Wires track, Thames?

[Ktmboy]

If you are going Saturday I could be in. Have to take the young fella to the Thames scambles so it would work in good.

How far away is it from Thames?

[Danger]

Its looking like it is all go tomorrow. My mate is organising a few of his army mates to come along and they are all on orange except for one green.

Its 10km south of Thames. The track is open today and I'm expecting it to be open tomorrow. There is a number to call and check (like raceline) before traveling.

Please if you ride this track go easy on the freshly repaired sections of soft dirt where ruts etc have been filled in.

Here is some more info on it.

"Maratoto: Wires Road & Old Whangamata Track

* The Maratoto/Wires track is closed for maintenance. Phone 027 524 2132 for current track status before travelling to area.
* Users should note that the 4X4 trail may be closed at any time to vehicle use – please phone first to avoid disappointment!"

Website says it is closed but I imagine they do not update that at all. Ring the number first! I guess thats what they are trying to get people to do rather than showing up expecting it to be open when its not.

More info aimed at trampers.

Description

"Maratoto tracks
Wires Track

Time: 3 hr one way

The track is signposted off Wires Road 500 metres before the gate and carpark. The wires track is named after the telephone line which used to run through the Maratoto. Remnants of these old telephone poles can be seen along the track, as can the fence from an old cattle holding pen. Two beautiful falls are found not far off the track on the Hamuti Stream. As well as the falls, there are side excursions that can be made along the track to large kauri and totara trees.

In places the track is steep, and during winter there can be muddy spots, but the track is well marked and gives lovely views across Maratoto. The track finishes where it meets the 4-wd track. It is possible to loop back to the carpark via the 4-wd track, this takes less than two hours, but note that the track is designed for 4-wheel drive vehicles, not trampers, so care must be taken."

Also the honesty box is $10.00, not $5.00 so please be honest.

Thats about all I know at this point.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/tra....aspx?id=35900

http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=38591

[Robbo]

The Wires Track. Wow, that brings back some great memories. Rode across that track many times just over twenty years ago. You could leave from the Hikatia end and get all the way across to the Wentworth Valley at Whangamata. There were some awesome tracks to explore up on the top also and i believe there was a track that also went through to Waikino in the gorge going to Waihi. There was also a bit of old machinery left up there from the early mining days. Always amazed me as to how they got it up there.
I understand that the Wentworth Valley end is no longer passable, be a shame if that is the case.
Anyway, hope you have a great ride up there and would love to here a report about it sometime.

Cheers

[cheese]

I'd be really interested in hearing what you think of the track Greg. I'd love to go to some new places as "the usual" are getting a bit boring. No offence to the people that do a great job of running the tracks out there.

[Danger]

Yeah I know what you mean Cheese, that why I'm really looking forward to this ride.

Its back to the two of us, the army guys were not keen to ride. Oh well, I'm sure we will manage. Doesn't look like Caveweta is going to show either. Probably be faster with just the two of us anyway.

[Danger]

The road to the track is called Old Maratoto rd and it is 15.5km from the intersection at Kopu. Old Maratoto road is in a little settlement. Follow that until you cross a concrete ford, turn left and then left again when you find Wires road.

Ended up being 3 of us, AJ and his mate Calvin and I. Unfortunetly AJ got of work late so I tried to scout out the parking area beyond Wires rd to no avail. While trying to find cell phone coverage to text instructions I pulled off to the side of the road and drove straight into a hidden concrete pipe which destroyed my left front tyre, so it was on with the space saver and then down to the carpark on Wires rd which is where I have always left from on past visits. The fee is paid at the top of Wires rd and it is only $5.00.
Note that both the website and signs at the entrance and around the track say that the tracks are closed, yet on ringing the cell phone number before leaving AK the message says the track is open. The signs have been up for a long time and are covered with cob web's and I doubt that the website is updated very often either. So phone first and take that as the more likely correct update.
After waiting for a long time and gearing up I was just about to venture off on my own when AJ and Calvin finally showed up. They had gone beyond Wires road per earlier instructions looking for a starting point and had failed to get (or read) updated instructions. Cell phone coverage is sketchy or non existant.

We cruised up the gravel road towards the track slowly so as not to annoy residents with dust or noise. We passed about a 1/2 dozen houses and then onto the track. We were always aware that we may run into other users so were cautious around corners. We never saw another person or vehicle.

A few places were marked closed, trees growing but we explored a few off shoots from the main track that were open, most were dead ends. One that looked interesting and challenging with some larger rocks going up hill we decided that we would challenge later after exploring some easier options to warm up. Remember us guys are not used to riding rocks so this seemed like a good option. Unfortunatley AJ had to be back in the city for his old ladies birthday so time was a bit against us and we did not get back to this part, but we will look at it again some other time no doubt.

So we made our way to the Tairua river but instead of exploring further due to our time restraints we went straight onto the motorcycle loop to Maratoto road and back to the starting point. The walking estimate was 3.5 hours (I guess it was a walking estimate, I figure it would actually take longer than that) and it started of reasonably challenging with some ruts deep enough to hang your swingarm on and some large rocks that had taken a bashing and were bashing the frame rails under the bike. We tried to take it easy because we did not want to hole the crank cases but you really had to commit and keep the momentum going becuase if you stopped it was quite a slippery hard surface and you would often just spin or get caught up on the loose rocks or get caught in a rut. The slick off camber rock bed was a bit tricky in places. A couple of times I muffed it and started to blow but got going again only to never really recover because we were pushing the pace due to the time constraints. Also there were some good views that we had only brief glimpses of because we could not afford the time to stop. AJ wanted to be back at his truck in 45mins, but it took us about 1hour 20 to make it back following the motorcycle loop.

