Topwalks Trips - TGO Challenge 2013

TGO CHALLENGE 2013

This year Martin crossed Scotland for the seventh time, though only on a very few paths that he had walked before. Starting from Plockton, he planned to cover about 366km (222 miles) and ascend around 11,500 metres, finishing up covering 374km and 10,580 metres ascent.

Martin's blog entries are here - you'll need to scroll down to the earliest posting and work backwards up the page to view the entries in chronological order. Photos will be added in due course if time permits. This job still has to be completed for a number of previous Challenges!

Planned route details are shown below, and you may wish to refer back to these if following the blog, as this year the daily 'plan' map will not appear on the blog. Whilst a number of others in the UK Outdoors Blogger fraternity are taking part, not all of them enjoy the rigours of 'mobile posting' after a hard day's walk. Some links to such sites may be added later, but we know that Gayle and Mick will be recording their passage in Gayle's usual entertaining style, and Alan Sloman should be recording his adventures with an eclectic mix of companions.

Martin's kit summary is shown below. Some items have been replaced, but overall weight, including food, clothing worn, and some water, is around 18kg, as in 2011.

Planned Route and Estimated Statistics
(M) = Munro
(C) = Corbett
(G) = Graham
(Ma = Marilyn)
(O = Other Hill)

Map

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Summary statistics

Here's an overview of the entire route:
Martin's planned TGO Challenge route - 2013

Day 1 - Friday 10 May
1 PLOCKTON (Plockton Hotel)
2 Loch Achaidh na h-Inich
4 Auchtertyre Hill (Ma)
5 Maol Mor (O)
9 Loch nan Gillean

Plan
22 km
1130 metres ascent
9.2 hours
(1 Marilyn)
(1 Other)

Day 1 Map

Day 2 - Saturday 11 May
1 Loch nan Gillean
7 Bendronaig Lodge
8 Loch Calavie
10 Bidean a’ Choire Sheasgaich (M)
11 Lurg Mor (M)
12 Camp to NE of col

Plan
24 km
1440 metres ascent
10.75 hours
(2 Munros)

Day 2 Map

Day 3 - Sunday 12 May
1 Camp to NE of col
5 Path junction by Loch Monar
8 Carn Eiteige (O)
8-9 Sgurr na Fearstaig (O)
9 Sgurr Fhuar-thuill (M)
10 Creag Ghorm a’ Bhealaich (O)
11 High lochan at NH 251 436

Plan
24 km
1340 metres ascent
10.7 hours
(1 Munro)
(3 Others)

Day 3 Map

Day 4 - Monday 13 May
1 High lochan at NH 251 436
2 Sgurr a’ Choire Ghlais (M)
3 Carn nan Gobhar (M)
4 Sgurr na Ruaidhe (M)
5 Aonach na Reise
6 Meallan Buidhe (O)
7 Beinn a’ Bha’ ach Ard (C)
8 Dunmaglass
10 Cnoc Hotel, Struy

Plan
25 km
1150 metres ascent
11.0 hours
(3 Munros)
(1 Corbett)
(1 Other)

Day 4 Map

Day 5 - Tuesday 14 May
1 Cnoc Hotel, Struy
4 Eskadale
5 Culburnie
7 By Moniack Burn
8 An Leacainn (O)
10 Cnoc na Gaoithe (O)
12 Dochgarroch Campsite

Plan
33 km
910 metres ascent
12.1 hours
(2 Other)

Day 6 - Wednesday 15 May
1 Dochgarroch Campsite
4 Culloden Village
5 Culloden Battlefield
6 Dalroy
7 Wild camp in vicinity of
NH 785 418

Plan
27 km
580 metres ascent
9.0 hours

Day 6 Map

Day 7 - Thursday 16 May
1 Wild camp in vicinity of
NH 785 418
3 Beinn Bhuidhe Mhòr (O)
3-4 Carn Dubh Mòr (O)
4 Carn nan Tri-tighearnan (G)
5 Carn an Uillt Bhric
6 Bridge at Drynachan
6-7 Carn na Sguabaich (O)
7 Wild camp in vicinity of hut at
NH 888 362

Plan
18 km
650 metres ascent
7.1 hours
(1 Graham)
(3 Others)

