Riding Heaphy Track? ..better Read This

[bbuckland]

With the high number of riders combined with the ongoing heavy rain there are sections of Heaphy track that are not coping (as riders through there already know), some sections are really boggy. Remedial work will be done later this year (thats why the pipes and mesh are at MacKay.) Word is coming through that too many riders are underestimating how long and tough the ride is and some are still on bikes after dark. Night riding is NOT ALLOWED and was a condition of the trial we agreed to. Anyone caught doing so WILL NOW BE PROSECUTED.
Please pass this onto others.YOU ARE NOW WARNED...

[Zoom]

When we were there, 2 weeks ago, a few rangers were around. It is a fantastic track - thanks for the heads up Bryce

[RHR_Rob]

So the question is if you do happen to miss judge it and it gets dark what do you do? (assuming you know you cant ride in the dark)
does night riding also apply to trampers who may be using a head torch?

Sit by the track and hope you survive the night (possible SAR call out)
fumble along in the dark hoping you dont trip and break a leg (SAR call out + chopper)
put light on and ride to next hut (or is it ok to put light on and walk?) large fine

not condoning riding at night just opening up a hot debate on what one should do! obviously better planning of the distance would help but hindsight is a wonderfull thing.

[thorg]

So the question is if you do happen to miss judge it and it gets dark what do you do? (assuming you know you cant ride in the dark)
does night riding also apply to trampers who may be using a head torch?

Sit by the track and hope you survive the night (possible SAR call out)
fumble along in the dark hoping you dont trip and break a leg (SAR call out + chopper)
put light on and ride to next hut (or is it ok to put light on and walk?) large fine

not condoning riding at night just opening up a hot debate on what one should do! obviously better planning of the distance would help but hindsight is a wonderfull thing.

The Huts aren't that far apart. you will know by lunch time if you will make your destination or not. Pushing on knowing you might be caught out should not be an option.

having a mechanical/accident - and pushing on to get to a hut for safety is likely to be ok. That it is a safety issue. Trying to get through in 1 day, getting to heaphy hut with 1 hour of daylight left and choseing to push through is not. If you are at a hut, and wondering 'if' you will make the next hut by dark, dont risk it.

Pretty simple rules, pretty easy to follow. We could all think up exceptions if we tried, and DOC will deal with those as they arrise.

[Slim]

There were people starting at midnight in order to make it through before dark the next day when we were in there.

[jo]

May their tyres be forever flat and headwinds forever strong.

Breaching conditions of trial should be rewarded with scorn in the interests of ongoing access.

[thelivo]

May their tyres be forever flat and headwinds forever strong.

Breaching conditions of trial should be rewarded with execution in the interests of ongoing access.

Fixed.
If idiots fuck it up for the rest of us there will be a lot of people VERY pissed.

[Slim]

May their tyres be forever flat and headwinds forever strong.

Breaching conditions of trial should be rewarded with scorn in the interests of ongoing access.

We made it quite clear, but I am not sure they were the type of people to accept the rules were there for a reason and applied to everyone.

[danose]

with all the rangers staking out the Heaphy at night looking for errant mtbers, now would have to be the perfect time to burgle the abel tasman under lights

[RHR_Rob]

Just puerly out of interest - whats wrong with night riding?

[scatter]

Just puerly out of interest - whats wrong with night riding?

You might hit a kiwi or squash a snail.

And while that might sound silly, thems the rules.

[sifter]

Perhaps one of the reasons for the night-riding is the accommodation constraints? I gather you have to book a particular hut, so people are perhaps prioritising sticking to their booking over not riding in the dark...

On a side note, some friends slept in a woodshed after vacating their bunks to late arrivals and saw 4 kiwi! :jealous:

[jo]

Perhaps one of the reasons for the night-riding is the accommodation constraints? I gather you have to book a particular hut, so people are perhaps prioritising sticking to their booking over not riding in the dark...

Or possibly not booking at all to do it in one big day?

[Dicey]

We should be just thankful we can ride the track and stick to the rules and not mess it up for others.
There will be a lot of people watching how this trial goes and if we stuff it up with a few wallys not planning their trip well or just breaking the rules its ALL of us that will lose out.

[.I.]

Just puerly out of interest - whats wrong with night riding?

You might hit a kiwi or squash a snail.

And while that might sound silly, thems the rules.

Disturbing the nocturnal types