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Pour Some Sugarloaf On Me, Canterbury

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Pour Some Sugarloaf On MeBeginner - Intermediate

Submitted by Tony Sharpe

Info Info
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Trail Information

8.30km

370m

370m

 

Canterbury

Christchurch

Urban fringe

Combo

Undulating, some big hills

Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Open tussock/grasslands
Volcanic

Beginner - Intermediate

1:15 (Slow)
1:00 (Moderate)
0:45 (Fast)

-10.8%

+10.7%

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Description

This one is a shorter length dash for those with a little less time. Gain the first 200m of vert from town in the car and then head out on nice easy trails to the prominent Port hills landmark, complete with a trig and sensational views across Canterbury.

Follow the Harry Ell track as it ascends gently over 4 km to the Sign of the Kiwi. This is a nice wide well-graded trail with plenty of room to push past the large numbers of walkers and other runners. You get great views across to the Christchurch Adventure Park along with the impacts of the 2017 Fires in this area.

You can fill up with water at the Sign of the Kiwi when you reach Dyers Pass, then pick up the Crater Rim Trail as it ascends to the east up the flanks of Sugarloaf. Take car crossing the road if it's busy. Ignore any turnoffs and stick to the trail until you reach the Sugarloaf carpark. Here you can either head up the gated access road to the summit, or follow trails straight up the middle.

After compulsory Trig photos at the summit pick up a rough trail down the eastern side which will drop you back down to another section of the Crater Rim. Loop back around here on sweet single trail to the Sugarloaf carpark again and head down through Thompsons Reserve. There are numerous options for following back down to the Takahe through Victoria Park, the recommended best one is to pick up Latters Spur track to the playground and then head down the trail beside the road to where you started.

Don't forget to check out the views at Cracroft lookout beside the Takahe, well worth it for your warmdown.


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Features of interest

Shorter distance than most Port Hills loops
Fabulous 360 degree views
Sign of the Kiwi and Takahe and historic Harry Ell Track


Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 5%

Moderate Single Track: 40%

Easy Single Track: 50%

Sealed Road: 5%


Route Data

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Overlapping Runs

The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each

The Gorsetrack Strikes Back

The Gorsetrack Strikes Back

Length: 14.00km

Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki

Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki

Length: 13.00km

VKV challenge

VKV challenge

Length: 10.00km

Gondola Gallop

Gondola Gallop

Length: 11.30km

Lava - H.ELL Loop

Lava - H.ELL Loop

Length: 10.30km

Takahe Half

Takahe Half

Length: 21.10km

Vicki Vale

Vicki Vale

Length: 9.25km

The Missing Link

The Missing Link

Length: 7.50km


Photos:

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Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    Start beside the Sign of the Takahe

    Plenty of on-street parking and the Blue Line Bus goes up here too

    6 km

    15 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Easy.

    As noted there are a few options for the Victoria Park descent, but most roads lead to Home

    Perfect throughout.

    Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map.

    There's a few drinking fountains - Harry Ell track, Sign of the Kiwi and in Victoria Park

    Can get pretty windy at times.

    Can be slightly greasy in the wet

  • Post run indulgence

    Protocol
    Bottom of Dyers Pass Road
    http://www.protocoloncolombo.co.nz/
    Decent beverages and great food for post dash

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    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

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See other runs nearby:

Godley Head loop
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Halswell and Kennedys
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The Gorsetrack Strikes Back
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Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki
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Travis Wetland Loop
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