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IMPORTANT - Trail access at Sparrow Hill during logging operations.
Canberrans will either read this on The Berm or CORC websites, but if you're coming to the ACT to ride Sparrow Hill, maybe pre the MONT, please at least read this first:
Tree thinning operations have begun in Sparrow Hill plantation. The south-west corner is now closed to recreational riders for the duration of the work – so now when you get to the top gate, you will find that the entrance to BIG DIPPER is closed off & a new entrance into NUT CRACKER has been opened to direct riders to the left – towards the south-east corner. The tracks which are now off-limits are BIG DIPPER,WONDERLAND, down towards RIGOUR MORTIS, MORE BOAR etc. Basically , all tracks to the right of BLOCK 9 fireroad beyond the top gate are out of action during the tree harvesting.
All tracks to the left ( east ) of the top gate are available to ride – so we still have over 20 kms of tracks available. Riders are asked to co-operate with the redirections, as any out-of-bounds activity may result in severe or total restrictions being imposed by Forestry **(see below for clarification of how serious this could be). Its only for a couple of months , & tracks will be cleared & reopened after the harvesting work is completed. It would be tragic if we were all kicked out of the forest during the work due to the actions of some irresponsible riders. The harvest crews are working two shifts which run from 6 AM – 11 PM. Riders should be aware that B-double semis ( really big tonka toys ) are hauling logs out the back of the forest down block 9 fire road – lots of dust & noise, so you should avoid using the main road above the toilet gate. Trucks may also be hauling out during the night time. You have the option of riding the fire road on the east side (left hand side) of the fence as an alternative route to or from the top gate if you don’t want to ride up or down the singletracks. The standard route ( on the right hand side ) to the top gate – Dunny Track, Zippetys, & McGinty’s Climb – is still open to ride. Or you can get to the top gate via the tracks on the left hand side of the fence – Waterside Way, East Climb. Riders need to very careful to look & listen for trucks when riding at the top gate area - thats the only point at which trucks & riders cross paths - they will not stop, so get out of the way.
** Please read DO NOT ignore the signposts. Like all employers the logging company has an obligation to the Health and Safety of all its stakeholders - and we are a stakeholder. They want to avoid their B-Double trucks hitting, or a tree dropping on, a mountain biker, and if the logging company think the risk of injuring or killing someone on a Mountain Bike is too high, they are within their rights to argue to keep mountain bikers out of ALL of Sparrow Hill. If you are aware of the attitude to OHS Risk Management these days there is every possibility this would happen. The MONT would be CANCELLED if this occurred.
Don't be selfish. More track is planned for the rideable sections, and the loggers won't be there forever.
Now go and have fun on the rest of it!!
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Ay! But we missed out on SH and choose to do Majura instead last time.
Spewin now that its under some work but should we wait for it to be re-opened again or are the other tracks just as sweet?
I heard Bobsled is the equivalent to Rollercoaster at Ourimbah... thats sorta what we're after
Loads of (I guess you could call it Ourimbah style, but I think SH is better) flowing singletrack still available...If you follow the red, blue, then red again arrows at each of the junctions you've still got just under 20k's of sweet trails (more if you have time to explore past the signposted tracks, BUT NOT into the logging area!). Not many people used to do the blue loop but since we've "had" to, everyone who's ridden it for the first time loves it. If you want a decent ride, do the main trail twice, first time casual, second time fast - it will feel totally different.
We were originally going to only lose the Heavy Cow 3km extension loop but the logging company don't want bikes anywhere near the main forest road they're going to use, which basically cuts through the middle of the forest, so we can't use anything to the right of it. The loggers wanted the whole forest shut and I found out yesterday we came reasonably close to having that happen. If they find anyone in there, it will be very easy for them to close the whole place down next time as a health & safety issue...........
Once the logging is over in a couple of months the plan is to re-open the routes that have been affected (hopefully there won't be too much that's been trashed by the heavy trucks)...Keep an eye on The Berm or CORC websites for updates.
Cheers!