Hunting fitness in Christchurch

The Hunting Fitness thread (https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.nz/f12/hunting-fitness-110212/) got me thinking I should put out an invite to those in Christchurch who want to prep for the roar but aren’t getting out as much as they want to. I’ve been doing weekly hill walks in the Port Hills and slowly working up the weight with a loaded pack and figure it would be fun to get some likeminded people out on the walks.

The plan is weekday evenings around the Port Hills (usually something like Bowenvale or Rapaki), and we go at a walking pace. Generally it will be about two hours from the car park to the top and back down. Usually start around 6:30 pm. Bring some water and a head torch, sometimes it gets dark before we’re back at the cars. I’m working on my ability to carry a heavy pack, so won’t be going fast. Happy to adjust the pace to suit the group as well. Open to anyone and everyone, so if you’ve got family or friends who want to come, it’s open to them as well.

Drop me a PM on here and I’ll add you to a facebook or whatsapp group, then whenever anyone is going out we can let the rest of the group know where/when.

Just come up to HB . Last 2 days have been stinkers. 32 degrees when took dogs for a run yesterday. It was 25 degrees early morning when we left at 9.30am to beat the heat. They had 3 swims on the way back . 1 more than yesterday. 2 Cockies yesterday had both wagons loaded up with dogs for a swim.Huge noise of happy dogs when we came back. Musta liked having a swim.The ground is just leaking heat.

Got out on the first group walk on Wednesday. Great conditions for a walk - perfect temperature and dry trails.

Carried a 21kg pack so felt some good burn on the steep sections and went slow and steady.

Who recognizes the location?


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Well I do of course

@canross glad to see you can post images now

Another good option is to trudge up the uphill track at the bike park with a loaded pack. Its pretty steep in places and quite long. You can then hop on the chair lift for free and get a chill ride with great views down. Gives you all the cardio on the way up and saves your knees getting flogged on the way down with a heavy pack. Although maybe a small amount of downhill knee floggage is good to get the leg muscles used to it. Only works in bike park hours obviously

another good one is Mt Vernon Farm tracks one valley over from the Rapaki Track. Park at the end of Albert Terrace - take the Gorge track that starts up through the bush and pines, then continue up the Dry Bush Track up the grassed gully. At the shelter we often cut up the ridge to the power pylons, but you could continue on the Dry Bush Track up to Summit Rd. Then back down the Mt Vernon Farm Track. At the end cut down the slope back to the carpark at Albert Terrace. A good walk, nice mix of scenery, terrain, and tracks.

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I try and get up on those walks whenever Im in Christchurch.
If you head off track and do some sidling like in the purple line do wear gaiters because you can spend hours getting the grass seeds out of your socks.

Sorry about the blurring. Site would only allow me to upload a small kb file.

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Originally Posted by Juicy

Another good option is to trudge up the uphill track at the bike park with a loaded pack. Its pretty steep in places and quite long. You can then hop on the chair lift for free and get a chill ride with great views down. Gives you all the cardio on the way up and saves your knees getting flogged on the way down with a heavy pack. Although maybe a small amount of downhill knee floggage is good to get the leg muscles used to it. Only works in bike park hours obviously

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Have done this a few times while the son is doing his best to hurt himself on a downhill bike. It’s certainly a good grunt, get the feel goods when you can pass a biker struggling up the gradient

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Originally Posted by Juicy

Another good option is to trudge up the uphill track at the bike park with a loaded pack. Its pretty steep in places and quite long. You can then hop on the chair lift for free and get a chill ride with great views down. Gives you all the cardio on the way up and saves your knees getting flogged on the way down with a heavy pack. Although maybe a small amount of downhill knee floggage is good to get the leg muscles used to it. Only works in bike park hours obviously

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Excellent suggestion - will add that to the route rotation.
Posting a link to the adventure park uphill track here: https://christchurchadventurepark.co..._Hi-Res-v2.jpg
I see that the cafe is open 1 hour later than the chairlift, so one option could be a group walk up, then grab food/drinks at the cafe after.

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Originally Posted by RV1

another good one is Mt Vernon Farm tracks one valley over from the Rapaki Track. Park at the end of Albert Terrace - take the Gorge track that starts up through the bush and pines, then continue up the Dry Bush Track up the grassed gully. At the shelter we often cut up the ridge to the power pylons, but you could continue on the Dry Bush Track up to Summit Rd. Then back down the Mt Vernon Farm Track. At the end cut down the slope back to the carpark at Albert Terrace. A good walk, nice mix of scenery, terrain, and tracks.

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Good option. The forested bit makes this one more interesting than Rapaki.
Link here for reference https://hiiker.app/trails/new-zealan...track-loop/map

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

Attachment 265359

I try and get up on those walks whenever Im in Christchurch.
If you head off track and do some sidling like in the purple line do wear gaiters because you can spend hours getting the grass seeds out of your socks.

Sorry about the blurring. Site would only allow me to upload a small kb file.

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Next time you're here we'll get you to lead a walk :D

Yep when we lived in the area 10 years or more ago we walked up there often

Sounds like an awesome idea. Depending on the day I might be keen. Wanting to be out in the hills more next year so I need to get the fitness levels up

The Rapaki Track is fairly benign (I drove down it in my old Morris 8 sports when I was at high school) but a good starting point from which you can increase pack loads until you are ready to seek tougher challenges. The beauty of Rapaki is that you can do the round trip after work and still get home in time for tea!

Next walk this Thursday after work. The roar is coming, time to get fit is now guys, not next week, not next month, and certainly not when you just shot a stag and have to drag it out along with all your other gear!
@Te_Tianara come on out!

The sun came out this evening after 7 days of rain.
So I went for an unarmed walk myself in anticipation of the roar.
Suffering from cabin fever in summer !

And I found a really decent feed of excellent field mushrooms

theres some really good walks out a te waihora (ellesmere)too including ones where 45-60min wading is necessary .me gotta watch meself .had back repairs done less than 5/12 done and as mates know ima bugger for carrying extra weight ..still goose shooting is imminent and i know where theres a few mobs of ferals to deal to so will rack a bit of mileage up plus get eye in for the mighty canada arriving home .

I would’ve come this week but I’ve been away at Arowhenua all week. Might come through to the next one though depending on the schedule!

Next walk on Wednesday evening ~6:30.

Got out for a walk with several forum members yesterday - excellent conditions with just the right temp/breeze.

Next week's walk date/location tbd. If someone knows the walking route up the adventure park to the top, I'm keen to try that and maybe hit the restaurant for a drink/snack at the end.

I wondered if you went out last night. I went for a moderate effort wander up Bowenvale Valley track as I'm four and a bit weeks post hernia repair surgery so am fighting the urge to go too hard too soon...

The Hiking/Climb trail entrance is on the righthand side in front of you as you go through the gate to the main carpark.

Doing the adventure park walking track on Wednesday.

Purely coincidental that Wednesday's are wings nights at the cafe.

Good challenge would be up to Packhorse hut from the Kaituna Valley side, bloody good incline. Then walk out on the track to Gebbies pass.

Used to do that loop for training early morning on the weekends, miss ol Christchurch!