Determined to get stuck into the TrailWalker challenge members of teams ‘The Waverton
Ones’ and ‘Walk this Way’ decided to hit the track on Sunday 26th April. The initial plan to walk the Start to CP1 (Brooklyn to Cowan) and back - the plans changed on receipt of the Trailwalker information packs. Berowra is only 1 station further south on the same train line – why not head for CP2!
As well as looking forward to exploring some great sections of the Great North Walk the team had a few other objectives in mind: testing out new shoes, boots, packs and clothes and taking on a long walk to check our fitness against our preconceptions and plan the next 18 weeks of training. 2 team members (1 male & 1 female) were wearing heart rate monitors that usefully also show the calories burned.
The day dawned clear and bright (well it was actually dark when we got up!) and the team headed up Berowra station to drop off the cars and catch the 07:30 train to Brooklyn (Hawkesbury Stn). (Good free parking at Berowra and a quick train journey from platform 2).
As well as looking forward to exploring some great sections of the Great North Walk the team had a few other objectives in mind: testing out new shoes, boots, packs and clothes and taking on a long walk to check our fitness against our preconceptions and plan the next 18 weeks of training. 2 team members (1 male & 1 female) were wearing heart rate monitors that usefully also show the calories burned.
The day dawned clear and bright (well it was actually dark when we got up!) and the team headed up Berowra station to drop off the cars and catch the 07:30 train to Brooklyn (Hawkesbury Stn). (Good free parking at Berowra and a quick train journey from platform 2).
Start – CP1 3.5hrs 1800cals (men); 1600cals (women)
We skipped the first road section of the walk and headed directly to the trailhead. The first section is steep in places but easy walking on a wide smooth fire trail. We were making great time (over 5km/hr) for the first bit and then the fire trail gives way to single track and the broken ground starts! The rest of the leg is a series of ups and downs through some great countryside – excellent views of the ocean and the Hawkesbury and a really nice section around Jerusalem Bay. The final climb up to Cowan was steep, watch the potholes in the creek – some are more than 3ft deep! 
After waiting for a freight train to go through at Cowan station we crossed the line at the marked point and went looking for lunch! Turning right out of the station and heading up the Highway brings you to a café and shop (corner Fraser Rd and Pac. Hwy). Toilets here, as well as a
tap to fill up water bottles. The food was fine and reasonably priced.
We didn’t walk into Cowan to see CP1 but went from the café back to the trailhead (almost opposite the station).
CP1 – CP2 4hrs 2200cals (men); 2000cals (women)
A nice flat intro section from the trailhead to Glendale road lets you find your feet again before heading west across to Berowra Waters. A steep up and down here (similar to the first leg) through great countryside on a single file track (no wide fire trails in this bit!), the climb puts you on a short ridge that feels like the middle of nowhere a great viewpoint off the top to get a team photo and then onto the descent to Berowra Waters. Most of the team found the downhills tough on the knees by this point, a few of us were regretting forgetting the walking poles and others vowed to purchase them before the next outing, one team member was still leaping around like a gazelle, so she’ll be carrying all the water bottles next time!Once you get into Berowra Waters you hit sealed road for a few hundred meters through the car park and along to the ferry crossing (there is a toilet here, set back from the road just before the ferry. A girly scream probably indicated there were some spiders!)
Rejoing the GNW you are quickly into the ascent up to Berowra – this is the toughest ascent so far, it is constant and there are lots of stairs (time to engage the glutes and ignore the knees!), a bit of a ridge, then a drop down into the valley (lovely and cool in May, not sure about August!). On the way up some navigation is needed – it’s simple but it was the first time we noticed having to make a choice of route. Check the map, make your turn and the next stop is the lookout – lovely view and a good place for another photo!
Rejoing the GNW you are quickly into the ascent up to Berowra – this is the toughest ascent so far, it is constant and there are lots of stairs (time to engage the glutes and ignore the knees!), a bit of a ridge, then a drop down into the valley (lovely and cool in May, not sure about August!). On the way up some navigation is needed – it’s simple but it was the first time we noticed having to make a choice of route. Check the map, make your turn and the next stop is the lookout – lovely view and a good place for another photo!
Keep going and follow the signs to the station, you’ll be out on the road before you know it and heading for the checkpoint. Worth taking note of the warning in the Trailwalker map book – the crossing point on Berowra Waters road is a bit odd, half the cars did stop for us, others zoomed right through so it’s important to tune back in to reality for this bit!
CP2 is an easy find – and Berowra station is just beyond it if you’ve left your car there. There are a couple of service stations and some shops just beyond CP2 if you need some choccy and a cup of tea!
CP2 is an easy find – and Berowra station is just beyond it if you’ve left your car there. There are a couple of service stations and some shops just beyond CP2 if you need some choccy and a cup of tea!
Overall we walked about 25km in about 8hrs and burned about 4000 calories. We learned that walking poles certainly have a place in the TrailWalker and that gloves might be a good idea to protect the hands from the rocks!
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