Last month, the Otago Daily Times reported Evan McWhirter’s 10-year concession, held by his company Pace Contracting , had expired — and the Department of Conservation, under the Mt Aspiring National Park management plan, opened up an expressions of interest process.
Doc sought proposals for on-foot events, to take place in April and have capacity for 350 entrants.
Mr McWhirter’s Routeburn Classic, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, is a 32km trail-running race along the Fiordland National Park track, held every April, weather permitting, with a maximum entry field of 350.
Doc Whakatipu operations manager David Butt said four expressions of interest were received by last Friday’s deadline.
Mr McWhirter confirmed one of those was his.
The next steps were to confirm a process to either work with an individual, or invite the four interested parties to submit a more specific plan, via a tender process, Mr Butt said.
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Apparently one of the applications was for Routeburn by Crush the Cargill.
It'll be a race you can run on any day you chose depending on the weather.
The aid stations will consist of water falling from the sky or running from the hills.
The transport logistics are yours to organise as part of your entry fee.
The compulsory gear includes those items you deem necessary to prevent you from perishing in the outdoors but also includes a mandatory sense of adventure.
The new Routeburn by CtC also takes in a mandatory trip to the top of Conical Hill above Harris Saddle because a saddle isn't a summit.
Entries for the new Routeburn by CtC are now open. By way of incentive all finishers will automatically qualify for Crush the Cargill '21.