Training Log Archive: NSW Stinger

Remote and difficult trek through outback properties and pockets of rain forrest with challenging navigation.

Well this leg was a shocker. 1:100 000map and 40m contours. We started about 11pm, with the first long leg on a track. Lost about an hour looking for the control 3 times because the control was much further off the track than described.
The next leg to 34b was very tough nav, and we slept for 30mins waiting for first light before I got lost in the complex spur gully terrain. Happy to see the forest was quite easy to walk thru, but it took so long to get anywhere, and it was really steep. I cut out of the creek too early to look for the control and ended up climbing over about 6 huge spurs, expecting to find the control on the next one. After a few hours of climbing knolls, we gave up on the CP and headed off, very discouraged, to the next one. We thought that Orion may have passed us here, not knowing they were so far behind.
Finally made it to the manned CP35 and told him we couldn't find the control. He called HQ and told them, but we couldn't wait around for anything to be done. The next leg was the toughest of the course, about 15km straight line. I choose to take a wider route to the left up a valley. This was ok until it got dark, but then it was very slow. We tried to cut out of the creek and travel along the side of some hills, but this was even worse.
The next section was really tricky nav, as I tried to get up to the top of the creeks, and over the ridge. Hours passed and we finally made it to the top of the ridge. I was tired, and Damon took the map for a while and we made one attempted decent of the escarpment. But it got confusing and we hadn't dropped far enough. Hoping to find a track down, we climbed back up the top, and try again from a spur further to the west. This time is was a bit easier, but then became very scubby, steeper, rocky and downright dangerous. After two short sleeps, Damon finally suggested sleeping 1.5hrs til daylight.
Even then it was a very difficult descent and took a few hours. Big granite cliffs, more lantana, but finally we got down. The rainforest was quite nice down the bottom. We then made another detour over a hill, before climbing the correct hill.
Descending the hill, we could see footprints, and were pretty certain that Orion has passed us. But we got down near the road and found the media crew/rescue party looking for us. They told us we were still in the lead, which helped build our spirits, but we soon realised Orion's footprints were still on the road in front, and they had snuck past the media guys.
The remainding 15km on dirt road was very tough. We pushed hard, hoping to catch Orion, but ran out of water and cracked with about 5km to go. It was hot and windy, and we were very happy to make it to Hillside transition.

Fast trek on the Mackay Highlands, great walk through rainforest.

Started at 3am, and ran most of this leg, thru some very nice rainforest. Finished at sunrise.

C • tracked you down 1

Described as a 'mostly downhill ride''- this was far from truth. Sure it finished about 700m lower than it started, but there was about 2-3000m of vertical climb in there too. We rode this leg well, but maybe a few too many stops, and disappointed to be beaten by Orion on this leg (but only by 6mins)

Afternoon paddle on the Pioneer River.
I was glad to hop into the faster boat with Kim for this leg and bludge a little. The 2x portages around weirs were very tough as the boats are amazingly heavy. There were a few little rapids that were fun, but the boat got stuck on most of them. Finished this leg about 5pm with was good to get off the water before dark.

Another long ride thru cane fields, and ending in the forest. I was pretty sleepy for bits of this ride, and we stopped for a coke at some hillbilly shop- unfortunately they had no pies or other hot food. Made our first nav mistake when we road 3km past a CP and had to come back for it. Pretty annoying as the control description was incorrect.

Starting and finishing at Sonoma, the orienteering section involves testing terrain and navigation through a rocky landscape.

This was a tough leg, and the predicted winning time was 6hrs- but that was SO wrong. We made no mistakes, but were a bit tired at times, though made it thru without a sleep. Very surprised to get back and still be in the lead.

The longest leg of the race will take teams deeper into the outback. Passing through red messa to finish at the Mid-Camp oasis at Eungella.

Starting in the heat of the day, and finishing high in the hills where it was cooler. Josh smashed it out the front again, and I was pretty tired for a lot of this leg. Felt better once we hit the hills, but they just kept on going. The 1:100 000 map and 40m contours was a challenge.

Midrace Camp- we arrived earlier than expected, and the camp was pretty disorganised. We were also very tired, and wasted a lot of time before going to sleep- only got about 3hrs.

Paddling in the Northern Whitsunday group. Starting from Dingo Beach, where the maps for Stage 2 are handed out, and finishing at the Yacht Club in Bowen.
A pretty tough day in the boats, with long legs in cross winds later in the day. We were close to the leaders all day, and watched them make a mistake on the final control, heading to the wrong headland. Fortunately worked it out in time and were first into transition.
Robbie 1: Brent 0

Teams enter the outback and will have to overcome some tricky navigation through cattle country. From Bowen this leg takes in some rough tracks and a ubiquitous "power line road" to finish at Sonoma State Forest.

It was pretty hot on the desert roads, and there was lots of cattle to keep your eye on. Josh sat on the front for most of it until dark. The nav got a lot harder then, and we were caught by Orion after about 5hrs. We road with them for a while, til they made a nav mistake. I followed for a while, but then got back on track, before missing a turn. Then they broke a derailer and we were back in the lead.

Start of XPD from Shute Harbour, out into Whitsunday's. Stopped for running or snorkelling legs at South Molle Island, Daydream Island and a few others. Learnt how hard it is to paddle the Sevlor inflatable kayaks in the wind.
Finished this leg in 2nd, 28mins behind Orion which was a good start.

The Whitsundays walk, from Airlie Beach. This was a pretty boring walk for what is meant to be a 3 day trek. We took it pretty easy and had a cracker transition onto the bike and passed a few teams that ran harder and wasted their energy

Straight forward cycle through the night to Northern Whitsunday Group. Destination: Dingo Beach.
Arrived about midnight, and had to wait until 6am to get on the water for next leg, so we got 4hrs sleep.

Event: XPD