Hi All, Anyone done it? Tips? Headed across the ditch in a few weeks and hoping the weather works for a multi day mtb adventure. This will double as a TR/photo dump if it eventuates.
Know nothing about modern mtb riding or the old ghost road, but I did see a cool doco on TV last night about this Nepalese guy that runs mtn bike tours out of Kathmandu.
I only know that it looks great. Some friends were planing on it in 2018 but were washed out by the remnants of an ex-tropical cyclone. I’d love to see some pics and read any trip report you can bring together
Sounds awesome, but evidently getting pretty busy too. I'll do it one day, long drive from home though.
Rains a bit up there. Strange folk as well. I'm related to some folks up there. Who are all related to each other
The road to Murchison from canters was shite when SH1.was closed. I've never seen it like that over the pass.
@Donzah, I honestly thought you'd make a comment about a creaky undercarriage. Fingers crossed it ain't bucketing rain when I go.
Yeah thats state highway six ..ie the west coast road Can't imagine it Last time I was there it was sunny and we sat by that bridge and had lunch
Yes I have biked it. Easily one of the truly great rides as you change scenery about 4x over the distance so similar to the Heaphy in that regard. Tips - well enjoy it, have a well tuned bike, book in, the huts are well presented, try do a 3 day there-and-back since the terrain and scenery is so good. Prepare for alpine, check forecasts. Generally grade 3, some 4. Dont fall, you are well in the backcountry. what else you want to know ?
Thanks @essjaywhy. Weather will be the thing that kills this plan. Was hoping to go lazy and catch the heli most of the way back and just roll down the last bit.
It starts/Finishes in Seddonville, which is where my family is from (ive never lived there though). Its a beautiful area. My neighbours did the Ultra on it recently, very keen to have a look myself.
Well, the weather didn't favour an OGR trip (looks like a summer bike-venture to be had) but after a quick visit to Craigieburn, we headed up to Picton and biked the Queen Charlotte Track instead. Bloody amazing! Pics will follow.
Afternoon session at Craigieburn to prepare the legs for the weekend. Turns out my local hills (~100m high) aren't quite up to NZ standard. Starting at the bottom of Craigieburn, a 20km loop and 900m of overall elevation gain, gets you on the Edge, the Luge and Dickson's Trail. They seem to be the favourite trails there. Not really sure how many other trails in that specific area, but plenty of options close by. Further investigation required. Refill station along the Craigieburn access road. View from the top of the road/bottom of the nutcrucker. Trail starts on the right across the scree slope. Aptly named "The Edge". Pushed up to "The Luge"and then final bit down Dickson's Trail down the bottom of BR. On the way up to Picton. From Kaikoura, outside the public dunnies no less, looking at the first snow on them thar hills.
The Edge and Luge are wicked! Great tracks. Some friends just did OGR, am keen to see how they found it.
Not me but this gives a good idea of what some of the trail is like. Lots of forest and scree slopes. Plenty of fun.
Definitely still keen to do it. The crew who I went to QCT with rode the OGR in January and had a ball. After they finished, they had a heli drop back to the top of the first main climb and rode back to Lyell. Bonus down!
Folk may want to contribute to this... https://thepaparoa.co.nz/haveyoursay/ Some commentary, can't comment on its objective veracity but I know folk who are getting antsy
From a legal POV there are some big issues that OGR did manage to sidestep. AIUI it shouldn't really have gone through without a legislative change, that is all catching up with them now.
Day 1 of QCT. Water taxi out from Picton to the trail. Lots of undulating trail around all of the bays. NZ bru! Plenty of great views of the sound at the top of each hill. The weather started to deteriorate around lunch time (I blame @Donzah). Nice and tacky. Try the vindaloo, they said. All I could think of was how many leeches I'd have on me, were I in Aus. Rolled into the Portage Hotel for a nice and early beer o'clock. Camping would've been a terrible idea. Wind picked up, rain sheeted down, so beer was downed in comfort.
