Highland Trail 2015

[Charliecres]

This is the best armchair riding ever. Truly awe-inspiring. Well done all!

[deft punk]

To add to the dot watching fun some of you are having here are the levels from the nearest useful river to the Abhainn Strath na Sealga crossing... http://apps.sepa.org.uk/waterlevels/?sd=t&lc=471362

[slarge]

It was a good call scratching. Just ridden 40 odd miles to Invergarry, and it has rained most of the way. It's around 3 degrees (colder up top) and a cold wind. I would have got into trouble in Glen Affric. Nice warm, dry hotel room......

Well done to Fraser, met him in Ullapool, and he wasn't talking of doing anything daft like a run straight through! Pretty sure he's on a rigid fat bike as well!

I have to say that everyone I met on the trail was great. Friendly, kind, and focused. Was a pleasure to meet everyone!

[FLV]

Scratching is a hard decision. I'm glad you're satisfied that it was the right one. Excellent ride up till then steve.

[FLV]

Fraser has nearly nailed it. Monumental effort of a true racer To pull an all nighter and make it stick.

Bet he'll sleep for 24 hours

[Ian]

Fraser MacBeath finished early hours of the morning
3rd place in total time of 5 days 17 hrs 38 mins. He rode the last 46 hrs without sleep. Outstanding effort!!

Andy Williamson has just gone across the line for 4th place in 5 days 22 hours 33 mins. Well done Andy!

Jenny is on the move again. Crosses fingers xx

[Ian]

No movement from Jenny for the past half hour...

[Ian]

OK, she's moving but still on the wrong side of the river...

[FLV]

Not looking good. I cant imagine how frustrated she must be.

[Ian]

I think if I was her, I would have parked my bike in the bothy and walked the bank extensively to find a point worth crossing and then retrieved bike once I'd found it. She may have done this already, but what we don't know is how the levels have changed since last night.

However, imagining that it's at least waist deep (it was top of thigh deep for me in 2013, after not much rain), she's got a job on keep riding clothes suitable for riding. The water will be chuffing cold and with wind and rain, removing layers, drying out and putting them back on will not be that attractive an option.

[GregMay]

Overnight Scratch Update:

No one.

[GregMay]

The water will be chuffing cold and with wind and rain, removing layers, drying out and putting them back on will not be that attractive an option.

Personally, if I found a spot - I'd strip down, cross, then redress. Not like anyone is going to see much up there anyway.

[ScotRoutes]

and if there was, would you care?

Waist deep, flowing water, carrying a bike? No thanks.

[whitestone]

Looks like Steve Sloof has finished. The next group is Alan G, Phil Clarke and Rickie Cotter who are just heading out of Kinlochleven up the Devil's Staircase. Rain radar is showing showers rather than constant rain.

[Taylor]

I'm just a bit further south of the finish and the sky has patchy blue bits in amongst the usual grey.
Wind has dropped a bit too.

[GregMay]

Waist deep, flowing water, carrying a bike? No thanks.

Not a chance. Too many years of whitewater paddling to have a lack of respect for water. I've done my near drownings thanks.

[GregMay]

OK Jenny is backtracking.

Now, a question that my wife raised last night...

"If she backtracks, takes the road, then backtracks the course to the river, THEN continues on the course, would you DQ her?"

I opted to say " Alans call. Personally, no. But it's a two day diversion"

[GregMay]

Looks like she may have found a spot actually...

[Bearbonesnorm]

Looks like she may have found a spot actually...

Yeah, certainly looks like she's across. I assume that if she follows the bank back to the course crossing point, then she's good to go?

[Ian]

Yes, she's across the first river. But as Greg pointed out on Twitter, she has to return too the opposite side of the official crossing point to rejoin the route properly. Still needs to cross the Abhainn Glean na Muice though

[GregMay]

She'll be reet. the other river ain't so bad IIRC.

She obviously is playing ball with the rules - that was a definite turn.

Impressed I am.

[whitestone]

Quick question for those who have been in to that area (I've been in from the Poolewe end to about 3Km past Carnmore), how quick do those rivers rise and fall? Canoeing friends talk about getting on to some rivers within hours of heavy rain to ensure that it's paddleable whereas others, particularly those sections below lakes/lochs have a smoothed out rise and fall.

[GregMay]

Quick question for those who have been in to that area (I've been in from the Poolewe end to about 3Km past Carnmore), how quick do those rivers rise and fall? Canoeing friends talk about getting on to some rivers within hours of heavy rain to ensure that it's paddleable whereas others, particularly those sections below lakes/lochs have a smoothed out rise and fall.

I field that one being an ex-paddler.

It takes a very small, narrow river very little time to rise and fall. That river is neither narrow, nor shallow we're talking rates of days for that to fall more than hours. The surrounding ground in there is very porous and will hold water, and you're in the middle of a amphitheater of rock that feeds it with small streams.

The Dart, this is not.

[Chew]

Looks like Jenny's at the second river crossing

[whitestone]

Ta for that.

Latest tracker update shows her at the second river so once she's across, backtrack a mile to the correct crossing place then continue.