Trail Run ideas

[Phil]

Hey guys

Looking for some inspiration/ideas!

I'd like to go for a bit of a 'real' trail run hopefully late next week - just require approval from the 'boss' so not holding my breath yet

I do plenty of running throughout the Launceston Gorge and Trevallyn Reserve areas and would like to head off somewhere else for a bit of an adventure!

It would have to be a out and back or loop circuit as it'd be just me by myself and would therefore need to get back to wherever I left the car. I did the Triple Top Mountain Run last year (Mt Roland range) and in Easter last year went up the Arm River to Ossa and back out in the day (trip report on this forum).

Would prefer to not have to drive more than 2hrs or so to start; obviously it would be dependent on the weather forecast and conditions too. Have thought maybe out to Barn Bluff and back via Scott Kilvert Hut track; another thought was up through the Walls and then around past Lake Ball/Lake Adelaide and back down; I had also thought from Lake St Clair to summit Little Hugel, Hugel and Mount Rufus..........

For what I'm looking to do obviously the track needs to be reasonable (no off-track stuff!!) so that I can keep a reasonable pace; anyway, any ideas people?!?!

Thanks

Phil

[doogs]

Scratch rufus and hugels idea, there is no speeding on the massive boulders on hugel.
The freycinet circuit might suit if the weathers poor in the middle.
Up the past chapter lake then return via lake bill, bagging mount rogoona if you have time.
PS Ossa is a day walk why run it

[Phil]

Scratch rufus and hugels idea, there is no speeding on the massive boulders on hugel.
The freycinet circuit might suit if the weathers poor in the middle.
Up the past chapter lake then return via lake bill, bagging mount rogoona if you have time.
PS Ossa is a day walk why run it

Good point with the boulders on hugel doogs. Freycinect circuit is a good idea, I have been up to Chapter Lake and have also been up Rogoona on another occasion. I'm not looking to bag the entire Overland Track or anything like that, I'll keep that for another occasion

http://www.cradlemtnrun.asn.au/

The Ossa day was a beauty; sitting on top a little over 4hrs from hitting the track. Randomly met sbs up there for the first time and sat around for close to 2 hours before heading back to the car.

[pazzar]

Mt Jerusalem for a gentle run, Lake Nameless area you could clock up some pretty quick km's, or you could run a section of the Penguin to Cradle track. Or for a real tricky one, run up Snow Hill!

[Phil]

Mt Jerusalem for a gentle run, Lake Nameless area you could clock up some pretty quick km's, or you could run a section of the Penguin to Cradle track. Or for a real tricky one, run up Snow Hill!

I'm thinking the Walls/Lake Myrtle/Moses Creek Track area might be an option, plenty of choices up there. Might give Lake Nameless a miss, wandered up there about this time last year; really enjoyable meandering actually!

Where's Snow Hill?!

Last edited by Phil on Mon 26 Sep, 2011 4:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[doogs]

Where's Snow Hill?!

Hang your head in shame!!!
My son made it to the top of Snow Hill, near Lake Leake, aged around 15 months in a whopping 20 minutes, you may struggle to match his pace though

[Son of a Beach]

Little Hugel and Rufus is an excellent circuit, with only a short back-track for Little Hugel itself. As already stated, skip (big) Hugel itself for running, but the rest of that track would be perfect for trail running, and the views from the tops of those two mountains are excellent.

[pazzar]

You could always run the OT - only takes 8-10 hours.

[ILUVSWTAS]

You could always run the OT - only takes 8-10 hours.

What drugs are you on boy???

[Tony]

You could always run the OT - only takes 8-10 hours.

Actually less than 8-10 hours, this years Cradle Mountain Track race winner did it in 7 hours 22 minutes

[ILUVSWTAS]

[quote="Tony"

Actually less than 8-10 hours, this years Cradle Mountain Track race winner did it in 7 hours 22 minutes[/quote]


Did you notice what position Pazzar placed Tony?

[Tony]

Did you notice what position Pazzar placed Tony?

I think he is still on the course.

[pazzar]

I'm keen to give it a go one day, I was pretty quick over 15km once, no reason why i couldn't train for longer.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hahaha Nicely said Tony.

Pazzar, not saying you couldnt do it, BUT when you do... wear a SPOT so we can all see if you CAN beat 8-10 hrs eh??

[MJD]

Looks like 8:08 was the quickest time this year. Means Tony would be winning. The 7:22 is a corrected handicap time. Looking down the list it seems that there was a gorilla in the field!

[Phil]

Hahaha Nicely said Tony.

Pazzar, not saying you couldnt do it, BUT when you do... wear a SPOT so we can all see if you CAN beat 8-10 hrs eh??

Friend of mine who I've trained with a couple of times came 8th this year in a time of 9:49:53. Pretty amazing really when you think about it. I'd like to do it one day; wouldn't be too worried about my overall time, just as long as I made it to the check points before the cut-off times and was able to finish the event!!

