Great Forest Rogaine

An 8 hour rogaine through Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest and surrounding areas. This was Heather's first rogaine, and seemed like it would be an enjoyable way to have a bit of "time on our feet" as we built up to Kepler.

We set a reasonably ambitious route, based on what we should be able to achieve if we were "just" out ultramarathoning. But we were carrying more gear and water than we are used to, Heather was recovering from the Auckland marathon the week before, and I had various excuses! So we followed the initial part of our plan, but then cut a big chunk off later in the day as it became obvious our plan was too ambitious.

Heather emerges onto the forestry road after
control 72.

First stop was an easy #39 behind the Redwoods visitor centre. Then up the hill on the walking tracks to #92. Out on to the foresty roads and along to #72. Then it was down some MTB single track (I can run some of this faster than I can ride it) and a short push through the bush to emerge on another forestry road. A quick out-and-back down the side of a fenced off compound to #55.

On the way to #68

From there it was a lengthy trek along gravel and then dirt roads before the steep climb up to the Whakarewarewa lookout and #99. We missed the single track short cut down, so followed the dirt road down into the MTB park. From there it was an out-and-back along the dirt road and single track to #68, and then pick up #41 near the carpark. I needed a quick stop here to tape some hot spots on my feet - the adidas trail runners that I was wearing were causing unexpected problems on both feet.

Feet dealt with it was off down the road towards the Waipa Mill. Around the side of 2 effluent ponds to gain the track behind. We were making our way along an indistinct part of track when right beside us at chest height was a "sprinkler"... only problem is these sprinklers use effluent! It was time to make haste before they came to life. The sprinklers seemed to be everywhere through this section of forest, although for the most part they were well off the track.

Our route. In most places the layering of the route on the map works well,
although it does go a little astray in the bottom left hand corner.

Along to #77, then back out to a logged out area and the forestry roads. We stopped for a quick break at the clearing at the base of #94, while Heather sorted a hot spot on one of her feet. There was no track up to #94, but for the most part travel through pine forest was relatively easy - it was just a case of continuing to head up. Rather than coming down the way we went up we continued over the other side, and stumbled on a rough track which led us most of the way back down to the foresty road. A short scramble down and we had come out pretty much where I had hoped.

Easy travel along forestry roads to #71 and then some compass work to get to #57. Just when I was starting to get concerned that the undergrowth was becoming significantly more difficult to push through and it seemed to be taking a long time to get to the track, out we popped! Turn right and follow the single track (+ a climb) and there was #57. Follow the single track out to the clearing by the road and time for a stop for food and warmer layers.

Pansies growing in the old quarry

Up the hill to #93 then a mixture of jogging and walking down. Along here we started reconsidering our plans. Time was getting on and we were well behind where we should be. There were a couple of out-and-back options from the cross roads; we decided to do #66 in the old quarry and see how long that took. #66 done, along to the main road, and the sensible decision was to start heading back. Unfortunately that meant a long slog along a paved road with no controls! It was around this time - about 7pm - that we noticed that the effluent sprayers were operating in the forest either side of the road. A good time not to be in there!

MTB rogainers check their maps as darkness falls.

Thought about going for #52, but it looked like it could be a bit slow to get there so we opted for #37 instead. From there it was #48 beside a small pond, #46 behind a big metal tank, and #43 in a clearing. Next stop #60, then #90 and we would reassess at that point.

We got #60 with no problems, but on our way to #90 made a blunder... It seemed to be taking a long time to get to #90, and after checking the map several times I worked out that we had taken a wrong turn. The good news was that this would still get us there, just a little more indirectly. The foot track had been following a stream, and then started to climb away from it. We must be getting close... and then looming up out of the darkness was a huge tree killing machine with enormous pincers and a mass of downed trees strewn behind it. I tried clambering over the trees to see if I could find a way through, but there was nothing obvious. In the end we decided that it would be better to just retrace our steps and take our originally-intended route to #90. So we got there, but not without wasting a lot of time. And it turns out that if we had clambered over the logs we would have found ourselves on the road that leads to #90. It all seems so much less obvious in the dark!

#90 done and all that time wasted it was time to start heading back. Out to the road, we should be able to run along that and pick up #42 on the way. We were jogging along quite nicely until the edge of the road where I was suddenly had a big hole and I tripped. Thump, I went down hard. The map in my right hand protected most of that hand from the coarse chip - the bag shredded, the map was largely ok, and there was a gouge out of one part of my hand. My left hand was saved by my compass, with the cover of the compass shattering on impact. I also took a solid blow to my left knee, and once I stood back up it seemed like I would only be hobbling slowly back to the finish. My leg loosened up a bit as I started to move, and after a couple of minutes I was walking at a reasonable speed. #42 was now out of the question, so it was straight back to the finish and pizza!

More photos available on Flickr.