SATURDAY 10 MARCH 2012

Reserve Day Sunday 11 March 2012

Start and Finish

  • Start: Fern Burn, near Wanaka
  • End: Butlers Green, Arrowtown

Key Dates

  • Race Day: Sat 10 March 2012
  • Reserve Day: Sun 11 March 2012
  • Entries Open: 1 July 2011 @ 9am
  • Entries Closed: 15 Feb 2012 @5pm
  • Entry Transfers/Changes Close: 15 Feb 2012 @5pm
  • Rego: Fri 9 March 2012 from 5.30pm at Wanaka - click here for more details

Race Day Timing

  • Registration: 5am-5:45am Fern Burn carpark
  • Shuttle Times: 5am-5:30am from Glendhu Bay Motor Camp to Fern Burn
  • Race Briefing: 5.45am
  • Race Start: 6am
  • Sunrise: 8am
  • Highland Hut Cut Off: 11am
  • Rose's Hut Cut Off: 3pm
  • Macetown Cut Off: 6pm
  • Prize Giving: 5 - 6pm
  • Sunset & Finish: 8pm

Race Records

  • Open Male Team:7:25:06
  • Open Mixed Team: 7:48:03
  • Open Female Team: 8:56:43

For further details, click here

 

COMPETING

COURSE OVERVIEW

  • Total Length: 49km
  • Starting Elevation: 364m above sea level at Fern Burn
  • Highest Elevation: 1275m above sea level at Jack Hall's Saddle
  • Ending Elevation: 400m above sea level at Butler's Green

Course Route & Maps

For detailed maps, profiles & descriptions of the course, click here.

Course Safety

All competitors should read the important information regarding course safety located here

Bad Weather Exit Routes

All competitors should read the bad weather exit route information located here.

What's Provided

For a detailed description of what's provided on and around the course, click here.

DOC Trampers Reviews

The course follows the Motatapu DOC walking track, click here to read the reviews posted by trampers that have completed the track.

Course Rules

Adventure Run teams must follow route markers and stick to the DOC walking track. Team members must remain within 200 metres of the poled route, not more than 50 metres apart and within ‘line of sight’ of each other throughout the race. Competitors must use stiles wherever possible and leave all gates as they find them. Team members must cross the finish line togther to qualify.

Checkpoints & Cut Off Times

There are three compulsory checkpoints along the route, most of which are huts. You do not need to stop at the check points as long as the Checkpoint crew has acknowledged your team number. Please ensure your race number is recorded. Each hut has 12 bunks and mattresses, tank water supply and a toilet (BYO toilet paper). The crews are here to ensure that you are passing through the course safely and assess each team’s condition. Medics will also be on hand in certain locations to provide any assistance required.

  • Check Point A - Highland Creek Hut - 11am
  • Check Point B - Roses Hut - 3pm
  • Check Point C - Macetown - 6pm

Competitors must reach the compulsory checkpoints before the cut off time in order to be allowed to complete the course. Marshalls at checkpoints will be watching that competitors are fit and able to finish the course safely. If you don’t reach a given location before the cut off time, or if it is deemed that you are not capable of finishing the course, you will be required to follow the checkpoint crews instructions. Race organisers have the right to pull you out of the race and you will be sent back to Glendhu Bay for Checkpoint A or B, or Arrowtown for Checkpoint C, when the checkpoint crew pulls out at the end of the day.

Recommended Pacing

We recommend that you run at a steady pace that will sustain you for the entire day. Unless you are an elite level competitor you shouldn’t be going faster than 1hour 15min to reach Fernburn Hut or else you are moving too fast. You must reach it under 2 hours to successfully complete the course. Split times will be placed here in due course.

Route Finding

Route finding on the track is reasonably straightforward in good weather conditions. The route is either worn or benched in many areas, or easily locatable with the use of well‐spaced standard DOC orange topped warratahs (in most places). Some warratahs are spaced quite far apart, at each spot you will be able to see the next one. There are a few places where the next pole is not obvious from the last, or the line is sometimes not logical - most can easily be seen after continuing a little further. As the route traverses a high alpine area, the weather may close in at any time reducing visibility to zero metres in which case you will be required to navigate by map and compass and to follow the Bad Weather & Exit Routes instructions. The route from Macetown to Arrowtown is on the 4WD road.

