LMU 22K

Your loop starts by leaving the relative safety of the lowland fields as you head south. You will glimpse the summit of Gaanha-bula Mount Canobolas over your left shoulder, towering a full 600 vertical metres above you, but still a full sixteen kilometres away from you at this point. To your right is an olive grove before you turn right out of the property and on to your first fire trail. 

The next four kilometres sees you climbing and descending very steadily on smooth and predictable fire trail and before long you’ll pass through the Boree Road Aid Station. It’s not long before a very minor merge to the left sees you farewell the ease of the fire trail and embrace the flow of the manicured single track on the Galinbundinya trail. While not yet climbing steeply, you’ll notice an increased intensity as you focus on your pace and footfalls amidst the towering pines and the inviting flow of Boree creek.

The next four to five kilometres will showcase some of the most picturesque pockets of this loop. An almost ‘Middle-Earthian’ landscape awaits you as the sinewing path leads you deeper into the pine forest with your footfalls descending into silence on the pine-needle laden trails. You cross the creek several times, but the last of these occurs at the 8km point and will see you climbing somewhat more intensely, again on firetrail, as you begin your ascent in earnest. 

Before you know it you will be working hard, climbing on ever steepening fire trails before you crest a clearing at 1,300 metres in altitude with the mountain summit now in clear view to your left, and the sprawling plains of the western slopes to your right, as far as the eye can see. As you navigate this alpine ridgeline, you’ll notice that the pine forest has given way to Australian alpine bushland, with wallabies and snow gums dotting the landscape. 

At this point you are running at an altitude that is a full 250 metres higher than Katoomba in the Blue Mountains and more than 100 metres higher than any point of the Black Range on the Six Foot Track. But there’s no time for complacency as there is still work to do. As you reach the 15km point you’ll arrive at the Federal Falls carpark. 

A hard right and up the Snowgum Track sees you combine a big effort with serious gradients in your push to the summit. In less than two kilometres, you’ll take yourself to the glorious summit of Gaanha-bula Mount Canobolas. Check your GPS watch because you now stand in rarified air at 1,395 metres above sea level. If you could see Thredbo Village, you’d be looking down on it.

As you crest the summit with legs burning and your heart rate reminding you of how far you’ve come, enjoy the party atmosphere of the Summit Aid Station. You can comfort yourself with the knowledge that from here all the climbing is now behind you. Indeed, hang on as you start the descent as the double black diamond Powerline Descent reminds you that it is time to proceed with care. Having navigated this wickedly steep descent, you’re now ready to lengthen your stride on manicured fire road and see just how fast you can run downhill.

As you leave the naturally forested summit, you’ll descend into recently cleared pine forest plantation with breathtaking views over the northern plains, and, with three kilometres to go, as you round a sweeping right hand bend, you’ll see the finish line arch and transition zone spread out below, willing you home. As you continue to hold speed, you’ll come at last to a flattening fire trail, swing left into the finishing chute past the camping zone and event hub and complete the 22km loop of the Lonely Mountain Ultra. 

You went there, and you’re back again…