TGOC ’08 Route Planning

November 1, 2007 by Darren
Filed under: TGO Challenge Prep 

In the second part of my response to Lay’s comments we deal with route planning.
“I would be interested to read about the choice of route – what options you discounted and why – not just the actual one chosen. How does it differ from last year’s plan.”

The easiest part to answer first is the last part of this question, “how does this years route differ from last years?” The route differs significantly. You can read about the lessons learnt from last years attempt here. The new route being planned is going to be a low level route, and much easier (relatively that is). The reasons being a) we want to complete the crossing b) we want to enjoy ourselves and c) there is a personal reason that I’m not prepared to talk about on the blog. Last year if Dave and I had been together the route would of had some “big mountain” days, and could be described as over ambitious. This new route I would describe as much more realistic.

Ok onto the planning of the new route, of which only the first five days have been planned properly (Dawn has planned most of the route from Braemar, which I haven’t put into the mapping software yet). I’ve found it handy to have the Quo software and the OS 1:50k Whole of UK pack (£99 – so a very good price for the coverage), and the Scottish Hill Tracks book with it’s fold out map showing locations of the tracks.
After choosing our start point Mallaig and our finish point Stonehaven, we decided we wanted a low level route that hit all the major social gathering spots the Challenge is famous for. So basically that gives use a series of dots on the map that we needed to link up.
Let’s take Mallaig, I’ve blogged previously about the options of start point. To fit in with the keep it low, “easy” and no roads philosophy that Dawn and I agreed, the start I did last year is ruled out, as the only real option for day two is high along the ridge of “doom”. Where as if we join the rest of the Challengers on the ferry to Inverie, we end up at the end of Loch Nevis and Sourlies bothie for our first night. Day two is interesting as we go off towards Glen Dessarry and Loch Arkaig but turn off to follow a track going to Glen Kingie. Last year the route chosen had me walking along Loch Arkaig, but Phil and Frank (warden at Tarbet Bunk House) both said it was a long up and down road, and not very nice to walk. So that made the decision here an easy one. But I also had a choice of two tracks to take both ending up at the same point! The decider here is which direction you are coming from.
Another decision point I’ll talk about is getting from Invergarry to the Corrieyairack Pass. It was possible to do this but with lots of road work, which neither of us were/are keen to do. But from the campsite we are planning to stay at, there is a path that allows the cutting out of a lot of the road walking, and keep it to a minimum, although it may take longer to walk.
On choosing routes between points I’ve tried to link up tracks shown on the Scottish Hill Tracks map. It has been handy in planning an overall route across Scotland.It’s then a matter of finding the track on the map and working out the fine details of the track, and how to link them up. Also having the location of bothies, Scottish Youth Hostels (SYH), and wild camp spots is also useful, as you can adjust the route to take advantage of these.

Naturally this all fits in nicely with another of Lays questions
“Resupply logistics – can you tell I may be contemplating entering next year…”

I know my fellow blogger Aktoman feels I should be carrying all the food required for the two week crossing and not use resupply points. So call me soft or a cissy, but keeping weight down is a major aim of mine. So if I can do this by carrying three of four days food supply and picking up food drops along the way then I will. How do I plan the food drops? This is where I think the advantage of using mapping software like Quo comes in. Having imported in the locations of all the SYH, I can see where along my route the nearest ones are. If any fall on the route they become prime candidates to approach about receiving a parcel and holding on to it. The two SYH I asked last year where more than happy to do this for me, and were used to doing this. Even knowing that they did this I still like to call and ask permission before hand. It’s the polite thing to do.
Now I know that Andy Howell has also when he knows he will be staying at a campsite ask the campsite if they will take delivery of a package of food, and look after it until he gets there. So this is another option to the SYH, and one I will be making use of this year as well (if I get on).
But if a SYH is not an option, and you are not planning at stopping at a campsite, then what do you do? This is where the route vetters come into their own. On the route sheet you submit, there is a space where you can put in concerns about the route. Make a note here asking for suggested food drop off places, and they will in their response to your route suggest places that will take a parcel and hold on to it for you until you get there.
And the final option for food drops is the TGOC version of the “Trail Angel“. On the TGOC Forums very often there are very kind and generous individuals that offer to help Challengers out by doing food drops, giving lifts etc. So you can either put a request out for help on there, or respond to any offers being made.