[Tony]

Looks like 8:08 was the quickest time this year. Means Tony would be winning. The 7:22 is a corrected handicap time. Looking down the list it seems that there was a gorilla in the field!

Sorry about that, I realised that I had posted the handicap time after I posted, the female handicap winner is a local Canberra runner, she wins a lot of 100k and 24 hour runs.

I had always wanted to do a long distance mountain running race but years of running has taken a toll on my legs and I have decided to keep what miles I have left for bushwalking, I just do a few shorter races these days, and some cycling.

This is a photo of me crossing the finish line in the August Black Mountain run-up, note all of the much younger runners just behind me.

BlckMtn0024-M.jpg (142.86 KiB) Viewed 13968 times

[ILUVSWTAS]

Good job Tony!! I'd love to be that fit!! A 60year old chap I know ran the OT a few years back, I think he took 12-14 hrs.

[Tony]

Good job Tony!! I'd love to be that fit!! A 60year old chap I know ran the OT a few years back, I think he took 12-14 hrs.

Hi ILUVSWTAS,

I know lots of 60+ yo that do long distance runs.

This person crossing the finish line in the same race, is 84 years young, there is hope for you yet ILUVSWTAS.

BlckMtn0036-M.jpg (154.19 KiB) Viewed 13911 times

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thanks Tony! Thats amazing!! If im still able to walk to my tv to turn it on at 80 I will be happy!!!!

[Nick S]

That's impressive!

[Phil]

Wow, that is inspirational! Check out the legs on him, what a machine!

[tastrekker]

I'm also just getting into some trail running and have done 3 in recent months although only the first one was all walking track:
1. Sisters Beach to Rocky Cape (Postmans Pass) via the inland track then back via Cathedral Rocks and Anniversary Bay
2. Williamsford to Mt Hamilton, Mt Read, Lake Johnston (shhh) and back via the Mt Read and Williamsford Roads
3. South Barrow (up and down the road)

On a recent trip to Castle Crag I met 2 married couples who were running the Pine Hut Plain, Lees Paddocks, Kia Ora, Pelion Gap, Reedy Lake loop. The two ladies said one of their favourites was a run they did from Arm River to Cradle Mt, climbing Ossa and Barn Bluff - that's an impressive day's running!

Some other ideas I've thought of doing:
Anything in the Dial Range - several loops possible
Winterbrook Falls, Tramway/Maxwells Track circuit
Black Bluff circuit via Maxwell and Brooks Tracks and linking them using Loongana Rd and the forestry road that follows western side of Winter Brook (I think this may be Maxwells Rd which Maxwells Track is an extension of).

[corvus]

Scratch rufus and hugels idea, there is no speeding on the massive boulders on hugel.
The freycinet circuit might suit if the weathers poor in the middle.
Up the past chapter lake then return via lake bill, bagging mount rogoona if you have time.
PS Ossa is a day walk why run it

Not being an adherent of Trail Running I dont really know what conditions you need however
if a clearly well defined track is required there are parts of the Moses Creek Track to Junction Lake via Chapter Lake that are not , very nice for a Stroll running
corvus

[Phil]

What can anyone tell me about the Cuvier Valley Track and/or the Lake Marion track?

[Son of a Beach]

Cuvier Valley is not suitable for running (although I'm not a runner, so I'm just guessing).

The track is not officially closed, however it has not been maintained for years (according to the sign at the southern end). The section through the Cuvier Valley itself, although flat, is all button grass, and the track has all but disappeared in that button grass area, and is overgrown in most of the remaining areas. Unless you like running through untracked button grass, I'd give it a miss.

Great place for walking though, if you don't mind the lack of a track. Byron Gap and Lake Petrarch are both superb locations!

[Phil]

Cuvier Valley is not suitable for running (although I'm not a runner, so I'm just guessing).

The track is not officially closed, however it has not been maintained for years (according to the sign at the southern end). The section through the Cuvier Valley itself, although flat, is all button grass, and the track has all but disappeared in that button grass area, and is overgrown in most of the remaining areas. Unless you like running through untracked button grass, I'd give it a miss.

Great place for walking though, if you don't mind the lack of a track. Byron Gap and Lake Petrarch are both superb locations!

And that is exactly what I was needing to find out!! Thanks Nik!!

What about the track out to Lake Marion, do you know at all?

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Thanks Tony! Thats amazing!! If im still able to walk to my tv to turn it on at 80 I will be happy!!!!

You must be getting old ILUV... they have these things now called remote controls so you don't have to get up

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thanks Tony! Thats amazing!! If im still able to walk to my tv to turn it on at 80 I will be happy!!!!

You must be getting old ILUV... they have these things now called remote controls so you don't have to get up

Hahaha yes... errrr um.... whoops

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Does bushwalk.com even work on something like this?

old-computer.jpg (45.35 KiB) Viewed 13782 times

My Grandpa played tennis twice a week until he was about 88 years old. The 80 year old running that race... absolute respect!