North Face/ Smokin/ JFK Blog

Today about ten people attacked switchbacks 3 and 4, and made lots of useful changes to the nearby single-track.  Nearly every part of the trail had something removed, changed or extended vertically or horizontally.

 

A previous narrow rocky corner is now a lot wider, allowing an easier run into a bermed sweeper, which runs into a fast (blind) banked right hand kink, the out into the open, along to a bit of  step up, then a bomb into the bermed left hander, steaming out to a small rise with an optional drop into the bermed right hander, through a few wiggles and over mound ( potential iar) into a dip, then up over a banked corner into a left/right/left/right combination over quite a rise.

Simple really J

 

But seriously we have been very careful to make the track ridable by as many riders as possible.

 

Thanks again to those who dropped in throughout the day as well, and hopped off their bike to help out.

 

We ran out of motivation about 4 when a cold breeze arrived, but a great day indeed.

Legends all J

 

 

 

The toight rocky corner before:

 

 

And after!

 

 

And the exit being attacked…

 

 

 

Much dirt was mined from the following bermed sweeper

 

 

 

And used on the first switchback, which at first looked like this:

 

 

 

Later in the day it was very spanky indeed:

 

 

 

 

Fettling the short run between the corners, which featured a rise with rock. This is now a ride with small step down:

 

 

 

 

Which then sends the rider right into the second switchback, which was extensively remodelled

 

 

 

Through a few small wiggles and then we have a rise, with the possibility of air for those in the mood:

 

 

 

And the following corner was banked to avoid hard braking:

 

 

We could spend a wee bit more time chipping the rock on the inner riding line on first corner, and next Saturday (yep Easter Saturday) we can wind our way down towards the next pair of switchies, tinkering with a camber here, slightly realigning a corner there, making more of a roller somewhere else, as we do!

 

Good times J

.

Last week’s efforts had progressed a long way, but had left a few bits incomplete, like the removal of large rocks. Done. Switchbacks were plotted to sweep around trees. Done.

Berms were imagined and they were done mightily!

 

And a great deal of excellent benching and clearing was accomplished, with play only stopped by bad light, with the Vistors dominating the proceedings.

 

We had 16 people working, and me. Cheers to Dave and James who came long as North Face Newbies :D

 

Rather than a few thousand words from me (for a change) here are some photos, which may look odd as my wee screen thingy was not working:

 

Here be a small rock used in corner 2:

 

 

And what was this used for hmm you may ask pointedly? It played a very minor role indeed in whatever these guys are standing on:

 

 

 

Which would be this!!

 

 

 

Further down the next turn was being devised:

 

 

 

And then the 4th and last corner of this trail under the trees:

 

 

The trail then heads across towards Ridgeline extension, not far below the big rocky switchback up there, and it looks like this at the moment:

 

 

Next week, all being well, we should make it to where this track turns left and runs parallel to Ridgeline extention (just by the jump) and maybe clear through to the end!

 

 

 

 

A whole bunch of people helped out today, some for the first time :-) and others the day before a race..and others just because they loved what has been done so far.

Good on you all for having a go, it really does make a difference as you can see. A big thanks to Steven, Wellington City Council Ranger, for taking the time out to create some nice stuff as well.

We worked on the areas pointed out by the yellow arrows, and many more lower down.

Nice also to see so many people of all skill levels riding the trail, after all, that is what it is for !

Next up we have our second last (sniff) Tuesday night session on the lower Smokin section, read about that here  http://makarapeak.org/Default.aspx?pageId=574086

And next weekend we will be meeting on SUNDAY, and the plan is to work on a too-tight corner and then switchbacks 3 and 4, the ones in a small valley :-) And if we are happy with those, we might just wander further down!

Cheers

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

This last blast section of the North Face project which smokes down through the trees is progressing nicely, with 14 people creating a lovely trail that dives and swoops across a small valley a few times.

 

The gang spread out clearing between the trees through mostly soft dark dirt, tinkering with switchbacks, doing some benching, and uncovering some large rocks. Bugger.

With just two evening visits to go (and the possibility of a tinker during Easter??) the track is gradually appearing as if it has a life of its own.

