations of nitrate in water can cause methaemoglobinaemia (blue baby syndrome) in very young children. This is a potentially fatal illness. Nitrate is converted to nitrite in the gut and interferes with the absorption of oxygen by the blood. This extremely unusual illness only occurs at very high nitrate concentrations. The last recorded case in the UK occurred in the 1950s and was associated with the use of a shallow private well.

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The current regulatory standard of 50 mg/l nitrate is derived from the standard in the European Union's Drinking Water Directive. The EU standard is based on the World Health Organisation's guideline value for drinking water, which is also 50 mg/l. That standard is intended to ensure that drinking water will not cause methaemoglobinaemia.

Whilst elevated levels of nitrate/nitrite are not too harmful to adults, analysing the levels of these substances can be used to determine if the water samples contains any traces of fertilisers.

Test Results & ComparisonThe following table gives a description of where each water sample was taken from and a description of the water sample itself.

From the table above it is apparent that the vast majority of the water samples collected had no obvious signs of pollution and/or contaminants. In fact, only 2 out of the 16 samples that were collected had any discolouration.

Sample Description of Source Description of Sample

1 Stream whose source is a small loch. No discolouration. Stones in sample container.

2 Small loch on flat ground. No discolouration.

3 Tributary to large loch. Fast flowing. No discolouration.

4 Large, still moving loch. No discolouration.

5 Fast flowing, narrow stream. No discolouration.

6 Fast flowing, wide stream. Slightly discoloured. Has yellow tinge.

7 River with foot bridge nearby. No discolouration.

8 Very still loch. Near small dam. Discoloured. Has yellow tinge.

9 Shallow and fast flowing. Lots of small peddles/stones.

No discolouration.

10 Beginning of tributary. Fast flowing. No discolouration.

11 Fast flowing. Lots of tributaries meet. No discolouration.

12 Very wide and deep river. Near bridge. No discolouration.

13 Small stream outside bothy. No discolouration.

14 Start of tributary near busy and well established footpath.

No discolouration.

15 Wide river near bridge. No discolouration.

16 Small, still loch near forestry. No discolouration.

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Sample 6 was only very slightly discoloured. A possible reason for this could be that the heavy rain from the previous day could have caused traces of peat to enter into the stream. It is interesting to note that this discolouration was not observed in the previous sample that was taken upstream but instead where another stream joins the existing one.

A similar reason could also be given to explain the discolouration in sample 8. However, we do not believe this to be the case. The loch where sample 8 was collected from did not seem to have any active tributaries - all of those identified on the map looked to have dried up. At the time, we believed that the water didn't look the best of quality and we would not have drank from it.

The table below includes the results obtained from the tests that were performed. In addition, the table also includes results for 2 branded bottled waters and for tap water.

Sample Grid Ref Elevation pH Alkalinity Hardness Nitrate Nitrite

1 NH 97815 02705

1055m 7.2 80 100 0 0.5

2 NH 98340 01045

1123m 6.8 0 0 0 0.5

3 NN 99815 98850

1218m 6.8 0 0 0 0.5

4 NJ 00920 00260

927m 7.2 0 0 0 0

5 NO 02450 99810

686m 7.2 0 0 0 0.5

6 NO 03560 98695

569m 7.2 0 0 0 0

7 NO 03990 95805

501m 6.8 0 0 0 0.5

8 NO 06930 93420

510m 7.2 80 100 0 0.5

9 NO 08000 94755

450m 6.8 0 0 0 0.5

10 NJ 08470 04270

700m 7.6 0 100 0 0.5

11 NJ 09350 05020

590m 7.2 0 0 0 0

12 NJ 09970 06080

538m 7.6 0 100 0 0.5

13 NJ 08095 06185

599m 7.2 80 100 0 0.5

14 NJ 03805 09290

722m 7.2 0 100 0 0.5

15 NJ 02055 10530

440m 7.2 0 0 0 0

16 NJ 00015 10645

358m 7.2 80 100 0 0.5

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Immediately looking at the test results it is difficult to see any correlation between any of the different values. However, upon closer inspection a number of interesting points become apparent.

The pH values of the samples fell within the recommended range of 6 - 8.5 with the vast majority of the samples having a pH of 7.2.

