"part of the film was supposed to be fictional," says Chouinard, with John playing a hard case from a rundown part of Glasgow. He rides on his motorbike across Rannoch moor, solos something and then slips and falls but no-one knows if it is real or imagined, it was kinda surreal. The film never got to be seen because in another section, filmed in China , half the film crew were caught in a terrible avalanche. The director was killed and I broke a couple of ribs."So the strange sight (to me anyway) of him not wearing a helmet* in 1976 was probably also part of aiming for the retro look.
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The ferry crossing is actually the Corran ferry, but probably made to look like the Bally one. The Bally ferry closed in 75 as the bridge opened, so I guess it was a substitute to make the movie look like it was set in an earlier time.
From the summit cairn follow a Grid bearing of 231 degrees for 150 metres. Beware of the steep drop into Gardyloo Gully on your right. Remember to make the correct adjustment for the magnetic variation (in 2011 add 2 degrees so that the bearing becomes 233 degrees). You will also need to confidently pace the distance. Practice pacing on lower and less serious terrain before using it on Ben Nevis. If you have a rope of known length, you can use this to measure the distance. Once you have completed this leg and passed the top of Gardyloo Gully, turn onto the second Grid bearing of 282 degrees. Remember the magnetic variation (in 2011 add 2 degrees so that the bearing becomes 284 degrees). It is often this next section that goes awry. After travelling 300 metres on fairly flat terrain there is a steeper section for about 100 metres (McLean’s Steep) before the angle eases again. There is a natural tendency to steer very slightly to the left of the bearing in order to keep away from the north face. This is entirely understandable and may even be a wise precaution under certain conditions. The effect that this slight deviation can have is to put you onto the steep and potentially fatal ground at the top of Five Finger Gully. Being forewarned is to be forearmed and the knowledge that Five Finger Gully lurks below you to the south-west is an important piece of information to keep in mind. The edge of Five Finger Gully is about 800 metres from the top of Gardyloo Gully from where the 282 degree Grid bearing begins. Careful attention to pacing and timing will keep you informed about how far you have travelled. If, after about 800 metres from the top of Gardyloo Gully, you reach steep ground dropping away to the west, southwest or south then you have strayed into the top of Five Finger Gully (see c, d & e on the map extract). If you find yourself travelling south downhill with a cliff edge on your right (west) you have veered off the bearing significantly………If you are unable to do this kind of navigation in zero visibility, then think very carefully about whether to go onto the Nevis plateau if the weather has any chance of closing in on you.
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posted by TheBones at 7:17 PM on September 11, 2011