Long run & lost friends

I went out to Stoney Creek for this weekend's long run, aiming to run over the telegraph hill a few times. Although I knew there had been significant damage to forestry and native bushlands during TC Marcia the Stoney Creek reserve had since reopened, so I was hopeful that I could also now access the 4wd tracks that snake up the hill with the communications towers that sits behind the reserve and opposite the main Byfield Range. This hill gives 336m of vert in around 5.6kms, with some shallower gradients in the shorter, rolling hills around the base.

Unfortunately I was far too optimistic about the state of the Byfield Ranges and the forestry plantations. Marcia had laid flat the majority of pine trees in the plantation and stripped bare those that remained (more or less) upright; driving out along Picnic Road was not the usual uplifting cruise between young pines to the right and misty mountains on the left. The bush on the mountains had not been left unscathed, either. They just look brown now, a sea of barren boughs and felled foliage. I know it will all grow back, and will in fact look brighter than ever next summer, with so much new growth coming through, but for now it is a very sorry sight.

Stoney Creek picnic area was largely unrecognisable. The older pines that surround the park were nearly all gone, I think their stiffer trunks had fared worse in the Cat 5 conditions than the more flexible younger trees. Where some remained standing they were often bent at severe angles, trunks curved over beneath their own weight, and I don't think I saw a single bolt upright tree. The three beautiful Bunya pines on the day visitor side of Stoney Creek had been felled, so there is no shade over there now, and one of the brand new amenities blocks on the overnight side of the creek had a large, suspiciously pine-shaped dent across its roof and was barricaded off.

My first route out of the park area onto the forestry trails was cut by a big pile of deadfall that had not yet been cleared, so figuring that since the park was open the walks likely to be open too, I set off along the winding walking trail that leads out of the visitors area towards Ferguson's Crossing. The trail was open, but as I went along its condition became worse, and required some bush-bashing at several points. Once at the 4wd track I turned right to head up to the hill, but soon ran straight into a massive pile of deadfall pine trees that was so deep I could not see the other side, and had no hope of clambering over. It was enormous, and I assume all of the trees that had fallen across the track had been bulldozed up the track to this point and left there for next week's work. That pretty much put paid to both direct routes up to the hill, so I decided instead to run across Ferguson's and back along Picnic Road to 32 Foot Rd, a long forestry trail that would lead around the back to the other side of the first big deadfall.

Now I could finally start running properly I felt good, and didn't even mind the squelch underfoot from ploughing straight through Ferguson's Crossing rather than fannying around hopping between rocks! This route is the second part of the Stoney Creek walking trail, but is more a fire track / 4wd track that leads from Picnic Road directly past the big deadfall up to the telegraph hill. There is a huge plantation of pine to the left that is just beautiful to run past, a big shady glen of older stately pines, and I was shocked to see it entirely gone. All of it down, lost, lying in formation neatly beside each other in the direction of the cyclonic winds as they first struck the ranges. It was really awful; I felt like Treebeard in LOTR to see such devastation of these old friends. The best part of trail running is being lost out there amidst the trees and the bush, and this familiar trail now felt so different it could have been somewhere else entirely.

Back out on Picnic Road I ran towards 32 Foot, which I was sure would be clear as it is a more important forestry road, but realised before I got there that I was out of luck. Every single logging road I passed had a big ol' sign standing on one corner, all shiny and new, proclaiming that all State Forest roads were closed following Cyclone Marcia for safety reasons. It made sense really; there is a ton of damage and of the honeycomb network of logging roads there must be many that are still a mess. Even then many of the pines still standing may not do so for much longer, there will be a lot of instability out there. I should have realised before heading out really, but just assumed I'd be able to run the 4wd tracks as they have bushland rather than pines and so wouldn't be so occluded even if messy.

With all tracks out of bounds I ended up simply running the length of Picnic Road and then also the fire trail towards the crossing a couple times. What I couldn't gain in elevation I made up for in distance, so jammed 41kms into the 4hr session. This felt good overall, even if it was a boring route just trudging along the dirt roads. Legs were a bit tired from the speed work so were at least off the hook from seeking out the usual monster elevation component of long runs.

Stats: Movescount.

Duration: 4:03.