This means that our samples were not too soft and not too hard. This therefore suggests that the samples should be free from toxic metals and do not have any of the aesthetic problems associated with wa te r whose pH i s ou t w i t h t he recommended range.

In comparison with the branded bottles of water and tap water, our samples had very similar pH values and as such the quality of the water, in this respect, is comparable.

Whilst looking at both the Alkalinity and Hardness results it became clear that these two parameters were connected in some way. It seems that whenever the water is Hard then it will also have a higher Alkalinity value too. This is made more obvious in the chart below.

It is also interesting to compare these values to a similar graph, relating pH to the altitude of where the sample was taken. This graph can be seen overleaf.

Tap Water N/A N/A 7.6 80 0 0 0

Evian N/A N/A 7.2 80 100 0 0

Volvic N/A N/A 7.2 180 100 0 0

Grid Ref Elevation pH Alkalinity Hardness Nitrate NitriteSample

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Alkalinity & Hardness in Relation to Altitude

ppm

0255075

100

Altitude (m)358 450 510 569 599 700 927 1123

AlkalinityHardness

pH Values of Samples

pH

7.6

7.4

7.2

7.0

6.8

0 2 4 6 8 10

It can be seen that the higher the pH, the more likely the water is Hard and has a high Alkalinity. Similarly, whenever the water has a low pH, water is Softer and has less Alkalinity.

The link between Hardness and Alkalinity may be explained due to the fact that Hard water contains more dissolved minerals (like calcium and magnesium). These dissolved minerals could help the water protect it's pH value from contaminants by neutralising acids.

It is interesting to notice that the majority of our samples have a high Alkalinity and are Hard. This is also true for the branded bottles of water but differs from tap water. As mentioned earlier, tap water is softened so that it is better with household chores. Our samples and the bottled waters, will therefore taste better than tap water due to the presence of dissolved minerals.

75% of the samples taken contain a small amount of Nitrite. This suggests that traces of fertilisers, manure from farm livestock and/or animal wastes (including fish and birds) have found their way into the water system.

This is to be expected from untreated fresh water and the amounts found in the water samples are well within the recommended limits.

As expected, tap water does not contain any traces of Nitrites or Nitrates. These substances would be removed whilst the water is treated at a water plant before making it's way into the home. A similar process would occur in factories where branded bottled water is processed.

In summary, we believe that the samples of water that were collected are of a high quality. The samples may not be as perfectly clean as tap water, due the presence of Nitrite, but are well within the acceptable limits specified by the EU directive and the World Health Organisation. Furthermore, our samples have similarities with branded bottled water (high Alkalinity and Hard) which makes them more flavoursome than tap water.

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Nitrite Conc. of Samples

75%

25%

0 ppm 0.5 ppm

pH in Relation to AltitudepH

Val

ue

6.7

6.925

7.15

7.375

7.6

Altitude (m)358 450 510 569 599 700 927 1123

ConclusionOverall, our hike was very successful. The three practice hikes we went on were very beneficial, preparing us in many ways for the final expedition. We not only improved our fitness, but also improved and learnt new skills such as navigation and compass work. Furthermore we learnt about each other and bonded during the walking. Our expedition route around the Cairngorms was a strenuous hike walking for 8 hours each day with distances ranging from 13km to 15km. We did not choose an easy route and climbed two Monroes with many additional steep inclines. Also the terrain was often treacherous, heather with many potholes. However we thoroughly embraced the challenges this route held and felt a great sense of achievement after each hard day's walk. The expedition project of collecting water samples for testing was very enjoyable and the results proved very interesting. Only two out of the sixteen samples had any discolouration showing little pollution. Although the water had a little more nitrite than tap water, the levels were still acceptable. Furthermore the samples were very similar to bottled water in the respect of the high alkalinity giving a better taste than tap water. Finally, we would like to thank Clyde Network and in particular Siobhan, Robert and Richard for all their help and guidance.

