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TGO CHALLENGE 2008

We both did the Challenge this year. It started on 9 May and our planned route and links to our daily blog are shown. The blog entries made whilst we were walking, with added photos, can be found here. If you want to view all our blogs relating to the TGO Challenge, click here.

Below these route details is a kit summary with comments. Some links to related sites have been added - you can delve deeper by using the links in those sites. Both Alan Sloman and Darren Christie were planning to blog their way across this year. Ken Knight, from the USA, will also be trying. I'll update links to their reports in due course.

Planned Route and Estimated Statistics
* = CCS Point

Map

Day 1 - Friday 9 May - Blog Report

1 Kintail Lodge Hotel – Shiel Bridge*
2 leave road to ascend by Allt Mhàlagain 3 Bealach Duibh Leac
4 Sgurr a' Bhac Chaolais
3 Bealach Duibh Leac
5 Creag nan Damh
6 Wild camp by stream at NG 986 111

Plan
16 km
1300 metres ascent
7.8 hours

(1 Corbett)
(1 Munro)

Day 1 Map

Day 2 - Saturday 10 May - Blog Report

1 Wild camp
2 Sgurr an Lochain
3 Sgurr an Doire Leathain
4 Maol Chinn-dearg
5 Aonach air Chrith
6 Druim Shionnach
7 Creag a’ Mhaim
8 Coirean an Eich Bhric
 9 A87 main road
10 Cluanie Inn

Plan
18 km
1300 metres ascent
8.6 hours

(6 Munros)

Day 2 Map

Day 3 - Sunday 11 May - Blog Report

1 Cluanie Inn
2 Path junction
3 Leave A87
4 Allt a’ Chaorainn
5 Alltbeithe YHA*
6 Coire na Cloiche (camp)
7 Ridge at 875 metres
8 Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan
7 Ridge at 875 metres
6 Coire na Cloiche (camp)

Plan
19 km
1300 metres ascent
8.7 hours

(1 Munro)

 

 

Day 3 Map

Day 4 - Monday 12 May - Blog Report

1 Coire na Cloiche
2 Ridge at 795 metres
3 An Socach
4 Col at 1100 m
5 Mam Sodhail
6 Carn Eighe
5 Mam Sodhail
4 col at 1100 m (NH 116 247) – Coire Leachavie
7 beyond Affric Lodge
8 Allt Garbh
9 Allt an Laghair
10 Cougie

Plan
26 km
1370 metres ascent
11.2 hours

(3 Munros)

Day 4 Map

 

Day 5 - Tuesday 13 May - Blog Report

1 Cougie
2 Turn east at 450 m contour
3 Join track on 450 m contour at
NH 292 168
4 Dundreggan
5 Old Military Road to Fort Augustus - camp site

Plan
28 km
700 metres ascent
10.8 hours

Day 5 Map

Day 6 - Wednesday 14 May - Blog Report

1 Fort Augustus
2 Military Road
3 Corrieyairack Pass*
4 Corrieyairack Hill*
5 Geal Charn
6 Gairbeinn
7 Melgarve
8 Garva Bridge (wild camp)

Plan
29 km
1300 metres ascent
12.2 hours

(2 Corbetts)

Day 6 Map

Day 7 - Thursday 15 May - Blog Report

1 Garva Bridge – Military Road
2 Laggan (Monadhliath Hotel) – Catlodge – Mains of Glentruim
3 leave A9 near Raliabeag
4 Newtonmore (camp site)

Plan
24 km
400 metres ascent
8.7 hours

Day 7 Map

Day 8 - Friday 16 May - Blog Report

1 Newtonmore – cycleway to Kingussie
2 Ruthven
3 approaching Tromie Bridge
4 path jnc
5 Baileguish*
6 Turn to Glenfeshie Lodge
7 Ruigh-aiteachain Bothy (Glen Feshie) – wild camp here or beyond

Plan
22 km
450 metres ascent
8.1 hours

Day 8 Map

Day 9 - Saturday 17 May - Blog Report

1 Ruigh-aiteachain – Glen Feshie
2 Ruighe nan Leum
3 Path junction by waterfall
4 Carn an Fhidhleir
5 An Sgarsoch
6 Geldie Lodge
7 camp by Geldie Burn

