Jean Beaumonts 2021 1500s via SK
I’ve long been inspired to attempt the SK 1500 by those who have run the Tararua before me.
The weather forecast was perfect. My work colleagues agreed to swap shifts and my husband Tony drove me to the Putara road end in the very early hours. He is amazing!
It was awesome to see Chris Fahey start his SK SMR. I started about 20 mins after Chris at 435am. My pack felt heavy with supplies for two days. I reached Herepai Hut in 1hr10 (no speed records here!). I refilled my water to capacity 1.75 L.
Leaving Herepai, the moon was setting. The sun was rising. The wind was cold and the foliage was wet. I was super stoked to reach Logan, my first 1500 peak in 4hr30 just as the sun shone out from behind the clouds.
Approaching Bannister, due to the cold I still had 1.25 L of water left so I sidled directly to the route up. I dropped my main pack on the track and climbed with my small pack. I was amazed at the difference in speed. Bannister in 6hrs39. Rolfe in 6hrs52 about 2 hrs for the out and back.
I started on the sidle to Arete Hut but since it was below me, I decided to summit Arete first. 8hrs10. I took a beeline straight to the hut and refilled my water and then scrambled through the sharks teeth of the Waiohine Pinnacles. Dropped my pack again for a quick ascent of Lancaster in 9hrs14. The flatness of Tarn Ridge was nice but it soon gave way to the climb to Tarn Ridge Hut. I refilled all my bottles knowing that there would be no more water ‘till Mid King. It was a bloody steep climb up to Girdlestone 11hrs17, but nothing to complain about – beautiful weather, beautiful views!
Again, I swapped to a light pack for the out and back. Brocket next, 11hrs37. I looked across at Mitre and told her how beautiful she was repressing any daunting thoughts, 11hrs58. Peggys Peak next, (Hi there Peggy!) 12hrs6. The actual time was 1641 and in my minimal planning I thought I would make Mt Holdsworth as night fell.
I revised this to Jumbo. North King, 14hrs23. Refilled my water at the Mid King Tarn 14hrs41. South King 14hrs57 and another refill (not sure why I refilled twice but South King Tarn was better). I was racing the sunset but really enjoying the perfect weather and gorgeous evening lighting. Next, Broken Axe Pinnacles then McGregor. The summit was shrouded in amazing orange mist, 15hrs43.
In the dimming light I could just see Angle Knob, 16hrs13.
In the dimming light I could just see Angle Knob, 16hrs13.
As soon as it got dark, I began to feel sleepy but I was pretty stoked to reach Jumbo and see my first marker pole! I turned off my headlamp and marvelled at the stars. The moonrise was an incredible blood orange and there was absolutely no sound. I love running through the night. Arriving at Mt Holdsworth, my sleepiness miraculously disappeared and the night section was on!
I decided on the Holdsworth, Mid Waiohine, Main Range route to Hector for the easy night navigation following marked tracks. However it was a steep descent into the bush with the soft sounds of Moreporks, the stench of a male goat and the stickiness of spiderwebs! I ran (did I say ran!) straight past Mid Waiohine Hut and refilled my water at the only decent stream on the SK 1500s. Followed by a 2-hour climb to Aokaparangi, the Moreporks joined by the voices in my head.
Another 2 hours to Maungahuka Hut following Chris’s footprints, 5AM. It seemed like a shit load of vert and slow going on overgrown tracks but thats the Tararua! Dawn was breaking as I climbed the Steel ladder (not far now I thought haha). It was a bloody big hot climb up to Bridge Peak. I looked back north and couldn’t believe how far I had come.
I took the shortcut to Kime Hut, sorted out my food and wished I had more sausages…..Didn’t seem to take long to Hector ( maybe I slept through it) 28hrs57 about 10hours from Mt Holdsworth. Actual time 9:34AM.
I managed to run a bit on the Southern Crossing and reached Alpha Hut before midday. I don’t know why, but the glorious Marchant Ridge is tough. Is it the tiredness? The voices? The hallucinations? The fact that it goes on forever? I walked the ups ran the downs, walked the ups, ran the downs…… Tiny tweets of Titipounamu , peppery smell of the hot bush. 5hrs30 later, to the deafening sound of cicadas, I arrived at the Kaitoke Car Park Of Glory 36 hours 25 minutes.