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AppendicesPersonal LogsJoanneDay OneWe began the hike from the lower ski centre car park, the rain beginning just as we parked the cars. After a added layer of waterproofs, we set off full of optimism, sure that the weather couldn’t be too bad, could it? We set off at a steady pace and reached the ski centre with plenty of time to spare. After a short break we headed onwards and upwards to eventually reach the Summit of Ben MacDui, our first monroe. I consoled myself by the face that this was by far the worst day. On our way up to the top the weather did not improve. The rain poured down and the gales began to blow. It really was a case of head down and walk. The visibility began to get bad nearing the top and the cairns to the summit were very helpful. We made it to the summit very early as it was not the type of day for taking breaks. It even began to snow at the top. We had to use the GPS to find our bearings as the conditions at the summit were so torrential. However we made it off the top and headed towards our campsite at Loch Etchachan. Spurred on by the prospect of a shelter we made it to the loch with haste. The campsite did have some protection, but not the sheltered spot we had hoped for. However we got our tents up and had a well earned rest. Dinner was the highlight of the day, I had meatballs and pasta and I was pleasantly surprised by the camping meals. We had a very early night as sleeping was the best option in that weather.

Day TwoThe morning of Day 2 brought a slightly more pleasant day. It was still windy but the rain has stopped and my spirits began to perk up. We had breakfast of muesli and milk powder and got the extremely wet tents down. We began the walk happy in the knowledge that we had a relatively easy day ahead. By the time we reached the Hutchison Hut I had to take my jacket off as the sun began to shine through. I even managed to get my wet gloves dried off. The walk was very pleasant beside the river through Glen Derry and we stopped for lunch at the bridge beside the river. It was an excellent spot and we ate our sandwiches while the sun shone on us. We could not believe the difference a day could make. In the afternoon we set off through the trees to Derry Lodge followed by our one and only 129m incline of the day. I was pleased when we reached the top of Clais Fhearnaig as I knew that was the days hard graft over. The walk to the Day 2 campsite beside the river was really nice, just over 2 km and we reached the river we were camping beside just on time. However the fine weather had brought out the midges in full force, therefore we all donned our head nets and deet spray which did keep them at bay a little. Dinner of beef stew was rather hard to eat through a net however. We lingered a little longer that evening but still had a pretty early night, sleeping very well again.

Day ThreeAfter our easy day of walking the previous day I was ready for another hefty day of incline on day 3. Over the day we climbed 751m, and we were straight into the climb first thing

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tackling Carn Alt na Beinne. I found this hard on my tired legs but kept on walking spurred on by the sight of the top and another rest. On the bright side the weather was ideal, not too hot and no wind or rain. The walk to the North Top was long but we took many rests which made it enjoyable. We walked downhill a little before we ate lunch so we could fill up our water bottles at the river. The walk in the afternoon was tougher than expected as we walked though heather and boggy terrain which was quite tiring, but it was flat so not too tiring. We changed our campsite for that evening from beside the river which had no flat land or shelter and was infested with midges to Faindouran Lodge which had shelter form the bothy there. When we eventually reached Faindouran Lodge, I was feeling completely worn out and I was very glad of a rest and my dinner of chilli con carne. I slept well that night knowing it was my last night in a tent.

Day FourIt was the beginning of the last day and I was full of enthusiasm for the prospect of the end. We took our tents down for the last time covered in dead midges and ate some muesli before we set off. We had already done an extra 2 km the previous day so we had a shorter walk on day 4. For the first time we went off paths which was quite difficult. We walked through thick heather for a few hours until we reached and found a path. I found this quite difficult as my short legs sunk very far into the heather and it provided a challenge I had not anticipated on the last day. However when we reached the path we had a short climb of 84m and then we took a break for lunch, my last ham and cheese sandwich. The weather was perfect at the top of the hill with no wind and more importantly no midges. After lunch we had a rapid descent and followed the path to the river crossing. As we kept on meeting more and more people I became optimistic that we must be reaching civilisation. I was glad to see the trees of Glenmore Forest Park and before I knew it we had reached our destination, Glenmore Lodge.

