You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / By Location / Australia / NSW / Northern Beaches / Chainsaw massacre Mona Vale Sniggle

Chainsaw massacre Mona Vale Sniggle


jacojoco's picture

By jacojoco - Posted on 22 September 2013

Whats happened near Wildflower on the Mona Vale sniggle? All the trees have been cut down for around 50 mtr stretch. They were probably all dead and full of disease anyway. Its quite bizarre riding though it. They have left all the wood lying around but the track is clear. Also looks like substantial trail fairies. Nice work on the rock placements across the puddle (the puddle has dried up also).

pancakes's picture

Looks like the trail fairies got into the Angel dust and jacked a chainsaw from Ca$h Converters. Still rides well, if not better.

hawkeye's picture

I think you've had too much maple syrup! Sticking out tongue

Black Flash's picture

He's still recovering from a decent ride today...

MY Racing 221's picture

Preparing for a containment burn I believe.

hawkeye's picture

Gonna be a bad season for it, judging by the amount of fuel on the ground. Sad

pancakes's picture

One man's containment burn is another's new trail opportunity... if anyone's picking up what I'm putting down. Eye-wink

Say, someone with a rake who's been busy over near the parkway...

StanTheMan's picture

It does look like in parts ths someone has put down some logs to show the way....at first I was going to give my old man a call to pick up some fire wood....then I thought.....someone is actually working on this. LOL

there must have been a masive crash there yesterday we were going past there at about 2pm.....police redivited traffic back towrds Terry Hills.... must have been awefull. a few Ambulancese & firetrucks came speeding past.

hawkeye's picture

I rode past on the roadie this morning and there were a couple of guys with hardhats, ear muffs and visibility clobber with chainsaws.

I'll be doing the route again Thursday about the same time. I'll stop and ask if I spot them again.

Sinkes's picture

do tell.....

Rob's picture

Here... Mona Vale Sniggle. Yes?

hawkeye's picture

The part that joins up where you come out from the Quarry Track climb out of Cascades to Mona Vale Rd near the entrance to the Wildflower Garden

http://www.strava.com/activities/72307684

dangersean's picture

Not there Different location. Geez Rob, have you been off your MTB that long?! Eye-wink

Following MV Road from Wildflower (across from entry to quarry trail) up to the show ground. Known on strava as Johnny's Jaunt.

Unfortunately, a little birds from the RFS has told me that they are turning the wonderfully tight and twisty sniggle which keeps us off the road into another fire management trail.

Buggered if I know why as it is never more than 10m from the road AND there is already a fire trail that goes from wildflower to the show ground further in.

hawkeye's picture

You've got to be kidding. Dumbest decision ever.

Not quite, but certainly up there from a mtb perspective.

sikllama's picture

Would be a real shame to lose this bit of sniggle - love going thru there on a typical st ives / terrey hills loop.

Can't see the point of a mgmt trail there, though I guess that's why I don't work for the RFS.

Rob's picture

Well, it's not like this is National Park or anything... If you know what I'm saying Eye-wink

P.S. Anyone can update those trails pages. Again, if you know what I'm saying.

hawkeye's picture

I rode past there again this morning.

The guys with the chainsaws didn't know anything, they're just doing a job as instructed, but it's a lot further advanced than two days ago. I'd say we'll likely lose the majority of the current connection west of St Ives showground.

Such a shame, that was a real sweet bit of track.

Time to break out the Macleods again.

Matt P's picture

Macleods Daughters?

Lach's picture

.. he was organising the contractors that were in there weed spraying in the section east of the area that has been sawn. He reckoned the Council, who had done the chainsawing after earlier weed killing work in the western section, were creating a firebreak along the road. No mention of a fire trail as such FWIW....
Glad to see that someone has sawed up that low hanging log near the showground exit. I can finally ride the whole track without dismounting.... just hope it remains a track.....

LadyToast's picture

I took this video earlier today, it's pretty severe. Landing on one of those stumps would hurt too...


http://youtu.be/YJJA1cm1hA4

Matt P's picture

Looks like its ready to be taken advantage of.....?

amarkie's picture

So what I noticed.
- there is a significant area of mass destruction and it includes plenty of "trees" cut down by chainsaw .. and not at the base?. It's not just reclamation from Lantana
- Many of the trees have been left standing .. the positioning of which seems selective .. hmm
- Many of the trees have been cut down, adjacent to trees that have been left standing .. the positioning of which seems selective ... hmm
- Overall its turned a trail of certain death into one that is very rideable with only a few bar grabbers to keep things interesting.

My recommendation is get out there and ride it now .. who knows there might be a "aged care facility" on it next week Smiling

Comment viewing options

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

Best Mountain Bike