This time next week over 300 intrepid souls will step out from various points on the western seaboard of Scotland intent on crossing the country to Montrose on the east coast. The TGO Challenge is the world’s biggest organised backpacking event and is grows from strength to strength. Approaching its 30th year the event is even more popular today than it was in 1979 when it began and I think that’s largely a reflection of the superb organisation of the event. Roger Smith, the co-ordinator, was one of the founders of the event and his enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of the Challenge is unsurpassed. He does a fantastic job every year for us.
Next Friday I’ll be with a BBC camera crew seeing some of this year’s Challengers head off from Mallaig/Knoydart. Some of the guys will be picked up at various points on their route by the camera crew and the film will eventually be broadcast on BBC Scotland’s Adventure Show later in the year. So, if you’re heading off on the Challenge this year, and you bump into a television crew at some point, have your stories and tall tales ready!
I’m looking forward to meeting some of you new Challengers next week, and of course, some old friends too. Best of luck to everyone!

This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.