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MagnusDay OneAfter seeing the weather forecast in Glenmore Lodge the night before our scheduled departure, I thought we would be in for an interesting few days hiking. For our first day in the hills it was predicted to be a typical summer’s day in the Cairngorms; low cloud cover, very strong winds, heavy rain, snow on the highest peaks with a wind chill of -10°C. Unfortunately for us, this forecast turned out to be depressingly accurate. As we set off for the start point at the ski centre car park in the morning, I must admit I wasn’t looking forward to the day ahead. The route we had chosen meant that, theoretically at least, our hardest day was this first day. We were to climb from the ski centre car park over the top of Ben Macdui, the second highest mountain in Britain, and down the other side to camp at Loch Etchachan. Despite starting from a relatively high point, this day still involved more climbing than any of the others. As we were having a short break at the ski centre several people commented on how ‘keen’ they thought we were in going hiking when the weather was so terrible. It was really just a polite way of saying how bad an idea they thought it was. With the weather such as it was, I was beginning to agree with them. Nevertheless, we set out on the path towards Ben Macdui. To begin with, the path was good and the going was relatively easy, but soon, as we rounded on to a spur of Ben Macdui, the rain became heavier and the wind stronger. I was glad the wind was behind us although the rain was beginning to soak its way through my waterproofs. As we climbed higher up the mountain the temperature became noticeably lower. Soon the rain turned to snow and began to lie on the hillside. It was a bit strange to see snow in what was supposed to be the summer. As we neared the summit the path became less defined and our navigation became much more difficult due to the thick cloud enveloping the hill. I had a growing concern that we might lose sight of the cairns marking the path and have to rely solely on our compass bearing. We were aware of the very steep drops on one side of the mountain and had to rely on the short range navigation techniques we had learned on the practice hikes to avoid these. Eventually we made it down to our planned camp site. The weather was so bad that we hadn’t wanted to stop all day so we were all pretty tired and hungry at that point. The conditions at the campsite were far from ideal; although there was no snow at this level, the wind was gusting across the Loch and battering our tents. In fact, as I was putting up my brand new tent, a huge gust caught the material and ripped the ground sheet. On top of that, the dry bag I had stored my sleeping bag in turned out to not actually be waterproof. All in all, it wasn’t a very pleasant experience to go through on the first day of our expedition. Day TwoI woke up cold, wet and with cramp in both legs. The wind was still buffeting the tent although it sounded like the rain had stopped. The forecast had said the weather was to be quite nice for the rest of the day so I was optimistic that our luck would be a bit better. If the weather from the previous day was predicted to continue for the rest of the expedition I would not have been very keen to carry on. 

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However, as we left the site and headed down the slope of Glen Derry the clouds lifted and the sun came out. By lunchtime it was a thoroughly pleasant day for walking. We found an idyllic spot by a river to have lunch and dry out some of the wet kit including my sleeping bag and walking trousers. It was great to be warm and dry again for the first time since the start of the hike. But soon we had to move on from our long lunch break and continue to the campsite. The rest of the day was very enjoyable and passed without major incident (apart from coming across two very large adders on the path!). We reached our campsite at the scheduled time and settled down for an early night. The day’s walking had been a great deal easier and as such I had enjoyed it much more than the previous day.  Day 3The third morning of the expedition was another bright and sunny day. We were to be climbing another Munro over the course of the day so I was looking forward to what lay ahead. After we had packed away the tents it was time to leave our midge-infested campsite and begin the ascent of Beinn a’ Bhuird. Although not as big a climb as Ben Macdui it was still a bit of a slog right from the start. As the gradient became a bit more forgiving near the top I thought we were near the summit. Upon consulting the map I was slightly annoyed to find that it was merely a plateau we were on and that the summit itself was still a couple of kilometres away. We eventually reached the summit and were rewarded with some spectacular views. After another lengthy lunch stop we left the path and headed down a spur of the hill. The terrain under foot became rougher so the pace slowed considerably. At one point we looked down the valley and saw a large herd of deer. Having only ever seen wild deer in smaller groups in the hills I was amazed to see the number in front of us. It seemed to be taking a very long time to get down to the river we were aiming for at the bottom of hill.  Due to the terrain we made the decision to climb a steep spur to find a path marked on the map. To our disappointment, this path did not seem to exist any more. By this point I was getting a bit fed up of the never ending trudge down the hill and just wanted to reach our campsite for the night. Eventually, after what seemed like the longest day by far we reached the path towards our camping spot. Before reaching the path we first had to cross a narrow, rickety, ancient bridge which looked like it could collapse at any time and plunge us into the fast-flowing river beneath. Fortunately we all made it over unscathed and were soon pitching our tents beside a bothy. As we were sitting in the bothy cooking our dinner, another walker arrived. He was the first person we had met to over the course of the expedition and we had quite a nice evening sitting chatting with him.  Day 4I think we were all quite upbeat the next morning because it was the last day of our expedition. It was another morning without a path to begin with. I usually enjoy having a bit more of a navigational challenge but by this stage it would have been nice to just follow a path to the finishing point. It was another day of beautiful weather which made our journey seem much more relaxed and the miles passed quicker.  

