The 2007 Adventure Race World Championship

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Loch to loch - the OPS continues

Gary Vallance / 30.05.2007

….Trusting the final portage once again to their proven quick-release towing system, Team Nike left Loch Laidon and took a direct heading to the eastern shores of Loch Ba. However, amongst the tussocks and hags of the Rannoch Moor their system nearly met its match. Although the pace was notable given the conditions, the deep boggy clefts in the ground caused particular difficulties, with towlines having to be removed for team-mates to head fore and aft to handle the boats across muddy trenches.

Their choice to tackle the moor crossing, rather than attempting a portage/paddle combination on the river may have been made at the western end of Loch Laidon, where the immediate view of the river showed a shallow course of rapids running for nearly 100m. However, just around the bend, the river presented some straightforward paddle-able sections. Able to glimpse some of these sections throughout their struggle across the moorland, there must have been more than occasional doubts as to whether they’d taken the better option. In case they were wondering, they had the opportunity to test their “rapids� technique, as the bow-paddlers from each pair alighted to drag the boats through a final set of rocks before the main body of water.

With the rapids an obvious deterrent, it’s likely that following teams will also opt for the overland drag. However, whether it’s the faster option of not, Nike definitely had the best possible weather conditions: dry and still, but with plenty of wet grass and heather to slide the boats over. Perhaps if visibility drops, or if the moor vegetation dries out, other teams may adopt alternative strategies.
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