TGO Challenge 2013 - I'm in!

[durks]

...Falls of Glomach ...
What I didn't realise was that the track beside the falls is severely degraded and the falls are one of the highest in the UK ...

I think they're actually the highest single-drop falls in the UK. Other high falls here (e.g. the Eas a Chual Aluinn in the far north west, and the Steall Falls near Ben Nevis) might challenge for total length, but run down over slabs, and are far less dramatic. The Falls of Glomach go *straight* down; I went for look on a rather gloomy day, and found it quite a gripping place!

[photohiker]

Thanks for the information durks.

I don't mind visiting places like that, but would rather not become part of the scenery

[photohiker]

i picked up the salomon x-ultra mids on sale. i was in the cosmics every day for two weeks around tas,,, got a bit sick of the weight, the high ankle and stiffness.

--> I've had a bit of a rethink on footwear.

The Comets are fine, but stiff in the sole, and maybe a bit too stiff for hard terrain I will have to walk through like roads and hardened trails. I wore them on a local 12km+ competitive walking event in the rain (and won!), they held up to the water and I didn't get any blisters but my feet were very tired by the end (6+ km/h walk pace with pack on rocky hills trails) Without my custom insoles, I think I would have been struggling at that pace. Anyway, I got to thinking I should have a softer boot option and remembered wayno's post here.

I've been trundling around in these on similar trails and distances and my feet are much happier now. The service crew will transport the comets as backup in case of failure.

--> Made a snug polar fleece cover for the Exped pillow as a luxury item. It's awesome and weighs 67g

--> Finalised camera carrying. BlackRapid SnapR10 with drybag in case of weather. More details in the ideas on carrying camera gear thread.

--> Modified route submitted and approved.

--> Maps printed double sided on hi-rag paper (MarkRite 50% Rag paper BKS130)

--> As a result of the conditions on the walking event, I have changed my walking trouser selection. I was wearing Paramo Velez Adventure Light trousers and Paramo Third Element Jacket. The Jacket held up well, but the trousers started to wet out badly after the first hour of rain. Now wearing Montane Terra trousers with Mont Austral waterproofs. Not as convenient having to stop to add waterproofness, but better to be dry than not...

[wayno]

Fleece replacement therapy turned up today.

I was looking for something at least as warm as a light fleece, windproof, somewhat waterproof, and light weight. After looking at various Polartec NeoShell jackets I came to the conclusion they were trying to do too much for what I wanted (and flippin expensive), so I looked for something else. Found the 2012 Montane Fireball Smock which is a Primaloft ECO insulated pullover with Pertex Quantum fabric outer shell.

Fit is good and weight runs 264g for my size M. Tried it on, but too warm here today. It will replace my RAB 100 fleece smock for less weight and more features. Ideal on it's own or layered depending on the weather in Scotland.

Packs tiny!

I thought Paramo is similar in function to primaloft jackets... will you still need both?
i'd have opted for a neoshell minus the microfleece and used that as a rainshell/windshell given how breathable they are and just layer under that as needed

[wayno]

the way things are going with you using more of the gear I use, I"ll just ship my kit over to you now to save future hassles....

[photohiker]

Will I still need both? Yes, I think so, unless I want to rethink that gear totally. The Fireball was added as a versatile fleece replacement, not outerwear except perhaps in clear cold weather. It won't take the weather like the Paramo jacket, I'd need another waterproof on top. My thinking was if it gets really cold, I can layer the Fireball under the Paramo, if it's cold at night, I can layer it under the down jacket or wear it in the SB.

Neoshell looks good, but was way expensive when I looked, and it replaced things I already had... Has it gotten cheaper?

Thanks, you can send the kit, but you better address it to Scotland

[wayno]

i picked up a westcomb shift neoshell for $200 the other week.
depends what size you need as to what it will cost.

EDIT: depends on how fussy you are for brand as to what price you can get, and can depend on size

http://www.gearbuyer.com/c/mens_clothin ... best_match

[photohiker]

Yep, they have gotten a lot cheaper. I think the prices were eye watering last time I looked.

I'll keep an eye out while I'm over there. Should be some end of season sales etc, but the Paramo stays for now. It's been good kit and has lasted 3 years without a wimper until the trousers chucked it in.

