118 replies to this topic

[tim]

http://alpineultra.blogspot.com/


valentine's day is about spending time with the person you love.  For some of us that is bush trails.

So this valentine's day 3 of us are planning on running the Alpine Walking Trail - 650km of remote, tough, mountainous bushland.

It has been our focus for sometime and we think we can set the speed record for this trail.  It is a bit like Bogong to Hotham every day for 2 weeks.  

Our crew will be UCB and Kath.

We have been lucky enough to get some sponsorship from a product we all use and love - injinji socks

And would like to also use this to raise funds and awareness for Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Regular updates will be posted here and on our blog so I hope everyone will share in our adventure.

[SpartaJen]

Awesome!

What an amazing journey you have ahead of you. I won't be able to follow most of your journey as I'll be off on my own adventure but my thoughts will be with you & I wish you the best.  

[Hamburglar]

Cool

[Bernie G]

After listening to you guys discuss this over the weekend it sounds like a truely amazing adventure, I look forward to following your progress.

[undercover brother]

this is so huge.
our american cousins have been doing multi-day 'expedition' trail running for a while now: appalachian trail, PCT...
this is the new era for australian ultra running.
you guys are legends.

Edited by undercover brother, 14 January 2009 - 08:05 AM.

[Beaver]

Watching this very closely.



Make that record a good one (but not too good) - I know you will!

[RMC]

2 weeks with 2 other smelly blokes. Sounds like an awesome adventure, good luck with it. I'll think of you guys on St Valentines Day when I'm with my partner.  

[Innes]

Wow...

absolutely incredible.

Good luck guys, will be following your progress very closes.

question - can mortals run with the gods for a stage or 2?

[spoonman]

Awesome!  I am incredibly jealous.

[spoonman]

How are you guys going through the Cobberas?  I hope it isn't on the road.  The whole point of all those wilderness areas is to go trackless.

[Vurt]

freaks...

looking forward to following your progress - good luck !

[cliffold]

Wonderful  - will read every detail

[Brick]

Very jealous it will be a great trip I am sure.

[thomo]

tim, on Jan 14 2009, 08:21 AM, said:

So this valentine's day 3 of us are planning on running the Alpine Walking Trail - 650km of remote, tough, mountainous bushland.

Our crew will be UCB and Kath.

undercover brother, on Jan 14 2009, 08:55 AM, said:

this is so huge.
our american cousins have been doing multi-day 'expedition' trail running for a while now: appalachian trail, PCT...
this is the new era for australian ultra running.
you guys are legends.

Even the support crew is talking it up.

Good luck and you might even find your Valentine is closer than you think

[Reddog]

Fantastic! Sounds awesome all power to you guys! Good to see you are leaving 2 weeks to taper for 6ft!

[Blue Dog]

WOW !!!

You guys are amazing. This will be a life-changing adventure that you will never forget; something truly awesome!

Dare I say it .... all three of you are LEGENDS and INSPIRATIONS !!!

Best wishes, Dog.  

[brettsrun]

Amazing adventure to be had by Mellum.
Hope it all goes well, be safe.

[rodthehornet]

I'm jealous.  

Have you got daily legs worked out or seeing how it works out.  Will be driving back from Tassie on day 2 and might be able to swing by.

Good luck
Rod

[tim]

rodthehornet, on Jan 14 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

I'm jealous.  

Have you got daily legs worked out or seeing how it works out.  Will be driving back from Tassie on day 2 and might be able to swing by.

Good luck
Rod

Oh there is lots of detail.  It is all worked out.  But whippet is the master planner.

[JustinS007]

tim, on Jan 14 2009, 08:21 AM, said:

http://alpineultra.blogspot.com/

Yep, that looks cool.  Have a great time guys.

J.

[Spud]

rodthehornet, on Jan 14 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

Have you got daily legs worked out or seeing how it works out.  Will be driving back from Tassie on day 2 and might be able to swing by.

Whippet is working on the itinerary with a plethora of topos.
Preliminary plans/itinerary in place but will most likely be tweaked.

[seris]

You guys are sick...... sick is good!

[Martin Dugdale]

you can add me to the jealous list, you are all some way, a long way past barking mad. but that is a beautiful place to be. go well, I will be a vicarious passenger via your blog.

