The Wilderness ARC
Wet and Wild
Rob Howard / 28.05.2006
Those are the terms most commonly used to describe the course for the second Wilderness ARC given to the teams today, though Course Designer Gary Tompsett is quoted in the newspaper as saying, “It’s a monster!�The facts are that the route covers 380km of the Scottish Highlands all around the town of Fort William, though the majority of the route is to the West of the town. This comprises 140km trekking, 184km mountain biking and 56km canoeing in 11 stages. That is one of the significant changes to last years course, the stages are shorter and there are more transitions where teams can access their gear boxes full of food and equipment.
The teams ‘just hoping to get round’ were encouraged by this, and by the longer range weather forecast which said the weather should improve by mid-week. “We’re just really excited,� said Jonathan Mayne of Dynamic Adventure Racing, “but it’s going to be very tough start and I think some teams will be pulling out at the end of the first day. We want to take it steady and make sure we’re not one of them so we can enjoy the course.�
The day he’s describing goes something like this. Start at .08.00 in Fort William and run up onto Cow Hill above the town to complete an hour long orienteering course. Run down into Glen Nevis and cross the river, then climb up to a rock outcrop to abseil down. At the river start a strenuous and exciting canyoneering section then trek along the river for a second canyon stage. Trek uphill to a rope ascent, which two of the team complete while 2 others run to a nearby cave. Then set off on a long trek over the summit of Sgurr a’ Mhaim at 3139 feet.
After the trek two of the team swim across Loch Leven (approx. 2kms), coasteering around an island on the way. Then all the team paddle for 14 kms across the open seas of Loch Linnhe to reach Transition 3. And that’s just the first day ...See All Event Posts
