TGO Challenge 2012 - My Crossing of Scotland

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Shewie

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Dec 15, 2005
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TGO Challenge 2012



About The Challenge

The TGO Challenge is an annual self-supported walking event across the Highlands of Scotland, west coast to east coast. It started in 1980 and was the brainchild of the well-known writer and mountaineer, Hamish Brown.
Challengers are responsible for planning their own routes; all routes are checked by experienced vetters, who offer comments which may assist in final planning. Routes can be high or low level or a mixture of both. This flexibility in the route you take, combined with the large geographical area available, is one of the unique features of the Challenge.
There are 12 permitted start points on the west coast. They are:
Ardrishaig, Oban, Acharacle, Lochailort, Arisaig,Mallaig, Glenelg, Shiel Bridge, Dornie, Strathcarron, Plockton, Torridon. You can finish anywhere between Fraserburgh and Arbroath in the east, all participants have to report to the control centre in Montrose once they have finished.
The TGO Challenge is entirely non-competitive (although, on finishing, Challengers receive a special badge, certificate and T-shirt). A maximum of 15 days is allowed for the crossing. Most people take between 12 and 14 days to cross, and the average length for a crossing is about 180 miles.

TGO Challenge



Our Challenge

As this is our first attempt we’ve opted for a fairly steady route, starting at Shiel Bridge we won’t be alone for the first few days. Our path will take us through some true gems of the Scottish Highlands, Glen Affric, the Monadhliath mountains, Glen Feshie and The Cairngorms. Terrain will be a mixture of high heather moorland and low lying bogs with a few nice tracks for good measure, some will be horrific too.
We’ll be camping every night unless we’re forced to seek something warm and cosy if the weather turns, wild camping all the way with proper campsites at three day intervals, these will be our resupply pickups and also a chance to get a shower and wash some stinky clothes.
Our days will average at around fifteen miles, some will be shorter and some will be torture.

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Shewie

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Dec 15, 2005
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Thursday 10th May - Day Zero

Actually day minus one will involve us driving from Yorkshire up to Glasgow and stopping with some pals for the night, day zero will be the real start to our adventure.
I’ll probably get no sleep at all from being so excited, I know that for a fact, but we have to be up fairly early and get a lift with Stuart to Queen Street station in time for our 10:10 train to the wild west. Here I expect to meet a good number of fellow Challengers and we’ll soon be hearing tales of previous crossings no doubt, the train journey is a bit of a slog but there should be some great views along the way.
We’ll switch trains at Inverness and then head south west towards our start point at Shiel Bridge, to be more accurate we’ll be getting off at Kyle of Lochalsh and then figuring out the last bit for ourselves. Hopefully there’ll be a bus or taxi, failing that it’s thumbing and praying for a lift, worst case scenario we’ll pitch up the tents somewhere and wait for a bus to come by the next morning.



Friday 11th May - Day One

Shiel Bridge to Glen Affric

14.53 miles
775 metres of ascent

DAY1SCREEN.jpg


Shiel Bridge campsite NG938186 – Glenlicht House NH006173 – Camban NH053184 Alltbeithe NH080202 – Glen Affric ruin NH110207



Saturday 12th May - Day Two

Glen Affric to Coille an Tuathanaich

14.76 miles
559 metres of ascent

DAY2SCREEN.jpg


Glen Affric ruin NH110207 – Athnamulloch NH133206 – Allt Garbh – Cougie - Coille an Tuathanaich NH289230



Sunday 13th May - Day Three

Coille an Tuathanaich to Fort Augustus

17.09 miles
737 metres of ascent

DAY3SCREEN.jpg


Coille an Tuathanaich NH289230 – Lochan Seogh NH294189 – Dundreggan – Fort Augustus campsite NH372085



Monday 14th May - Day Four

Fort Augustus to Melgarve

12.38 miles
913 metres of ascent

DAY4SCREEN.jpg


Fort Augustus campsite NH372085 – Blackburn bothy NH382029 – Corrieyairack Pass – Melgarve bothy NN468951



Tuesday 15th May - Day Five

Melgarve to Glentruim

15.78 miles
372 metres of ascent

DAY5SCREEN.jpg


Melgarve bothy NN468951 – Garva Bridge – Sherrabeg NN568930 – Laggan – Glentruim campsite NN688951



