Mounting Cnut Hill - Sat 9/5

**marks** · 30th August 2009, 09:00

Originally Posted by andy mac

I have a video, how do I post it?

create a free account on youtube and you can upload it there and then link it here.

was a great ride

**marks** · 30th August 2009, 09:03

Originally Posted by Pampera

Mark ordering Andy to stay down there and move those rocks from the line....

no rocks were harmed during this ride

I was merely suggesting where Andy could lie down and improve the traction for the rest of us

**marks** · 30th August 2009, 09:14

Originally Posted by bart

Good stuff guys. Full marks for trying. Looks bloody greasy. I've almost spent the night in that gully unvolentarily. Try again in summer.

The ride from Karapoti to the top of the Rock Garden is awesome and doable by bigger adv bikes. I will organize something when things dry out a bit. Easily in the class of Sutherlands Hut etc. Paraparaumu - Rock Garden - Paraparaumu took 5 hours so it could be a full day on a bigger bike. Woohooo

We'll also organize a proper Paraparaumu - Devils Staircase - Rock Garden - Karapoti - Paraparaumu loop for the smaller bikes when its a bit dryer

Bart - get a decent trail bke (come down and try the WR)

**Paladin** · 30th August 2009, 11:01

Looks like you guys had an absolute blast - that track looks awesome!

So what were the thoughts on the Devils Staircase, did you get close enough to get any pics of that?

How was the run from Katapoti up through Deadwood to the top of the Rock Garden?

**marks** · 30th August 2009, 13:13

Originally Posted by Paladin

Looks like you guys had an absolute blast - that track looks awesome!

So what were the thoughts on the Devils Staircase, did you get close enough to get any pics of that?

How was the run from Katapoti up through Deadwood to the top of the Rock Garden?

will leave the staircase untill summer

the run from Katapoti up through Deadwood to the top of the Rock Garden is adv bikeable and is some of the besr riding in the mungatooks

here's Andys video of the rock garden itself

**Padmei** · 30th August 2009, 13:57

When you talk about the rockgarden & devils staircase are you talking about te same ones that make up part of the Karapoti MTB Classic?

If so I assume also that you are taking about going down the devils staircase??

**marks** · 30th August 2009, 15:14

Originally Posted by Padmei

When you talk about the rockgarden & devils staircase are you talking about te same ones that make up part of the Karapoti MTB Classic?

yup

Originally Posted by Padmei

If so I assume also that you are taking about going down the devils staircase??

On trail bikes in summer

On an adv bike the ride to the top of the rock garden from the Karapoti end and back(no staircase

) would be challenging enough

**Pampera** · 30th August 2009, 16:22

Originally Posted by Paladin

Looks like you guys had an absolute blast - that track looks awesome!

So what were the thoughts on the Devils Staircase, did you get close enough to get any pics of that?

How was the run from Katapoti up through Deadwood to the top of the Rock Garden?

Dave,

We did not get anywhere near Devil's Staircase.

Generally the Deadwood Road is similar in its characteristics to the Pram Track. Not so much of the unusually slippery clay you find in places on the Pram Track. Some areas are actually in and under regenerating bush and there are areas of good gravel road or track near Price’s Flat (where the Karapoti Road comes in). Some very wet areas but again not as slippery as Pram Track. However there are some loose and steep slopes at the Rock Garden end of the road – enough to require I focus a bit even on the Pampera. Overall nothing harder than Odlin’s Road I would say. Once you get to the Rock Garden it is another story, this has some technical challenges requiring some level of skill but more importantly some confidence. My bike could have easily dealt with going up the steps we came across by approaching them at a running speed with a light throttle opening, it was the rider - still feeling sore from the last time he hit the ground hard 3 months ago - who was lacking (courage!) in this. Perhaps next time.

Michael

**bart** · 30th August 2009, 21:08

Nice vid Mark. Looks almost as nasty as I remember it.

Looking back through my photos, and stumbled across these. Me and a mate went down the Rock Garden and tried to go up the Devils Staircase. We were stumped at the first obstacle, as the second and third pictures show. The first picture shows one of the awesome tracks at the bottom.

We had a hell of a job getting back up the Rock Garden.

**Paladin** · 31st August 2009, 08:30

Originally Posted by marks

will leave the staircase untill summer

the run from Katapoti up through Deadwood to the top of the Rock Garden is adv bikeable and is some of the besr riding in the mungatooks

here's Andys video of the rock garden itself

Looks an interesting challenge for sure!

Originally Posted by Pampera

Dave,

We did not get anywhere near Devil's Staircase.

Generally the Deadwood Road is similar in its characteristics to the Pram Track. Not so much of the unusually slippery clay you find in places on the Pram Track. Some areas are actually in and under regenerating bush and there are areas of good gravel road or track near Price’s Flat (where the Karapoti Road comes in). Some very wet areas but again not as slippery as Pram Track. However there are some loose and steep slopes at the Rock Garden end of the road – enough to require I focus a bit even on the Pampera. Overall nothing harder than Odlin’s Road I would say. Once you get to the Rock Garden it is another story, this has some technical challenges requiring some level of skill but more importantly some confidence. My bike could have easily dealt with going up the steps we came across by approaching them at a running speed with a light throttle opening, it was the rider - still feeling sore from the last time he hit the ground hard 3 months ago - who was lacking (courage!) in this. Perhaps next time.

Michael

Good to know, cheers! Funnily enough I was just looking at the Akatarawa Forest map on Friday evening for a possible nose up Deadwood Rd on Saturday but I hadn't twigged you guys were headed in to the Rock Garden from there, had just presumed you were going up Titi Rd! As it turned out, Ben just fancied a blat on the road so no side trips, but looks/sounds fun for another time!

Originally Posted by bart

Nice vid Mark. Looks almost as nasty as I remember it.

Looking back through my photos, and stumbled across these. Me and a mate went down the Rock Garden and tried to go up the Devils Staircase. We were stumped at the first obstacle, as the second and third pictures show. The first picture shows one of the awesome tracks at the bottom.

We had a hell of a job getting back up the Rock Garden.

Those pics just scare the bejeezuz out of me just looking at them!

**marks** · 18th September 2009, 09:41

Anyone keen for another shot at Cnut?

The DT is broked so I can't do this weekend so my next opportunity would be the weekend of 10th/11th October (either day)

would anyone be interested in having a(nother) go?

some photos of previous attempt are here