Stirling Range Ridge Walk record smashed by Perth-based former Canadian triathlete

A Perth-based runner has set a new record for the Stirling Range Ridge Walk, completing the 42km circuit in a blistering four hours and 52 minutes on January 25.

Mike Lori said after he and his wife spent a year away in Canada he was determined to tackle “WA’s most gnarliest and technical difficult mountain trail” upon his return before he going back to work last week.

He said he had his mind set on doing the trail for two years and did a lot of preparation over the past two months.

“It’s super difficult, super scenic and has some really tough sections that you don’t get anywhere else in WA,” he said.

“Training for something like this is a mix of regular road running, and then lots of trails around Perth with lots of hill work.

“I’d go to King’s Park locally and just run steps up and down for an hour at a time because the hardest part about running in the mountains is getting your vertical distance — it’s quite different to regular running.”

The 31-year-old environmental scientist, who grew up in Perth to Canadian parents and has previously represented Canada as a triathlete, broke Rudi Smith’s previous record by 13 minutes

Mr Lori said the record for completing the trail was well known among the groups he was involved in as “one of the most difficult to get”.

He said that motivated him further.

“The day before I did think I was going to be able to get it,” he said.

“I was pretty fit and I’ve been to that mountain previously to do the ridge walk — I tried to do it last year just as a hike and I got really lost and I was pretty nervous about some of the more difficult ridge parts.

“After a year in the Canadian mountains, I came back a lot more confident.”

You’re kind of tunnelling through trees and it’s quite difficult, those are the hardest sections.

The difficulty of the trail is enhanced by the fact it is unmarked through bushland and Trails WA suggests it “takes two to three days to complete the hike through rugged terrain”.

Mr Lori said trees were often overgrowing the trail and “you’re getting lost half the time” because parts of the bushland were so thick “you can’t see more than a metre in front of you”.

“You’re kind of tunnelling through trees and it’s quite difficult, those are the hardest sections,” he said.

“Prior to the top of the bluff, I thought it was nice clear day, but some clouds came in and I stopped at the top to take a quick video and I completely lost the direction I was going.

“I had to look at my watch and my phone to get back on the trail.”

He said the overcast conditions meant it was a bit wet in the air to cool him down during the run, but it was “super hot” at the end.

“This time of year there is no water source up there so I ended up super dehydrated,” he said.

“Over the last 15km-20km I had no water.”

His Australia Day was spent recovering at Mt Trio Bush Camp.

“I really enjoyed the experience and the Great Southern is my favourite part of WA,” he said.