Wednesday 16th May - Day Six

Glentruim to Ruigh-aiteachain bothy

16.77 miles
546 metres of ascent

DAY6SCREEN.jpg


Glentruim campsite NN688951 – General Wades Road – Ruthven barracks – Woods of Glentromie – Killiehuntly – Baileguish NN824981 – Stronetoper – Ruigh-aiteachain bothy NN846 928



Thursday 17th May - Day Seven

Ruigh-aiteachain to White Bridge

13.96 miles
588 metres of ascent

DAY7SCREEN.jpg


Ruigh-aiteachain bothy NN846 928 – Geldie Lodge NN957870 – Geldie Burn – White Bridge NO019885



Friday 18th May - Day Eight

White Bridge to Braemar

9.94 miles
248 metres of ascent

DAY8SCREEN.jpg


White Bridge NO019885 – Lin of Dee – Inverey – Braemar campsite NO154909



Saturday 19th May - Day Nine

Rest day (pub)

0.00 miles
0 metres of ascent



Sunday 20th May - Day Ten

Braemar to Glas-allt-Shiel

14.91 miles
865 metres of ascent

DAY10SCREEN.jpg


Braemar campsite NO154909 – Bridge of Dee – Garbh Allt Shiel NO197908 – Feith an Laoigh NO230897 – Gelder Shiel – Coire na Ciche NO273869 – Glas-allt-Shiel NO277825



Monday 21st May - Day Eleven

Glas-allt-Shiel to Tarfside

16.97 miles
755 metres of ascent

DAY11SCREEN.jpg


Glas-allt-Shiel NO277825 – Spittal of Glenmuick – Shielin of Mark – Muckle Cairn – Glen Lee – Tarfside NO494796



Tuesday 22nd May - Day Twelve

Tarfside to North Water Bridge

16.64 miles
318 metres of ascent

DAY12SCREEN.jpg


Tarfside NO494796 – Corharncross NO513782 – Holmhead NO563775 – Gannochy – North Water Bridge campsite NO649664



Wednesday 23rd May - Day Thirteen

North Water Bridge to St Cyrus

8.71 miles
195 metres of ascent

DAY13SCREEN.jpg


North Water Bridge campsite NO649664 – Broomley – Morphie – St Cyrus



Thursday 24th May – Day Fourteen

Bus from St Cyrus to Montrose – checkout and then grab the train back to Glasgow
 
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Shewie

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Dec 15, 2005
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I'll add some information next week but for the mean time this is what I'll be taking on the TGO in three weeks time.

Some weights are missing which I'll edit later.


This is everything I'll be carrying, total weight including fuel for one week and food for three days is a very manageable 8.2kg
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The Big Three

Often referred to as the Big Three is the pack, the shelter and the sleep system
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1. ULA CDT pack - 534g
2. Ti & Ally stakes x 10 - 110g
3. Thermarest NeoAir short mat - 260g
4. Polycryo groundsheet - 44g
5. MLD Superlight bivvy - 198g
6. MLD Trailstar shelter - 570g
7. OMM DuoLite mat (for feet and sit mat) - 150g
8. Snugpak Pertex bag liner (silk replacement on order) - 209g
9. PHD Minim 300 sleeping bag - 570g

Total Big Three weight = - - kg



Hydration

This is my means of carrying and treating water, plus brew kit and stove
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Numbered for identification
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10. Source 1L Liquitainer soft bottle (for water in camp) - 28g
11. Drink bottle -
12. Paper cup
13. Jetboil Sol Ti with 100g gas cart inside - 438g
14. Nuun hydration tablets -
15. MSR Hyperflow water filter - 244g
16. Nescafe 3-in-1 x 12 -



Food

Food for three days plus snacks for walking
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17. Homemade Reflectix pouch cosy -
18. Chilli flavoured peanuts -
19. G.O.R.P for three days (Salted Pretzels, peanut M&Ms, chocolate raisins, banana chips) + bagels and Primula for lunch -
20. Cereal bars x 4 -
21. Mugshots x 3 -
22. Opinel No.8 -
23. Home dehydrated meals x 3 (2 x Shepherds Pie, 1 x Chicken & Mushroom pasta) -



Clothes Carried

I don't carry many spare clothes as these are what bunk up the weight, I keep it to a minimum without risking being cold
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27. HeatHolder socks for bed -
28. PHD light merino wool socks (for walking) -
29. Icebreaker Everyday merino leggings - 190g
30. Berghaus Powerstretch gloves -
31. Rab beanie -
40. Montane Fireball smock - 235g