Edited by Martin Dugdale, 14 January 2009 - 09:25 PM.

[Rivz]

What an amazing adventure! Will be watching intently ....and probably dreaming a little too!

Rivz

[Fred]

eejits

[Mango]

You guys are absolute nutters but I'll be keenly following your adventure.

Good luck  

[emjay]

a nice little taper for 6ft

[spoonman]

tim, on Jan 14 2009, 08:33 PM, said:

Oh there is lots of detail.  It is all worked out.  But whippet is the master planner.

Well whippet, post it !  Don't keep us guessing.  You know this planning and logistics will form the basis for all future attempts (Mr G i hope you are reading!).

[Louie de Fly]

two questions i am interested in are
What is the record and who holds it
and who are the australians that have done it if you know
just interested to see if any other aust ultra runners have done it if anyone knows let me know
Lou

[Whippet Man]

There is no official record. The unofficial custodians of such information deliberately do not keep a register to avoid encouraging inexperienced and inadequately equipped people setting off and getting into trouble. The best known time is around 22 days with a rather dubious time of 10 days that was discredited and unconfirmed. We are not in this to dispute previous crossings, rather we are doing this for our own challenge. Our time will be easily verified as we will have crew documenting our progress. No doubt others will be able to complete the course faster. But this is not a race, it is a journey, an adventure for us. The fact we love to run trails means we will hopefully cover it in good time.

As for people joining us, the logistics are not really suited to such. While we will have a planned itinerary it will be dependent on our progress and the weather. And anyone who experienced the alpine weather at C2K or even B2H will appreciate that safety is a paramount concern so we will have enough to worry about looking after our team without any added responsibilities. And access to many of the road crossings would require considerable drives from capital cities. But we hope to share our adventure through CR and our blog. And we will be able to share advice and information for those inspired enough to also attempt the full trail. We will make mistakes but hopefully learn from them and be able to pass that advice on to others.

Meanwhile, I am seeing contour lines before my eyes so I can't wait to actually get out there and see some real trail.

[Virtual]

May your six toed injinis stay dry.   Not sure whether I should sponsor by the hour or by the kilometre.

Have a good one. Will follow your progress with keen interest.

[bmac]

wow, i can only dream of having the time to walk it one day...but to run it!!

Good luck and will be another follower of the blog!

[Paul Every]

This is so cool! I know you guys (and girl) are going to have such a life affirming experience. So many of us will be looking on with an exhuberant interest and lashings of I-wish-I-were-out-there-ness.

Perhaps it's time to start a list of those of us who are jealous.    

It is an awesome charity you have chosen too.

[Dutchie]

Good luck guys.

Look out for Karl (Mr Dutchie) who is going solo and starts on 1st Feb, walking it.
He's hoping to do it in about 30 odd days and wanting to be back in time to run the 6Ft track.

Dutchie

[Pasty]

Neato.  Now i am jealous.

[errorfilenotfound]

Quote

What is the record and who holds it

Peter Treseder ?

[spoonman]

Is there anyone travelling from Melbourne eastern suburbs (or even the city) to Geelong that could help me get a bunch of books to Whippet in the next couple of days?

[Kelvin]

Sounds like a great adventure ahead of you all, looking forward to hearing all about it at Six Foot Track. Believe me i'm another one wishing i was out there with you,

Have a great time,

Kelvin

[EXE]

What a terrific adventure for Team Mellum.  I truly wish I was doing the same trip.  Have you room in one of your packs?

On the subject of packs I would be really interested to discover what you plan to take in terms of clothing, equipment and consumables.  Super light bushwalking or alpine running gear?  Perhaps you might post the list for each of your team members on your blog.  What backup gear will UCB have at hand?

Best wishes.

EXE

[Spud]

EXE, on Jan 22 2009, 09:00 AM, said:

What a terrific adventure for Team Mellum.  I truly wish I was doing the same trip.  Have you room in one of your packs?

On the subject of packs I would be really interested to discover what you plan to take in terms of clothing, equipment and consumables.  Super light bushwalking or alpine running gear?  Perhaps you might post the list for each of your team members on your blog.  What backup gear will UCB have at hand?

Best wishes.

