Why tramp the Southern Crossing?

Why tramp the Southern Crossing?

When you can run it! I mean, to think I have lugged a weekend pack between

Otaki Forks and Kaitoke, when at a pretty moderate pace early last year

I ran across with just a couple of litres of water, a bit of food

€3 f will admit, a couple of years ago I may have questioned

I the sanity of running across the tops of the Tararuas on I a marginal weather day (like most days in the Tararuas!) . On this day, as I peered through the murk, hoping the next peak might be Mt Hector and feeling the chill of a light southerly numbing my face, I was trying to imagine how the "average tramper" might view what I was doing.

o o

J

As I slid and slithered in the Tararua mud and clambered around the odd rocky ouicrop, I could feel my legs begin to tire and cool as the wind cut through my polypro leggings. And so I did have the odd moment to question my powers of reasoning. But by this stage it was going to be quicker to go on than to turn back.

E

Q3

!

Topping a steep ascent, thinking (and hoping) this must be Hector, I was once again disappointed. Luckily, itwas a false summit and the memorial cross on the top of Hector, the highest point of the Southern Crossing, soon appeared rle that rtholds rmit of

So to all those people who don't fancy lugging degree in the nured. ng the Iooked Ienuku a big pack across the Tararuas, try running!

out of the mist. Yes! I thought; I knew I was almost across the tops now. Fortunately, I knew there was one last hill to cross before the downhill to Kime and beyond.

stood es. cs, the ? care. hawed

Shuffling into Kime, a friendly face said, "do you wani a cup of tea?" A hot cup of tea weni down gloriously, warming me up from inside. So I had another and did a quick mental check. It had taken 5 hours from Kaitoke, so I probably had a couple of hours down and was looking at a 7-hour time. Well, not great, still not too bad for a first time, I suppose.

at the rt, and a great blue y- :acked

My path to Kime had started about 18 months previously, when Shane and Harriette lured me out on a short mountain run. I think Shane just wanted someone else to be at the back! Anyway, I enjoyed it. Up untilthen I had always found the odd trot around the pavement a necessary evil on the path to getting fit. So a few months later, I ran the Hooper Loop up to Mountain House and a year later the Holdsworth - Jumbo race itself . So now the Southern Crossing was the next challenge.

hns he would t! <ed up it was rffering hough .affoss :arried

Fortunately, I had a done a couple of training runs at either end of the Southern Crossing route, so I had worked out that I needed to pace myself going up the Marchant Ridge, a long slow grind. As I had heard, the race doesn't really start until Alpha.

Chinn,

1/2002 Tramping and Mountaineering 2001 /2002

NickWoods and some warm clothing.

Well, for me, I think the race really started at Kime. Maybe it was the tea, a brew reputed for its magical qualities on tramping trips! Anyway, as the air temperature rose on the way down, my legs thawed and started working properly once again. And thanks to a summer of dry northwesterly winds the track was nice and dry on the western side of the Tararuas.

My confidence started to rise; my legs were stretching out and my feetwere landing well. Everything was working well, and I was looking out 3 or 4 steps in advance picking my way through the rocks, among the roots, and down the occasional step. I was really enjoying this.

I arrived at Field Hut from Kime in about an hour. The weekbetore, I had run up to Field from Otaki Forks in about an hour, so I figured I should be able to beat that going down. I am sure I have never run down a hill as well before. On the way down out of the bush heading towards

Otaki Forks I finally overtook a couple of guys I had been tailing since about Alpha. Satisfaction.

Around 6 hours and forty minutes after leaving Kaitoke roadend I was crossing the footbridge and arriving at the Otaki Forks picnic area and the end of the race. Elation. I had just run across the Tararuas.

Unbelievably, most of the other clubbies in the event, who I hadn't seen for most of the race, had only come in

10 to 20 minutes ahead of me. It really was a great experience.

So to all those people who don't fancy lugging a big pack across the Tararuas, try running!

It's worth mentioning that the Tararua Mountain Race is well organised by long standing club member, Lyndsay Fletcher. It is also very comforting to know that there are plenty of marshals to help out along the way, usually including plenty of clubbies and Wellington Search and Rescue volunteers. Thanks to all those who help make it a safe and enjoyable event.

As for preparing for an event like this, I can only recommend taking a Christmas tramping trip with Sue and Allen Higgins. After 10 days crossing dodgy passes and swollen streams with over 20kg on your back, the Tararua Mountain Race will seem like a Saturdav morninq trot!