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We arrived back at Glenmore Lodge on schedule after a quick march down the glen. I was glad to have successfully reached the end point of the expedition but at the same time I was strangely sad that it was over. With the exception of the first day, it had been thoroughly enjoyable experience. Even so, the first day’s difficulties, and the challenges which we overcame, made me appreciate the rest of the expedition even more. I feel that I have benefitted greatly from this expedition and have gained valuable experience in ways which will be useful for future expeditions.

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WilliamDay OneWell this was not how I had planned my hike to start. In a windy wet car park, not being able to see the hill I was going to be going up. So off I trudged with the others. Also, maybe staying in a car last night was not the best planning. Oh well, live and learn.

Soon realised when we reached the ski centre ahead of time that the timings we had set ourselves for each leg were generous. So we sheltered for a while, although all we really wanted to do was to go back to bed!

As we got further and further up Ben Macdui, the wind got up big style and the rain turned to sleet. Why am I doing this I thought? There was part of me that was determined to drag myself through it and I kept a target of getting to the campsite. It was helped by seeing the distance to go on the map disappear fairly quickly. When we got to the summit, I was so glad to be able to then get off. Only thing was, it was foggy, blowing a gale and I was being hit by hailstones. It took us a while... (a long while) to find our way off the top, but soon as we did things began to calm down. We could see our campsite from a fair way off, and began to debate if it would be suitable in this wind. However, when we saw the assessor/supervisors tents down there, we decided we could. Took Joanne and myself a while to put the tent up, given the wind and cold fingers, and first time ever putting it up, I thought we did ok!

Had a long nap, then got up, made some food and chatted, then went back to bed. It was about 8pm but I didn’t care, I was glad of the chance to rest!

Day TwoUp early and time for my first breakfast of dried milk and muesli! It actually tasted pretty good, and I was suitably ready to go. Felt fairly good, no complaints as yet. Wind had died down completely to be replaced by midges, so we got going fairly quickly.

Just down the hill from our campsite we found the Hutcheson Memorial Hut. It was a great wee place, simple and basic but I definitely want to go back one day. (Shame about the Mountain paper...) Coming down the glen was a lovely part of the day, and the weather was warming up nicely as well.

Had a lovely lunch stop, which gave Magnus a chance to dry his sleeping bag. Could have dozed there for ages!

Derry Lodge was a bit of a disappointment, and towards the bottom of the Glen it was a bit of a slog to get there.

From the Lodge we followed a track for a while, and it was longer than it looked on a map. Once we had found the path, by spotting people coming down what looked like a sheer drop... we had our first real test of the first day! My god, what a 20 minute spell. The people we met coming down the hill had parked their car nearby and were out wearing leisure clothes!

Next came a strange little spell.... walking through a very tight glen. The water was blighted by lichen which was a shame. Came out of that bit and down towards our

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campsite. By the end of the day was getting quite tired and glad to reach the site. We decided to camp closer to the water than originally planned, as it was flatter. Midges ruled again, really wish I had brought a face net! Dinner was made more fun by Joanna dropping Magnus’s Canteen into the river, meaning I had to go for a quick jog downstream to get it. Was funny more than anything else.

Early to bed again, not much entertainment apart from the scenery (more than enough) Cold!

Day ThreeWoke up to another bright and sunny morning, but very cold!  After dressing the first thing I saw as I stumbled out of the tent was a bicycle. Well, that was a shock. It turned out to be our assessor, who had biked in to see us. Within seconds the midges arrived so we set off, hoping to eat breakfast further along the route.

Before we went anywhere we had to get over the river, it was fairly shallow so was just the matter of finding the correct point. I was the only one to get a wet boot, but I never really noticed it. Physically I felt OK still. The first part of the morning involved a gentle walk through a wooded area, although wherever we stopped we got caught by midges. Next came a not so nice steep section, although the views were stunning. I found it tough to keep up with Magnus and Andrew, but they never once got agitated by having to wait for us. I felt comfortable going at my own pace. Once we peaked we decided to stop for our first long break of the day, Lunch. Stopped beside a nice steam.