 

This trail is very soft, (not just the edges), so it will need lots of packing down. The best way to do this is to walk all over it :-)

 

Once this 375m section is ridable, people will be able to head down North Face from the road just below the summit, and hoon along the main 1620m of trail… and then pop out onto a 4wd track, and zoom down the road to this bit, Smokin their way down to the Ridgeline Extension picnic table area, where the choice of the AMP connector or the remainder of RLE await.

 

The built trail length will then be 1995m. Hmm. Almost 2 km J

 

Official Press Kit photos:

 

You will see plenty of pink tape where we marked many of the trees to set the course of this wee trail.

 

I went for a wander from where work started this evening- it is not as dark as my little camera makes it appear. The human eye, perfected over eons to hunt prey and read fine print can see a lot more.

 

There was Gorse:

 

 

But that was now out of the way, so...

 

we have a trail of sorts, it is emerging in front of our very eyes:

 

 

 

and this is heading into the first swiitchback

 

 

and here it is.

 Yep, it looks just like dirt.

 

 

 

The trail swoops down then up into this spot. Just keep following that pink tape..

 

 

 

And the second switchback somes into view: that is the gorse fee zone a few metres away featuring evening sunlight and sky:

 

 

The men create a nice corner, and find rock.

 

 

The exit that dives through the trees:

 

 

Tom goes ferral. He also likes kittens, honest.

 

 

And while Greater Wellington watched TV or put the kids to bed, Things Were Made in the Hills...

 

 

See you all next Tuesday!

 

Or.. this saturday at the Top!!

 

Cheers

 

Rob

 

Today a small but slightly possessed team of Matt, Jono Don and Rob did some tinkering with our sensational new track, our first step in the North Face Perfection Process

Don set off down the hill to clean up the trail- widen it here and there, remove the odd thing and flatten other things. He also adjusted Switchback 3, which is quite tricky!

Matt Jono and Rob worked on the start of the trail and the run into Switchback #1.
The entry is much better but could do with more adjustments, but the corner itself is now pretty awesome! This makes the exit a lot less tricky, and some tinkering was also done on Switchback 2, which is now much better.

It was great to once again see lot of people riding the track with novices, expert riders, and quite a few women as well. This track is designed to be fun, although you will be very busy!

Here is the view into the corner:

Matt set off to test the corners which seemed fair, as he was the main architect.
Well that and he had the only bike.

 

Here is a great picture of the berm. Not such a great picture of Matt riding it. Timing it seems, can be everything:

The corner now is pretty solid, and should pack down nicely with use and some rain..

Some adjustments were seen to be needed!

But with some tinkering it was a thing of beauty:

Next week we will be assembling on Saturday, and we now have a much shorter to do list for this area:
-A grade reversal for drainage before Switchback 1
-Neaten up the trail to Switchback 2
-Reduce the roller into Switchback 2, and create a larger exit berm
-Swing the trial a little further around a young Cabbage tree

Then we can wander down through the Manukas and see what is next!
We will eventually get to Switchbacks 3 and 4, both of which could do with more swoopyness.

Next up is the great Tuesday evening event which always has a great fun social atmosphere- way down the bottom just above Allington Rd. That runs from 5 until dark, with Pizza and Coke at 7. If you would like to learn more about this one, please go http://makarapeak.org/Default.aspx?pageId=574086

Cheers,

Rob

Makara Peak tracks

Lovely mild weather, 22 people, and a great atmosphere.

Track building happiness ! I think the gang benched about 35m of this trail, and cleared most of the random vegetation nearly all of the way to the second switchback !!

I am always amazed to see the progress: some people saw stuff up, others rip out roots, still others attack with grubbers to make a flat bench, and more people build lovely flowy trail on the new foundations. Wow.

This track will get dark quite early, (much like SWIGG & Starfish), due to the canopy and the side of the hill being in shadow. But the first switchback will be in the light (once that barberry goes) and the second is also out in the open, so they will be glowing strangely.

This lowest section of the North Face project has a very different setting to the others, and its personality is becoming obvious already. It is going to be a ripper :D

Great stuff and thank you to the men, women and children who helped out this evening. As always, you have made an important difference!

Photos:

Before this evening..

At 7:15, dinner time...

