A New Track At Makara Peak !!

wachtourak · *by **wachtourak** on Wed 26/Jan/11 2:52pm*

Zacs is already an intermediate level track

Robbie · *by **Robbie** on Wed 26/Jan/11 2:59pm*

thorg · *by **thorg** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:02pm*

wachtourak wrote:Zacs is already an intermediate level track

I would have thought so. If I can ride it it, would not be difficult.

Conners · *by **Conners** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:03pm*

VERT wrote:So long as Ridgeline is left alone i'm all good

Robbie · *by **Robbie** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:15pm*

Once the North Face Project tracks are all completed, Ridgeline Extention will become more gnarly through to the picnic table area.

Wobbler · *by **Wobbler** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:21pm*

are you going to put some rollers on it?

.I. · *by **.I.** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:24pm*

Robbie wrote:, Ridgeline Extention will become more gnarly through to the picnic table area.

I think some thought should be put into this also as it is part of the mid level loop from Sally alley. Not everyone that is off intermedate level abuilty has this fitness or sometimes just the want to ride to the peak, IMHO (not that is worth a pinch of salt)As it is at the moment it is tech level up from SA which is ok, but it in keeping with the mid level loop does it really want to be much techier ?

Robbie · *by **Robbie** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:33pm*

.I. wrote:
Robbie wrote:, Ridgeline Extention will become more gnarly through to the picnic table area.
I think some thought should be put into this also as it is part of the mid level loop from Sally alley. Not everyone that is off intermedate level abuilty has this fitness or sometimes just the want to ride to the peak, IMHO (not that is worth a pinch of salt)As it is at the moment it is tech level up from SA which is ok, but it in keeping with the mid level loop does it really want to be much techier ?

Good point, and there are two reasons this.

The first is that once JFK is done, riders will be able to ride JFK and Smokin, although a climb up a hill will be involved. Different tracks to be sure, but much longer at about 1050 metres.

Secondly, there may be other tracks in the nearish future that would replace Ridgeline Extention as part of a half way loop from Sally Alley.

.I. · *by **.I.** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:46pm*

Robbie wrote:, although a climb up a hill will be involved.

that hill climb is horrible

here's a Dumb idea FTW make a way around the hill

Robbie · *by **Robbie** on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:53pm*

There is an idea in the works which would be a gentle climb followed by a fun descent.

Whether this happens or not will depend on how well the current tracks are maintained, and funding.

If the landowners are not happy with the level of maintence on current tracks, no new tracks are built. :eh:

pm · *by pm on Wed 26/Jan/11 3:57pm*

Robbie wrote:
.I. wrote:
Robbie wrote:, Ridgeline Extention will become more gnarly through to the picnic table area.
I think some thought should be put into this also as it is part of the mid level loop from Sally alley. Not everyone that is off intermedate level abuilty has this fitness or sometimes just the want to ride to the peak, IMHO (not that is worth a pinch of salt)As it is at the moment it is tech level up from SA which is ok, but it in keeping with the mid level loop does it really want to be much techier ?

Good point, and there are two reasons this.

The first is that once JFK is done, riders will be able to ride JFK and Smokin, although a climb up a hill will be involved. Different tracks to be sure, but much longer at about 1050 metres.

Secondly, there may be other tracks in the nearish future that would replace Ridgeline Extention as part of a half way loop from Sally Alley.

more tracks is good

i'm not going to criticise anything as i know how much effort Robbie and many others have put into the northface project and the peak in general and that despite my best intentions my track building karma is still shockingly low. Any new track you want to build is much appreciated.

Personally i'd like to keep the current top section of zacs as a climb even if it is replaced by a more flowing descent but i understand if the maintenance effort is better used elsewhere. I'd also love to see a northface-like uphill to the summit - it made a great climb in the PNP race and the peak could use an alternative to aratihi. i am a little deranged that way though!

Robbie · *by **Robbie** on Wed 26/Jan/11 4:45pm*

It is tricky as Zacs is two way, and TNT and North Face will not be.

It is also easy to see that climbers might prefer a shorter steeper finale to Zacs.

Balanced against this is the need to have a start to that track that has a lesser gradient, simply so it does not get shredded (as it certainly would) by the huge number or riders heading down to North Face.

Hopes to build this track seperately to Zacs were dashed by rock faces, too steep terrain and/ or the massive amounts of work to do something totally different.

So we now have, after many many hours of careful measurement, discussion and clambering about by quite a few people, the best long term compromise.

And a lot of effort will be put in to give the track a character that most intermediate riders, enjoy most of the time. Just like North Face, JFK or Smokin'

Hence this post about the start of a new track.

Hopefuly people will be keen to help out, because this track will be entirely built by volunteers, as nearly all the track sat Makara Peak have been

Colin · *by **Colin** on Wed 26/Jan/11 5:48pm*

I like the rough bits at the top of Zacs. They have clean open approach and exit and are not steep or sustained. Therefore great for growing the skill and confidence to attack other challenging sections of the park.

I feel care needs to be taken to avoid widening the gap that is appearing between groomed ‘intermediate’ tracks and the more difficult tracks that are being left to go feral. Tiding the lower section of RLE and the new bermy bits on LL together with the Zacs improvements and plans for Livewires all seem to be opening this divide. Although there is still Nikau, and other tracks outside Makara Peak that I /others can ride.

But I acknowledge these changes need to be balanced against making tracks sustainable, especially given the relatively small proportion of riders who find time to dig (not a dig at anyone posting in this thread). Also need to recognise that often a track will decay / improve as ones skill develop – when it is ‘dumbed down’ it is only returning it to its original state ready for a new wave of emerging riders.

There be my opinion for what it is worth. I don’t do enough work on the trails and especially behind the scenes to be making decisions. I know I AM right :sly:

, but doesn’t mean my thoughts will be reflected in what happens on the ground.

Now time to go ride my bike. :thumbsup:

I feel lucky there are people who have made track so close to my desk that a fang on the commute home is an option.

Jono · *by **Jono** on Wed 26/Jan/11 8:20pm*

Robbie wrote:If the landowners are not happy with the level of maintence on current tracks, no new tracks are built.

And that would be my main point. A hell of a lot of work has gone into northface et al (and they're nearly done). Wouldn't it be better to focus on a wee bit of maintenance before winter really sets in? Aratihi gets muddy as all buggery in winter, and a couple of track days spent maintaining it (or putting small grade reversals in to get the water off the track) would pay off better in the long term.

mudlover/hater · *by **mudlover/hater** on Wed 26/Jan/11 8:35pm*

I for one LOVE the start of Zac's. It gives you a good little hangontight moment from the top and it's an amazing feeling to conquer the rocky outcrops near the top after a tough climb.....

Just sayin...

A New Track At Makara Peak !!

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