From:
jmcavoy Date: Thu Jan 14, 1999 2:25
pm Subject: Wednesday, 14th January 1999 - Mt Tugera
Setting off with all my mates, I took a ~11km
spin around Mt Tuggeranong alone.... I set off from
my house (Montgomery Place) and climbed along the
east side around to the back of the Hill, this was
easier than the west side climb I took last time as the
east is all bitchumen climbs and less slippery. Once
around the back I found myself at the Conder/Calwell
Power Station. This is where I found a new, punishing
climb straight up the guts of the hill for 800m to the
trig point at the top. The climb was pretty steep,
but not so slippery if you kept your ass on the seat,
the erosion mounds on the track gave realief every
50m or so, then another slog seaction towards the top
and more rests. At the start I thought I could ride
all the way, but the old lungs gave out and walked
the last third of the climb :( The top is covered
in what Davey names 'spikey bushes', bigtime! :( I
had to traverse a short 10m run through some of these
to make the trig point and kick back for much
sculling of water and enjoyment of a truely magnificent
sunset. Then I had to turn around and go back down the demonic
hill I had climbed to get here (I had hoped for
another way down on the west face, no luck though, too
many spikey bushes). This puppy is huge, I hit 46km/h
on the way down and those erosion mounds soon became
death providing jumps. By about half way down, my hands
were giving out from braking too much for too long and
I nearly lost it! Could hardly hold the handle bars
and they are still hurting now! 30mins of climb for 5
mins of descent, still, it was worth it :) Back at
the Power Station I headed along the north face of
the hill down to the water tank, a relativley
civilised run next to the houses at the back of Calwell. I
couldn't bear another climb and descent and was getting
pretty tired, so I switched onto the road and headed
back on bitchumen bliss for many icypoles and about 2
litres of water. Man it was hot!
I will
definiteley be doing this same run again with the aim to
improve my climbing and fast downhill skills. The start
of this trail is 10m from my driveway as is a firm
reminder why I live in Canberra :) It's a good training
ground for us to take on the Rob Roy Range later in the
season, can't wait for that challenge.....