Port Hills Spur Challenge!

Looking for a Port Hills run with as much vert packed in as you can? Well, this one will probably get you over 1000m of vert quicker than anywhere in the area. This one is designed for the slightly masochistic among us who want no tarmac, no flat and lots of ups and downs.

The run starts in St Martins and plays across 4 major spurs of the Port Hills (hence the title). Head over the gate/ stile at the road and head for the bush. Immediately take the left hand turn over the creek and head up onto the Mt Vernon Farmpark spur. Wind your way up to the 4WD track and cross it, heading up the Dry Ridge Track. Crest the top of the spur and then follow its natural loop back down and round to where you just were - this small loop may seem odd at the time but it's a nice warmup and serves its purpose in getting the vertical into 4 figures by the end.

Head back up the 4WD Farm Park trail when you get back to it and ascend to higher up the spur, this time dropping down again and over the other side on the rest of the Dry Ridge Track to reach the Valley Track. Head up here a short way through wonderful regeneration to pick up the Rodgers Track which will access the well known Rapaki Track.

Ascend Rapaki all the way, cross the road and get onto the Crater Rim trail as it ascends all the way to the top of Mt Vernon. Stop, catch your breath and take in those 360 degree views. From Mt Vernon follow the Crater Rim along the lumps and bumps all the way towards the Sugarloaf - and ascend to the mast and trig via the steep formed but unmarked goat track up the east side. Here you will be at the high point for the circuit, but don't panic, your uphill is far from complete.

Descend Sugarloaf and go down Latters Spur all the way to the Victoria Park Playground area where you keep heading down the East Side Bush track until you reach the Bowenvale Valley floor. Keep going down valley on a short stretch of new trail built to separate bikers from those on foot.

Next job is the long steady ascent up onto Huntsbury Spur, initially up the Hidden Valley track and Pylon Track, onto the Zigzag until you meet up with the 4WD track on the top.

Almost there - sort of. Descend Huntsbury until nearly at the tarmac. Look for a stile and poles off to the east for a nice technical section down into Dry Bush valley. Stay in the valley floor here and head out the Gorge track for a wonderfully varied finish to a fairly epic 18km's!