Absolute Wilderness Adventure Race

I had planned to head off for a four day tramp today, but the weather forecast for the next few days is dreadful with snow to low levels, wicked wind chill factors and heavy rain. Not the sort of weather I'm keen to be stuck out walking in. Plans cancelled.

Instead it seemed like a good idea to head out for a day walk - as today's weather is likely to be the only reasonable stuff for a few days. It also seemed like a good idea to stop at the Red Barn for a coffee on our way into the wilderness. When we got there it was to find the inaugural Absolute Wilderness Adventure Race just about to start.

Nathan Fa'avae, New Zealand's uncrowned king of adventure racing, is the planner and organiser of this event. He chose this area for the event because "I have used Murchison as a launching pad for tons of adventures over the years, the wilderness is quickly accessible and very authentic, it’s easy to get off the beaten track, participants can expect a very scenic and challenging course that will reward their efforts. Parts of the course are remote and wild, an authentic adventure guaranteed."

Of course I think anyone participating in an event like this is crazy - but hey, each to their own. To give anyone who knows the area an idea of their craziness, they are biking down the skyline - and it's been raining here for days! Seriously scary and slippery just walking slowly - neck-breaking on a bike at racing speed!

Anyway, here you have Nathan Fa'avae just after he has briefed the teams on some last minute details - including telling them about the African big five animals down in the bottom paddock of the Animal Park - the one they have to run through to get to the rafts that are the first part of their race.

After we watched them head away, we had a coffee in peace then headed out to Lake Rotoiti (the opposite direction from these crazies) where I did a 6 km loop walk from Kerr Bay to West Bay and back around Black Hill.

Then a lunch (the one I'd packed for the first day of the tramp) on the lakeside. After that it seemed that another coffee was in order so we stopped at Clinkers Cafe then headed home. Got home to find the Absolute Wilderness Race just winding up across at the Rec Centre.

I have to say, I prefer my version of a day in the wilderness, but I do admire everyone who took part in their version.