Hope that helps and gives a bit of insight into the route planning. Or the process that I have used, of course how Dawn has come up with the bits of the route she has looked at will/could be completely different.

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Comments

8 Comments on TGOC ’08 Route Planning

  1. alan.sloman on Thu, 1st Nov 2007 11:33 pm

    2. Hi Big D

    Don’t forget that B&B’s will look after food parcels for you. Also, don’t be too hide-bound about following paths through the landscape: Follow bealachs and gentle side slopes across hills.

    Look forward to taking time traversing some hillside bog – it’s fascinating stuff Darren. Look for routes that will give you fine views across the glens. Look for the out-of -the -way places where you should find herds of deer.

    Hunt out the waterfalls and the rocky outcrops that will give you a good lunchtime perch, or a spot of shelter in the wilder weather.

    Most of all, look out for landscape that will inspire you to come back and see more of Scotland next time!

    Good luck with your planning Darren.

    Alan

  2. Weird Darren on Fri, 2nd Nov 2007 12:02 pm

    3. Alan,
    thanks for that response. Yes B&B, and I would imagine a hotel would also do it if you are booked in for a night.

  3. Lay on Fri, 2nd Nov 2007 1:43 pm

    4. WD – thanks for taking the time to put this up – very informative (as are Alan’s comments). I need to give it some more thought – I’m sure I will have more questions for you in due course!

    Having completed the GR20 Nord I would be tempted to attempt a high level route for my first crossing. The general advice from the TGOC organisers, and your experience in particular, are making me think twice about it – but I can tell you that I am still very tempted….

  4. Darren on Sun, 4th Nov 2007 9:17 am

    5. Well I think you should give in to the temptation. Remember the ’09 crossing will be the 30th Anniversary crossing as well.
    It would be great to do a crossing (yes I’ll apply for that one as well) with another friend to meet on the way or at the end.

  5. Mr. Grumpy on Thu, 29th Nov 2007 2:55 pm

    6. I believe most Challengers have been down the “food drop” route, including yours truly. However one of the most important points about the Challenge is what you can put back for all the pleasure you take out; and Darren you must know about the pleasure! One way of doing this is to support local businesses, this does not just mean bars. Buying from local shops helps the local economy but also shows the Highland folk that Challengers do care about the area they are walking through and are not there just to take. We usually have one B&B on our way across and post a parcel, mainly clothes and maps, to be collected at the B&B. We do include in it a few bits we may not be able to buy on the way across but over the years we have found that even the smallest local shop has enough food stuffs to get you to the nearest town where you can do a full resupply. Even though small local shops tend to be a bit more expensive by the time you have added p&p to your own supplies I doubt there is much in it as far as cost goes. You will certainly be able to re-supply in Invergarry, Newtonmore/Kingussie, and Braemar so why bother with the parcels?

  6. Darren on Thu, 29th Nov 2007 10:19 pm

    7. Mr Grumpy,
    thanks for the response. And yes you are right about stocking up at shops on the way. I will be purchasing food on the way as well. But I did forget this as an option when writing the reply to Lay.

  7. Duncan/AktoMan on Thu, 29th Nov 2007 10:57 pm

    8. I did that on the SUW. In one clip, I described it like being a reiver – dropping out of the hills into a village, and leaving with fresh supplies. Bacon rolls, fresh fruit, fish n chips. I carried 10 days of prepacked meals (eg Expedition foods) and came back with a few packs. But I wasn’t bagging Munros at the same time, or fording unbridged rivers.

  8. Darren on Fri, 30th Nov 2007 6:59 pm

    9. Duncan,
    put a link up here will you so people can if they read this pop across and see what you describe.
    I know I’ll have to approve the comment but a small price to pay to give people an excuss to pop over to your blog.

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