Hygiene Pack and Poop pack

Toiletries, towel, thyroid meds and poo tackle, nothing fancy
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25 (Hygiene)

a. Microfibre towel XS -
b. Nivea mini anti-perspirant -
c. Soap (small bar from hotel in NY) -
d. Gehwol refreshing foot balm (decanted into small tub) -
e. Foot powder (decanted into small bottle) -
f. Thyroid meds -
g. Folding toothbrush from Air Canada flight -
h. Mini Colgate toothpaste -
i. Lip balm -

26 (Poop pack)

a. Toliet roll -
b. Hand sanitiser -
c. Mini Bic lighter -
d. Alppoop DIY trowel -



Ditty Bag

These are those things which don't belong elsewhere, handy to have in one place
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36. Knee brace -
37. Ultrapod -
38. Zebralight H51 - 36g
39. Lithium AA batts x 2 - 28g



First Aid Kit & Map

Self explanatory really, I'll open up the FAK next week and show the contents properly
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32. Adventure Medical UL 5 first aid kit (with extras) -
33. Osprey pack cover size small -
34. Map & compass
35. Satmap Active 10 -



Wet Gear

Waterproof smock, trews and mitts
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Numbered for identification
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41. Berghaus Paclite trousers - 185g
42. Terra Nova Tuff Bag paclite mitts - 75g
43. Rab Demand eVent smock - 283g



Clothing Worn

All the clothes I'll be wearing plus footwear, the windshirt and fleece will probably be on and off throughout
Worn.jpg


Numbered for identification
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1. Montane Litespeed windshirt - 186g
2. Montane Fury fleece jacket - 340g
3. Icebreaker 200 LS zip top - 330g
4. Montane Terra pants - 327g
5. Pacer Poles (also used with my shelter so I opted for the heavier but stronger alloy) - 650g
6. Salomon Speedcross 3 running shoes - 313g
7. Outdoor Research Salamander ankle gaiters -
8. X-Socks Trekking socks -
9. Finisterre merino boxers -
10. Stussy cap (cotton but it's been everywhere with me) -





So that's pretty much it, I've actually just packed for a trip to the Lakes in the morning so we'll see how I get on. The only changes I'll be making are swapping the Pertex bag liner for a silk one and carrying the necessary food until we reach a resupply. I've missed off a couple of bits like my camera, that'll go on my waist strap or into a chest pouch I've ordered.
 
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Shewie

Mod
Mod
Dec 15, 2005
24,259
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Yorkshire
:cool:
Pack your Beaton's :D and best of luck with the trip :D

atb,
M

It was the first thing on my list, are they out yet?

DUDE! that looks brilliant! cant wait to read your adventure:D,

Thanks mate, really looking forward to it now

good luck Rich
look forward to the write up

Thanks mate

Good luck Rich ,am sure you walk it :lmao:sorry could not help myself


Jason

That's the plan :)

good luck bud, it looks an awesome challenge ...

Cheers Gaz

Watching this with great interest as I'm applying for next years!

Best of luck!!!!

KP

Do it, it's been nearly 18 months since I first mentioned it to a pal

Best of luck. Cannot wait for your reports on it.

Thanks mate

Have fun, you may get sun or snow:..........

Fingers crossed for a bit of both :)
 

Chris the Cat

Full Member
Jan 29, 2008
2,850
14
Exmoor
Makes my Wainrights Coast to Coast look like a walk in the park!
( It was, - the National Park!! )
All the very best for it , take care.
Chris.
 

HillBill

Bushcrafter through and through
Oct 1, 2008
8,141
88
W. Yorkshire
Nice one Rich, looks like a good slog mate.

Day 4's gonna be fun by the looks of it. Some serious contours along that route:)
 

redandshane

Native
Oct 20, 2007
1,581
0
Batheaston
First of all good luck and have a great time
Also Thanks for sharing your Challenge with us I am really looking forward to following it
One day I might give it a go myself;the concept definitely appeals
Kit list?
 

tartanferret

Full Member
Aug 25, 2011
1,865
0
barnsley
That looks fantastic ! Good look with the trip !

What's your estimate for the pack weight? when you have refuelled for the next few days ?
 

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