Course

Grampians Challenge course is designed to be challengeing for all levels of competitors. 

The race starts at Zumsteins picnic ground, the place with a big history and high significance for local community.

From 1912, the wily, self-employed beekeeper Walter Zumsteins leased government land beside the Mackenzie River, 50 kilometres south of Horsham, and cleared scrub for local holidaymakers to picnic and camp.

He wanted it to be a little paradise in the bush, Its fame soon spread. Over the next 50 years, Zumstein built a tourist oasis, hacking a road and building three holiday cottages and even, in 1936, a large pool.

Zumsteins became part of Grampians National Park in 1984 and later staying in the cottages, or even camping, was banned, which upset many locals, as did the pool being filled in and Walter's exotic trees being cut down.

LEG 1 - Running 9k

Start at Zumsteins picnic ground, head south-east on the walking only single track, along spectacular McKenzie river gorge. Massive rocky hills hanging from both sides, technical running and almost all the time, climbing up! First two kilometers are here to warm you up, it is only 50m climb from Zumsteins to the Fish Falls. Rocky cascade with jumping water will mean to you there is a steep few meters up. Climb on the right hand side with some metal stairs and railings to help you.

Keep going, it still goes up, and the gorge gets more and more spectacular. At 3.2k mark, when direction cardinally changed to north west, it get a bit more technical, with a few rocky sections to run through. Again, stairs, metal bridges and railings sometimes will guide you through to the gem of Grampians, McKenzie falls. They are spectacular, we hope you will come back after the race to take some pictures. No worries of not, our photographer will make sure you have a new profile pic! Running past McKenzie falls is always amazing experience! Go up narrow steep stone staircase, with railings again to help you. 30-40 meters of climbing, and you are on a wider track, that keeps going up to the carpark.

Marshalls will guide you through the carpark, around the fence to join the Chinamens track. It is straight and you can see where the top is. Good news, it is the highest point. Bad news, it goes up another 130 meters. At 5.5k mark, you done 300m of climbing, say yes - not to much climbing left on the course!

Follow Chinamens track, to drop about 40m in next kilometer, and turn right at the junction. Track will keep going east getting you inside Wartook valley, and droping another 50m over final 1.5k to the boat rump, where Transition Area is. Turn left to the boat rump, to finish off the run with final 400m down to the TA.

LEG 2 Kayaking 10k

You will be paddling on lake Wartook, simply magnificent stretch of pristine waters surrounded by mountains on both sides. Head east towards southern end of the Bear Island, that’s where turning point (orange buoy) is. It’s approximately 1.1km across from TA to the southern tip of the island. It also is the least protected stretch of water, and safety IRB will be around to make sure you are all right.

You will paddle along the island shore for another kilometre, navigate through mini maze of stumps to break free into large stretch of waters from nothern tip of the island to top of peninsula with prominently large tree. This is where another turning point is, it will be 5.2k mark there. Turn around the buoy anticlockwise and head south towards TA. Another approximately 3k on straight line will get you to the western shore. Paddle along the shore another 1.5k to reach 9.7k total distance at TA.

Weather and equipment note:

Lake is extended from north to south for over 7km, and therefore, southerly and notherly could generate significant swell. It is not recommended to paddle K1 flat water racing kayaks, unless you are very confident in your abilities. With exposed lake nature and spring time, swells over 0.5m can be fairly often the case, in which conditions, surf-ski is safer and faster option.

Lake Wartook had reasonably good level over last few months and there is no significant threat to surf rudders. Although, trailing rudder would be recommended, you would be very unlucky to snap understern rudder on this course. Avoid going through stump areas with understern rudder.

LEG 3 Mountain biking 35k

Riding off TA, turn left to the track down to the lake Wartook. Cross parking area and take 4wd track going along the dam. Enjoy lake views, it will only take you couple of minutes to the end of the dam. You will turn right to get onto sandy 4wd track, heading south and then turning south-west. At approximately 3k mark, turn left at the intersection to start slight climb. You will gain about 30 meters in following 0.5k to the fork, where you take right to head south-east.

Track climbs steadily up towards famous Boroka lookup, gaining 400m vertical over 8.5k from the lake. Most of the uphill is gentle with one short sharp section closer to the turn. Once sharp part is done, keep going for another few hundred meters and then turn left onto bitumen road. Be careful some traffic is possible on this road, Boroka lookout is a popular spot. You won’t have an opportunity to check those famous views out, as you will ride past Boroka lookout on your right and will keep going on 4wd track closed for traffic looping around the lake. Soon you will reach highest elevation point, 851m. Good news climbing is almost done once your reach this point. More scenic panorama is on you right: once you start descending towards the lake, you will see mount Difficult range. Real downhill starts at approximately 15.5k mark, and you will descent into the lake valley. At 22k mark you will rejoin the original course, coming from sandy technical trek on your right.  

The track traverses lake Wartook valley to the west for another 1.5k, when it turns south west and then south at approximately 23k mark. Slight climb of 50m between 23k and 26.5k marks, road, however, is that fast you might not notice it. Another 1.5k will drop those 50m down at 28k mark, where if you lucky, you might be able to compare emu and mountain bike speed. Mountain bike at well over 40kph lost in my case.

Join the same track you did your first running leg from Zumsteins to the lake, and keep following it in opposite direction. Turn right at T-Junction, and start gentle climb with 50m gain over 1.5 km to the junction with Chinaman track. Turn left to keep climbing another 30m over 0.8km to reach another high point of the bike leg, 530m. It’s all downhill from here to the finish! Turn right into unnamed 4wd track going down to Zumsteins carpark. You will loose 300 meters elevation in just 3.5k, so be careful! Few sections of loose gravel and rocks are on the track and couple of corners to negotiate. Make sure turn left after creek crossing, you wouldn’t miss music and greetings anyway. Welcome back - it’s done and dusted!

Logistics

If you are doing it solo it is a good idea to have a support crew but you can do without any support as well. Race logistic is quite simple: all what you need to do is before the start to bring you kayaking and mountain bike equipment to the transition area at the Wartook lake. 

Transition area is open from 7 AM and it is about 10 minutes drive from the Zumsteins to Wartook. Allow about 40-50 minutes for the drive and setting up all your gear in the TA. After the finish you will need to collect your kayaking and trail running equipment from the same spot. 

Detailed map of the course is bellow.