Plan
26 km
1300 metres ascent
11.0 hours

(2 Munros)

 

Day 9 Map

Day 10 - Sunday 18 May - Blog Report

1 Wild camp by Geldie Burn
2 White Bridge
3 Linn of Dee
4 Victoria Bridge – Tomintoul
5 Braemar

Plan
23 km
300 metres ascent
8.2 hours

Day 10 Map

Day 11 - Monday 19 May - Blog Report

1 Braemar
2 Auchallater
3 Glen Callater
4 Lochcallater Lodge*
5 Path junction at NO 202 846
6 Carn an t-Sagairt Mor
7 Carn a’ Coire Boidheach
8 Lochnagar
9 Clais Rathadan
10 Spittal of Glenmuick
11 Allt Darrarie - wild camp

Plan
29 km
1400 metres ascent
12.2 hours

(3 Munros)

Day 11 Map

Day 12 - Tuesday 20 May - Blog Report

1 Allt Darrarie
2 Shielin of Mark
3 By Falls of Unich
4 Glen Lee – Westbank
5 Tarfside

Plan
21 km
530 metres ascent
7.9 hours

 

 

Day 12 Map

Day 13 - Wednesday 21 May - Blog Report

1 Tarfside – Clash of Wirren – West Wirren
2 Hill of Wirren – East Wirren – Hill of Corathro
3 Gannochy
4 North Water Bridge (camp site)

Plan
26 km
750 metres ascent
10.2 hours

(1 Graham)

 

Day 13 Map

Day 14 - Thursday 22 May - Blog Report

1 North Water Bridge
2 Marymill – Mill of Criggie - Bush
3 Inlet at NO 765 649, east of St Cyrus (finish)
4 St Cyrus beach
5 St Cyrus for the bus to Montrose and appropriate celebrations

Plan
18 km
330 metres ascent
6.8 hours

Day 14 Map

Actual
Total Distance 323 km (202 miles)
Total Ascent 12544 metres
Time 111.6 hours including stops

Plan and Actual
16 Munros
3 Corbetts
1 Graham

Plan
325 km (203 miles)
12730 metres
132.4 hours

Actual - 2007
343 km (214 miles)
12942 metres
113 hours including stops

Kit
The overall weight of around 13kg (about 29lb) is about 3kg lighter than last year, 2.5kg of which is due to the route we have chosen requiring less food to be carried. So we should only rarely, eg out of Braemar, go over 30lb in old money.

