The Wartrail Tri-Challenge - 3-5 March 2001
Caroline Brawner's Report - John-Michael Tawse's Report - Official Race Brochure
or
Going Extreme on the Wartrail Tri-Challenge
(by
Caroline Brawner)
Why is it that extreme athletes never get enough,
that they always need to push themselves further? The case in point is John-Michael Tawse who, several years ago,
created the 140 km Sky Run between Lady Grey and Tiffendal in the Eastern
Cape. This is a two day endurance event along trail-less mountain ridges up
to 2800 metres. The participants meet
their seconds at Balloch Cave where they spend the nightand many decide at
that point that theyve had enough.
Having done this 5 times, John-Michael felt he was getting into a rut. What to do? How about a 3 day event involving running, mountain biking and paddling? Specifically, doing the same 80 kilometres as the first day of the Sky Run then, on Day 2 cycling 140 kilometres up and down several steep passes on roads that vary from easy tar to erosion ravaged rocky tracks, and finishing up with a 70 kilometre paddle down the Orange River. While there may be no better way to experience the beautiful Transkei, some people may think that they dont really need to see quite so much of it in three self-propelled days!
But apparently eleven adventurers thought it sounded like a great way to spend a weekend. (Actually it was most of a week, involving a days drive each way in addition to the three day event.) Everyone converged on the very laid back Lady Grey Country Club on Friday evening for the pre-race briefing and requisite liquid refreshment. Then last minute preparations were made at hotels and hostels before putting head to pillow as early as possible.
We gathered in front of the Mountain View Country Inn for the group photo at 5AM, then made our way up to the radio tower as the sun slowly brightened the day. We could tell it would be a hot one and each carried at least 2 litres of liquid. While we jogged up to the tower on a trail, it was the last trail we would see all day and our pace slowed accordingly. Also, those of us from well oxygenated Cape Town noticed a distinct lack of air whenever we tried to run or go uphill.
We soon divided into 3 groups: Up front were Hano and Lawrence, then Jean-Paul, Caroline, Sara and Dirk, with John-Michael, Dougie, Ian and Hannes leading from the rear. (By the 20 km point, Hannes decided hed rather be doing something else and left us.) Our front runners were planning to do the 3 day event without a break; they were part of an adventure racing team that has competed on several continents and reckoned they would finish in about 1 days. They set off at quite a pace but had never done the course before and managed to take the wrong turn at every opportunity. By mid-afternoon, having exhausted themselves by taking the longer route so many times, they joined the rest of us who, by that time, had also decided the smart thing to do was to join John-Michael who knew the route like the back of his hand.
The 360 degree views from the ridge tops that we followed were stunning. We could see the mountains of Lesotho and, below the steep kloofs, idyllic farms in the valleys far below. Lammergeyers soared around us (not above uswe were that high!) The views were definitely worth the price of admission but we couldnt spend much time ogling as we had to watch our every step over rocks and through the tussock grass. I wouldnt wish tussock grass on my worst enemy: it grows tall enough that it obscures the ground so you dont know where to step and invariably end up twisting your ankle on the irregular bunches of grass. Additionally, since there were no trails and we had to follow contours, our ankles were constantly at odd angles. I was glad Id been advised to wear hiking boots as the support was important but the tops of my boots rubbed and crimped my ankles to such a degree that each step became agony by mid-afternoon.
Another unforgettable feature of this hike was the fences. While they supposedly helped with navigation (John-Michael had told the adventure racers to follow the fences), they crossed our path at least 3 dozen times. Some were easy to go over, under or through but most were high and barbed. Without assistance from our fellows, we would undoubtedly have had many more cases of shredded skin and clothes.
By mid-afternoon, just as everyone was getting tired, sore and hot, we ran out of water. Despite rain and even golf ball sized hail earlier in the week, the usual streams were dry. Those who had water shared but we all were carefully rationing. Also, as our energy flagged, we wanted to eat something but couldnt because we had no water to wash the food down. It was a ragged, exhausted mob that thirstily descended on a cool stream just after sundown. But we still had a long way to go and, as darkness grew, we discovered the adventure racers, who had expected to finish by mid-afternoon, hadnt brought torches. (Thus breaking one of the cardinal rules of adventure racing: always carry emergency equipment). This slowed our progress further but we eventually dragged into the Balloch campsite at 9 PM. Our seconds had been very worried, certain someone had been injured but theyd set up a lovely camp under the trees and had food ready for the bedraggled hikers. By 10 PM, not a sound was to be heard in the camp as everyone was gratefully slumbering in their sleeping bags.
Despite the original plan to be up at 5 and off by 6 on the bike ride, most of the cyclists (including another adventure race team member, Sonja) didnt get off till 7:30. Dougie, after hearing his wife Des description of what fun shed had swimming in the stream near camp the day before, decided spending the morning in the idyllic camp had more appeal than a long and torturous bike ride. I also discovered a still functioning brain cell and used it to decide to skip the worst section of the cycle, instead getting a lift with one of the seconding vehicles to Telles Junction. My plans to ride the Argus Tour the very next week allowed me to do this without losing too much face. Even strong cyclists found the uphill a struggle and the downhill exhausting on the hands as they had to grip like vices. However, that section and the next were through communal lands with colorful huts, maize fields interspersed with dagga, and friendly people walking back from church with Bibles in hand. The kids waved and it seemed everyone asked where we were going or where wed come from. One can only wonder what they thought of these crazy cyclists!
