Cairngorms loop seems a bit quiet this year

[fatbikephil]

Maybe the previous two years weather put folk off??
Only 16 folk in for it, used to be fully booked. I'm going to be gadding about in the general vicinity and the weather is looking not to bad so will look out for any participants. If you have a weekend free give it a shot!

[ZeroDarkBivi]

Not surprised! Expect the trails are still soggy and having tried before, it's just too far to travel for me for a ride that might be misery. Might have a go in the late season mass-start, or just have a plod round on my own.

Anyway, all the cool cats will be riding the WRT!

[ScotRoutes]

I think you might be surprised at how dry many of the trails are. Having said that, thete was fresh snow on the hills today.

[whitestone]

Thinking back, there was only about that number at last year's September group start. Maybe there's more options for people these days? Obviously there's the WRT but there's also the JennRide next weekend and not everyone might get the time to do both or do the CL and recover enough to do one of the rides next weekend.

[Mbnut]

September start is very much on my radar.

[techno]

September start is very much on my radar.

The website says September is TBC, does that just refer to the date or whether it will happen at all?

[GregMay]

ITT option still always there folks.

[giryan]

I definitely want to get back and actually complete it, but this year's way too full so far; wedding, new job, and an extension being built(and the builder being a pain) has left me to busy and stressed to get out :(

[fatbikephil]

Met a couple of guys from Glasgow doing the route today at the river crossing east of the Egg path. Looks like they were going well. Its proper scorchio out there with trails dry or drying rapidly. River levels pretty random thanks to some big areas of snow still left but melting fast. The Avon looked OK at tomintoul but the Geldie and (oddly) the burn flowing out of the loch at the top of the gaik were pretty high. No drama just wet feet

[touch]

The river crossings were all very low. Some lower than others, as Phil says. The feshie, in particular, looked very low. Dry trails and good weather too.
Fords of Avon, after having crossed looking back North:


Top of the climb after Fords of Avon, looking down into Glen Derry: (I did have a saddlebag on my bike at the start but the straps had broken off by this point :( need to find a new one before highland trail)


Top of Cullardoch, looking East with the sun about to come up:

[fatbikephil]

What time did you get round in Fraser?

[touch]

I did 26:18. Very happy with that.
Happy just to finish it, in fact - that's the 3rd time I've started and the first time I made it to the finish.

[fatbikephil]

I take it you didn't sleep!

[touch]

I stopped at the little ruin in Glen Builg about 2k before the loch and got about an hour of sleep. I'm surprised how much it helped and I felt awake for the rest of the day.

[AlasdairMc]

Well done, especially for that time! The micro naps make a huge difference to any ride. I’m tempted to give it a shot soon myself!