TGOC Kit List
 
Item
Martin
Sue
 Notes
 
gms
gms
Carried
Tent - Hilleberg Nallo 2 Pegs, poles, cord, spares 600 Tent and fly 1620
Rucksac GoLite Quest (new) 1400 Jaguar GR65L KS60ht 1750
Rucksac liner Exped 65 litre 200 Exped 65 litre 200
Plastic bags/day sac Stuff sac/bags 120 Waterproof 50
Sleeping bag Rab Quantum 400 920 Rab Quantum 400 920
Liner Blue silk 130 Silk 180
Karrimat Karrimat 330 Thermarest 740
Sitmat 0 Purple 25
Waterproof top Rab Super Dru 430 Berghaus Paclite Smock 300
Waterproof trousers M E Paclite 300 Berghaus Paclite 230
Fleece jacket Rab TGO special (2007) 235 Haglofs 470
Neckerchief White 30 White 30
Balaclava Dartmouth* 50 Lowe Alpine cap 100
Headband 0 Purple 30
Walking poles Leki Makalu 570 Makalu Ultralight 440
Socks Sealskinz light* 100 Bridgedale x 2 175
Trainers Crocs 300 Holey Soles 270
Socks for trainers Liners 30 Liners
25
Briefs Rohan X-stinctive 50 Rohan X-stinctive x 2 70
T-shirt North Face polartec 145 North Face 200
Extra warmth Blue silk top  90 Patagonia 190
Down jacket 0 ME Lightline 600
Trousers See below 0 Warm leggings 150
Spare handkerchief One* 15 One
20
Bag for clothes Green 50
0
Torch Black Diamond* 30 Black Diamond 30
Gloves Peter Storm 35 Thin 40
Second gloves Trekmates Paclite 75 Mountain Designs 80
Stove MSR Superfly 175
0
Gas cylinders One 400
0
Pan + cosy Snowpeak titanium set 300
0
 2 pans plus lid and cosy
Windshield Aluminium 60
0
Mug Red 70 Blue 70
Plate Green 70 Green 70
Cutlery Folding spork 20 Folding spork 20
  Wooden spoon 25
0
Chopping board Flexible* 30
0
Swiss knife/can opener Swiss* 100 Swiss 100
J-cloth, scourer, basic provisions t-bags, salt, pepper, etc 110 J-cloth for tent 10
1 day food each Food for 2 1300 Food for 2 1300 Start with less; have about 2.5kg each from Braemar
Dried milk (M) 140 0
Water bottle Laken 175 Sigg 140
Second water bottle Nalgene 110 Nalgene 150
Third water bottle Blue folding 60 0 NB 1 litre weighs 850gm/2lb
Aquagear Filtration Bottle 200 0 On test
Camera and case Canon Powershot S70 400 Canon G9  550
Binoculars 0
0
Spare batteries for torch and camera 1 x camera, 1 x torch 6v 65 1 x camera, 1 x torch 65
Tripod Small 50
Maps Toughprint - Anquet 180 Back up 100
Docs and wallet Lifeventure, est'd 170 Small 100
Notebook 80
0
Book to read 3 x Penguin 60s* 100 Ipod
70
Toilet roll and matches 75 75
Spectacles Incl case 75 0
Sunglasses Julbo 60 Bloc 100
Compass 50 Silva 40
GPS Garmin Vista + sp batts 270 0
Whistle On rucksack 0 0
First aid kit Incl bag 250 Sundry items 100
Suntan cream and lipsalve Sundry 70 Sundry 70
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss Included below Included below 0
Shampoo, razor, comb, nail clips etc Complete wash kit 300 Wash kit 175
Towel Lifeventure hand towel 75 Lifeventure hand towel 75
Plasters, Aspirin, Diacalm, savlon, etc In 1st aid kit 0 0
Nail clippers In toilet bag 0 0
Other toiletries In toilet bag 0
0
Soap for washing self + clothes Dry wash* 110
0
  Lux flakes 120
0
Matches, needle, thread, tape Included elsewhere 0
0
Passport, licence, currency, etc  )
Wallet ) Approx 100
50
Tickets, insurance, paperwork )
Addresses for postcards/this list )
Keys Car 25
0
Vaseline In bag 0 0
Mobile Phone + case + charger 300 130
Boot cleaner 0
50
Trowel Plastic, + handwash + bag 110
0
Tent spares, midge rep/net, talc etc 250 Sundry items 100
TOTAL 12815 12695
  * = not used
535
Worn
T-shirt Rohan  135 North Face 100
Socks Bridgedale Trekker 80 Sealskinz light 90
Briefs Rohan X-stinctive 50 Rohan X-stinctive 35
Shorts/trousers Rohan Trailblazer 450 MEC leggings 180
Sunhat Tilley 140 Tilley 100
Handkerchief One 15 One 15
Watch/clock Suunto Altimax 65 Casio 30
Gaiters Trekmates 180 Mountain Hardware 380
Boots Asolo Fugitive 1500 Meindl 1475

Links

The TGO Challenge official website (the old one)
TGO's new space for TGOC messages (but the old one seems to be used more)
Alan Sloman's blog: Week 1 Week 2
Weird Darren's Blog
Ken Knight's Blog
Ian Cotterill's Superb Slide Show

And commiserations to Heather T-S, pictured here on 1 May, who unfortunately was incapacitated this year, but who may have been encountered by the lucky few who were determined enough to seek out her cakes (which sadly were still in the oven)! Heather's poorly toe!

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