TGO Challengers Lou and Phyllis La Borwit, with fellow US Challenger Rob Hausam, ride the iron horse to Mallaig for the start of the 2007 TGO Challenge. | | 
All aboard – the ferry MV Western Isles was loaded to capacity with 50 TGO Challengers and their packs when it set sail on Friday, May 11, for Inverey in Knoydart, one of the most remote habitations in Britain. | | 
Steve Cain, who flew all the way from New Zealand to take part in the 2007 TGO Challenge, helps unload packs from the MV Western Isles, after its arrival in Inverey for the start of the annual two-week hike across Scotland. |
Wendy Olsen dips her boots in the Atlantic before beginning her hike east, with brother Craig MacPherson, who flew over from Texas to join his sister on the world's premier backpacking event. | | 
Challengers being Challengers, the Mallaig Mob hiked straight into the Old Forge for a final beer within minutes of landing at Inverey. | | 
Walking at last - Steph Hughes enjoys a break in the showers while hiking alongside Loch an Dubh-Lochain |
Typical grey Scottish skies and dramatic lighting form a backdrop to Steph Hughes's ascent of Luinne Bheinn. | | 
Is this the UK's finest trail? I reckon so! The teasing, meandering, mesmerising descent of the Mam Unndalain. Cameron McNeish introduced me to this path several years ago on the TGO Challenge and I just had to return and, this time around, introduce its delights to Steph. | | 
Tidiest campers in the world – making the most of the peace and solitude at our first night's |
Day Two: Steph Hughes above Lochan nam Breac, Luinne Bheinn behind. | | 
Shoes-off job - crossing the sandy outflow of Lochan nam Breac. Last time I crossed here the stepping stones offered a dry way across. | | 
Our second night's camp was on a small promontory on the shores of Loch Quoich where, after traversing the Sgurr Mor Ridge and its three peaks, we were treated to a stunning sunset. |
Day Three: After two days during which we'd met no other Challengers beyond Inverey, we ran in to Wendy Olsen again, with her brother Craig MacPherson, and fellow Challenger Dennis Pidgeon. Here, Wendy's showing Dennis's friends Billy and Colin the way from Glen Kingie to Glen Garry. | | 
Here are Craig and Wendy again, enjoying a trail snack. Folk relate to the Challenge as one big happy family and here is the evidence! | | 
Time for a break (certainly not the first, and only one of many!) en route for a tick-ridden pitch near the Tomdoun Hotel in Glen Garry. |
Did I say tick-ridden? Read "infested". Here Steph's removing an embedded tick from Dennis Pidgeon's leg using the special tick tweezers provided by Tick Alert. | | 
Here's a tip: if you're ever hiking the Challenge between the Tomdoun and Invergarry, don't follow the road; the forest trails to the south of the road provide easy, pleasant hiking. The few hundred extra yards is well worth the effort. | | 
Blisters - treat them before they become a problem. Steph\'s new boots and insoles caused a number of sore spots but treating them before they developed into a real problem meant she was able to continue her Challenge without too much discomfort. |
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