8 replies to this topic

[azza]

Hi all,

Having moved to Darwin, I have been lamenting the surprising lack of trails around the city. So, I was contemplating organizing a fat ass event to get the trail bug out of my system (at least for a few months, anyway).

The trail I'm proposing is the Jatbula Trail. It runs from the Nitmiluk Centre on the Katherine Gorge (approx 30k from Katherine) to Leliyn/Edith Falls (approx 220km from Darwin). It has been described by the NT gov't as, "a long and potentially difficult walk". So why not run it instead?

http://www.nt.gov.au...tbula_trail.pdf

The trail is 58km long, and includes a ferry river crossing across the Katherine River that's pretty close to the start. According to the info sheet there is plenty of fresh water availble from creeks and rivers, but carrying 3 litres between water stops is recommended.

The other restriction is that it would have to be done during the Dry - many of the areas along the trail are impassable during the Wet Season due to river crossings, Oct to May is out.

A quick runown on my running history - I'm somewhat new to running, but I've recently completed 6 Foot and Trailwalker Melbourne. I look little, but I'm wiry (like most distance runners). I'm also keen to get a bit more experience on the trails. For those with a sweet tooth,I tend to carry a candy shop in my camel back whenever I'm out for more than a few hours.

So, any interest in exploring this part of the world?

-azza

Edited after reading the pedant's corner thread - corrected a dangling participle, and inserted American spelling

Edited by azza, 03 August 2008 - 10:21 PM.

[milov]

Hey Azza,

well done in taking this initiative. I wish I was in that part of the world as it has been a long time dream of mine to incorporate trail running with wrestling man eating crocodiles.

One of these days I will go to the NT, and when I do I will definitely do some running.

milov

[Simlin]

When I walked this trail the river was low enough not to have the ferry crossing which added a little extra distance to the first leg...there is plenty of water of the first half...but the second half is a bit sparser...would be a great run, I wish I was still in the NT.  Definately would want to start as early as possible.

[Long Arms]

milov, on Aug 2 2008, 11:33 PM, said:

Hey Azza,

well done in taking this initiative. I wish I was in that part of the world as it has been a long time dream of mine to incorporate trail running with wrestling man eating crocodiles.

One of these days I will go to the NT, and when I do I will definitely do some running.

milov

By the look of you in your picture Milov, you wouldn't have any trouble with the crocs

[azza]

This could be worth a trip up to the Top End... after all, what better motivation to keep running than a croc on your tail!

Thanks for the tip Simlin - if you've got any other info on the trail, please let me know. I walked a bit of it near the falls, but I haven't seen it from the Katherine end.

[Simlin]

Katherine end is the best.
10k in at the first camp site there is a gushing creek, great for swimming in.  then another 10k and there is another one...ps at the first one don't leave your bag un-attended as there are some pretty cunning birds around that are quite handy at opening zips and eating all your trail mix and the like.

[AndyP]

How fast do you go on these sorts of things?  I'm only coming up to my first half marathon in a few weeks time.

Not that I'm available.  I'm not in Katherine until October.

[sook54]

I could be interested in doing part of it (e.g. the first 10km return = 20km) but it does sound pretty tough in the last part and there may be other safety issues (like snakes, and I don't mean the jelly kind). Have you checked with the national parks people about it?

Also make sure you schedule it before mid-September, when the heat/humidity starts to really crank up.

[azza]

Due to some commitments that have recently come up, I don't think I'll be able to organise this prior to the start of the wet season, so...

FAT ASS JATBULA TRAIL - JULY 2009 (save the date!)

If anyone is interested, I do want to get out there 26-28 Sept 08, and hike the trail over 2-3 days to make some notes on what will be needed for a run. I have one person lined up to come along with me, but could really use one or two more. Come on up for a long weekend, you can still get reasonable airfares from Melbourne and Sydney (not so sure about the rest of the country, though)!

That time of year, it should still be dry, but the build up will have started, so it'll be getting a wee bit warm.