Blimey thats keen. She was telling me in May that she wouldn't be back! Looking mild and damp this week sadly....sean_iow wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 9:14 am As mentioned in the 2021 Reflections, Annie Le should be starting a winter HT550 today, here's the link to her fundraising.
https://localgiving.org/fundraising/Ann ... dTrail550/
I thought I'd seen mention of a tracker but can't find it at the moment, but I'll add it if I do.
HT550 2022
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- fatbikephil
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Re: HT550 2022
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Re: HT550 2022
Bluebird day in Inverness at the moment.fatbikephil wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 10:57 amBlimey thats keen. She was telling me in May that she wouldn't be back! Looking mild and damp this week sadly....sean_iow wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 9:14 am As mentioned in the 2021 Reflections, Annie Le should be starting a winter HT550 today, here's the link to her fundraising.
https://localgiving.org/fundraising/Ann ... dTrail550/
I thought I'd seen mention of a tracker but can't find it at the moment, but I'll add it if I do.
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Re: HT550 2022
Meteorologically: Yes it is.
Astronomically: No it isn’t.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
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- whitestone
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Re: HT550 2022
Hmm, I happened to be chatting to Alan G on Friday and he thought that someone else (I won't say who) was was hinting at attempting a winter HT.
Our thought was that getting "good" conditions was nigh on impossible as there's too much elevation difference - if it was wintry low down then it would be near impossible at higher elevations and if it was ridable for the higher bits then it would be unlikely to be winter low down. It could happen of course, similar to the Scottish Haute Route (Ft William to Braemar), just occasionally all the bits fall into place.
Our thought was that getting "good" conditions was nigh on impossible as there's too much elevation difference - if it was wintry low down then it would be near impossible at higher elevations and if it was ridable for the higher bits then it would be unlikely to be winter low down. It could happen of course, similar to the Scottish Haute Route (Ft William to Braemar), just occasionally all the bits fall into place.
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- Dave Barter
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Re: HT550 2022
When Andy and I had a go we had hoped for nice crisp snowy conditions for much of the route. To me that would be the perfect winter experience but it would take off the scale good luck to get that I reckon.
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Re: HT550 2022
Huw's Instagram seems to suggest he's tracking her in the van, if he is following her around then her attempt wouldn't count as a completion?
The rules on the HT550 website don't mention media or being followed any more. I thought the old website was a copy of the TD rules where they specifically mention it.
Also, Dave, yours and Andy's wouldn't have counted either, there's no 'we' in ITT
The rules on the HT550 website don't mention media or being followed any more. I thought the old website was a copy of the TD rules where they specifically mention it.
Also, Dave, yours and Andy's wouldn't have counted either, there's no 'we' in ITT
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- whitestone
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Re: HT550 2022
I thought the HT rules were the basic ITT ones, the TDR has a couple of changes, from memory:
You can use motorised transport to and from the route to get your bike fixed/medical emergencies (have to rejoin at the same place)
No media, followers/sag wagon. Trail fairies are allowed but no begging!
At a guess Annie will be heading to Melgarve or Blackburn bothies. Possibly the former as an early start would get her over to Fort Augustus just after the shop opens.
Dave - another point is that much of the low level parts of the route are on the west coast, a lot different climate wise from the central highlands. Still, could be possible: cool to cold spell to chill the ground, some snow fall followed by a blocking high over Norway to pull in really cold easterlies from Siberia to keep everything crisp. A bit like ideal winter climbing conditions really.
You can use motorised transport to and from the route to get your bike fixed/medical emergencies (have to rejoin at the same place)
No media, followers/sag wagon. Trail fairies are allowed but no begging!
At a guess Annie will be heading to Melgarve or Blackburn bothies. Possibly the former as an early start would get her over to Fort Augustus just after the shop opens.
Dave - another point is that much of the low level parts of the route are on the west coast, a lot different climate wise from the central highlands. Still, could be possible: cool to cold spell to chill the ground, some snow fall followed by a blocking high over Norway to pull in really cold easterlies from Siberia to keep everything crisp. A bit like ideal winter climbing conditions really.
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Re: HT550 2022
Bob, the rules say motorised travel at all.
Not wanting to divert this thread too much, but for trail magic, I still maintain it's not allowed. It says ONLY commercial services, it's quite clear. This has come in from through hiking in the USA, and given the TD shares some of the route with the walking trial, and I'm guessing there's a crossover of participants, then I can see why. Also, far more people tour the GDMBR than race the TD so for them there are no rules.
I turned down the offer of a jelly baby on the HT550 for this reason.
I read an interesting article about cheating in sport, it says people will do what they can justify to themselves. Whether that's borrowing bike parts from a stranger or taking PEDs they rationalize why it's ok and don't see it as breaking the rules. That's up to them as there's no governing body but it doesn't set a good example for the next generation of competitors.
Not wanting to divert this thread too much, but for trail magic, I still maintain it's not allowed. It says ONLY commercial services, it's quite clear. This has come in from through hiking in the USA, and given the TD shares some of the route with the walking trial, and I'm guessing there's a crossover of participants, then I can see why. Also, far more people tour the GDMBR than race the TD so for them there are no rules.