And going for a walk into the trail just after Pizza Time:

and

and..

and...theres more

and then

Anyway it eventually started to get dark, and the sensible people wandered off...

( except where there was one more Barberry to remove..)

And then Martin sent us all scattering by steaming down the trail into the gloom, becoming the first person to ride it :)

So here is a map showing the new lower track in RED, the part that was pretty much done last night is the yellow part at the beginning, and the yellow dots show the part that is being worked on:

 

 

Anyhow we will be meeting again at the same spot next Tuesday from 5, and if you want to perfect the existing North Face trail from the very top, drop by and say hello on Sunday this coming weekend from 10am.

The main North Face trail is of course ridable now. Except where we might be working !

See you on the side of a hill..

Cheers,

Rob

 

 

Today a thousand or so riders took part in the Karapoti near Upper Hutt.

Good on them for having a go.

Today a bunch of people dug some dirt on the North Face trail.

Good on them for trail building !!

 

We worked around the switchback numero 6, with Zac especially applying his skills at clobbering lots of solid rock with a pick for many hours.

The track heading into the corner looked a bit tight, so we widened that, and the track below looked a bit…tight, so we widened that too.

Heads were scratched and extra swerves and rollers were added heading into the corner, and then, strangely enough, heads were scratched and extra swerves and rollers were added on the way out.

 

We then got keen and headed down the trail tweaking away.

Cambers were adjusted for cornering goodness  (i,e, rocks smashed with picks) banks cut back for better visibility and a few stumps flung over the side. A tightening radius corner was strictly disciplined.

 

Lots of women and men rode down the track today, and it was nice to see them all smiling.

A shame they did not come back later to test what we had been doing, but there is always tomorrow, or next week. Or next year. This trail is going to be around for a very long time!.

 

The whole track is ridable with care for intermediate riders - look out for the very soft edges and sharp stumps- and enjoy the ride!!

 

Next weekend, Sunday is the day, and we start from the very top, making the existing track even better, metre by metre. Almost impossible I know, however building 1700 m of trail in 14 weeks shows what people can do if they are keen!

 

Today's selection of happy snaps from the old box camera: 

 

Widening the run into switchback 6.....

 

 

Widening the run out of the corner:

 

 

Track building can be so very tiring:

 

 

And some test riding shots...

 

Josh riding on switchback #6

 

 

Martin on the way out...

 

 

The lads line up for a bit of a blast...no straight lines through here !!

 

 

Josh on what will be a tabletop, heading towards the switchback:

 

 

 

Meanwhile next Tuesday night’s session is only 150m up the 4wd track off Allington road, on a NEW piece of trail. That starts at 5 and goes until dark, please see   this information

Yep, the Tuesday nights have been fantastic, and with only 4 to go, and the light fading, we have a NEW VENUE for the last 4 weeks !

Have a read  by going directly to  This Page 

Cheers

Rob

 

Don Macleod this morning rode the 1700m of North Face trail, end to end non stop.

Initial looking about for this trail was done on October, 2008.

Pilot tracking started in earnest in March, 2009. And 25 or so sessions later…..

The track was given the green light on September 25, 2009.

Work parties started on 15 October 2009, the forecast was for snow..

Since then we have had about 35 work parties and built 14 switchbacks and benched about 1700m of swoopy flowy singletrack.

A very very impressive effort indeed.

***** A huge thankyou to all of those who have helped out  :)

Next up, making it as good as it can be.

And, working on the lower section…

 

Last night 8 people arrived to conquer Switchback 6, or at least make a start on it.

The weather forecast had been forbidding all week: showers heading to rain etc. This was only modified to a chance of showers at 4pm.. That and the low cloud kept many people in front of their televisions. In the end it was warm, and did not rain at all.

The corner itself is taking shape, and it will be pretty challenging to make into a thing of beauty. Due to the local terrain (i.e. very bloody steep) it has quite a drop of about 2 metres, and there are the usual huge lumps of rock.

Large chunks of the nearby trail was also widened, and a spot made for a seat.

So great progress was made, well done everybody !

We will be back there next Saturday, however the Tuesday after may well be at a new bit of the trail, 900m closer to home, and far easier to get to and from in these days of diminishing evening light ..

I shall keep you posted.

See you on the side of a hill !