The last third of the cycle portion, after the town of Sterkspruit, was tarred road. One would think that this would make for a more enjoyable ride but the opposite was true. By then it was hot and we were now in an area of large white-owned farms, meaning there was nothing and no one to see. The last 30 kms seemed endless and, by that point, everyones bums were so sore that riding became a misery. Jean-Paul (aka Superman) cruised into Lady Grey at 3 PM but most limped into town between 6 and 7 PM. Sara decided that if she had any hope of enjoying Day 3, shed best quit the cycle at the halfway point. (It was her 40th birthday after all!) Ians legs got him to the edge of Lady Grey then cramped, refusing to go another inch. However, he and the rest looked nearly human again after a reviving shower and alcoholic refreshment. Needless to say, we all went to bed early.
Day 3 dawned with only 4 participants showing up. That was a shame because this turned out to be quite a relaxing dayafter the daunting start. John-Michael led us to a cliff 100 metres above the river and said we had to carry the boats down this precipice. I stared in disbelief. If I hadnt realised it before, I was now convinced John-Michael had rocks in his head! Thankfully, Dougie and Saras husband Jeff were there and, with their able assistance, everyone and everything got down in one piece. At 7:15 we set off in one double sea kayak, a single kayak and a K-1. As she predicted, Saras K-1 went over in the first 5 minutes. John-Michael gallantly offered to trade his stable kayak for the K-1. He struggled bravely to keep the thing upright while Sara delightedly discovered that paddling isnt so bad when you have a stable craft. We all quickly learned to appreciate the flow of the river: paddling downstream has a big advantage over other sports: when you stop paddling to rest or eat, you keep moving. Imagine taking a lunch break and covering over a kilometer as you relax and watch the scenery go by. Now this was the life!
Jean-Paul and I particularly enjoyed the paddling section as all our previous adventure race paddles had been done in Crocaducks. For those of you fortunate enough not to have made an acquaintance with these, they are inflatable canoes with the hydrodynamics of a waterlogged log. Making any progress in one takes Herculean effort. The contrast with our sleek, efficient sea kayak was amazing and made the whole trip a pleasure. John-Michael had promised us four Class 1 rapids but, unfortunately, the high water obscured them and it was all we could do to find a little eddy to give us a thrill. However, we had other rewards: besides the expected cattle coming down to the river for a drink, we also spotted dassies, some buck, fish eagles and even a sow and her dozen very pink pigletsnot exactly what one expects to see in the bush! We never saw another person but realised we werent too far from civilisation as irrigation pumps sucked water from the river at regular intervals.
After avoiding innumerable sandbars and portaging around a weir, we finished at the bridge in Aliwal North. Jean-Paul and I made it by 2 PM and Sara shortly thereafter but thats because we paddled right by the halfway stop without ever seeing it. John-Michael pulled in at 4, having spent more than an hour in the warm springs at the halfway stop where he also swapped the K-1 for Dougies single sea kayak. Refreshments on the deck of the riverside hotel and the obligatory victory photo wrapped up an exhausting but exhilarating 3 days. Wed been treated to a wonderful part of the country most people dont bother to check out and made several new friends in the bargain.
Wed also learned a thing or two about adventure racing: true adventure races (or eco-challenges) do multiple activities and last several days but none of the activities involve ultra distances. Seldom is a run/hike more than a standard marathon or a cycle more than 60 kms. Unless the team runs into problems, the activities are usually designed to take less than 8 hours. But just as a marathon is not simply two half marathons, doing the ultra distances of the Wartrail Tri-Challenge takes a much greater toll than more bite-sized adventure races.
Its stunning, its fun, its an experience youll never forget and you even get to sleep all night each night BUT these are extreme distances that need to be taken seriously. Fortunately, John-Michael lets you chose to do one, two, or all three of the activities. Ultra extremists can happily push their limits but more conservative folk might want to put themselves to the test for one or two days then take a day or two to enjoy life in a beautiful, relaxed corner of South Africa.
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By
John-Michael Tawse 23/01/2002 |
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War
Trail 2001 will be remembered for its blistering heat, thirst and sunburn.
Despite great rains at the start of the week with the illusive promise of
plenty of water, it was not to be. Here's a taste of what to expect later
this year for War Trail 2002!
Ten intrepid, self-supported, extremist
athletes gathered in the dark of Lady Grey `s Mountain View Country Inn on
Saturday, 2 March for the 05h00 ram `s horn blast, signaling the start of
three days of grueling wilderness Eco encounters. |
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Official "brochure" information:
Wartrail Tri Challenge 3-5 March 2001
The Wartrail Challenge consists of Three Events over
Three Days
Mountain Wilderness Run - 80 km
Solid, worn in trail running shoes (preferable with ankle protection)
Cold/Wet/Warm-weather gear (thermal top-gortex, ventex, etc jacket)
Extra socks / woolen cap / gloves
Sun protection / hat or peak / sunglasses / sunscreen
20-30 liter day pack / hip pouches (water resistant bag)
3 liters liquid containers (energy drink / water)
2 days high energy rations (toilet paper)
Cell phone / camera (battery fully charged)
Torch (extra batteries)/ tent-shelter / light weight sub-zero sleeping bag
Whistle / rams horn / fog horn
Personal medical kit
Mountain Bike - 130 km
Bike repair kit
Cycling gloves
Head protection
Kayak / K1-2 Canoe - 70 km
Paddle
Life jacket
Please note this is a new event and all recommendations, counsel, advice, whatever On how to carry out this challenge will enhance the smooth running of the Challenge with the possibility of making it a yearly fixture
Operating in a partnership with the local
Communities and Extreme Eco-athletes
Primal Action Adventure
The wind blows where it pleases---So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. John 3: 8
PO Box 270, Aliwal North, 9750
Tel: 051 633 3210, Cell: 082 6944789, Fax: 051 633 2400
e-mail: johnmike@xsinet.co.za
Web Page: http://www.wittebergskyrun.homestead.com/index.html