25 years walking in paradise
– traversing history, culture and stunning landscapes
This is not just another mountain running event – it’s not even just running. The Icebug Tussock Traverse is an enriching experience, for both runners and walkers, in the beautiful World Heritage country of Tongariro National Park; stark and stunning mountain landscapes that are steeped in history and Maori culture.
It’s also the only alpine event where walkers and runners share the same course on the same day. The Tussock Traverse 2016, the first major off-road event for the year, will take place on January 30th.
Event director, Victory Event’s Jason Cameron, says the park and its history and culture will be celebrated over the weekend of the event.
“All these facets have become very much part of the Tussock Traverse. Local iwi representatives from Ngati Hikairo will be sharing their stories with participants, we’ll have information about the history of the area displayed at the Chateau Tongariro, the ‘headquarters’ for the event and which comes with its own strong sense of heritage, and we’ll have little surprises for people along the trail, in keeping with the history.”
(Spoiler alert: for example, offerings of scones and jam at historic Waihohonu Hut, which was built in 1904 by the Tourist Department for coach travelling tourists. Well worth the 100 metre detour!)
Participants can be as competitive or as laid back as they wish, adds Cameron. “Traditionally the Tussock Traverse attracts a broad range of people, families and friends and there’s a feeling of camaraderie all round. It’s not (all) seriously competitive, it’s very much for people into recreation; passionate walkers who enjoy being in the mountains.
It depends on their motivation. In the spirit of participation there are no official walking judges, we do recognise the leading walkers however it’s essentially a non-competitive event in which walkers make up a quarter of the field. It’s essentially about getting out there for a breathtaking experience.”
It’s also about supporting conservation. The Tussock Traverse partners with Project Tongariro, the natural history society that works to protect the biodiversity and promote the history, education and recreation in Tongariro National Park.
Last year’s Tussock Traverse raised $8,500, which Project Tongariro put to good use for pest control around Rotopounamu and Pihanga. In turn, Project Tongariro members throw their weight into helping run the Tussock Traverse, volunteering for aid stations and cooking up a barbecue storm at the finish line.
Project Tongariro president, Paul
Green, said the members enjoy their partnership with the Tussock Traverse and with race director Cameron. “Members enjoy helping Jason because they like the values he has for the national park, and they enjoy meeting the participants who also embrace those same values. The event also provides opportunity to raise the profile of the Society,” he added.
Cameron said there is a huge amount of volunteer support from Society members, some of whom camp out overnight to be in place on time at remote aid stations. “The event is so popular it is sometimes oversubscribed for helpers. We never have difficulty attracting members for something that let’s provide an experience and have one themselves”
The event is also helping to revegetate eroded parts of the Tukino ski area. Each entrant is given a tussock plant; it’s theirs to keep if they wish or, as many do, they can donate it to the park for planting. Many thousands of tussock plants have found their way back into the park being planted by volunteers in autumn before winter sets in.
The main, 26km Tussock Traverse course starts on the Tukino Road and passes through the heart of Tongariro National Park, the world’s first dual World Heritage Park, to finish at Chateau Tongariro, Whakapapa Village.
The trail passes outstanding and varied landscapes; lava fields, desert, alpine tussock fields and herb fields, a crater lake, waterfalls and beech forest. The views are nothing short of stunning.
If 26km seems overly challenging, two shorter Whakapapa Village based events could appeal; a 6.5km circuit around the well-known Taranaki Falls Track, or a 13km gradual ascent beyond Taranaki Falls, through sub alpine shrublands, to the lower Tama Lake and back.
Often we’ll find Mum or Dad run the 26km event, and the other parent and their kids try one of the shorter distances. It can be a real family day out, says Cameron.
All three distances are open to both walkers and runners, there’s a 500 entry limit on each. With restrictions on vehicles on the Tukino Ski Road, participants book bus transport to the Tukino start line from the Chateau Tongariro or National Park Village. Each event is preceded by a traditional karakia (prayer) before the rallying call from the pūtātara (a conch shell trumpet) to set participants on their journey.
And as Cameron says, it’s not just about the walk or the run. On Friday evening, when participants register at the event base, Chateau Tongariro, there’ll be hourly talks on Maori history and culture of the area, offering opportunity to learn about the rich history of the country participants will pass through. For those interested in the more serious side of mountain running, ‘off-road endurance’ coaching experts will present an introductory talk, providing tips about planning, training and eating, for example.
On Saturday evening, following the prize-giving and celebratory dinner at Chateau Tongariro, tired runners and walkers can lie back and look up to the stars, as a guest astronomer from Waikato University gives a Maori perspective on the night sky of Tongariro. There is a reserve event day, Sunday 31st. That’s never been needed, as yet, touch wood, says Cameron. “The end of January is a beautiful time of the year when, generally, the weather is stable. We find the challenge is educating folk on the importance of hydration and sun protection when they’re out there in the elements on a kiwi summer day.” Tussock Traverse 2016 also falls on Auckland Anniversary Weekend so Aucklanders: come on down and make a weekend of it!