EXE

Exe,

We have just ordered a load of gear including backpacks, sleeping bags and jackets.Thanks largely to our sponsor Injinji.
Details will be uploaded on the blog soon, including the itinerary Whippet has been working on. All the gear is super light/high tech of course, but adequate for alpine running. I'm sure should we be lacking in anything at all, Mr Gearman UCB will have plenty of backup.


Cheers.

[Maggot]

Spud, on Jan 22 2009, 10:04 AM, said:

All the gear is super light/high tech of course... Mr Gearman UCB will have plenty of backup.

The words 'gear', 'hi-tech' and 'UCB' in the same post somehow have a certain symmetry and reassuring quality that seems to reinforce the natural order of things .
This epic is going to be closely followed. Hope the plans are coming along nicely.
Maggotman

[Whippet Man]

OK here is our planned itinerary. This does not factor in bad weather or other issues that may impede our progress. We aim to meet our crew on as many nights as possible to allow us to travel "light" when we can. "Light" being a relative term when you add in all the emergency gear and food and water.  

Thanks to Spoonie for the box of books to help sort through the variances in trail and distances. Still the distances are pretty rough. The main guidebook (soon to be updated) factors in lots of side trips that we won't be doing. Remember to visit our blog (in sig below) which has links to our charity and Injinji who are offering a discount if you mention our run.  

1. Walhalla-Thomson Valley Rd                      40km    40km
2. Thomson V Rd Jamieson-Licola Rd              52km    92km
3. Jamieson-Licola Rd – The Nobs**               37km   129km
4. The Nobs-East Riley Rd                             49km   178km
5. East Riley (Buffalo) Rd-Mt Hotham              44km   222km
6. Mt Hotham-**Maddison Hut Site                 42km   264km
7. Maddison Hut Site-Mitta Mitta River             42km   306km
8. Mitta Mitta-Mt Hope Rd                               43km   349km
9. Mt Hope Rd-**Cowombat Flats                    41km   390km
10. Cowombat Flat-Charlotte Pass                   59km    449km                                                                    
11. Charlotte Pass-**Tumut River                   49km    498km
12. Tumut River-Kiandra                                 58km   556km
13. Kiandra-Blue Waterholes                           51km   607km
14. Blue Waterholes-Tharwa                            60km   667km

**Denotes camp out nights

6. Pick up night gear at Langford Gap (@30km)
7. Drop night gear at Omeo Hwy (@22km)
9. Night gear at Limestone Rd/Cowombat Tr Jnt(@28km)
10. Drop night gear at Dead Horse Gap (@42km)
11. Pick up night gear at Guthega Power Station (@17km)
13. Access at Port Phillip Fire Trail
14. Access at Orroral Space Station

Edited by Whippet Man, 28 January 2009 - 10:38 PM.

[milov]

Tim, Whippet and Spud,

I am very sorry to hear about your enforced postponement of this amazing run. I think your comments on the blog appropriately detail your decision.

As soon as you are ready to re-muster the team I am sure you will tackle the AAWT with renewed determination and inspiration.


Go Mellum!
(never thought I would say that!)

milov

[Spud]

Cheers Milov,

Yes this time tomorrow we were due to hit the fabled AAWT. but alas it's not to be.
We have everything in place now though and it will be run in the future.

Looks likely the AAWT may not be the only run affected by the bushfires.
Marrondah..TW?....AAUM??....Prom???

Stay tuned.

[seris]

Absolute bummer guys. I had been looking forward to hearing updates of your run. Good decision to postpone. Let's hope your trip goes ahead soon.

[DontStop]

Guys, I read your site a few weeks ago with much interest. Over the years I've walked just about every kilometer of the AAWT (save for the last bits into Canberra), so I know the run you have planned would be an incredible achievement.

But, and apologies for offering unsolicited advice, I would seriously reconsider ever trying to do this run in February. I've walked that track most times of the year, and strapped on the XC skiis over parts of it in winter. But February is fire season up there, always was and always will be.

Especially the Victorian section - there's no way I go into the Alps (especially into the more remote sections) in Feb. It's just too dangerous.

I guess you chose Feb because the days are long, so you've got plenty of daylight in which to cover the huge kms you need to do. And there's almost zero chance of dangerous weather (the 'cold' type of dangerous).

