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Marramarra NP - the brave or the stupid


Tristania's picture

By Tristania - Posted on 29 August 2010

When: 
Sunday, 26 September, 2010 - 09:00
Duration: 
3 hours
Come Rain or Shine: 
If it's raining, I won't be there.
Ride Database Entry: 
Marramarra National Park
Meeting Point: 

Bloodwood Road, Fiddletown heads up to the National Park. There's a sharp right bend by Marramarra Ridge Trail, with Coba Point Fire Trail shortly after (the proceeding sharp left). There's parking by either trail which are less than 1km apart, but the area by Coba Point Fire Trail is the go.

I intend meeting at the Marramarra Ridge junction, though I don't fancy driving down the dirt road, so will park where the sealed road ends and ride the rest of the way.

-33.566778,151.080357
Details:

My plan is to hit the grand loop of the Smugglers descent and enormous climb up from the creek. If we aren't dead from that ordeal, having some action on the Coba Ridge track (which resembles the Great Northern Road) could hit the spot.

There are several detours that can be taken if desired; just must work out which ones to take. This is not a ride for the shy, as it will test your handling skills in many forms, but if they are good, this makes a great ride, and there are many long sweeping tracks to break up these difficult sections.

Who's in?
Tristania
Tristania
What Happened?

Were you there and have a story to tell?

Ride Gallery
Rob's picture

Nice one, but... I'd hardly call Smuggler's Ridge XC Eye-wink

Tristania's picture

What would you call it then?

That may fall into downhill category, but the rest of the track doesn't.

Rob's picture

Hmm... it's All Mountain fun Smiling

donkerr's picture

I've never been up this way and looks good

What bike would be best up here - freeridish or cross country-ish?

Is it like Manly or like Oxford falls?

Tristania's picture

Well, seeing as I have never been to either Manly or Oxford, I don't know for sure, but these are not designated bike trails, so I'd doubt it.

It's sort of a mix of terrain - if you've been to the Great North Road, it's quite similar to that - a stretch of overgrown rocky firetrail, technical descents, a steep ascent, bits of (non-designated) single track, and lots of wide firetrails.

I'd recommend a fairly tough bike for this, as there are many very bumpy parts.

shano's picture

Tristan

3hrs might not cover it.....if we do 38km including 800m climbing and stand around for photos!
this could take up to 4-6hrs
http://nobmob.com/node/1719 lol Eye-wink

packed lunch would be the go!

cheers
Shano

Tristania's picture

I like the photos...

But 800m?

I though it was more like 250?

But yeah, the duration of the ride can be varied, since this network of tracks offers as hard, easy, long or short a ride desired, but I'm happy to increase time frame up to 4 or more hours depending on things...

flubberghusted's picture

The ridge starts off well but you start getting into the bush bashing category so be prepared to hump your rig down to the creek...

We made the mistake of starting at 2pm and luckily made it down to the creek at sunset. The short loop of 14km took us 4 hours but half of that was a stealth mission on one energizer headlamp!

Bring a light, GPS and some armour (not the libra invisible ones) to schwing, schwing your way through the branches!

http://youtu.be/GdcC39WGU8I

Tristania's picture

That's why I'm doing it in the morning.

I'm unsure whether or not to do the whole of Smugglers or not, but thank you for the advice on what to bring.

shano's picture

unable to make it this morning due to family illness. Sad
hope this ride will go ahead again soon.
shano

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