HT550 2023

[fatbikephil]

There is nowt at Achfary but a few houses and an estate office so not sure what he stayed in. The irony is the far North west doesn't usually get much snow, particularly at this time of year... Wind is due to rise tomorrow too, albeit from the northwest so behind him. But add drifting snow into the equation and it's looking pretty marginal for a traverse of the great Wilderness!

[Alexinthepeaks]

I see from his Instagram that he has bailed. He is sat in a Dr surgery in Lochniver with frost bitten toes. Fair play - must have been super tough! I am struggling o ride for more than 2 hours in -8!

[ScotRoutes]

I've just seen that the Lairg - Tongue road has been closed due to drifting snow.

[riderdown]

He is sat in a Dr surgery in Lochniver with frost bitten toes.

Ouch

[fatbikephil]

Fair play for giving it a go
Fairly exceptional weather for December these days - quite often get snow and cold but not this much. Interestingly, Lochaber still only has a dusting of snow.
December 9/10 and 10/11 were worse but these were 1:200 year events. What Annie LE experienced last year was probably more typical - pishing rain and wind!
I suspect early March is a better time for a winter attempt - more daylight and a chance of consolidated snow which could actually make the trails easier (if you have a fat bike)

[woodsmith]

I suspect early March is a better time for a winter attempt - more daylight and a chance of consolidated snow which could actually make the trails easier (if you have a fat bike)

Would March not make it a spring attempt, meterological winter being Dec, Jan and Feb?

[fatbikephil]

I'd play the "Spring starts on the 21st of March" card! So thinking about it, it's still officially Autumn
(To be clear I've no intention of doing a winter HT. I do fancy a winter Cairngorms loop though)

[whitestone]

I suspect early March is a better time for a winter attempt - more daylight and a chance of consolidated snow which could actually make the trails easier (if you have a fat bike)

Would March not make it a spring attempt, meterological winter being Dec, Jan and Feb?

There's a few definitions of "winter", the big three UK fell running rounds use meteorological winter, i.e. 1st Dec to the last day of Feb. Alpine winter season is 20th Dec to 20th March (from memory - Gian might correct me)

[Alpinum]

There's a few definitions of "winter", the big three UK fell running rounds use meteorological winter, i.e. 1st Dec to the last day of Feb. Alpine winter season is 20th Dec to 20th March (from memory - Gian might correct me)

I guess most go for meteotological winter (based on average temperatures of months) rather than astronomical (winter solstice to spring equinox), but it's still an unsettled dispute. I wouldn't be surprised to see this happen more in bikepacking and other outdoor activities too, where a 'winter first' has some sort of importance to a few sorry souls.

In the Alps, Bernese Oberland, Valais, Massif du Mt. Blanc, where I spent most of my winter climbing, winter always was considered by meteo. I never came across anything else. Despite chances for some cold days and harsh weather in March, in general it feels tamer; Winter literally edges off in March. More daylight, fading winter storms, warmer temperatures, often better conditions in high alt., more snow (often, but not always easier access). Yeah, it's quite a bit easier in March and that's where the main difference is.

[Alpinum]

I'd play the "Spring starts on the 21st of March" card! So thinking about it, it's still officially Autumn
(To be clear I've no intention of doing a winter HT. I do fancy a winter Cairngorms loop though)

Been to the wilder areas of Scotland around x-mas/hogmanay and had both.
-10 °C, calm weather, crisp and everything frozen. Then a couple of days later 160 km/h wind, 4 °C and rain. Of course the water from the rain and thaw wouldn't drain into the frozen ground. Was a proper mess.
Our feet got a lot of attention...

[whitestone]

Here's what we use as a definition -http://www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk/index.php?page=winter, purely artificial of course as is any attempt by humans to pigeon hole such things.

There's actually someone attempting it now, he set off at 1900 last night so should be past halfway by now. Solo, unsupported, no tracker. Currently -4 in Ambleside and -8 in Keswick. Definitely at the clear and nippy end of the UK winter spectrum.

[Alexinthepeaks]

I logged -12 on the top of shining tor in the peak district last night

[fatbikephil]

https://torridonblog.sais.gov.uk/2022/1 ... -torridon/
I think Steve Bates dodged a seriously bad situation by not continuing - this would have been horrendous to drag a bike through and likely for most of Fisherfield as well as Torridon....
Plus he's arrived back in Lochaber today in time for a huge dump of snow to clobber the whole west coast:- https://glencoeblog.sais.gov.uk/2022/12 ... showers-2/

[Richpips]

https://www.stevebatembe.com/post/arcti ... l-550-2022

[psling]

Thanks for that Rich, that is an eye-opening tale of determination, a great read.

[fatbikephil]

Cheers Rich for that. Interesting comparing his tale with our armchair commentary - I think we were pretty close!
Worth reading his kit list too - a few pointers to add to our various cold weather threads.

[whitestone]

Interesting write up.

On reading this:

Weaving through peat hags was less so. The driving snow still giving me problems with visibility, and I did the best I could to weave my way through the hags and drifts. All of a sudden, I felt weightless, my bike light as a feather. It didn’t last long as I crashed into the snow-covered hag below me.

I reckoned quite a few on here might know the exact one

[fatbikephil]

Aye, I thought that too I'm going for the forward roll next year

[Richpips]

Interesting that the big powerbank(s) wouldn't charge his stuff.

I've found similar with a dynamo setup, that will only charge small batteries and not the biggies.

[redefined_cycles]

Thanks v much Rich...

[fatbikephil]

Interesting that the big powerbank(s) wouldn't charge his stuff.

I've found similar with a dynamo setup, that will only charge small batteries and not the biggies.

I guess that you rarely experience temps that low, even in Scotland so most of the time it isn't problem. ITI types seem to stick to lithium ultimate AA's for everything.
I also noted his issues with AXS batteries - not something a well oiled cable will suffer from...

[ScotRoutes]

Scotty Laughland has just uploaded his latest on YouTube. It's the Dundonnel - Poolewe route that features on the HT550 and many will recognise the area from photos.

I've yet to complete the whole crossing, though I'll be running it (yes - not taking a bike) in August.

https://youtu.be/KTY_Nfym9PQ

[sean_iow]

When I did it the route was the Postman's Path but from my memory I seemed to be pushing more than riding, I think there's a real possibility I could run it faster than 'ride' it

[boxelder]

I'll be running it

Doubt you'll run much from Croftown/Inverbroom to Loch an Fhiona. 400m climbing in 1.5Km. At least you won't be pushing a 'baggage cart'

[ScotRoutes]

I'll be running it

Doubt you'll run much from Croftown/Inverbroom to Loch an Fhiona. 400m climbing in 1.5Km. At least you won't be pushing a 'baggage cart'

Wrong track!