Stage race of the year | the GPT100

The Grampians (Gariwerd in Djargurd Warrung) are a craggy range, located 260km northwest of Melbourne in Victoria. Long a seminal outdoors destination, when in late 2021 finally the existing trails were all linked into a single, sweeping epic 162km/7,700m+ route originating in the north at Mt Zero and culminating in the southern town of Dunkeld. The Grampians Peak Trail, or GPT, thus was born.

23-26 NOVEMBER 2023 – GRAMPIANS, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: It’s Stage 1 – 49.5km, from Mt Zero to Halls Gap. An elevation of 2,000m+/2,040m-.

At a glacial pace, I edged with trepidation beneath the starting gantry of the inaugural GPT100 stage run. Immediately I stepped into the jaws of the foremost of many ascents to be undertaken over the coming four days. Step by step, stair by stair. 

The late spring morning light sharpened the vivid oranges and stately greys of the daunting and majestic western face of Mt Staplyton, as we sidled along its ominous rocky flank. From there, fortunately the trail opened up into a series of well-crafted flowy trails, before digging in for the pinch of the stage which was a 530m+ ascent of Mt Difficulty with dramatic views of Lake Wartook.

This climb involved scrambling up several sets of stairs, traversing some significant rock slabs and navigating some consequential drop-offs. 

The highlight of the initial stage for me came in the engaging 6km/540m- singletrack bomb through the gums and into the event base, the town of Halls Gap. An epic way to finish off the day’s work, mind the echidna! 

Stage 2 (37.5km) Halls Gap/Mt William

Stage 2 loomed as the pivotal stage, on now weary legs and with two crux climbs to endure. After nailing the initial climb up through the contemplative Silent Street gorge up to The Pinnacle for stupendous views of Halls Gap, storms and torrential rain set in on the descent off Mt Rosea (1,009m). 

This beautiful, forested 8km/680m- section offered flowing singletrack into Borough Huts however the inundated path soon became indiscernible from the nearby Fyans Creek as we entered Borough Huts checkpoint and huddled under the event tent. Cups of tea and soup were the tonic until aid station captain Mikey Dimuantes (50km event male winner from the previous day) restarted affairs to the strains of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky as runners got their hike on to ascend a devilishly technical 7.5km/650m+ through the mist of Redmans Bluff and The Dials to complete the day just shy of the Mt William (1,167m) summit. Back on the event shuttle bus to Halls Gap for a massive serving of pasta in my campground cabin, which now resembled an industrial laundry as I tried to dry my soaked gear.

Stage 3 (42km) Mt William – Griffin Fireline

The highlight of Day 3 was at the start line back on Mt William where the rising sun and assembling stage runners witnessed the incredible grit shown by the seriously tough 100mi runners digging deep. The stage and miler fields now overlapped, and would do so until the finish line in Dunkeld the following day. Encountering a sprained ankle during this stage on trails that were more technical and undulating than anticipated, this stage turned unexpectedly into the toughest day on rail for me. 

Several hours were spent solo rock-hopping amongst the technical terrain of the foggy Major Mitchell Plateau and the humid, serpentine trails of Durd Durd. I considered this endless bush may consume me once and for all, but finally the trail emerged onto open, grassy hills and some runnable trail through scrub to the trailhead at Griffin Fireline. The 2,450m- of descent had accumulated to tenderise my quads; I had mentally prepared for significant efforts on stages one and two, poring over and creating maps, trail notes and elevation profiles. Now I felt like a man without a plan who was holding on for dear life.

Stage 4 (33km) Griffin Fireline – Dunkeld

A new dawn, and high spirits had returned with the finish line palpable. The last stage took in the classic three southern Grampian sentinels of Signal Peak (750m), Mt Abrupt (826m) and Mt Sturgeon (582m). Halo solar seared the mist with yesterday’s nadirs forgotten and today a matter of creating and riding an emotional wave of hope into Dunkeld, remaining focussed on forward momentum through the fatigue at all cost. With a pre-race goal of sub-30 hours remaining possible, the trails around the peaks demanded my full attention, however seemed more runnable and playful than any seen prior. I felt I ran strongly and with purpose through here, with not a step more left in tank by Dunkeld. Finally, seeing the last 6km into Dunkeld laid out on the plains below from Sturgeon provided an indescribable rush. Affording myself a weary smile and the realisation that I may knock this beast off made for a grateful shuffle into town and under that arch.

Closing thoughts

After its inaugural running, the GPT already stands tall amongst trail giants around the nation and I anticipate the GPT’s stature and lore to only build over coming years. It is an incredibly well-organised event with strong logistics (shuttles, communications, Capra app for seamless nav) and volunteers and other runners offering tremendous support and camaraderie. Squint and you may notice echoes of Victorian coastal flora as you pass through, be it some sandy trails or crescent honeyeaters – this is due to the range being an ancient 40-million-year-old ocean shoreline which has thrust, eroded and contorted itself over millennia into the magnificent range and trail that now is.

For training it’s critical to get in those hill and stair sessions, and during the race make the most of the aid stations for hydration. Prepare anything you can in advance (e.g. food, equipment, so you can maximise your rest between stages.

Stage races are the way for me, the story unfolds as a series of many chapters – some terrifying, always challenging and incredibly rewarding. Just follow the yellow arrows and the canary worms…