Training Log Archive: Lizzie

Middle on Teetotal Flat.

Headed down to Nelson Lakes and caught up the with Ellie, Lara, Magnus and Scott for some training. Headed off on a middle first, good fun areas trying to keep map contact in the thick shrub. Caught Scot up and had a bit of a to and fro with him, until he got a stick in his eye and I left him for dead...

Red 2 on Westbay from Southern O Week 2018. Playing life on hard by not having a compass for this course (I borrowed magnus's for the previous course while he rested). Meant head was up the whole time identifying the maze of clearings. Went alright for the most part, although a couple of times I picked the wrong clearing and made nice parallel errors! Got caught by Scott after I had to stop to get a sick fragment out of my leg, and got disoriented when i restarted. (no O socks, i was not prepared to go orienteering on this holiday!)
Had a to and fro with Scott again. Generally he would run off strong on his compass while I'd take it slower - then he'd pop back in to view from a different angle at the end of the leg!

C • Deja vous 2

From pigeon saddle to wainui via totaranui and the coastal track, northern Abel tasman. Stunner of a day and legs felt good for the most part after 3 days hiking.
Had a short break after 25km when I met m&d conveniently at a hut, and nabbed half a Chelsea bun off them. Then had 6km to go up and over the hill. The 3km up was fine but strangely I suffered on the downhill which was open to the sun and heat. Lucky I finished at a beach then!

Flora hut out to cobb reservoir via flora valley and Bullock track.had a good stop to check out the rock shelters. Which would be a wicked place to stay (but cold and damp last night). Disappointed to not spot more whio down the river

Balloon hut to Salisbury. Where we stopped to brew 2nd coffee. Caught up with the comeskys here (very small back country world), and waited out some rain and hail. Then on to explore sphinx creek and cave, which was cool,and nice respite from wind. then on and up Gordon's pyramid, fromwhich we decided to continue despite the ridiculous wind, as we could turn back if it got too bad. We managed ok though, stopping for pauses when we found small sheltered spots. Well worth it for the amazing geology, full of sinkholes lower down in the karst, and riddled with holes, caves and pits higher up. Unfortunately mt Arthur was topped in cloud and the winds were picking up toward gale force.so an easy decision to ditch the summit trip and head down the ridge to Arthur hut for a cuppa. An easy 45min down to flora hut for the night. Went for a walk in the evening and was stoked to see a whio for the first time :) the most bad ass duck around

C • Baloon hut 2

Back from harwards hole to brew the breakfast coffee.

Cobb reservoir to balloon hut via lake peel. Hot on the way up but wind chilled things down on the tops. Had just had dinner and spread ourselves out in the hut when Georgia, Pat and Cris arrived (in the rain). Small world in the back country eh. They had slightly more extreme trip.plams than us though.

Abel tasman inland track from marahau to Canaan downs. Mint day out, but a lot of climb and not much downhill to compensate! Track was in good nick for the first part but very rooty and rough the second half. Met m&d atthe top and enjoyed the look out with them before continuing on.

Enroute to motueka. Stopped to run cable bay to drumduan. Brutal first km up to the lookout, and some steep punches to keep the legs honest thereafter. Had to do some negotiating with a protective mumma cow. She had a good pair of sharp pointy horns, and a few hundred kg on me, so we agreed she could have the track and I'd climb up an earthbank and around her and her calf.