Kiwarrak conditions


hawkeye's picture

By hawkeye - Posted on 17 March 2011

G'day. I need some advice from Taree locals. Am intending to head up to Forster from Sydney this weekend to visit family, and was wondering whether Kiwarrak would be worth riding, or shoud be avoided until weather improves.

Weatherzone is showing rain today and tomorrow, followed by occasional showers Saturday and Sunday: http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/WeatherMap#NSW/...

Would you expect it to be too wet to ride? Don't want to hurt your good work by riding in inappropriate conditions.

If Kiwarrak is no good, I hear there is a good forest dirt road ride starting from somewhere near Smiths Lake south of Forster that I think the Anaconda adventure race used for part of the mtb leg. Would this be ridable? Directions would be appreciated too Smiling

mgltrdrury's picture

It will be fine. It's actually hardly rained here and as of yesterday afternoon the tracks were completely dry. A few showers here and there won't change that. It's only if we have 3 or 4 inches of rain in one hit that it will muddy things up but even then it won't unridable. If there are mud patches just avoid them and stay on the higher ground.

Jason P's picture

Being so close to the coast, the day 1 leg from Tiona to Smiths Lake and day 2 leg from Bungwahl to Coomba Park tend to receive a lot of rain. Chances are they would be swampy this weekend.

Kiwarrak was still dusty on Wed and will not have got anywhere near the rainfall of Taree in recent days. It would actually benefit from some rain out there.

kazam's picture

I went out today (saturday) and completed the 1st planed mtb race at kiwarrak and the tracks are spot on 100% for any kind of riding this weekend. its now 11:58pm and two minutes for the 12 hour race to start at port Smiling good luck and good speed for all those racing Smiling

hawkeye's picture

Thanks for the guidance, guys.

My riding buddy and I had a great time - the tracks were in great condition. Got there a bit late Sunday (11:30am) due to sleep-deprived me needing to catch up on some zeds after last week, but it wasn't too hot.

Found some interesting freeride stuff that was built with ramps and ladders swooping from side to side along a gully - we chickened out of that though. Sticking out tongue We rode a little bit of some new track that looked like it had just been cut in and that I'm guessing next week's working be that we saw signposted is going to finish off.

Amusing in hindsight but not funny at the time, we disturbed a red-bellied black snake coiled up by the side of the trail that runs up along Tinonee Rd. I went past it and started yelling "Stop! Stop! SNAAAKE! and then when I realised where my mate was, "Don't stop! DON'T STOP!" but it was too late and he stopped (momentarily) right next to it before going "oh, shoot!" and taking off like a startled rabbit. Being Russian and not familar with local wildlife he wasn't happy when I told him how poisonous it was, and he really didn't want to go back down the hill. He reckoned it wasn't happy about being disturbed, and I believe him. Evil

I persuaded him by offering to go first. Needless to say, (and to our mutual relief) Mr Snake wasn't there on the way back down.

Pretty slow pace since I'm still not familiar with the network due to only visiting it a few times a year... and you guys keep building new trails to confuse the city slickers! Eye-wink Next time we'll organise to catch up with some of you.

kazam's picture

Looks like you had a decent ride Smiling

The guys do a fantasitc job here with the tracks always squeeky clean.

I believe the red belly black snake is your friend actually because they are shy and move away when they see you and they hunt baby brown snakes the real nasty ones. Not that I like them lol snakes uuuurgh pedal faster !!

you can find the latest updates of the mud map here.
http://www.geniecleaningservice.com/kiwarrak.php

hawkeye's picture

Just checked photos. The swoopy bit with the gully was "3x3". Smiling

Great map - wish I'd had it yesterday.

A question: what is the meaning of the thick black parts of the trail on the map? Looks like the line denoting the road has been over-traced with something like thick black crayon?

Sasco's picture

I loved that snake! - we both had a good look at each other - she was simply beautiful gathering herself.. if only I was a snake.. I'd had stayed I know it..

But yes, it was the highest, longest and fastest bunny hop ever.. =)

Sasco's picture

Maybe she was.. I should have kissed poor thing instead..

kazam's picture

A question: what is the meaning of the thick black parts of the trail on the map

fire trails

kazam's picture

They might be nice and shiny lol but you can have her all to yourself Sticking out tongue

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Best Mountain Bike