Safety Warnings

Road Conditions - Chisholm’s Bridge to Fasnakyle Power Station.

Further to the warning in the last bulletin the road was examined on 11^th June and considerable patching to the road surface was noted.  However this section must be ridden with considerable caution as the surface is not as good as it has been in previous years.

Road Conditions – Junction between the Strathglass road (A 831) and the road to Beauly (A 862) at Lovat Bridge.

During a route survey it was identified that there are extremely rough road surface conditions at the bend where you leave the Strathglass road and join the Inverness to Beauly road for the last mile into Beauly. Participants must anticipate this area and ride with appropriate caution. Remember the road at this stage is open to normal traffic and vehicles may be coming towards you on the uphill carriageway.  The bend is at Grid Reference 514 449 on OS Sheet 26

Route conditions

The route across the hill section is currently wet…

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance…

Into the final countdown

• Bike loading in Inverness starts at 17.00hrs and ends at 21.00hrs sharp on Friday evening!

• At Inverness do not attempt to leave a bike before the official time. Your bike will not be registered into our keeping and may be left behind when the lorries depart.

• Do not lean bikes against the fire engines! This causes justifiable annoyance to our generous hosts!

• Do not over wrap bikes

• Make sure that you have YOUR number on your bike and bags.

• Do not attach luggage or helmets to your bike – put everything in a weather proof bag clearly marked with your number. Put a label with your Name and number inside every bag as backup.

Highland Bikes will have a vehicle at the Inverness bike loading for the sale of last minute bike essentials.  Beauly bike loading starts 06.15.

Bus Transport

We order the correct number of buses according to the bookings that YOU have made.  The last thing that we want is not having enough bus capacity in the right place at the right time to get everybody round to the right start time! Please stick to the booking that you have made.

Fuel and Drink

You should now know what works for you in terms of taking on fuel and drink during the event. Every individual has different needs in this respect – we will provide water and Isostar rehydration fluid along the route. Use these as YOU know your body needs. Take food that you know that you can tolerate and will give you all the energy that you require to see you safely through the day.

Your bicycle

Please ensure that you have a fully functioning cycle and have the spares and tools that YOU can use to make necessary repairs or to deal with a puncture at any point on the cycle section.

Surplus gear at the Start for transfer to Beauly

There will be a bag van at the Start to take your surplus gear through to Beauly. Any gear that you want transferred must be in a bag marked with your unique participant’s number with a name and number label inside as backup. The Baggage Pound in Beauly is in the open air and the surplus kit should be in a waterproof container.

Your change-over gear – protect it in a waterproof bag

Gear being sent to the Quarry with your bike must be packed in a waterproof bag – we suggest that you use a dry-bag. If not make sure that you have used waterproof liners inside your gear bag.  Gear going to the quarry including your cycle helmet and any cycle computers must NOT be attached to your bike and must be in a separate bag which will go in a bag van to the Quarry.  Make sure that all your baggage has a waterproof label with your unique event number attached to it and another label with your name and number inside it as a backup.

Getting your gear from the Changeover to Beauly

In the Changeover you must pack your bag and pass it to the bag van marshals if you want it taken to the Finish Baggage Pound in Beauly. It must have your number on it and on a label inside it.

Making it happen safely

We have constructed a Safety Net to support you along the route but the most important person in the safety Net is YOU!

DO NOT CARRY AN ILLNESS OR INJURY INTO THE CROSS!

Carrying an illness or injury into the Cross guarantees that you will have a poor experience and may result in serious illness or further injury afflicting you during the event.  It is also an unreasonable burden on the Safety Net as these volunteers have to deal with an incident that should not have happened and they volunteer to deal with accidents and unexpected illnesses.  We have had the experience of a participant who returned from holiday with diarrhoea but who was so committed to the event that they started. Five miles into the foot section, at a difficult place for us to access, they needed an evacuation of a different kind! The Medical Marshal had to get to them by helicopter and then have them airlifted out. If the helicopter had not reached them they would have needed a full mountain rescue stretcher carry out to safety.  If you know that you have been unwell or have an injury please withdraw before the event for your own safety.

In the interests of your own safety we expect that all participants will carry the recommended safety equipment on the day:

• A whistle to summon help – 6 blasts of the whistle repeated at one minute intervals

• A weather protective suit

• A small amount of high energy food

• The weatherproof suit is vital. If you slow or have an injury it could make a huge difference to how you feel and your condition by the time resources get to you.

Cycle safely

• Fasnakyle Brae steep twisting downhill. Emergency vehicles may have to ascend it to get to a serious incident. Ride it at all times as though it was two way traffic.

• Fasnakyle to Beauly is open road shared with the public you do not have right of way. If you have to repair your bike or take a breather try to use the water stops or at least pull off the road for your own safety.

• Withdrawing – try to do this at a water stop. There are support vehicles to help get you to Beauly.

• Affric to Fasnakyle and Beauly Toll junction – please note the safety warning at the start of the bulletin.

• Final cross over – be aware of traffic around you and obey the Police Officer marshalling to cross-over!

Why we make the day happen

Highland Cross exists to provide a unique crossing of Highland Scotland and most importantly generate funds for Highland Charities that seek to improve the medical and social well-being of folk in the Highlands.  That is why you have committed to the £500 per team minimum pledge. It is fantastic to see so much fundraising activity going on through online pages and we know that teams are holding fundraising events to boost their contribution. Thank you for that commitment and please continue it for as long as possible - the five excellent causes nominated this year need our help.

