Decided to do this run in the opposite direction this time, last time we climbed the North side and descended into Tidbinbilla, it was a steep and harsh climb (we had to walk much of it) with a long descent. Today I rode the whole way up, and it was pretty easy (not steep at all).
The descent into Peirces Creek was as I had feared though, where it was so steep we had to push the bikes up last time, today, going the other way, it was a pretty hairy descent, with maximum brake friction dialled in, and touch and go wheel lock ups, you are still accelerating down the slope with no chance of slowing down until the hill lets up at the bottom!
It was a gorgeous day out, 25'C and a sunny day for the start of Spring. The scenery from a top the range at Camel Back was lush and green and then it turns surreal at Pierces (was once) Pine Forrest, that place looks bizarre these days, not a pine tree left after the 2003 fires.
I hit the Cottor in around 4 hours from home, so had 2 hours to spare before my family arrived for a picnic lunch (and a lift home :)), so I cruised around the upper part of Pierces. I tried to find my way over the river to join up with Warks Road on the other side, but couldn't find a crossing, later when I got home I found Vanity's Crossing on the maps, which would have been perfect. Going over here would hook me up with the trails we used on the way to Bendora Dam and Mt Ginini. I eventually gave up and ended up checking out the view of the Cottor Dam and finding some hills to climb and play with. There are many trees down on the far western trails in here, around the edge of the forrest, I'd recommened staying away from the perimeter of the forrest, and sticking in the middle, where the trails are well maintained.
A fun ride, and definitley should be done South to North like this.
The crew:
| Jason | Giant Trance |
The Stats:
| Distance | 66km |
| Time | 5:47 |
| Climb | 1.6vkm |
| Speed | 13.5km/h avg, 74km max |