Highland Trail Race

[ScotRoutes]

this is a big route in serious terrain. Don't be fooled by all the pictures of blue skies and sandy beaches.

This can't be repeated too often!

[drjon]

my thoughts…fwiw!

http://drj0nswanderings.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/rise-up/

[richpips]

I enjoyed reading that, thanks for posting.

[wunnspeed]

As I mentioned in DJ's blog comments... extremely well written (per normal) but it kind of freaked me out. Having said that, it's a great wake up call for those thinking it'll be a 'walk in the park'.

[NewRetroTom]

Jon thanks for sharing your experiences. Very sorry to hear you won't be on the start line.

It has reinforced my awe at the scale and difficulty of the challenge to come.

I was already feeling quite scared and still am!

See the rest of you at the start line in 3 weeks!

Tom

[kbrembo]

Good pics etc DrJon

Sorry to hear that you wont make it but well done on all your recce trips etc.
I am born and reared highlander and anyone that has nor ridden up there, believe me...the far northern part of the trail will be extraordinarily tough..along with the rest of the HT550

Hopefully see you all at the start!

[htrider]

Damn it -I thought there would be two Krampusess (Krampi) at the start line!
Good write up mate and a good insight into the challenge. Just back from a 2 day motorbike reccy of various trail entrances on the route and to get myself re-acquainted with the geography up there. Weather stunning, trails super dry and rivers very low, roll on the end of May. I have to say that your account has just made me want to get stuck into this even more - the Suilven path looks like my favourite kind of trail - techy, nadgery and with stunning scenery. I'll forgive it the boggy sections just for that!

[chainagent]

Ok, when I am reading about all the obstacles in this race it become more and more a big Kinder Surprise Egg to me, maybe the curse of a non resident.

Is there any section on the route that is "easy"? This is a serious question. Or are there sections that are easily ridable at night without the fear of getting lost or injured?

        Michael

[htrider]

Plenty of the route is on big graded tracks and roads that don't go up and down like a roller coaster. Check out yer contours, geograph.org, www.heritagepaths.co.uk and google aerials.
As for lights - there will be around three hours of full dark in any 24. Spend them sleeping, not riding

[ScotRoutes]

Basecamp suggests that it's 15,000m of ascent, so not much flat stuff.

[drjon]

There are lots of flatish easy sections. Contin to oykel for example is a spin for the most part. There is easy road from oykel north, too. Early on, until you get to the devils staircase is pretty mild. Steep but very doable from Afric East to FA. Some road before torridon iirc. But there is a lot of strenuous stuff too. I think the thing will be combining lots of miles with multiple tough sections in one day, then repeating. *if* you are trying to really do this fast. But it *should* be really tough to do it fast! That would have been (I believe) Alan's aim. It would be relatively easy ( and I mean relatively!) to do this at 50 miles per day or so. The tipping point is doing it fast, and the combo of fitness, fuelling, weight carrying and ability to cover multiple tough sections in a day that that will require. I suspect a high chance of a winner here only just dipping into 5 days, or maybe slightly less. That will be an incredible achievement. To add 2 days takes it into the realms of a good solid athlete with experience and a solid set up IMO. Ultimately I think that was what made me a DNS. I don't want to be on the route for near 7 days, and I think that it was really looking like that would have been the case for me. Ho hum. Andy: yep would have been good to share some trail time with you on this. I reckon you'll love it!

[IanB]

I believe the key to events such as this is not to attempt to ride fast, but to move efficiently. Maximise moving time, consolidate off-bike activities at fewer stops etc. While there are some sections that are distinct in their difficulty, where a slower pace might leave you feeling like you're making precious little progress, remember it's the same for everyone. I expect if you were to analyse the moving time between last years finishers through the Fisherfield section they would be broadly similar. The difference lies in how long people were stopped to do stuff - eating, sorting gear, staring at the view, reflecting on how fcking hard it feels etc. I did all these things when I was there. Don't let these sections grind you down (or indeed put you off entirely) - much of the route is very rideable. Committing, remote and not to be underestimated, but rideable.

I've not ridden the northern loop so can't comment on its difficulty, but the two crux sections for me on last years route were the descent into Fisherfield (re-routed to easier tracks for this year) and the climb over into Glen Affric - both were done in the dark. Torridon, which I did late afternoon was the highlight of the course in my opinion.

[ScotRoutes]

I suspect a high chance of a winner here only just dipping into 5 days, or maybe slightly less. That will be an incredible achievement. To add 2 days takes it into the realms of a good solid athlete with experience and a solid set up IMO. Ultimately I think that was what made me a DNS. I don't want to be on the route for near 7 days, and I think that it was really looking like that would have been the case for me.

+1
I reckon I'll give the Cairngorm Loop a go soon, then look for something in the 3-4 day range. Who knows, that might get my enthusiasm for the HTR going again.

The difference lies in how long people were stopped to do stuff - eating, sorting gear, staring at the view, reflecting on how fcking hard it feels etc.

And therein lies the simple issue for me. I want to take time out to eat, stare at the view etc  

[alpinum]

'walk in the park'.

Positive anticipation. Keep it just that way, stay stubborn and it'll be good  

@wunnspeed: Interested in a bike packing trip traversing the swiss jura in two weeks time?

I expect if you were to analyse the moving time between last years finishers through the Fisherfield section they would be broadly similar.

I guess not. I'm quite sure I shaved off many hours of those in front of me and extended my lead over Andy (although not knowing how close he actually was going into Fisherfield) significantly.

And therein lies the simple issue for me. I want to take time out to eat, stare at the view etc  

That was how I did it and loved it

Doesn't it go down to the question: Race it our tour it...?
In the end it's called HT Race, on the other hand anything sub 8 days is a fair accomplishment (for 2013 that is).

[wunnspeed]

Positive anticipation. Keep it just that way, stay stubborn and it'll be good 

@wunnspeed: Interested in a bike packing trip traversing the swiss jura in two weeks time?

Interested yes, but I'll be in Scotland for the HT. Sounds like it'd be a really great trip though. Thanks for asking.

[slarge]

I have never had this level of trepidation before - not sure if I am looking forward more to the start or the finish of this race!
I am worried about me, my gear, my bike, the weather, the route, the midges - is there anything else left to worry about?

[NewRetroTom]

Finding enough food to keep going? 215km with no shops may present a problem....

[wunnspeed]

Hi all, I know that this is late in the game but I'm flying into Glasgow on the 21st so I can look around the city for a day and then I was planning to head up to Tyndrum on either the 22nd or 23rd. However, I wanted to see if anyone was going up in a car/truck/van and had room for a wayward bikepacker. Thanks in advance.

[GregMay]

Just to re-iterate what Ian has said - it's not about being fast on the bike. It is about being efficient, ruthless even. Travelling alone will make you faster, you miss out on certain bits, but you don't stop and faff for as long, you also don't tend to have to wait for others. Saying that, take in the views, take some photos, enjoy it out there it is going to be a wonderful thing for you all.

As a second point - don't skip on kit. If you think you're going to be moving for longer days - take more kit to allow you to stay warm. Sitting in the hut at Glen Affic last year when it was around -3 as we rolled in made me realise that I was happy for my extra pair of gloves. Also, if you have a decent headlight and you're planning on pushing the last 24 hours straight - bring it. The descent into Bridge of Orky is ... interesting at speed with no real lights

[wunnspeed]

The descent into Bridge of Orky is ... interesting at speed with no real lights

That brings back memories of the TDR and descending 25 miles or so down the mountain into Salida next to cliffs, etc. with no lights. Made it to town about 1:00 in morning. I now have two lights. :-)