The quick link to set up a Justgiving fundraising page is:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising-page/creation/?cid=172882&eid=4182088&utm_source=website_cid172882_eid4182088&utm_medium=eventlinking&utm_campaign=eventlinkingurl

The Community of the Cross – Making the day happen

Volunteers from over twenty charities supported by Highland Cross this year or through previous fundraising will be working to make the day happen for you and to bring in essential funds for Highland causes.  Whether you are on your 35^th Crossing or you are a Highland Cross Newcomer we hope that you have a wonderful Crossing and that you make a great contribution to Highland charities through your efforts!

Safety Warning

Highland Cross exists to provide a unique crossing of Highland Scotland and most importantly generate funds for Highland Charities that seek to improve the medical and social well-being of folk in the Highlands.

That is why you have committed to the £500 per team minimum pledge. It is fantastic to see so much fundraising activity going on through online pages and we know that teams are holding fundraising events to boost their contribution. Thank you for that commitment and please continue it for as long as possible - the five excellent causes nominated this year need our help.

Justgiving

This is the quick link to set up a fundraising page for Highland Cross on Justgiving.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising-page/creation/?cid=172882&eid=4182088

The Community of the Cross has lost one of its longest serving supporters

Highland Cross is deeply saddened to announce the death of Miss Miriam Campbell of Beauly.  Miriam has been a stalwart supporter of Highland Cross since it was invited to place its Finish in Beauly 34 years ago. Along with her sister, Catriona, she organised the collaboration of Ladies Groups who continue to supply the meal to participants in the Phipps Hall. Her brother James is the Highland Cross’s Beauly Organiser.

Miriam was the epitome of a Highland lady and was deeply committed to her family and to the well-being of her community. Her death is a sore loss for all who knew and cared for her.  Highland Cross will be represented at her funeral in Beauly on Wednesday 7th June.

The Community of the Cross – Making the day happen

Volunteers from over twenty charities supported by Highland Cross this year or through previous fundraising will be working to make the day happen for you and to bring in essential funds for Highland causes.

As well as the supporting charities you will have help from an amazing selection of Highland Cross volunteers and supporting organisations.  Whether you are on your 35^th Crossing or you are a Highland Cross Virgin we hope that you have a wonderful Crossing and contribute to the benefit to Highland charities through your efforts!

Please ensure that this bulletin is shared with all your team members – not everybody has given us an email address.

With just over two weeks to go to the Cross, your preparations should be finalised and your training at its peak!

Substitution arrangements

We hope that your personal preparations and fundraising efforts are going well and that you will be with us on 17^th June but if you need to withdraw for any reason a substitute entry can be made for a replacement participant for your team up to the 12^th June.

The rules governing substitution are in your booklet but the substitution can only take place on the form from the inside back cover of the booklet

Why we make it happen

Five wonderful and diverse Highland causes have been selected as the main beneficiaries from the 35th Highland Cross and they are:

• Abbeyfield Ballachulish Society, Lochaber

• Caberfeidh Horizons, Kingussie

• Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, Ross-shire

• Shopmobility Highland, Dingwall

• Merkinch Community Centre Association, Inverness

Full details of their appeals are in the event booklet.

Your fundraising efforts will make an immense difference to the work of these causes and the folk in Highland that they work to support.

Bus Transport

We carefully order the correct number of buses according to the bookings that YOU have made.  The last thing that we want is not having enough bus capacity in the right place at the right time to get everybody round to the right start time!  Please stick to the booking that you have made. If you have to change it please let us know as soon as possible. We have to confirm the numbers with the bus companies on 12^th June.

Making it happen safely

We have constructed a Safety Net to support you along the route but the most important person in the safety Net is YOU!  As a minimum Highland Cross Organisers expect every participant to carry with them at all times during the event the following:

• A whistle to summon help – 6 blasts of the whistle repeated at one minute intervals

• A weather protective suit

• A small amount of high energy food

Weather Protection

Lightweight weather protective suits come in all materials and price ranges and can easily be carried in a bumbag or small day sack. Irrespective of the weather forecast – carry it all the way to Beauly.  In the interests of your own safety we expect that all participants will carry the recommended safety equipment on the day.

Fuel and Drink

You should know what works for you in terms of taking on fuel and drink whilst participating in an event of this length and time.  Every individual has different needs in this respect – we will provide water and Isostar rehydration fluid along the route. Use these as YOU know your body needs.  Take food that you know that you can tolerate and will give you the energy that you require to see you safely through the day.  Do not rely solely on energy gels and drinks to get you across unless you have tested that regime in advance.  We have had a number of incidents on the cycle section where participants have either ridden off the road or simply stopped pedalling and fallen over!  They characterise the incident as having just run out of energy!  Take food with you on the route that will keep you going and/or send it to the Changeover Area in your change bag.

Your bicycle

Please ensure that you have a fully functioning cycle and have the spares and tools that YOU can use to make necessary repairs or to deal with a puncture at any point on the cycle section.

Justgiving

If you wish to set up a Justgiving page in order to collect your sponsorship donations, here is the quick link to Highland Cross on Justgiving.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising-page/creation/?cid=172882&eid=4182088

The Community of the Cross – Making the day happen

As well as our own dedicated band of Highland Cross volunteers and supporting organisations volunteers from twenty charities supported by Highland Cross this year or through previous fundraising will be working to make the day happen for you and to bring in essential funds for Highland causes.