But if it were me, I'd trade both those factors off against the severe dangers of doing the AAWT in feb. Anytime from late November through to mid Jan is reasonably safe. March is also ok. You stand some chance of getting the odd bit of crappy weather (white-outs, a little snow, rain) but much less chance of the sort of conditions that we encountered in 03, 06 and now 09.

Anyway - please take this in the spirit in which it's intended: I've done plenty of things in the bush that others would say is needlessly dangerous - solo hiking, etc. So I completely respect and understand risk-taking behaviour - it simultaneously makes you feel more alive, while diminishing your chances of actually being alive. But I have a deep and abiding love of the remote sections of the Victorian high country, and from past experience I've learned that it's best to stay away in the month of feb.

Good luck and take care!

[Andolate]

DontStop, on Feb 14 2009, 09:26 AM, said:

Guys, I read your site a few weeks ago with much interest. Over the years I've walked just about every kilometer of the AAWT (save for the last bits into Canberra), so I know the run you have planned would be an incredible achievement.

But, and apologies for offering unsolicited advice, I would seriously reconsider ever trying to do this run in February. I've walked that track most times of the year, and strapped on the XC skiis over parts of it in winter. But February is fire season up there, always was and always will be.

Especially the Victorian section - there's no way I go into the Alps (especially into the more remote sections) in Feb. It's just too dangerous.

I guess you chose Feb because the days are long, so you've got plenty of daylight in which to cover the huge kms you need to do. And there's almost zero chance of dangerous weather (the 'cold' type of dangerous).

But if it were me, I'd trade both those factors off against the severe dangers of doing the AAWT in feb. Anytime from late November through to mid Jan is reasonably safe. March is also ok. You stand some chance of getting the odd bit of crappy weather (white-outs, a little snow, rain) but much less chance of the sort of conditions that we encountered in 03, 06 and now 09.

Anyway - please take this in the spirit in which it's intended: I've done plenty of things in the bush that others would say is needlessly dangerous - solo hiking, etc. So I completely respect and understand risk-taking behaviour - it simultaneously makes you feel more alive, while diminishing your chances of actually being alive. But I have a deep and abiding love of the remote sections of the Victorian high country, and from past experience I've learned that it's best to stay away in the month of feb.

Good luck and take care!

Ditto to be precautious -

I have a property in the Bundara Valley which is between Mt Hotham and Falls Creek as the crow flows ( basically )
At the moment everybody is on high alert and unless you live near a river you have sfa chance of saving your place let alone staying alive. The place is incredibly dry, there are fires in Dargo and at Beechworth which if the winds turn could head your way anytime. My suggestion -

Take into account the weather and where the fires are burning in the lead up to your run. If the fires are within 150klm of your planned run cancel it. The 2003 fires ripped thorugh our valley at over 100klm an hour. The place is still balck and bare.

Just dont take for granted that you are safe if you are more than 100klms away. I can assure you that DSE and CFA will not come to your rescue. They would be busy trying to save towns.

Andolate.

Edited by Andolate, 14 February 2009 - 09:02 AM.

[Whippet Man]

Thanks Dontstop. We always welcome advice from those with experience and especially knowledge of the trail. February was always a gamble and a bit of a compromise. Of course now we are looking at other options but in the scheme of things our inconvenience is insignificant compared to what has transpired. Having recently experienced blizzard like conditions up there in December and previously in November we are acutely aware of the potential perils at whatever time we go. So safety has always been a major consideration. At least with good gear we can ride out a snowstorm. Thanks again for the input.

[Whippet Man]

Thanks also Andolate. There is no chance of us ever starting while there is fire activity in the high country. We have seen the results of the 2003 and 2006 devastation.

[walker1st]

in the last issue of e- centurion newsletter, which can be accessed for centurion website for free,

there are few intersting articles and stories, like walk accros UK in both direction, walk accross australia west to east with no vehicle support

and page 5-6 is relavant to this topic - walk along the Alpine Track finishing in Wallhalla
solo by a women, has some links to relevant information.

If You cant access it let me know, will post direct link here.

It also says that teh usual time of year for doing this track is late spring, so it provides as much drinking water a spossible along teh track, seems that late summer is not considered a good choice.