After lunch we started to go downhill. I hate downhill, it does my knees in. Particularly in heather.  Having talked to the assessor he had suggested hiking further than originally planned today, in order to camp outside a Bothy tonight, meaning that we could have some shelter from the midges.

This meant that when we got to the bottom, we would cross the river and walk a few K along the track. Well that wasn’t such a small river as the morning, and the bridge was not easily seen. So we decided to climb a steep slope to come down slightly further upstream. I was beginning to get tired and slightly worried we couldn’t see the bridge yet. The ridge we were walking along had a steep decent, and half way down we spotted the bridge, which looked like it was in need of some TLC. Still, I didn’t care, it was a happy moment.

Got across fine, although did think when looking down between the rotten floor slats that if one of us fell in with our packs on, it could spell the end...

Immediately after the bridge was a sheer climb, up a loose gravel cliff. Only lasted a few minutes, but was hell. Got to the top and surrounded by our friends, the midges, so I kept on and we didn’t stop until we got to the bothy!

At first the bothy looked barely worth the extra trek. It was nothing more than a shed. Until we realised there was another building... And then we found a very comfortable 2 floor bothy. Put the tents up and then returned to the bothy to relax and cook dinner in comfort. Joined by a guy out on his own for a wander, he was nice enough, fairly quiet.

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Day FourWoke up to find a black covering all over the tent. Quickly up and into the bothy. Had a longer lie as we had less distance to travel. When we set off I was in good spirits. They didn’t last long. Was hard going over rough ground and we didn’t seem to be getting anywhere fast. We had to try and find the path, and decided to take the direct route rather than the flatter longer route. Eventually we found a burn and followed it round, suddenly, what looked to be a collection of rocks appeared and turned out to be a path. Well this was it, follow it home! We were actually well ahead of time, and were able to take a long break at the top of the hill. This was only the second time on the trip I had found phone signal and it was nice to be able to send a tweet letting the world know I had survived.

Decided to move on down, and apart from a tricky (only because of my dislike of downhill) downhill section, the rest was easy. As we got closer to Glenmore, we passed more and more people. We had to keep taking frequent breaks to stop ourselves arriving too early. Eventually we reached the top of the woods which would lead us to Glenmore. The last kilometre was probably one of the quickest, since we all wanted to be home. Got to Glenmore, met the assessor. Had a quick chat. Others went to get the cars meaning I was the only one left in manky clothes! Quick change, said bye to everybody, then met them all in Tesco in Aviemore anyway! Raced Magnus down to McDonalds in Perth for our second McDonalds of the trip. It didn’t come out of a silver packet I don’t think.

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AndrewDay OneThe weather was what we had expected. We knew from looking at the weather forecast on the previous day that the weather was supposed to be horrible. When we set off the sky was grey, the clouds were low and it was very windy. It was annoying that all our practice expeditions took place during lovely weather and that the qualifying expedition started off like this.

I have previously done some walking in weather similar to this so it didn’t faze me that much. However, it was definitely weather that I wouldn’t normally choose to go out on the hill in.

We started off on our expedition from the lower Cairngorm Ski Centre car park. We tried to follow our route cards exactly, especially when it came to the timings of each leg. As a result we stopped outside the upper Cairngorm Ski Centre car park until the route card said it was time to move on.

As we walked further up the track to the summit of Ben Macdui, the weather got progressively worse. It began to rain which then turned into sleet and then eventually turned into snow. As the visibility reduced and the winds increased it became more and more difficult to navigate. At one point we were almost fooled by Ben Macdui’s notorious false summit.  

Coming down the other side of Ben Macdui was also very challenging. The visibility reduced to around 10-15m and care had to be taken to avoid the cliff on the other side. As we descended further, we became more sheltered from the wind – however, it was still incredibly powerful and could easily push you around like a rag-doll.

We could eventually see Loch Etchacan, which was to be our campsite for the night. We hurried along and were there in no time at all. We quickly put up our tents, had our dinner and jumped straight into our sleeping bags. Day TwoWhat a difference a day makes! We woke up to some absolutely fantastic weather... the wind and rain was replaced with clear blue skies and midges! Luckily I had learned from the practice expedition and remembered to bring my midge net. We enjoyed a quick breakfast and then headed off to start our 2nd days walking.

