2016 Highland Trail route.

[ianfitz]

If it's in relation to its universal acceptance as an accompaniment over various roast meats, yes. If you're contemplating pouring over a portion of chips (or fries), then no

It's good on fish too

[boxelder]

HHmmm the Lochinver Pie shop.........

I too bought a second pie (they're more like pasties really), to eat for breakfast.
I then found a B+B, so ate it in a hot bath, with beer from the Spar next door. Should probably have stumbled on towards Ledmore Junction...........or not.
That pie shop does savoury and sweet, so you could have three courses.

All together now......

"Who ate all the pies, who ate all the pies?
You fat barstool, you fat barstool,
You ate all the pies"

When you can on the event, log in to Greg's twitface stream - a great source of motivation and morale boost.

Most likely to be on the menu in Dingwall.

Intrigued.....I've always overlooked Dingwall (except when I knew a bloke called William Dingwall - we called me Bill - true dat)

[deft punk]

Fish and chips is a fish super and if they grunt 'susweetha' just say no.
I didnt understand and just smiled and said yes and my fish and chips got covered in brown sauce.

Is that no just an Edinbugger thing? Even Doric speakers make more sense than that lot

[fatbikephil]

Shop at Kinlochewe is a fine source of pies and other baked things to suit all regional tastes. Do what I did - grab several, stash in frame bag, feed your face in the nearby whistlestop cafe as well, then scoff pies halfway up torridon climb. Then eat 3 course meal in Lochcarron hotel. I love adventure racing

On a serious note - this is chapter and verse on Scotlands Outdoor access code, including camping.http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/#

A few folk made use of farm buildings for bivvying, this and other years. A word of warning - if the owner discovers you he may be extremely unhappy and will be unafraid of expressing his unhappiness in both verbal and physical ways.... We are ambassadors of our sport etc etc.

[Justchris]

Fish and chips is a fish super and if they grunt 'susweetha' just say no.
I didnt understand and just smiled and said yes and my fish and chips got covered in brown sauce.

Is that no just an Edinbugger thing? Even Doric speakers make more sense than that lot

Careful son. Talk like that and you won't get across the boarder again!

HHmmm the Lochinver Pie shop.........

I too bought a second pie (they're more like pasties really),

That would be a bridie. And like pies there good too.

[Alpinum]

And now for something completely different;

A place with a funny name:
Ardnarff.

I still go to places in Scotland just because they have a funny name.

Ardnarff…:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o620WWho-o

whilst I was looking where Lochcarron is (thought it wasn't en route) I came across it.

[ianfitz]

Another fantastic UK speciality = a chip butty! Loads of chips (always more than can fit in the bread) in, what is effectively, a large burger bun. Best with lots of salt and vinegar on

Bear with us while we sort out the actual name of the bread product. As with so many other things in the UK there is huge variation in this.

I'd call it a bread roll. But where I live now (Sheffield, next to the Peak District) it would be called a bread cake, 15 miles south of here the same thing would be a teacake. But here a teacake would be similar shape, but sweet with raisins in. Tasty when cut in half and toasted but terrible for making a chip butty with!

I was born here, lived here all my life but now I'm confused!!

[padonbike]

Ian wrote "I'd like to think that sitting in the cafe at Kinlochlewe and thinking, "right I'll go straight through to the finish from here, it's only 200 miles", and then pulling it off, required more than just luck"

I reccied the 180odd miles back from Achnashellach to Tyndrum in the summer at the end of our summer holiday. Left Ach 0830 Sat am got to Tyndrum around 2.30 Sun with about 7hrs rough sleep stop in a garage 12 miles north of Ft William. There is still plenty of tough epic stuff: into Camban and out of Affric, the WHW bits out of Ft William and out of Kinlochleven and even the last 6 miles from Bridge of Orchy were tricky and draggy towards the end.

[padonbike]

Taking the "hike" in hike a bike seriously - ordered some Shimano MT34 shoes. Look a lot more reliable around the laces than the more expensive (and flashier) MT 54. Could be a good choice if I got the size right to fit sealskinz. Any experience of these shoes?

[Ian]

I used the MT42's in 2014. I didn't finish owing to achilles problems. I think the shoes played a part in this, and as such will be using something else next year.

