The GREAT WILDERNESS CHALLENGE ping Out fo tep Saturdayr C 16th August S ha ri 2014ty Saturday 24th August Stepping Out for Charity POOLEWE AULTBEA DUNDONNELL GWC 2014 Scottish Athletics Permit Event Organised locally in association with the following estates: EILEAN DARACH TOURNAIG GRUINARD LETTEREWE INVERAN INVEREWE A series of sponsored walks and races in the magnificent mountain hinterland of Poolewe, Aultbea and Dundonnell, with a variety of routes to suit all levels of fitness and ability. Each entrant is expected to raise a minimum £100 sponsorship for the 2014 GWC charities, with no upper limit! GWC Contacts All new entries, withdrawals, substitutions, etc. PAT ROSS: 01445 731516 or 01854 633274 e-mail: [email protected] Alternative Contact SUSAN KIRKNESS: 01445 781330 e-mail: [email protected] Main Charities 2014 Highland Hospice; CLIC Sargent; Skye & Lochalsh Young Carers. Other Supported Charities Include Headway Highland; Gairloch Age & Mobility Support; Archie Foundation Raigmore Appeal; Highland Senior Citizens Network; Inverness Samaritans; Carr Gomm; British Red Cross; C.R.Y.; Maggies Highlands; Gairloch Car Scheme; Alzheimer Scotland; Crossroads Skye; Children 1st; Debra. 2013 Donations to Charity £183,000 GWC Total since Inception £3,093,000 Please consult the website for further information; www.greatwildernesschallenge.info and feel free to contribute to the site! www.facebook.com/greatwildernesschallenge Local runner Andrew Tallach from Badachro at GWC 2013 Photography: 1 © Colin Robertson, e-mail: [email protected] © Kenny Mitchell © Donald Mackenzie © Susan Kirkness © Gary Williamson © Cadogans © Susan Kirkness © Alex Mackenzie THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING... Pat Ross, GWC Secretary It is 5 years since I last wrote an article for the In the past recruiting entrants has always been a newsletter, so this year I thought it would be a comparatively easy task. Following the success good idea to share with you some of the of the first event in 1986, we quickly built up a changes we have made and our hopes for the database of regulars (quite a few of whom are future. still taking part), and we always had to limit our Probably the biggest change has numbers on the 25 mile route. Inevitably, been our introduction of online registration and however, as time goes on, people’s fundraising. Gone are the days of coding entry circumstances and fitness levels change, and forms, folding sponsor sheets, labelling and we find ourselves looking for ‘new blood’. filling envelopes – not to mention sticking on all (Interestingly, last year the 7 mile walk was one those stamps (what a relief when self adhesive of our most popular routes where numbers grew stamps appeared!). In the past we used to post considerably – including several ex-25 milers!!!). out over 700 invites initially – nowadays it’s This year we have distributed posters around down to around 50. the Highlands to raise awareness of the event. The online fundraising pages have At the time of writing we have over 100 also proved to be very successful – last year newcomers, which is very encouraging. over £16,500 was raised online – and many of HOWEVER, before becoming too complacent, you have commented on how much easier it is we must remember that the event is primarily a to contact and get people to sponsor you this fundraising exercise - and, as such, we rely on way. We certainly hope this is a trend which everyone to raise sponsorship. So, to our will continue and increase in the coming years. newcomers we would say welcome to the Great Our third change was to put our Wilderness Challenge; we hope you thoroughly newsletter online – again to cut down on our enjoy the event, and ‘rise to the challenge’ in all printing and postage costs. Unsure of how well senses of the word. this would be received, we also produced a The number of charities we support printed copy, but found that, as with the entry has grown considerably over the past few years forms, only a handful of people requested a – whilst the Highland Hospice is still our main printed version. We are conscious, however, beneficiary, we are delighted to be able to that some of our supporters don’t have support many other smaller charities – primarily computer access, and so we will continue to in the area of healthcare. produce a printed copy, albeit in considerably As we look to the future – 2015 will be smaller quantities. the 30th GWC – we hope that we can continue to evolve and adapt in order raise as much as OVER £3 MILLION RAISED! we can for our charities, and of course to make the event as enjoyable as possible for everyone We congratulate everybody, past and present, taking part. who have contributed to this monumental I look forward to catching up with you gure raised for charity by the event since all in August. 1986. Well done and more of the same, please! 