Day 7 Map

Day 8 - Friday 17 May
1 Wild camp in vicinity of hut at
NH 888 362
3 Track by Knockdu
4 B9007 junction
5 Drumroy
6 Loch an t-Sidhein
8 Beinn Mhòr (Ma)
9 West Gorton
10 Grantown-on-Spey (Campsite)

Plan
25 km
600 metres ascent
9.0 hours
(1 Marilyn)

Day 8 Map

Day 9 - Saturday 18 May
1 Grantown-on-Spey
2 A95 at Cromdale
3 By Wester Rynaballoch
4 Cromdale watershed
5 By Ballenlish
7 Carn Daimh (Ma)
8 Wild camp in vicinity of
NJ 180 263

Plan
26 km
900 metres ascent
9.75 hours
(1 Marilyn)

Day 9 Map

Day 10 - Sunday 19 May
1 Wild camp in vicinity of
NJ 180 263
2 Tomnavoulin
4 Suie
6 Cook's Cairn (G)
7 Path by Blackwater Lodge
8 The Grouse Inn at Ardwell
9 Wild camp by Ardwell

Plan
27 km
720 metres ascent
9.8 hours
(1 Graham)

Day 10 Map

Day 11 - Monday 20 May
1 Wild camp by Ardwell
3 Succoth
4 Haugh of Glass
5 By Malach
6 Cairnargat
7 Wellheads
8 Clashmach Hill (O)
9 Huntly
10 Huntly Campsite

Plan
28 km
560 metres ascent
9.75 hours
(1 Other)

Day 12 - Tuesday 21 May
1 Huntly Campsite
2 Huntly
3 A97
4 Brideswell
5 Ythanwells
6 Logie Newton
7 Thorneybank
8 Mid Pitglassie
9 Braefoot
10 Turriff - Campsite

Plan
32 km
440 metres ascent
10.4 hours

Day 12 Map

Day 13 - Wednesday 22 May
1 Turriff - Campsite
2 Meikle Hilton
3 Fintry
4 Mains of Fisherie
5 A98 road
6 Dubford
7 Gardenstown
8 Troup Head
9 By Cullykhan bay
10 Pennan Inn

Plan
30 km
710 metres ascent
10.6 hours

Day 13 Map

Day 14 - Thursday 23 May
1 Pennan Inn
2 Pennan Farm
3 Mill Farm
4 By Egypt
5 Rosehearty
6 Sandhaven
8 Frazerburgh
Lift back to Montrose with Sue, plus possibly Lilo Pete and West Indian William

Plan
20 km
350 metres ascent
6.75 hours

2013 Plan
Total Distance 361 km (225 miles)
Total Ascent 11480 metres
Time 135 hours including stops

6 Munros
1 Corbett
2 Grahams
3 Marilyns not included above
11 'Other' hills

NB Timings are based on 3.5 kph, plus an hour for each 500 metres of ascent and another hour for each 1000 metres of descent. This is realistic in the mountains but very conservative for the easier sections of the walk.

Actual	2012 (S+M)	2011 (M+Mike)	2010 (M solo)	2009 (S+M)	2008 (S+M)	2007 (M solo)
Total Distance in km (miles)	426 (266)	350 (219)	347 (217)	333 (208)	323 (202)	343 (214)
Ascent in metres	10,100	12,130	15,500	12,400	12,544	12,942
Hours taken including stops	114	115	136	118	112	113
Munros	2	5	2	13	16	2
Corbetts	1	3	16	1	3	8
Grahams	0	2	4	3	1	2
Marilyns not included above	4	3	1	0	0	1
Actual	2013
Total Distance in km (miles)	374 (234)
Ascent in metres	10,580
Hours taken including stops	114
Munros	2
Corbetts	0
Grahams	3
Marilyns not included above	4

Kit
The overall weight is similar to that carried in 2011, though some items have been replaced - notably the tent.

