Snow at sunrise
Posted inTrail Running

Overland Snow from Go to Whoa

Last week I was working at Lake St Clair when Kylie came to visit. In typical Kylie fashion she arrived via an Overland Track trail run on what may turn out to be the best snow day of the winter. Good snow had fallen overnight Friday and intermittent flurries continued through Saturday. By Sunday morning, when Kylie left Waldheim, snow had settled as low as 500 metres above sea level over much of Tasmania during the last 36 hours.
Aurora australis
Posted inTrail Running

Overland Track with the Works – Single Push – FKT

When off-season Overland Track passes went on ‘sale’ in early May I was able to snaffle a ticket for 1st June.  I wasn’t sure how close I could get to Kylie’s time so I set myself the broad goal of finishing anywhere under 40 hours for the 130km and 6,000m ascent.
Overland with the Works – Take Two
Posted inTrail Running

Overland with the Works – Take Two

Barely days after our first attempt at Overland Track with all Classic Side Trips, Kylie announced another thumping great high was heading our way following a good dumping of snow.  Reluctant to succumb to the ice I invested in some Kahtoola micro spikes while Kylie chose to continue with the Black Diamond ‘nanos’.  What could possibly go wrong?
Sunrise lake reflections
Posted inTrail Running

Overland Track with the Works – Take One

The Overland Track with all the Classic Side Trips mission was born out of Kylie’s 50th birthday project – 50 Mountain Marathons in 50 Consecutive Weeks - which ran until August 2024.  With work and life in general preventing marathons in some weeks, it was inevitable that attention turned to missions that could deliver multiple marathons in a week, sometimes even on consecutive days.
Cradle Mt sunrise
Posted inTrail Running

Cradle Mountain Run – February 2018

Sunday morning, Derwent Bridge Hotel. Breakfast.  I joined a stiff, sore but very satisfied group of ultra-trail runners to celebrate 78 kilometres of remote, undulating, unforgiving and wild trail running.  Only open to 60 runners it was a rare privilege to compete in and complete the official race along a walking track that has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Approaching Pelion Gap in the snow
Posted inTrail Running

Lap of Pelion East – August 2020

In 2011, on an autumn mission to Kia Ora Falls and Castle Crag, I was walking the Overland Track just past Kia Ora hut around 11am. An unlikely group of runners approached from the south. They were completing what they dubbed, “The Lap of Pelion East.” Nine years later, Kylie and I were looking for a winter adventure and decided to complete a 'Lap' of our own.
Anticipating Cradle
Posted inTrail Running

Anticipating Cradle

The Cradle Mountain Run has loomed large in my imagination for as long as I can remember.  It's a long story but...  This Saturday 3rd February will be my first attempt at running the entire 82 kilometre Overland Track from Ronny Creek to Cynthia Bay. Approaching Pine Forest Moor on a winter Overland Track training run with Kylie. There's…
Pine Forest Moor
Posted inTrail Running

Windermere to Pelion

Heading south to Pine Forest Moor just before sunrise.  Mt Oakleigh brooding in the distance. Snowy walk, saturated run, even snowier walk.  What a way to spend a few days on Tasmania's iconic Overland Track!  This was my first time combining trail running with an overnight bushwalk.  On day one Kylie and I enjoyed a snowy wander from Dove…