Highland Trail 2019

[redefined_cycles]

It was a random passing cyclist who took them off their own bike.

Wow... Scottish trail love

[redefined_cycles]

Wow... what a guy

[redefined_cycles]

Wow... what a guy

Liam Glenn... bristolians are bloomin hard

[fatbikephil]

Bleedin hell, thats the best scratch reason of any glad he's OK.
James Hayden is motoring, blazed past Jenny, Markus and Martin and now riding with John and Karl for the sealga crossing.
Good to see John White doing well, I met him in Rannoch forest and his garmin kept crashing - no maps just a purple line on a blank screen.

[Alpinum]

no maps just a purple line on a blank screen.

A nice reminder of 2013. I rode the HT430 with a first gen etrex I got for an expedition in 2003 or 2004 had to go test the directions on a few occasions due to the lack of a useable map. Ride a bit, see you're off the line, back track, try the other option. Repeat.

I actually quite enjoyed it, but must admit I was happy the route was pretty much straight forward.

Back on topic:
I want to see Karl beat them all.
No pressure mate... just do it

[whitestone]

Has Alex Pilkington scratched? His tracker has been at Beauly for three days now.

[ScotRoutes]

From Facebook

Not quite the race I was hoping for, legs seemed to feel weak from the off. Eventually decided to scratch at km235 after a bit of a swim while crossing a flooded ford, normally I don’t mind a bit of rain...
Going to tour my way back to Tyndrum (enjoying some more rain!) and call in and see Jim Rounsley who is holidaying up here - stinky bike-packer alert

[fatbikephil]

A few crossings of the Sealga been done, including Jenny Graham. Karl, James Hayden and John White in close formation on the Postie path - lucky people I'm so jealous! Come on guys keep grinding it out

Dusty is starting the military road to Fort Augustus, should be done early tomorrow if he pushes through - maybe sub 5 days?

[sean_iow]

Dusty is starting the military road to Fort Augustus, should be done early tomorrow if he pushes through - maybe sub 5 days?

Unless I've missed a day won't a finish before 9am tomorrow (Wednesday) be under 4 days? I'm going to guess 3 days 22 hours.

[slarge]

Sub 4 days is incredible in the conditions they've had. I think it was Dustin who I rode a little way with at the start, and he was pretty strong on the climbs on his fatbike. Maybe a fatbike is the bike of choice with the trails as soft or wet as they are.

[drjon]

its an Otso - think he's on 29" tyres. the bb is a flipped 83mm equivalent - takes fatties, but can be set up with various wheels nicely so I hear... and I totally agree 4 days given conditions is nuts.

[fatbikephil]

Sub 4 days right enough, I keep thinking its Wednesday! Got to get a wiggle on to make that though!
Thomas Burback is on a fat bike as well - saw him in FA, its got a weird Ti truss fork and he's running Maxxis minions - hardcore!

[sean_iow]

Dustin is at Fort Augustus, it took me about 11.5 hours to get back to Tyndrum last year so he should smash it easy. I spoke to him on the Thursday before the start. He said Scotland was like Alaska but with better weather and no bears that's an incredible ride by him, and also anyone who's kept going in the conditions

[GregMay]

*Evening trumpet of doom*
Scratch list for today:
Andy Jefferies
And now...
Guy Whaley - neck issues.

[touch]

Looks like jenny might be having issues in fisherfield. Looks like she might be heading for Poolewe.

[GregMay]

There is a bothy about 1km from where she is.

[touch]

In Poolewe direction? I didn't know there was anything up that way.
Or do you mean back on route to Carnmore?

[ScotRoutes]

She's moving very slowly. I wonder if it's more tyre trouble.

[ianpv]

yep she's going slowly on a fast bit of trail. I doubt she would miss the turn that takes you over to the postie path so maybe she is walking out to poolewe?

[ScotRoutes]

And she's turned around...

I do't know what the cloud cover is like over there but it's a beautiful clear and very bright evening in Aviemore. Certainly a fair bit of daylight left.

[ianpv]

Actually looking at the replay there is something weird going on - she started up the climb, turned around to head down to poolewe, and has now turned around again to head back on route... no idea what is going on - she knows the route and the nav there is pretty easy...

[Borderer]

Maybe she is just looking for a bivvy spot?

[ScotRoutes]

Maybe she is just looking for a bivvy spot?

Quite possible. It's not too bad around that area and there's a decent stream

[fatbikephil]

Jenny is pretty switched on nav wise so I suspect a problem. She is of the don't stop no matter what school of thought so hopefully shell get it sorted.

Karl et al heading for a toilet bivvy in Kinlochewe - they may even get last orders a the pub!

[Borderer]

Jenny is off down the route again. Phew. Hope everything ok.