[Mariner]

Is that no just an Edinbugger thing? Even Doric speakers make more sense than that lot
Corstophine actually.

[boxelder]

I reccied the 180odd miles back from Achnashellach to Tyndrum in the summer at the end of our summer holiday. Left Ach 0830 Sat am got to Tyndrum around 2.30 Sun with about 7hrs rough sleep stop in a garage 12 miles north of Ft William. There is still plenty of tough epic stuff: into Camban and out of Affric, the WHW bits out of Ft William and out of Kinlochleven and even the last 6 miles from Bridge of Orchy were tricky and draggy towards the end.

You forgot the tedium that is the Gt Glen Way between Fort A and Fort W - worse with a headwind/better with a 12" takeaway pizza (seafood!). At least those new to it won't know how big the climb back over the Devil's is, as the new day 1 goes elsewhere. I got from Strathcarron to The Kingshouse in one, but then it was too dark (take a light Marshal)

[trail717]

I reccied the 180odd miles back from Achnashellach to Tyndrum in the summer at the end of our summer holiday. Left Ach 0830 Sat am got to Tyndrum around 2.30 Sun with about 7hrs rough sleep stop in a garage 12 miles north of Ft William. There is still plenty of tough epic stuff: into Camban and out of Affric, the WHW bits out of Ft William and out of Kinlochleven and even the last 6 miles from Bridge of Orchy were tricky and draggy towards the end.

You forgot the tedium that is the Gt Glen Way between Fort A and Fort W - worse with a headwind/better with a 12" takeaway pizza (seafood!). At least those new to it won't know how big the climb back over the Devil's is, as the new day 1 goes elsewhere. I got from Strathcarron to The Kingshouse in one, but then it was too dark (take a light Marshal)

Ya lets change topics and talk lights (ha--I think I know more than I could ever want about pies...thanks guys)

With out a lot of thought (yet) my initial thinking is to approach the HT like any other multi-day I have attempted. For me (like most other multi day racers) in very general terms it means:
A) setting a firm but sustainable pace (for the 2015 TDR this was 145 miles/day--but for the HT, from my preliminary study, I would expect to achieve a range around 80 to 130 miles)
B) staying on top of my food intake and keeping hydrated
C) minimizing resupply stops and when stopped minimizing actual stop time.
D) Pushing on each (most) nights till 10:30 to 1:00 pm with a 3-5 hour rest (lots of forth coming questions about sleep systems and Bothy VS Bivy)
E) Rinse & Repeat

But item D will require an appropriate lighting system:
Assuming I ride till about 9:30/10:00 pm before flipping on a light-- I would calculate a need for about 2-3 hrs per night from one capable helmet light --or about 10-15 hours duration for the entire route. (note I will also bring my small 80/100 lum camp light for puttering about camp and which could be used as a back up on the trail if needed)

My current light choice for the HT would be my Exposure Diablo with extra battery. I think this should be all I need. Comments?

More:
At 60 years of age I do need a bit more light than many, and in all honesty I will flounder badly in technical terrain with only modest helmet light-IE i will walk more to the point of better off just stopping. Any way part of my still developing strategy will be to 'know' where I might extend night time hours across less technical sections that I 'might/could' reach at the end of any given day--IE Never stop short on the smooth stuff regardless of time of night--humm, this is not realy 'light' stuff per say but rather route knowledge....never mind.....

But would there be any reason to bring my SP 8 dyno hub with never ending light and USB charger? I think the answer is to much slow terrain to justify this type "TDR" touring system as it only gives out useful light down hill or above about 9 mph--

[trail717]

Taking the "hike" in hike a bike seriously - ordered some Shimano MT34 shoes. Look a lot more reliable around the laces than the more expensive (and flashier) MT 54. Could be a good choice if I got the size right to fit sealskinz. Any experience of these shoes?

