2016 Highland Trail route.

[boxelder]

I have a Spot3 with tracking if anyone is looking to hire one?

[padonbike]

HI BoxEdlder - yes interested in a spot 3 to hire. waiting entry for Cairngorm Loop so could do with one for CG and then a month later HT.
Rather hire than buy outright.
Let me know

[AlanG]

I've added some more names to the startlist for the group start next May. I'll probably pick another four from the remaining "wild card" entries and leave some places reserved for people with a "qualifying ride".

Women
1. Jenny Graham (2015)
2. Amy Souter
3. Fiona Massey
4. Jill Libby, Canada
5. Marketa Marvanova, Czech Republic
6. Shona Oldfield

Men.
1. Phil Clarke (2014,2015)
2. Ian Barrington (2013,2014)
3. Paul Horabin
4. Eric DeJong, Canada
5. Dan Lockery, Canada
6. Martijn Boonman, Netherlands
7. Kenny Decker, U.S.A.
8. Rob Waller (2015)
9. John Fettis (2015)
10. Hal Loewen, Canada
11. Zbynek Simcik
12. Fraser MacBeath (2015)
13. Gian Liesch, Switzerland (2013)
14. Carl Hutchings (2015)
15. Javier Simon (2015)
16. James Stephens (2015)
17. Marshall Bird, U.S.A.
18. Huw Oliver
19. Keith Bremner (2014)
20. Karl Booth (2015)
21. Nik Kinloch (2013,2014)
22. Phil Fraser-Thomson (2014,2015)
23. Thomas Borst, Germany
24. Ian Fitz
25. Gabriel Mak
26. Alan Sheldon (2013)
27. Adam Zaviska, Czech Republic
28. Liam Glen
29. Scott Lindsay
30. Philip Addyman
31. Chris Purt
32. Andy Laycock
33. Stuart Cowperthwaite
34. Bryan Singleton (2015)
35. Mark Evans
36. Andy Lawrence
37. Steve Field (2015)
38. Alan Goldsmith (2013,2014,2015)
39. Lars Henning
40. Donald Nicolson

[fatbikephil]

Thats a fair few overseas people in for it. Will add quite a cosmopolitan air to the proceedings

Shoes - my advice is to wear something you can walk comfortably in up a 30 degree rocky slope and for 3 hours over a boulder field, whilst carrying you bike....

Used shimano mt34s this summer and were pretty good for the money. MT91s for the highland trail tho

[ton]

I sat and traced the route out on maps last night. this is one hell of a route. I did not realise how big until I spread the maps out as one on the floor.
proper hats off to anyone who does this in under 7 days.

just in the process of trying to coax 2 riding pals into having a go with me, but in 10 days. with a aim to set off on the Tuesday or wednesday prior to the event start.

[GregMay]

Ton - you'd be fine in 10 days. Just remember that the top loop can be taken out and you can ride the "old" HT440 route and still get 85% of the hike a bike in :)

[AlanG]

Greg, you haven't ridden the northern loop have you?!

[GregMay]

Greg, you haven't ridden the northern loop have you?!

Not all of it no :) I've run chunks of it though.

[ianfitz]

Greg, you haven't ridden the northern loop have you?!

From the bits of of I've been over on foot I'd be very surprised if anyone has ridden all of the northern loop ;-)

[larsmars]

I've added some more names to the startlist for the group start next May. I'll probably pick another four from the remaining "wild card" entries and leave some places reserved for people with a "qualifying ride".

I am thrilled and terrified to be added to the list!

[Karl]

lars thats excellent news that you'll be joining us on the highland trail this year.

See you on the start line

[slarge]

Looking at this thread with jealous pangs. It's a brilliant route, but so easy to underestimate. Good luck and get the training done and you'll be fine!

[trail717]

I have been doing a bit of HT homework most evenings, reading blogs* Googling the route looking at location/pictures, waypointing Bothys on my file etc etc, fun way to spend a bit of time.

Also I have been reading about midges and repellents with saltidin (known as picaridin here in the US). Apparently 20% saltidin is slightly more effective against midges than similar concentration of deet.

Whats the overall experience with 20% saltidin repellent vs the mighty Scottish Midge? Is this repellent sufficient to do the job in all cases? What if any seem to be the limitations?

Also does anyone have 1st hand experience with a fully "screened" Z-Pak Hexamid tend vs the midge? I strongly assume the Z-Pak screen’s weave is fine enough to keep the little biting pests out? Would be shame if I bring mine and it didn’t perform as needed.

*Thanks and double wow Ian, your 2013 race write-up was an eye opening nail biter, impressive race and nicely written. And yes a 2nd to Aidan is a big deal. Not even close to his caliber but in 2010 I had the pleasure of sharing a dinner with him at Seeley Lake and later saying hi and bye in Lima as he pushed thur.

[mountainbaker]

Marshall and anyone else who'd like to view the route on 1:25k OS maps, send me a private message, I've put a small mapping application I've written up online, you can load any GPX into it, and it cache's tiles from OS at both 1:50 and 1:25k, really useful, and much more detail than you'll find on any other maps. Other layers are available in it too...

Here's some of the route:

[fatbikephil]

RE midges the best stuff is Smidge - http://midgeforecast.co.uk/smidge/about-smidge You can buy it at the garage shop in tyndrum. Non chemical so not as nasty as deet based stuff and it does work.

[deft punk]

Non chemical...

It is. Uses that saltidin stuff your man mentioned. Autan has the same chemical, works as well & is half the price for twice as much, but...
It doesn't have that lovely bog myrtle smell & the container can't take the same battering

[ScotRoutes]

Autan doesn't seem to be as effective for as long, so I've found you need more of it

[GregMay]

Autan is not as effective in my experience either.

[boxelder]

Not a single midge last year - too cold and windy.......

[deft punk]

Autan doesn't seem to be as effective for as long, so I've found you need more of it

So far I've only found that if I'm sweating & if I'm sweating I'm probably shifting and more likely to inhale a cloud of them than be bitten by one

Ticks however seem to love me no matter what I slap on

[trail717]

For some reason I get the general idea it might be a just bit 'wet' riding around in the Highlands.......

Some type of front & rear mud guards seems like a good idea. However I have zero experience with them, other than what little shielding my bikepacking bags inadvertently provide.

How many will be running some (any) type of mud guard? Comments on why yes or why no?

[ianfitz]

Mud guards - yes!

Rear mudhugger. Front neoguard and fat gut fender.

[GregMay]

For some reason I get the general idea it might be a just bit 'wet' riding around in the Highlands.......

Understatement of the week.

I didn't bother to run guards. You're going to get wet. Brought waterproof shorts though - suck it up buttercup.

[Mark E]

I'll have a rear mud hugger and some sort of down tube guard for the front. Past experience has taught be that keeping the pad in your shorts dry really helps with comfort! Will probably also have waterproof shorts on as well-I've found the gore alp x ones really good and longer lasting than any others ive tried. Worth holding out for a sale though as they're expensive at RRP.

[Ian]

Guards help things stay less gritty.
Sure, you may still end up being wet, but being wet and gritty is worse...