2016-2020 / 2017 / TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO 2017

Plockton to Kinnaber Links (Montrose) Day 0 Thursday 11th May I set off from home around 7am – taxi to Derby Train Station and the 0730 to Birmingham. Pete met me on the train at Burton. Arriving at New Street we hopped onto the airport-bound train, where we bumped into Caburn, also flying to Inverness to start his 2017 TGO. The airline flew Pete and I plus one pack to Inverness… yes, one pack short! After a frustrating visit to the customer services desk and some “computer says no” responses, Flybe agreed to fly Pete’s pack (if found) up to …

TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

Off we go!

So it’s finally time for the off!! Tomorrow morning I’ll be heading to the train station to make my way to Plockton via Inverness thanks to Flybe. Tomorrow will be a day of travel followed by a night in the B&B and hopefully the pub before signing out at 9am on Friday morning to start my 2017 TGOC. I’ll attempt to upload some photos along the way, most likely just to Facebook. Good luck to all the other TGO challengers, see you in the highlands!  

TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO Route – Vetted & Approved

Having had our vetters feedback and responded to the adjustments the route is now approved and finalised. The comments from the vetters were both very helpful and extremely thorough containing not just sound route advice but some great tips on places to visit. Equally they provided a suggestion on what to avoid, namely the new wind farm currently being constructed at Stronelairg on the Monadhliath (mainly due to the heavy construction traffic/machinery in the area). “…. You have put together a very adventurous route considering you have not backpacked in Scotland before. The weather will very much dictate whether you get …

TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

Rich & Pete Hike for British Red Cross

Pete and I reckon the TGO Challenge is a great opportunity to raise some money for charity. Therefore we’ve setup a website and Facebook page detailing our adventure along with info regarding how people can sponsor us. Donations are for the British Red Cross and you can find links to our donations page on both the website and the Facebook page (below). If you spare a couple of quid then please click donate or share the page with someone you think might. Here are the website and Facebook page links.  

TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO 2017 – Route Submission

OK a brief update, so the route card has been submitted to the TGO for vetting. The route starts at Plockton on the 12th May and passes through Fort Augustus, Kingussie, the Cairngorms and into Braemar. It then heads south to Lochcallater, Glen Cova, East to Tarfside and then to Montrose via North Water Bridge. 21 Munros, 15 Subsidiary Tops and 11 Corbett/Tops, over 360km with 14,000m of ascent. Here is the route sheets I submitted, which may change subject to vetting (click to enlarge): Vetters comments and final route to follow shortly….

Blog / Blog 2017 / TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO Challenge 2017 – Planning so far

So..I have a place on next years TGO Challenge!! Over the last few weeks I’ve been refining the kit list and working on the route. I’m fairly happy with the kit I’m taking as its pretty much the kit I’ve used over the last few years with a few minor tweaks and additions for the longer duration (spare clothes/socks etc). There are a few items I’ll decide on in the week before I set off e.g. Ice Axe and Crampons being the most significant. It’ll be a tough decision depending on the snow conditions. The route dones’t include very much time …

Blog / Blog 2017 / TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGOC 2017 The very draft route….v1

There are many more hours of planning and refining the route yet, however this is the basic route I’m working on. Camping locations are approximate and will be properly defined as the planning continues. I also need to plan the Foul Weather Alternative (FWA) route which will stick to lower levels and skip out the Cairngorms. Once my route has been submitted to TGOC and vetted I’ll upload the final version.

Blog / Blog 2016 / Blog 2017 / TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO 2017….Application

  Well my application for next years TGO Challenge has been submitted!!! Apparently I’m the first applicant for TGOC2017, I happened to notice the online application form became available last night so without hesitation I submitted it. The application process involves answering a few questions to assess your experience, competence level and reasons for wanting to enter. This is then assessed by the Challenge coordinators and once accepted places are confirmed early November. Depending on how many applicants they receive it may result in a draw being held. Spaces are limited to 350, the unlucky few are then added to …