St Helenas


Nerf Herder's picture

By Nerf Herder - Posted on 05 April 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

Has anybody ridden it lately ... is it an overgrown mess ... with large sections of graded sand pits at the start.

Is the exit easier to follow ... Its been a while since I've ridden it ... last time with Joey and Rod. Thought I'd start thinking about a revisit.

[Mod. moved to Blue Mountains]

BM Epic's picture

Being that Rod used to look after it i would geuss its overgrown, but i havent been there for a few years???

jeremya's picture

I did it about a year ago as far as the lookout. The continuation to Glenbrook is illegal now . The trail up to there was ruined by excessive grading . It was just a soft wide fire trail . It may have improved since then , but would take some time to be any good

Nerf Herder's picture

Thanks for the info.

hawkeye's picture

I was just reading about it in Hugh Flower's 2002 trail guide for Greater Sydney (fell out of the pile when I was sorting old MTB magazines to discard.)

It sounded good.

Sad

Chuck's picture

You can still walk out to Glenbrook. The track has been recently cleared a bit from what I have been told.

Also, the track I mentioned isn't the one on most websites as it doesn't cross the railway line. It pops out in Station street.

See here.
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=-33.7675523757...

Nerf Herder's picture

actually thought it became legal after the railway bypass ... which I thought was on council LGA not NP... and similarly was single track that was there but over grown.

we'll clarify with the powers that be when we meet with them next

Nerf Herder's picture

BMORC reps met with Glenbrook rangers today and as part of general discussion we asked what the status of St Helenas was.

Essentially, Out and back (to the Oaks trail) to the lookout is legal, however, once the trail commences its descent to the river, Rangers have advised that this is hike a bike only. ie, Riders are to walk their bikes until the Glenbrook exit.

The Glenbrook exit is a legal walking trail only and has been recently cleared and widened so as to bypass the OLD and illegal railway crossing. However, the newer trail section has not been built to cater for Mountain Bike Use, leading to the Hike a Bike status.

Trail Description:
http://nobmob.com/rides/sthelena

essentially from the above nobmob trail description

" You will eventually arrive at what can be described as a cliff edge, or an escarpment, leading down into the valley that comes out the other side, at your destination at Glenbrook. The climb out the other side will be a hike-a-bike.

As you descend, be mindful of the loose rocks, boulders and dirt. Some riders attempt this descent, and the exceptional few may actually be able to ride this trail. But the risks on these extremely steep sections are high, so ride within your ability. There is no shame in walking here. Stick to the trail, do not deviate from it, and you should be able to ride some of the flatter parts. You will slowly but surely proceed lower into the valley, by following a series of switchbacks that hug the escarpment.

...

Sounds easy? You now need to hike-a-bike the entire far side of this hill back to the top!! Mt Everest may seem easier at this point. This will take you 30 minutes ... "

ALL of the described sections above are now Hike a Bike until you exit in Glenbrook suburbia.

Would appreciate if you could amend your trail descriptions

Thanks
Alan

Rob's picture

Is that wording more appropriate?

Please let us know if not and what parts you'd like changing and what to?

Chuck's picture

We should update the gps trace for the hike-a-bike leg, just in case you do need to exit out at Glenbrook in a hurry. I'll go for a run down there in a few weeks. The photo of a rider riding in the creek should really be removed.

Rob's picture

Yeah... post the GPS track of the down/up hike-a-bike and I'll edit the current ride track to stop where the hike-a-bike starts.

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