j2hyde wrote:Definitely access peaking via the 629 climb and then up lower sunshine. The access in from black diamond is mostly ridable but has quite a few trees down which really messes with the flow of upper sunshine ridge and is generally a pita.

So theres a bit of 4wd track from the top of 629 over to the start of Peaking ridge? Is that what your calling Lower Sunshine? How long is it going to take to do Peaking and 629 on the same outing?

sounds to me like its not a 4wd track...

rackerrack wrote:How long is it going to take to do Peaking and 629 on the same outing?

5 hours to do both I'd say. Including the medal ceremony for climbing the firebreak twice in one day.

onyabike wrote:

rackerrack wrote:How long is it going to take to do Peaking and 629 on the same outing?

5 hours to do both I'd say.

I Could always drop one depending on how things were going.So 4wd to top of 629,track to top of Peaking(whats this like and whats it called?),down Peaking and around to the bottom of 629 climb,up and down 629

onyabike wrote:Including the medal ceremony for climbing the firebreak twice in one day.

Yeah there is that.Around 1300m all up?

Should be no problem for a man thatt accidentally did a loop of Karapoti

Grumpyoldman wrote:Should be no problem for a man that accidentally did a loop of Karapoti

I had sore legs going down the last sister.

We went through the whole of Sunshine Ridge with handsaws so it is running mint . there are only 3 big trees down which can be climbed over and don't slow you down much. as a mission ride of 3 to 5 hrs depending on skill you can ...
A. Ride to the top of Fringed Hill then along Black Diamond track to the 4 way intersection where you turn left onto Sunshine Ridge and then ride until you see the Peaking Ridge turnoff to the left. Then down and out the Maitai Valley as a 30 plus km loop. OR
B. Ride up Dunn Mountain Walkway to Junction saddle at the base of the Wooded peak track then turn hard left and climb back up to The 4 way Junction at the start of Sunrise ridge then do the same as above. OR
C. Like people have said Park at the Dam and climb up Bob Taylor road to the top of 629 (Which is signposted) When you get to the top which takes about an hour, don't go into 629 but go into the track to the left this is the bottom of Sunshine Ridge .. Ride this sweet singletrack for about 45 mins until you come to an intersection where Peaking Ridge goes down to the left, then ride down to the dam and car . this takes about 2 - 2.5 hrs.

So,we did the double on Friday (Peaking and 629)It was a bit damp but mint.Peaking was more fun than I expected and has some great terrain and a feel I haven't come across before.I can't wait to ride it dry.I've ridden 629 before but its now a lot different and will now sit on the top of my FARK! list.Mad respect to the builders and riders who get down unscathed.

Has anyone ridden Peaking recently? Is it reasonably clear?

I haven't ridden it since the reform after the storm - is the turnoff (from sunrise) still tricky to spot or is there a sign of some sort?

Cheers