Tarn SK: A Tale Of Retribution

“WTF are you going to do if you can't find the track?”

Quite a few people have contacted me to ask about my Tarn and Valley SK experiences after I mentioned them on the Dirt Church Radio episode.

So below is my trip report from my 2nd Tarn SK (and 1st successfully under 24 hours).

Fun fact: It’s also the mission where I took the image I use for the background of the Trail Running NZ header.

Tarn SK: A Tale Of Retribution

“I’m sure it’s just here.”

“Where else could it be?”

“WTF are you going to do if you can't find the track?”

“What does it look like if I can’t get out?”

“Sort your sh💩t out. You got yourself into this. You can get yourself out”

“Brookes expecting you any minute in Kaitokie, you’re f🤬cking going around in circles. You’ve really f🤬cked this one up”

This is what my inner thoughts looked like back at the end of February when I had my first SK Tarn attempt. It was my first big solo mission. The day didn’t go perfectly, but I was still in the fight until I got lost heading towards the Cone saddle.

The weight of the day came down on me with its full force when I made a simple nav error. I thought a triangle sent me up the bank. When I realised I was off track, I couldn’t find myself back to the last triangle. In fact, I couldn’t find any semblance of the track at all. How could I lose the track so easily? 

I can’t even tell you how long I was lost. I got lost in a cone wormhole. Eventually, I reset my mind, ate some food, and scraped together enough grey matter to refind the track. I can’t begin to describe the relief I felt when I saw that first orange triangle after being lost for hours.

My most favourite Orange Triangle of all time

By that time, my quads had completely cooled down and refused to refire.