Rogaine 2010 6 Hour Winners Route Choice

Here is the Route choice of the Rogaine 2010 6 Hour Winners, Hazel Thompson & Terry Lawless

5 – 6 – 8 – 9 – 20 – 10 – 3 – 11 – 12 – 16 – 13 – 14 – 1

We decided immediately that 22 was too far away with few other controls near by, so ruled it out. This also meant skipping 7 unless somehow we still had loads of time and energy by the time we got around our loop. 18 was similar, we would see how we were going when we got that far, but when the time came we decided it wasn't worth the extra climb and distance and we would try for some of the 100 point controls on the way back instead.

Going to 5 on our way out probably wasn't so clever as we passed it on our way back but it didn't take us too far out of our way. It also meant that we were able to pick up a path that isn't on the map from the Wicklow Gap car park, up towards number 6. To 8 was straightforward contour around the mountain, over the spur to the stream gully and drop into 8. Then it was down onto Madman's Road for 9. We continued as best we could on Madman's road to 20 and came back out the same way. Didn't seem like there was much point trying to battle our way through the rides in the forest.

We then dropped down to the road. Our gaiters were very useful here through the gorse and we crossed over to the miners village and followed the path, which actually went almost all the way, up to number 10. From here we followed the stream up to the tracks across Camaderry and found number 3 among the peat hags. It was then an easy run down to number 11.

From 11 we went up over the bolder field, so as not to loose any height, climbed up to the fence and tried to stay on that contour around to the river to number 12. We then decided to go via Lough Firrib to number 16. It was quite rough down to 16 and a long drop down with a long climb back over to 13. To 14 was an easy run along the river. Our initial choice was to try for 4 but we then realised that it was too much climb and that 1 and 2 would be easier. We followed the river then road up to number 1. We may have had time for umber 2 but decided not to chance it and returned along the road to the finish. We had 10 minutes to spare so might have been able to get number 2 also but as it turned out, we didn't need it…