We arrived at a really small, but quite nice bothy (Hutcheson Memorial Hut). As we were a little ahead of schedule this gave us some time to explore the bothy and it’s surround area.Our assessor advised us to change our route very slightly and to cross the bridge just before Derry Lodge. He suggested this change as he believed it to be a nicer route with better scenery. We decided to stop and have lunch at the bridge. It turned out to be quite a sun trap and as such it allowed us to dry off any wet clothes etc from the previous day... it also gave me a change to get a suntan!

As we passed Derry Lodge, Magnus and I had a chance to play in the water and to get our feet wet. The water was ice cold and was a perfect refresher on such a nice day!

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We ended up deciding to move our campsite for the night closer to a nearby stream as there didn’t seem to be any water supply close to the planned location. However, as night fell the midges began to attack and we eventually retreated into our tents for the night.

Day ThreeMy overwhelming memory of day 3 was that it was an extremely long day!

After having our breakfast, we had a quick chat with our assessor who cycled in to meet us. Again, he advised a possible change to our route. He suggested that if the midges were as bad as they were the previous night that we should camp at Faindouran lodge as it would offer better protection. As a group we decided that this sounded like a good idea – I think we all didn’t want to be dinner again!

The weather was fantastic again but the constant heat made us incredibly thirsty. The first part of the route was all uphill and was rather steep. For the first time in the expedition we fell behind the planned timings. However, we managed to make up for this after lunch as the remainder of the route was either flat or downhill.

We eventually arrived at a small wooden bridge across a rather wide river. The bridge looked incredibly old and as though it was beginning to rot. We thought it to be best to cross it one at a time as were weren’t sure it would be able to cope with multiple people crossing at the same time.

The walk on the dirt path to Faindouran Lodge seemed to go on forever. The path kept twisting and turning alongside the river and as a result we weren’t able to see the Lodge until the very last turn in the path. It was a great relief to finally see our campsite for the night!

Day FourThat morning I woke up nice and refreshed. I think it was the best night’s sleep that I had had on the entire expedition. I felt excited that it was the last day of the expedition but I also didn't want it to end as I felt the team had really jelled together and we were having a great time.

As we walked I was surprised as to how much lighter my rucksack had become throughout the expedition. It was hard to believe that food could be so heavy! The only food I had left was the days lunch and my emergency rations.

We stopped for lunch at the top of the hill near Coire Odhar. This would be the highest point that we would be at for the day. During lunch we had the opportunity to look back at the landscape and identify various locations that we had passed during the expedition. It was really have a chance to do this at this point, as we knew that after lunch we would be making our way back into civilisation and completing the expedition.

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Route CardsDay One

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Day Two

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Day Three

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Day Four

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MapsOverview

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Day One

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Day Two

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Day Three

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Day Four

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LettersRequesting AssistanceDear Sir/Madam, I am a member of the Clyde Region Scout Network and I am currently working towards achieving my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Myself and three other Scouts recently completed part of the Expedition section of the award. This section of the award requires participants to complete a 4 day hike whilst spending time working towards a project which they will document and present to assessors/supervisors.  We have now completed our 4 day hike and have collected 16 different samples of water from the cairngorm region. The aim of our project is to compare the quality of water from natural waterways against that of tap water and of branded bottled water. Our secondary aim is to compare the difference of the quality of water as it flows downstream through the Scottish countryside. To complete our project we were hoping that you would be able to assist us by providing professional test results. Perhaps you may already have prior test results from the same area for comparison purposes? It would be of great interest to us if we were able to participate in that analysis but of course we leave that to you to determine whether that may be possible. We are keen to produce a meaningful and worthwhile document/presentation based on the samples that we collected and with your help I think we will be able to do that. One possible result may be to prove whether it is safe to drink water directly from those natural water courses. In completion of the report/presentation we would be very willing to recognise DWQRs contribution. I look forward to your reply.  Yours Sincerely, Andrew Thomson  Note: This letter (with some changes) was sent to the following organisations: • Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) • SEPA • Scottish Water • Caledonian Laboratories Limited 

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Response from DWQR (1)Dear Mr Thomson,

Thank you for your email to the Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR).  I apologise for the delay in replying. 

DWQR doesn’t routinely test water samples – we regulate the quality of drinking water by verifying that the testing Scottish Water does on drinking water samples is carried out correctly and in accordance with the regulations. Where we can help is to provide historical data for the quality of water in samples taken from consumers’ taps.  If you advise us of the exact locations (i.e, names of towns / villages) you are interested in, we should be able to provide some data.  Please note that water supplies can travel some considerable distance from source to the consumer, so the results may not reflect the quality of natural water in that exact location.