TGOC Kit List 2013


Item	Martin		Notes
		gms
Base
Tent	Terra Nova Solar Competition 2	1310
Rucksac	Lowe-Alpine Nanon 50:60 Hyperlite	1430
Rucksac liner	Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 50l Cordura	90
Plastic bags/day sac	Various	55
Sleeping bag	Rab Quantum 400	915
Liner	Silk	128
Sleeping mat	Thermarest Neoair Xlite	375
Sitmat		0
Waterproof top	Rab Mountain Dru	580
Waterproof trousers	Sprayway Anakin	270
Crampons	Grivel Spider	187	May not take these
Buff/neckerchief	TGO	35
Balaclava	Dartmouth	0
Headband	Pink	30
Socks	Sealskinz	100
Trainers	Saucony Hattori	246
Socks for trainers	Coolmax liners	33
Briefs	Rohan Cool Silver	40
T-shirt	TNF long-sleeved	153
Extra warmth	NF Long johns	115
Down jacket		0
Trousers	See below	0
Spare handkerchief	One	15
Bag for clothes	See above	0
Torch	Black Diamond Ion	27
Gloves	Thin	25
Second gloves	Terra Nova Extremities	75
Overmitts	Trekmates Paclite	75
Stove	MSR Superfly	155
Gas cylinders	Two	575	1 x 230 + 1 x 100
Pan + cosy	Snowpeak titanium set	200	1 pan plus lid and cosy
Windshield	Aluminium	40
Mug	Red	70
Plate	Green	66
Cutlery	Plastic spork	10
	Spoon	8
Fire Steel	Firesteel 2.0 Scout	30
Flexible Chopping board		0
Swiss knife/can opener	Sharp knife + can opener	33
J-cloth, scourer, basic provisions	Salt, pepper, etc	90
Water bottle	Laken	160
Second water bottle	Nalgene	110
Third water bottle	Ortlieb 2 litre	80
Water filter	Travel Tap	130
Binoculars	Brunton momocular	60
Spare batteries for torch and camera	Camera, phone, GPS	160	Cam x 1, phone x 3, GPS x 0, watch x 1, marker
Tripod	Pacerpole	37
Maps and documents	Anquet	220
Mapcase	Ortlieb A4	57
Docs and wallet	HiGear	120
Notebook		50
Book to read	Kindle	200
Toilet roll and matches		85
Spectacles	Incl case	35	Foster Grant (+1.75)
Sunglasses	Julbo	60
Compass	Silva Field Compass	30
GPS	Satmap Active 10 + Ortlieb case	250
Whistle	On rucksack	0
First aid kit	Incl bag	380
Suntan cream and lipsalve	Sundry	112
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss	Included below
Shampoo, comb, nail clips etc	Complete wash kit	280
Razor	Battery operated	150
Towel	Lifeventure hand towel	75
Plasters, Aspirin, Diacalm, savlon, etc	In 1st aid kit	0
Nail clippers	In toilet bag	0
Other toiletries	In toilet bag	0
Soap for washing self + clothes	Dry wash/soap elsewhere	0
	Soap flakes	0
Matches, needle, thread, tape	Included elsewhere	0
Passport, licence, currency, etc	)
Wallet	) See above	0
Tickets, insurance, paperwork	)
Addresses for postcards/this list	)
Keys	Car	0
Vaseline	In bag	0
Mobile Phone + case + charger	Samsung Galaxy S3	260
Boot cleaner		0
Trowel	Plastic, + handwash + bag	125
Tent spares, midge rep/net, talc etc		0	With tent
Skin so Soft - for midges		0
Washing line etc	Incl above	0
		10812

Consumables
Food	Friday	636
	Saturday	726
	Sunday	745
	Monday	300
Dried milk (M)		65
Water, say		850
		3322

		14134

Worn
Fleece smock	Rab TGO special (2007)	227
T-shirt	Rohan	100
Socks	X-socks Trekking Light	72
Briefs	Rohan Cool Silver	40
Shorts/trousers	Rohan Trailblazer Convertible	370
	Belt	100
Sunhat	Tilley	145
Handkerchief	One	15
Watch/clock	Suunto Altimax	55
Gaiters	OR Mens Crocodile	305
Boots	Scarpa Infinity with Sidas Insoles	1540
Walking poles	Pacerpoles	725
Camera and case	Panasonic Lumix FT4	250
		3944
Grand Total		18078

Links

The TGO Challenge official website

Return to top

Return to home page
Go to TGO CHALLENGE 2007 page
Go to TGO CHALLENGE 2008 page
Go to TGO CHALLENGE 2009 page
Go to TGO CHALLENGE 2010 blog postings
Go to TGO CHALLENGE 2011 page
Go to TGO CHALLENGE 2012 page