TGOC key challenges

I found it amusing reading blog posts digging at those on the The Great Outdoor Challenge  for writing about their kit selection, or reasons why they chose kit for it, or about their choice of kit at other times - when they themselves buy lots of kit on a regular basis and blog about it.  

Let's be honest: if you sit bad weather out in a bothy, or camp by a beach reading your Kindle all day, you won't finish the Challenge.  

So what are the challenges for a TGOC event in May that make kit choice matter?

Well, May can be a good weather month.  Last year's Challenge was a mix of snow, rain (torrential it seems one day) and sunshine.  

In 2011 I had rain, and snow one day.  It rained every day in varying amounts (torrential at times).  I had flooded burns making for hard crossings high up.  I had gale force, and at one point hurricane force, winds blowing trees down in front of me. Yes, I really noticed good weather in May in Scotland.

Back in 2007 I had rain for four days, with ok weather the rest and strong winds too.  The snow was only old and compact on the summits.  

So the challenging bits are this:

Time:  You have to get across in a set time. You can't sit out bad weather.  You get wet, you get on with it.  You might have a day to spare; but often it's a matter of 'go'.  There is no time for a day or two in a bothy, while waiting for better weather. 

Wind:  The wind is the threat to your shelter, or to you on the tops (or down in the glen with trees blowing down). Blown to your knees on a summit is the norm in the fine May weather.  Hence my last TGOC, I took a Trailstar for its wind shedding profile.  Only issue I had in the end was no door, which annoyed me - great shelter for the wind. Shangri-La 3 from Golite will be my shelter of choice next May on the TGOC.  Space; not bad in the wind - and a door.  Also, more useable space than a Trailstar. As for you and the wind - you make the call to go up, or stay low. 

Rain: Nothing to say apart from that it will rain.  Managing being comfy when out in rain is key. Waterproofs will fail.  

Snow:  Though it is not winter, there may still be snow, which will pose a risk on some high level routes and an ice axe and crampons might be needed, especially on some well used descent routes; but most avoid taking them.  

Cold: Sometimes very cold, but again it is not winter. It will be on a bad day -2. Use a down jacket with your sleeping bag on the worst nights.  Saying that, I needed while walking into a town down a glen to don my down jacket back in 2006 to keep warm.  It can be freezing at times. 

River crossings:  Rivers will be in spate (flood) and wide in places.  Don't cross them unless you are sure and ready to swim them if it goes wrong.  River crossings are in some ways the biggest risk on the Challenge.  

Sunburn:  It can get hot; you might need a bit of suncream for the afternoon after the snow clears.

Bugs:  Some people get bitten but I have had few issues with them.  Campsite selection helps.  I find May early still for high concentrations of midges, but they can be out early in places. So be warned if using single skin shelters. 

So my advice is when you read a blog where they sit bad weather out in a bothy, have no experience of time constraints on a TGOC walk and moan about kit selection made by those who do - ignore them and talk to those who do the Challenge.  In the same way as you should ignore a Challenge-only person when it's talk about kit for Scotland in the autumn and winter.  Talk to those who do know that season and its challenges.