2 Equipment - Race Categories under SAF Rules RUNNERS ESSENTIAL! WALKERS It is absolutely vital to wear or carry adequate 25 Mile Race protective equipment on this event, given the lack of Minimum equipment to be carried: shelter, innaccessibility by vehicle and possible extreme weather changes inherent in these routes. Full body cover, including cagoule and trousers of waterproof material. All walkers on all 4 routes must carry waterproofs - cagoule and trousers - as a priority. Additional spare Map of at least 1:50,000 scale items of clothing are obviously advisable, but will be of full area of race. left to the discretion of each individual. equipment checks will be carried out. Compass and whistle. FAILURE TO PRODUCE WATERPROOFS WILL LEAD TO 13 Mile Race DISQUALIFICATION Full body cover, waterproof cagoule and trousers, available to wear or carry. NO DOGS ON BUSES Dogs are not allowed on the buses to Aultbea and A decision based on weather conditions Dundonnell. Entrants wishing to take their dogs will will be announced at registration on whether therefore require to make alternative arrangements to these items must be carried. get to their starting point. ALL RUNNERS FAILING TO COMPLY ACCIDENT RISK! WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS 7 & 13 Mile Circular Walkers - please note: For safety reasons, please walk in single file on the WILL BE DISQUALIFIED steep, narrow 40 yard section of path above the west end of Loch Kernsary. CHANGING ROUTES If, due to injury or lack of training, participants feel Parents carrying babies/infants must ensure that they unable to undertake their chosen route, then it is are securely fastened in suitable backpacks. perfectly admissable to drop down to a shorter route, either walking or running. Please let us know as early SAFETY TEAMS as you can, but it is possible to change on the morning Safety and medical care back-up for the event will be of the event itself, if necessary. provided by: FOOTWEAR Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team All walkers are strongly recommended to use boots for this event. A variety of conditions underfoot will be H.M. Coastguard encountered, and only in extremely dry weather would trainers be adequate for the whole journey. PDG Helicopters COUNTRY CODE Challengers are expected to observe the Country Local Medical Practice Code at all times. Protect wildlife, avoid any damage and leave no litter. St. Andrew’s First Aid (Easter Ross Branch) IF YOU PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT! 832 Wester Ross Squadron ATC REMEMBER - all participants, runners and walkers, must wear numbers on front 3 ROUTE DETAILS 25 Mile Route Dundonnell to Poolewe START - 113852 - Corrie Hallie on A832. Checkpoint 4 - 980767 - Carnmore Lodge Checkpoint 1 - 101824 - Summit of first climb. Gate. Continue over the causeway to the next Just past this checkpoint, the route branches path junction (968754). Turn right and continue right at cairn and continues by rough moorland to Strathan Buidhe. Turn right (945760) at cairn path to Shenavall Bothy. Great care must be and descend to ford river. Regain path and taken on the steep descent to Shenavall. follow marker flags to next checkpoint. Checkpoint 5 - 928774 - Doubles as Checkpoint 2 - 063807 - Abhainn Strath na checkpoint 2 on 13 mile circular route. Leading Sealga. This river has to be forded, also runners will meet walkers on this section to Abhainn Gleann na Muice 0.75 miles further on. Kernsary Wood. Follow forest track to next From Larachantivore (054802), the route checkpoint. follows a stalkers’ path south along the riverside Checkpoint 6 - 897794 - Exit gate of Kernsary for 1 mile, then turns right (048786) up Gleann Wood, where route turns left down to Kernsary na Muice Beag for 2 miles to the next Cottage, then turns right at T-junction below checkpoint. the cottage to follow estate road to Inveran and Checkpoint 3 - 026779 - Near highest point of Poolewe. route. Continues over plateau before Finish - 859807 - At riverside near Poolewe descending steeply towards Dubh Loch and Bridge. Carnmore. Care required. Strathan Buidhe Bridge: Please note this river is bridged 400 yards upstream. Please use it if you are unsure about fording the river - or just want to stay dry-shod! RACE CATEGORIES UNDER SAF RULES Map required - Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Sheet 19 SCOTLAND Gruinard Island Ullapool Poolewe Inverness Gruinard Bay Aberdeen Fort William AULTBEA Glasgow Edinburgh DUNDONNELL LOCH EWE CORRIE HALLIE A832 LOCH NA SEALGA An Teallach A832 1062m FIONN 1 CHECK/SAFETY POINT Shenaval 360m POOLEWE LOCH GRID REFERENCES Beinn Dearg Mor Beinn 818m 2 Kernsary a’ Chaisgein Mor Checkpoint 1 360m Achneigie 101824 6 856m Checkpoint 2 063807 3 5 Beinn Carnmore 480m Checkpoint 3 026779 a’ Chlaidheimh 916m N Checkpoint 4 4 980767 Beinn DUBH A‘ Mhaighdean LOCH Airigh Charr LOCH 967m Checkpoint 5 928774 MAREE 791m Checkpoint 6 897794 Beinn Lair 859m 4 ROUTE DETAILS & Circulars Aultbea 13 7 Miles from Poolewe 13 Miles to Poolewe START - 863814 - Both routes follow a narrow START - 879884 - Drumchork.