Shoes are so 'personal' but here is my take:

Assuming it fits well/perfectly on your foot--I think the best multi-day race show is a Mavic Pace (now called the crossride) http://www.mavic.us/footwear-mtb-crossride-sl-shoe

Here is my reasoning:
1) Sole has the right balance between traction on rocks and durability--unlike most high end race shoes-as long as the metal cleat doesn't slip you can scramble across rocks with grip'y confidence. From experience this shoe will last at least one full multi-day season
2) Stiff but not carbon stiff sole for hike-a-bike (I almost comfortably did the Grand Canyon in the AZT 750 with just removing the cleats)
3) Simple durable 3 strap design for faster off/on and easy to adjust with one hand-- tighter for hike-a-bike or loser for swollen feet
4) Drys out faster than most after water crossings--humm I guess this would be a non issue on the HT route
5) And to top it off, one of, if not the lightest race shoes available --and at a great 'relative' price

[Ian]

My current light choice for the HT would be my Exposure Diablo with extra battery. I think this should be all I need. Comments?

This is exactly what I had for 2013 and 2014. It worked fine, but I needed to manage the settings to get the duration I needed out of the battery - this meant lower output, but it was still usable.

Whilst it worked, I was nervous of running out before the end, and as such, would likely take a Revo and a Joystick next time - more weight, but also brainless to use so I can concentrate on other stuff.

Worth noting that in good weather conditions, it's light enough to see without lights up to 10:30, and starting to get light not much after 03:00.

[whitestone]

As Ian says there isn't much darkness at that time of year in the Highlands - here's the data for Inverness http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/inver ... &year=2016 I suppose it depends on where you are on the route as to whether to push on - be aware of the Highland midge (think no-seeums with attitude) so even if the trail is easy/steady going you might be better stopping where there's a breeze rather than dropping in to a glen and "shelter", if it's raining then the midges can't fly so heading for shelter would be the better option.

I'd have three or four overnighting options then use them accordingly depending on conditions.

[ianfitz]

I will be running a revo (with the plug in back light too) and a Diablo on mode 3 3,6,24 hours) as it's what I've got. Plus it's worked for me in other things.

True the revo doesn't put out much light on the slower sections but thats usually fine at slower speeds. My night time vision isn't brilliant either.

I'm 90% sure I'll be wearing specialised Rimes on my feet. I do swap between spd and flats from time to time so would wear fell running shoes if I decided to go flat.

[Mariner]

Re lights.

According to my reckoning there is seventeen hours of day light at end of May.
Plus twilight 2 hours either side leaves five hours of darkness.
NB the term daylight is only relative in Scotland at any time of year.

[GregMay]

Marshall - route is more than doable with no lights if you're prepared to stop and drop when it gets properly dark, then get up again later in the day. FWIW, I took two Exposure Flashes (teeny light) in year one. I only wished I'd had more on one descent on the last day where we pushed straight through. I could easily have not been in that situation by getting up earlier the days before.

Also - mushy peas are devil semen.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Also - mushy peas are devil semen.

I think you'll find that's Grits ... I once had the unpleasant experience of ordering it while in the states, truly disgusting.

[GregMay]

Nah, mushy peas are worse.

[Mariner]

I'm perfectly happy to discuss gravy. So long as you are not planning to put it anywhere near chips.

That could only be Curry Sauce over half chips half rice.
Anyone found a use for Mealy Pudding?

[ianfitz]

That could only be Curry Sauce over half chips half rice.

I could really do with that now

[Alpinum]

There's only one true sauce for chips. Mayonnaise!
Next to it's most sublime taste it's absolutely crammed full of calories. Best energy gel ever.

As for the lights, there was a moment where I was very close in pushing further through the night beyond Ft. Bill in '13 to finish off the odd 70 km. But I had only about 20 lumen with me. Next time.... next time... Greg, didn't Arne, you and Tom ride with sh.i.te lights on the last leg?

I often use a fake lupine piko with about 800 lumen max. All in all it goes as low as 240 g with a battery for 2.5h in full mode and about 10 in its lowest one.
But then there are many really good head lamps with just a tad beyond 100 g and a little more than 200 lumen. I guess if I go for this option and make sure it suits the helmet, I can just go with one lamp for camp and ride. Given the long days, the long twilight hours, that's probably the best way to go for me as I'm not really planning in sleeping less then from 22:30 to 03:30 or so. Petzl have been extremely reliable for me, very different to led lenser and black diamond lamps.

[GregMay]

Greg, didn't Arne, you and Tom ride with sh.i.te lights on the last leg?

Yes, only for 3 hrs or so. we had a full moon so could descend Devils Staircase without lights fine.