Washpool/Gibraltar World Heritage Trails 2010 - Info/Entry
Final information for entrants (also emailed out): here
The Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Parks have incredible variety, from world heritage listed rainforests to clear rivers flowing through flowering high country heathlands, dramatic granite outcrops and wild river gorges. The area also features well formed trails and a relatively flat long course to make it ideal trail running.
Think we’re exagerating? View the course here then make your plans for a weekend away on the 17-18 April 2010 to fully experience these world class trails (note: the link above describes start and finish from 2009; see new details below, but the same areas are included in the new 8/21/50k courses).
Based on last year’s first running, the courses have been optimised so whatever your favourite distance, we have a great course on some of the best trails in Australia. Entry cost has been kept low too ($5/20/30 for 8/21/50km), to encourage local and regional participants.
There’s a short course of 9km among the rainforest and streams of Washpool National Park on Saturday. On Sunday there’s another short course beside streams and granite cascades on the Gibraltar side, a 21km course with a little of everything, and an ultra option of 50km traversing the whole World Heritage Trail loop around both Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Parks!
The weekend will be based from the historic town of Glen Innes, with the countryside at its prettiest in autumn colours and an average daily temperature range in April of 10-22 degrees. For 2010 we’ve gone with the Great Australian Camp Out (GACO) theme, and will encourage camping at Mulligans Flat, which has kitchen/toilet facilities and a great swimming hole. Maximum of 120 places.
Download course map here
Download run/walk poster here
Where is Glen Innes map here
Glen Innes accommodation guide here
Online entry opened Saturday 13 March here
and closes Wednesday 14 April 5pm
Download info for entrants here
Saturday:
Starts 9.00 at the Coachwood picnic area, following the 8km loop trail clockwise alongside Coombadjha Creek and through rainforest to return to the start
Sunday:
Ultra course: Starts 7.30 in the Gibraltar Range National Park off Gwydir Highway at Mulligans picnic area, proceeding anti-clockwise round the World Heritage Trail to finish back at the start (50km). This is a remote area and entrants should carry their preferred supplements. Water/electrolytes will be available at 10km, drop bags and water/electrolytes will be taken to the second road crossing, and there will be plenty of water/electrolyte stops in the final section.
Medium course: Starts 8.30 in the Gibraltar Range National Park off Gwydir Highway at Mulligans picnic area, proceeding clockwise round the trails south of the highway to finish at the start (21km).
Short course: Starts 9.00 at the Mulligans picnic area following the loop trail beside streams, across cascades, through fern understory and rainforest back to the start (8km).
18 Comments so far
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I am looking at doing the 21km run. How do we get from the finish at coachwood picnic area back to the start at mulligans hut…is there anything organised? How far is it back to mulligans Hut?
Hi Michael - the 21km course finishs back at the start so no problem; thanks for spotting that, I’ve amended the information.
want to do 21km run on sunday.how many watering staions on this run,Greg.thanks
Hi Nerina - there will be three drink stops on the 21km course (one visited twice and manned, one just DIY at a table) and six on the 50km (four manned). I have marked them all on the map which you can download above. Cheers, Greg
are walkers welcome?
Good afternoon Greg, just a few questions for the 50 km run;
- it there a time limit
- do you require maps
- any compulsory equipment to carry
- is the run on fire trails, walking tracks, other
thanks
Brad
Hi Brad - No there is no time limit, but people who intend to walk or be unusually slow need to let us know, and be self-sufficient. A map will be provided, but its a well marked trail, with extra signage from TRAQ for the day, so no map reading skills are required. There is no compulsory safety equipment on this race, as you won’t get lost and there are two road points and numerous checkpoints where you could drop out if you had difficulties. I will send out information to entrants which recommend some gear, eg taking extra water/supplements, as this is a remote area. The route is all on walking trails - a mix of purpose built tracks and ex-forestry roads - they are well maintained eg regularly mowed where they are grass. None of them fit what I think of as fire trails, which tend to be rougher.
Peta, in answer to ‘are walkers welcome’, definitely, especially the short courses which are low cost and intended for joggers/walkers who’d like some company and extra signage. However on the long courses checkpoints will only be out for time required for runners, since that’s already quite a long time for the volunteers - so on those courses walkers need to be self-sufficient.
I did offer a supported 50km walk last year (two days, pack/tent drop off) but numbers were dissappointing. You can visit all the best locations yourself, just with a bit of car-shuffling here between all the campsites if you don’t want to carry too much gear.
i would like to know if there are any rewards at the end of these events.thanks.
Hi Clement - the main reward for this event is the experience of top trails.
Given that its a fair distance from major centres, it will draw most entrants from surrounding towns. Rural events have to be affordable - unlike for example big city marathons, where entrants will pay big bucks to be part of a big show. For that reason, trophies are limited to first male/female on each course, and spot prizes will be limited to ‘Dirty Girls’ brand trail gaiters.
Hi, Just wondering where the best place to camp to do both the short runs? We’re coming up from Sydney for a few extra days>
We are coming up from Sydney, and am wondering which is the best campground to camp in and are there any associated events around the area?
I’d recommend two ‘best’ campgrounds - one is Mulligan’s Hut, right at Sunday’s start/finish. Its a typical NSW national park camp with toilets, cold showers, top trails nearby and a beautiful swimming hole. The other is Craigieburn Caravan Park in Glen Innes, set among granite boulders alongside a stream but a short walk to town, great facilities with camping or affordable cabins ranging up to a converted country church. If you like national park camping, you could also stay nights at the Washpool and Boundary Creek campsites, also on the course and each with their own attractions.
If you want to break up your trip there are also many top trails stops along the way eg New England national park. Cheers, Greg (organiser)
I’ve just realised that this is still school holidays in NSW, they finish that weekend, so the campsites could be quite full.
I’ve had a talk to the Park ranger about that; they don’t expect Mulligans Hut campsites to be full on the last weekend of the NSW hols - also, we have the large group campsite booked, so entrants can camp right on the finish line! Cheers, Greg
Greg the organiser will be onsite from tomorrow setting up for next weekend. That means I can’t reply to your posts from my tent! I have sent out info to early entrants, and will email info to all later entrants on Wednesday night after entries close. The final info-sheet is also downloadable from the web page above.
I can also respond to emails up to Wednesday, but try to keep inquiries to essentials as I will be borrowing time on someone else’s computer.
Don’t forget if you make it to Saturday’s Washpool run it is (A) Free to Sunday entrants! (B) Includes the rainforest and rivers you won’t see on Sunday’s course
See you there, Greg
Hi Greg,
just a couple of questions about the 21k run -
Are there still spots available?
Is the course reasonably ‘runnable’?
Is there plenty of tree cover / shade on the course - ie should we take hydration in addition to the water stations if the course is exposed to the sun?
I got a call from Michael, but yes the courses are v.runnable. Entries have closed now, though one or two extra on the short courses on the day will be no problem - most of our takers are for the long courses.
There is a mix of open areas beside wetland heaths and forest cover; a cap and sunblock is a good idea.
Seeya, Greg