I turned down the offer of a jelly baby on the HT550 for this reason.
I read an interesting article about cheating in sport, it says people will do what they can justify to themselves. Whether that's borrowing bike parts from a stranger or taking PEDs they rationalize why it's ok and don't see it as breaking the rules. That's up to them as there's no governing body but it doesn't set a good example for the next generation of competitors.
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Re: HT550 2022
very good
As long as Huw doesn't meet up with Annie it's all within the rules, and maybe he's there to satisfy his own demons - after all he was ambulanced out a couple of years ago......
But let's give a little bit of leeway - let this be a "how well can she do" rather than a " how can we DQ her" thread....
Re: HT550 2022
That was never my intention, she's more than capable of doing it. And Huw's proved his ethical standards when he re-rode the Cairngorm Loop when his first record ride included a minor diversion off route.
I was just disappointed that he 'might' be following round. Even if they don't meet up just knowing help is near(ish) helps. Heading into the northern loop totally alone in winter is a daunting prospect, that's what makes it so hard. It's because it's so hard that's it would be such an achievement.
I was just disappointed that he 'might' be following round. Even if they don't meet up just knowing help is near(ish) helps. Heading into the northern loop totally alone in winter is a daunting prospect, that's what makes it so hard. It's because it's so hard that's it would be such an achievement.
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Re: HT550 2022
From Huws insta
I don't think that means he's following her round?I'll be on the road this week keeping track of wherever she's been blown to and you can keep an eye too at the trackleaders link in my profile
Re: HT550 2022
Which was my original question as I wasn't sure quite what he was saying he was doing.
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Re: HT550 2022
It's certainly some ambiguous wording
- fatbikephil
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Re: HT550 2022
A winter HT might have been a goer at the end of Feb this year as there was a rapid melt and then some serious freeze thaw so you may have got a mix of dryish trails and frozen snow...
Cairngorms loop would be a better prospect in late winter on 'spring' snow - imagine cruising through the long strath from Bynack more to Glen Derry on a wide field of hard snow *sigh*
At least there won't be anyone in the bothies!
Cairngorms loop would be a better prospect in late winter on 'spring' snow - imagine cruising through the long strath from Bynack more to Glen Derry on a wide field of hard snow *sigh*
At least there won't be anyone in the bothies!
- whitestone
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Re: HT550 2022
I think you are missing a "no" in there
The base ITT rules and those for the HT (which is where the 7 bit is from) state:
For the TDR (only):7. No travel by any motorised means during your ride.
I assume this is because of the huge distances in the States.4a. In the event of a serious mechanical that renders a bike unrideable, a rider may hitchhike[3] by motor vehicle in ANY direction to repair the problem. The location of the incident must be well-documented by SPOT tracker or other GPS logger. A rider may also receive assistance returning back to the exact location of breakdown to begin forward progress. Again, the entire incident, from breakdown to return to the trail must be well-documented by GPS.
Quite a few ITTs have slight variations on the basic set.
Anyway, looks like Annie has stopped at Melgarve. Tomorrow looks damp, Wednesday is showery then fine for a good few days. General strategy of aiming for bothies? There's generally enough of them on or just off route.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Re: HT550 2022
Given the time of year bothies would be a good call. Chance to get warmed up, dry kit and recover before the next day. It's going to be tough enough without putting up a shelter at the end of the day and packing it away wet in the morning.
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Re: HT550 2022
Has she dropped her tracker on the climb beyond Invermoriston? Just checked back in and she's not gone far.
- whitestone
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Re: HT550 2022
She seemed to have a long stop in FA, a couple of hours at least. The tracker hasn't pinged for over an hour so I suspect she's moving. At a guess she's heading for Corrimony bothy. Looking at the rain radar there's a lot of rain further north.
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Re: HT550 2022
Possible she's stopped at the Cupboard of Eldor
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Re: HT550 2022
At risk of going back to ethics rather than discussing the action, comment from Huw on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXeDHU4MiFB/
(Can't copy the text I'm afraid)
(Can't copy the text I'm afraid)
Re: HT550 2022
I saw Huw's explanation on Instagram, and Annie still looks fresh.
The weather would need to be bad to stay at Corriminy, well the store end I slept in. Karl, Lars and Slarge were already asleep in the 'posh' end when I got there. It was dry though, which was more than can be said for what it was like outside at the time.
The weather would need to be bad to stay at Corriminy, well the store end I slept in. Karl, Lars and Slarge were already asleep in the 'posh' end when I got there. It was dry though, which was more than can be said for what it was like outside at the time.
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Re: HT550 2022
Always enjoy following the HT550 threads and so many of the place names have a certain feel to them, but this
sounds like a place in a CS Lewis book. Please tell me it's a local provisions store.Possible she's stopped at the Cupboard of Eldor
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Re: HT550 2022
A place to stay, that's even better.