You are keen to have the samples of natural water that you collected on your expedition analysed.  Scottish Water do not routinely analyse samples of this nature collected by individuals, and the samples are unlikely to have been collected in a manner that would enable accurate analysis – analysis for different substances requires special bottles and the samples need to reach the laboratory within a certain time.  If you want to contact Scottish Water to discuss this further with them, their telephone number is 0845 601 8855.

SEPA are responsible for protecting the natural water environment, and it is possible they may already have some quality data for the areas you are interested in – they publish some information on their website; http://www.sepa.org.uk/science_and_research/data_and_reports/water.aspx but you could also contact them using the followinglink: http://www.sepa.org.uk/about_us/contacting_sepa/by_email.aspx.

I hope this information is helpful to you and wish you well with your DofE Award.  Please contact us again with location details if you would like water quality data – Scottish Water can also provide this.

Yours sincerely Eleanor Vance on behalf of the Drinking Water Quality Regulator  

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Response from DWQR (2)Hello Andrew,

Though pleased to hear you are undertaking such a worthwhile project, unfortunately there are a number of reasons (aside from resource) that we are unable to help.

Samples will deteriorate over time, and many analyses become unviable after a very short period of time after sampling. It really depends on what you are looking at. Also sampling methods, sample preservation, preparation, etc are more particular than you may imagine. And I’m afraid there would certainly have been no scope for you to participate in the analysis- for health and safety reasons in the lab apart from anything else. Perhaps academia might be a more suitable sector for you to investigate on that front.

May I direct you to SEPA’s river basin planning website. This contains water quality information across Scotland, interactive maps and so forth. We would be happy to supply some river water quality data for a particular specific location(s) for comparison.http://www.sepa.org.uk/water/river_basin_planning.aspx

You’ll also find lots of other interesting/relevant information on the wider SEPA website as well. If you are particularly interested in drinking water quality perhaps Scottish Water may be able to point you in the right direction there.

Sorry we can’t be of more help.

Robin ClarkeEnvironmental Chemistry UnitSEPA Edinburgh

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Response from Caledonian Laboratories LimitedHi Andrew,

Apologies for the delay in replying to your enquiry, I have been out of the office for the past few days.

We may be able to assist you with the chemical analysis of the water samples you have collected. 

Unfortunately though, we would be unable to assist with any microbiological assessment as this is not a service Caledonian Laboratories offers.

How much sample to do you have?  (This information would enable us to put together a basic suite of tests based on the volume of sample available).

Regards,John

---------------------------------------------------------John McKennaDirectorCaledonian Laboratories Limitedwww.caledonianlabs.co.uk

Note: From further communication it was determined that Caledonian Laboratories Limited were unable to assist us in performing the required tests.

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DWQR Data ExtractExtract from the data sourced from DWQR. Blackpark Zone is located in the Aviemore region. Data set includes results from January 2006.

Site Name Parameter Name Failed Result Units Date

Blackpark Zone Coliform Bacteria N 0 NUMBER/100ml 02/07/2010

Blackpark Zone E.Coli N 0 NUMBER/100ml 02/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Coliform Bacteria N 0 NUMBER/100ml 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Manganese N 1.7 ugMn/l 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Aluminium N 52 ugAL/l 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Colour N 3 mg/l Pt/Co 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Iron N 11 ugFe/l 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone E.Coli N 0 NUMBER/100ml 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Hydrogen Ion (pH) N 7.1 pH Value 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Turbidity N 0.33 NTU 07/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Coliform Bacteria N 0 NUMBER/100ml 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Aluminium N 23 ugAL/l 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Colour N 2 mg/l Pt/Co 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Iron N 7 ugFe/l 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Manganese N 1 ugMn/l 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone E.Coli N 0 NUMBER/100ml 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Total Trihalomethanes N 28.6 ug/l 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Hydrogen Ion (pH) N 7 pH Value 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Turbidity N 0.32 NTU 21/07/2010

Blackpark Zone Coliform Bacteria N 0 NUMBER/100ml 26/07/2010

Blackpark Zone E.Coli N 0 NUMBER/100ml 26/07/2010

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