Tip Track has a significant flatish/rolling section in the middle:

Overall it gains something like 405m over 3.5km, giving an average gradient of 11.5%. However, excluding the middle section the typical gradient is more like 14-18%.

OUCH

Cool, so it is height gained divided by distance, not the other way around don't want to go telling people that Transient is a similar slope as the Tip Track!

Lunchtime digging is on tomorrow, whatever the weather. We have about 10 metres to go to Kerepa st, plus switchback no 5 needs a retaining wall, though query if that will be tomorrow. After that's done its on southwards up the valley, then across the flattish valley face to link with planet ride. From 1230 with chocolate fish.

Hi Kevin,

Ant and I added a few meters on last week, you can smell the dog shit on the Karepa walkway it is that close. Is there any plan regarding the step up off the 4wd onto the upper section? Maybe we could split the track, leave the step for some downwards fun and run another small section around the side for uphill?

Cannot make it tomorrow, hol in Nelson.

Andrew.

Yep a few metres is right, though not bad for you for 3 hrs digging. As a rule I'm keen for alternate lines and I can see what youre getting at but don't think it wil be a goer. Can talk to the other two about it but my gut reaction is keep the cleanest/obvious line as nice track and add nastier stuff off it. And though it isn't a very hard drop off it would certianly wipe out little charlie who got away from Dad (and little charlie didn't read sign saying small drop off). And as this track has a strong multi use aim I don't think it would be seen as adding to that goal. So will talk to others about it. We could always add it afterwards and slightly to the right looking from the north. Get back to me on Nelson and the rides there -go do peaking ridge(query spelling) - keen to visit. Just got back from a 5 day south island mtb trip. Wanaka -sticky forest- great single track, queenstown - 7 mile, again great single track, lake hawea, hard to find technical and the snow farm - 2000ft downhill yikes. and only crashed once.kev

Yeah, I think you are right on the step.
Lets see what the brains think. Is the first switchback up from the step getting the concrete/post treatment?

Sounds like down south was full on. At the moment only planning on going to the new Kaiteriteri MTB park in the weekend. Might have to sneak out for a blat by myself beforehand, not sure if I will have time to catch up with Murray this time.

Thanks to Joanthan, Ant, Nick, Craig, Joe, Simon and Kev. Track now linked to Kerepa St and to 4wd track. Needs a bit more work as soft in places and a bit of rain. Building new track will be on a slight hold till we check alignment.
In two weeks time we have a uber work group up on Highland Fling, made up of one corporate group and Global volunteer network. The aim is to widen the track after WCC has removed all the trees.

There will be no new digging at Transinet today as we are still waiting for a check on the alignment of the next piece of track over private land.There will also be no digging next wednesday as all the tools will be moved up for the big workparty on Highbury Fling, off Ashton Fitchett Drive.

I will still head up to cut back vegetation at the top and do a bit of a tickle up. Need to move some tools down so they can be collected for next week as well. Maybe see you there.

Rode Hobo, Transient and Highland Fling last night. A wonderful addition to Wellington trails - thanks

your welcome Zoom, happy you liked them.

Just a reminder of work party on Highbury Fling tomorrow. There will be no digging on Transient. We will be meeting from 0930 on Ashton Fitchett Drive where the cabbage trees and stairs are on the right before the road branches off up to the windmill. WCC has cut about 20 trees off at a good height and the plan is to remove these, widen the track and if time improve the flow. One of the corporate groups has had to cut its numbers from 20 to 6 so there lots of scope if casual volunteers want to turn up. Be great to see you, even for just 30 minutes. This track when finished will be an important connector to the bottom of Roller Coaster. We wil be there from 0900-1530 kev 0273144569

Nice. I'm hoping that I'll be free of work commitments tomorrow, and make it up for an hour or so of digging. Probably around 1pm by the time I get up there...

Arghh cannot make it again. Got a stack of marking to do tomorrow.
We might be able to poach a few Makara track builders over winter, sounds like they are going to wind down the new trackbuilding there for a bit.

Kevin, whats the long term plan (if any) I should be back to usual come mid June. Barking Emu?

Huge work day today, big thanks to the guys from Contact Energy and the global volunteers network. They did 6 hours of hard yards. Over 25 large mahoe trees/stumps were dug out plus large sections of Highbury Fling were rebenched and improved. There still requires a lot more work including grade reversals but the track is well on the way to being something special. It is already a bit special in wellington as it starts and ends at the same elevation. Some of the Mahoes were huge. I skived off after three and Jonathan and Craig were still going.

To andrew, we will still be working on Transient in June, then there's Highbury Fling to finish. After that is a new track by the windmill with Barking Emu quite some time away according to Craig.