[Onestepmore]

Best of luck photohiker - it started this week yes? (and I know if it has then you can't answer me!!)

[wayno]

started on the 10th

you can follow Michael here

http://www.tgomagazine.co.uk/tgochallenge/spotmap/

[wayno]

message board with updates of the event here
http://pub9.bravenet.com/forum/static/s ... 14&msgid=0

[gayet]

Or Michaels actual'individual record or the trip.
The peak bagged on Day 1 looks like a steep climb

http://www.shareyouradventure.com/map/o ... lenge-2013

[wayno]

not really, the distance is quite truncated... it was an 800m climb over several kilometres, it was actually lower than his original intended route which was 300m higher

[wayno]

update from MIchael Via Twitter
"High route cancelled due to weather. Got ahead of my plan and resting in Drum. Off again tomorrow"
"Monadhliath Mountains are under fresh snow. Packing spikes, gaiters and warmwear. Stocking up on carbs. Big 2 days coming up."

he may be conducting his own search for the Loch Ness monster!

http://www.shareyouradventure.com/map/o ... lenge-2013

[Onestepmore]

Thanks for the links Wayno
Best of luck and have fun!
Very interesting to be able to watch your progress

[durks]

update from MIchael Via Twitter
"High route cancelled due to weather. Got ahead of my plan and resting in Drum. Off again tomorrow" ...

The weather here this Spring has been pretty poor so far: very unsettled; and lots of wind and rain.

[wayno]

update from MIchael Via Twitter
"High route cancelled due to weather. Got ahead of my plan and resting in Drum. Off again tomorrow" ...

The weather here this Spring has been pretty poor so far: very unsettled; and lots of wind and rain.

he he, for someone in scotland to say the weather has been poor is probably a bit of an understatement

[wayno]

Latest update

"weather abated as forcast. Monadliaths snow free on my path. 38km yestdy and in Aviemore now. Cairngorms tomorrow.

[wayno]

another update
"hard day from Aviemore to Loch Etchacan 900m camp amazing views sub zero o'night snow traverse in and out. Awesome!"

[wayno]

its a hard life but someone has to do it....

"TrailStar pitched at Loch Etchachan. pic.twitter.com/JvDjfqoM0F "

[wayno]

he's all but finished, just a few k's to the finish on the coast... all in good time.... well done Michael. great achievement....

[gayet]

And finished! Date: 10:14am Wed 22nd May 2013
Europe/London
Some stats from the trip.
These stats are only based on the beacons sent - the fewer the beacons, the more inaccurate the stats!

Distance: 354 km
Max Altitude: 943 m
Min Altitude: 2 m
Height Gain: 6,703 m
Height Loss: 6,626 m

[wayno]

update from Michael "Done and dusted! On the bus to Challenge Control at Montrose."

[Onestepmore]

Well done!
a wee dram to celebrate!

[wayno]

theres a write up here of someone elses TGO challenge this year. in case you're wondering, he explained in an earlier article he had to take the train from nottingham to london to get to scotland because it was actually the most efficient way for him to get there due to the way public transport works in Britain, everything centres on London in that part of the country.... .

http://backpackingbongos.wordpress.com/ ... ys-1-to-3/

[wayno]

someone elses tgo report

http://sectionhiker.com/tgo-challenge-2 ... rt-part-1/

http://sectionhiker.com/tgo-challenge-2 ... ort-part-2

[wayno]

another blog on the tgo challenge, follow up to an earlier one I posted

http://backpackingbongos.wordpress.com/ ... ys-4-to-7/

[photohiker]

Seems such a long time ago now...

We're back, getting over the colds and trip-lag. Since the Challenge, we've been to Wales, England, Ireland (Counties Cork, Tipperary, Wexford, Limerick, Kerry), Spain (Mallorca), and Paris. Whew.

I've started writing up my report, so far it's taking about as long to write about it as walk it!

Bottom line for my 2013 Challenge: My preparations were well worth the effort, I managed longer distances per day without the dreaded foot soreness I had last time. I was also lucky with my selected route and the weather, others were not so lucky.

Would do it again

[Onestepmore]

Big congrats!
Looking forwards to reading your report

[wayno]