POTENTIAL HAZARDS

Any adverse course conditions will be updated during the compulsory competitor briefings, but you should be aware of the following specific hazards

  1. Jack’s Hall Saddle: Track is extremely narrow at the top at the top of saddle, with erosion down both sides
  2. Knuckle Peak NW Ridge (above Highland Creek): Erosion at the top of saddle
  3. Knuckle Peak NNW Ridge (above Beech Creek): About 200m beyond the edge of the beech forest there is a sink hole around 6 foot x 3 foot in size on the right hand side of the track – a rock in the middle of the track signifies this spot. There are also many smaller sink holes between here and the top of the ridge on either side of the track. Extreme care should be taken in this area – if in doubt stick to the poled route/sheep tracks.
  4. Knuckle Peak SW Ridge: Steep drop off
  5. Arrow River: After dropping down off Rose’s Saddle, the route to the river is less obvious than the flood route. Choose your route according to the water levels. If you choose the high flood route there is a steep cliff above a creek.
  6. Arrow River Flood Route: Should you be required to take this route due to high waters in the Arrow River, care should be taken. While this section of the track is well poled, the track is rarely used and un‐benched with steep, overgrown sidles.

Other Course Hazards

Numerous other hazards that exist on course, including, but not limited to:

• Steep sidles and descents
• Rough tussock covered terrain
• Narrow, slippery bridges 

Alpine Conditions

Around 80% of the Adventure Run course is above the tree line with very little protection from the elements. As the Adventure Run course elevation is much higher than the Motatapu valley floor teams should also be prepared for all possible alpine weather conditions ‐ from rain, icy winds, snow and ice; to hot, dry conditions where carry plenty of water and sun protection is required. Should the weather close in, competitors are to use the Bad Weather Exit Routes outlined here.

River Crossings

There are numerous creek & river crossings throughout the course, the majority being towards the finish line. Depending on recent rainfall stream levels can vary, sometimes reaching up to waist deep in places. The shallowest spot to cross is generally downstream of the intersection. If heavy rain results in any rivers becoming un-crossable, an alternative route will be used over the last few kilometres. If required, marshalls will direct runners accordingly.

Macetown Track

This narrow 4WD road has a steep 400m drop-off to the river on runner’s right. Going over the edge could result in major injury, or possibly even death. Where possible, stay left at all times.

Oncoming Vehicles

As there are no road closures on the course normal road rules apply throughout, meaning that slower traffic should move to the left to let faster traffic pass on the right. Emergency vehicles are constantly moving around so competitors should expect oncoming vehicles at any time (eg. 4WDs, trail bikes, mountain bikes).

Other Competitors

It is highly likely that you will encounter other runners and mountain bikers at some stage during the course. In these instances normal road rules apply - those in front have right of way and overtaking must be done on the right. If you wish to pass someone please shout "coming right" as far in advance as you can.

Hunger, Dehydration & Personal Safety

You are responsible for your own personal safety. On a hot summer’s day, many competitors have suffered from dehydration due to the exposure and lack of shade on the course. Be sure to stay hydrated and well fed throughout the course. Being a mountain run over uneven terrain, the risk of turning an ankle is quite high. Consider taping your ankles for extra support, especially if they are at all weak.

CARING FOR THE MOTATAPU AREA

Private Property

While the Motatapu Track is managed by DOC, it does border and intersect private propery. Access to these privately owned stations is only permitted on race day so please respect all private property both before and during the event. Competitors must not take photographs of buildings and homesteads and must not harm, approach or interfere with any stock. Breaching these terms puts the Motatapu event in jeopardy.

Rubbish - Leave No Trace

Please be mindful of this beautiful high country environment and take out everything that you bring in with you, from wrappers to drink bottles. If 3,500 people drop one muesli bar wrapper each, that’s a lot of wrappers! Littering these amazing private properties spoils the experience for others coming up behind you and endangers the future of this once a year race.

Didymo Wash

“Didymo growths can adversely affect freshwater fish, plant and invertebrate species by reducing the number of suitable habitats. It can form large, thick mats on the bottom of streams, rivers and occasionally on lake edges where there is a wave action. It has no human heath risk” - Bio Security New Zealand

At Check Point 2 there will be a Bio Security NZ approved Didymo Wash Station to prevent the spead of Didymo throughout the environment. Please be sure to use the wash station and please respect our volunteers assisting with this process.