The descent with the boulders was quite challenging because it was really steep in places and put a lot of load on your arms trying to hold yourself up. Once commited there was no turning back and it would be practically impossible to return the way you came.
Calvin got a stick caught inside his radiator shroud which broke. I got the same stick caught under my boot and it almost lifted me off the bike while my front wheel was trying to negotiate its way down the steep drops.

I was the least fit of us three and I was dragging the chain a bit and getting tired from the constant descending. Towards the end you cross the river 4 or five times.
With a bit more fitness I reckon we could of cleaned the lap out in an hour. But I also think that I would have enjoyed the ride more if we could have taken more time to recover after muffing it, just a 30sec breather to regain composure and ride like we should instead of just hammering stuff to get to the end. And take time to enjoy views etc. The other guys got a bit more of a breather while they waited for me. Because I was last I got no rest.
And I reckon anymore than 3 riders would not have been a good idea because the progress would have been slower. 3 is a good number because if one rider falls and hurts himself one can stay with him while the other goes for help. Also there is a gate a few km's from the end and if that had been closed and locked it would taken 3 riders to lift the bikes over it.

So we eventually got back ok. No where did any of us need assistance from another rider, and other than Calvin's broken radiator shroud and his broken helmet peak we had no damage to any of the bikes. I was expecting at least a dent or two in the exhaust chambers on our 200EXC's but no dents occured. Only the Kawasaki sustained damage which could of happened to any bike. Small bore 2 strokes are ideal for this track. I would not like to ride a 450 diesel around there or a MX gearbox. And I think the fork protrusion on a KDX would cause major issues on this track with the lower fork tube hooking up on ruts and rocks and possibley sending you flying on the steep descents.

All up we had only been gone about 2 hours, but it felt like more. It only took about a half tank of gas to do what we did so with more time the option is there to do a heap more exploring. Its not fast riding, more technical.

Even with the dry weather it was quite slippery in places. With the expected rain this weekend I'm glad we went when we did. Although AJ is keen to return when its wet and slick. He reckons we ride this track one day, camp out somewhere or stay in a little town, drink piss and cause havoc and then hit Thompsons or Neasville or some other track the next. Perhaps if we get more weather like we have had this summer over the next month I could be keen.

So be warned, it does take some experience and fitness to complete this track like we did. But the main loop up to Tairua river is not challenging at all and anyone would be capable of riding this, but thats only a small part of the trails and would not really be worth the effort and drive. They have done a lot of work to the main track. It used to be a lot more challenging than what it now is. The motorcycle loop is a lot more of a challenge. If you can get around Riverhead in the wet you should be up to it though. Just keep the momentum going.

Good luck if you take it on.

[cave weta]

An excellent write up Danger! I havent been in here for two or three weeks- If you had PMd me I would have brought the big Diesel out but I didnt know!


let me know next time and I will show you the historic logging dams, mining relics and the waterfalls. also ive got nice accomodation in waihi for $45 per night www.bularangi.com also will show you around Neavesville and my own enduro loop where we ride through a huge tunnel and explore goldmines.

[fergie]

good report danger,, i road there 15/18 years ago on an old dr250. nothing but bloody hard work all day but i sure did enjoy it. would love to do it on a modern bike.

[civil]

Did Thomson Track yesterday from the Waikato side. It was fantastic, nice and muddy. We got most of the way back down the BOP side until the bog holes got the better of us and decided it was too much like hard work getting out of them.

[Danger]

An excellent write up Danger! I havent been in here for two or three weeks- If you had PMd me I would have brought the big Diesel out but I didnt know!


let me know next time and I will show you the historic logging dams, mining relics and the waterfalls. also ive got nice accomodation in waihi for $45 per night www.bularangi.com also will show you around Neavesville and my own enduro loop where we ride through a huge tunnel and explore goldmines.

Sorry Cave Weta I thought that you were following the posts when I was looking for riders and if I thought you were serious in coming you would have been welcome. Would be keen on a ride sometime. Been off the bike a bit lately and need to build up some fitness first. Might be keen on Neasville next. How does that compare to Wires?

[cave weta]

Sorry Cave Weta I thought that you were following the posts when I was looking for riders and if I thought you were serious in coming you would have been welcome. Would be keen on a ride sometime. Been off the bike a bit lately and need to build up some fitness first. Might be keen on Neasville next. How does that compare to Wires?

Its very similar but longer and with lots more side tracks and a couple of good loops. Im still in my busy period at the moment but after Easter things should get quieter and we will do a trip up there!

[ali-s]

Its very similar but longer and with lots more side tracks and a couple of good loops. Im still in my busy period at the moment but after Easter things should get quieter and we will do a trip up there!

hey cave weta - that's sounds awesome, room for an old one at the back? - as said before - great write up danger, sounds like a fine day in the saddle.
Often wondered why kawi never put a good set of usd's on the kdx? I would have chosen it ahead of the klx if they had.

[Danger]

Yeah that is a shame. This is what it would be like on the KDX.

[cave weta]

[QUOTE=ali-s;1444482]hey cave weta - that's sounds awesome, room for an old one at the back?

Ha ha !!! I bet you are no older than me.-
Im in the super vets class. -had my bike licence for 31 years.....

you would be very welcome- lets put something together for after easter.

[ali-s]

it happen's to the best of us i suppose.
I read somwhere ages ago it was because the kdx is light and doesn't need the full monty up front, but then take a look at a drz 400, same style of fork and she's not the lightest ride around ?