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Rider trail status updates.

Ridden any Stromlo trails today & want to let everyone else know how they're looking? Let us know which track you were on, and what it's like today, here.

Comments will be kept to 4 or so latest to keep things fresh!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Snakehips on January 2, 2012 at 12:42

Rode on Saturday. Plenty of factor30 and no burns - gr8!

Did a looooong loop,Kambah to Stromlo, first lap up Wattle Happen to Blackberry Climb, Willo Link, out to Deep Creek, Double Diss, Crim Track, back up the firetrail to do Party Line, Dingo to Homeview Junction, round 2 up Fenceline, the switchies and back down Skyline, Berm Track, got a bloody flat, Luge and home.

Track all good, with the usual sharp rocks sticking out where the track surface has turned to dust and been blown/carried/ridden away. Trees are growing nicely - less slaps in the face than I remember....

Permalink Reply by Nigel Jefferys on January 4, 2012 at 8:21

Rode yesterday evening for a 17K loop up the main trunk then off to Magpie Rock, Slick Rock, Deep Creek etc. there must have been a LOT of rain on New Years as the tracks were mostly dry but some massive puddles and a few stretches of tracks with mini creeks running down them. Apart from the slow going in some spots it was a top ride....not sure if the 34 degrees put people off riding there but I had the mountain to myself :-)

Permalink Reply by dawesy on January 4, 2012 at 8:52

rode Blue Loop on Saturday - it was still awesome, except for the 1.8m black snake sunning itself on Blackberry Climb... scared the hell out of me when I came around the corner, started the first little descent and saw this thing in the air taking off!

Permalink Reply by Brettski on January 6, 2012 at 11:11

Thursday 5th Jan 8am

Started @ northern carpark and did lowlands loop; Crim track - Dingoes -> Willow link then returned finishing with Party Line.

Observations; a number of significant mud pools, very bad ruts forming/worsening due to erosion from recent rains. Seemingly more fine quartz than normal, easier to get washed out. I got hit by overgrown growth on 4 independent occasions and almost stacked; these paths needs some serious maintenance to cut that stuff back. Can this issue be highlighted with relevant park caretakers? email/other?

All up, care needs to be taken here at the moment.

Permalink Reply by dkr on January 14, 2012 at 16:48

Did a 21k loop taking in holdens creek, cockatoo switchbacks and bobby pin to city view and up to summit, western wedgetail, magpie rock, slick rock out to deep creek and shadys, missing link and double dissolution, crim track and dingo back to the carpark.

Overall, the hill is as shabby as i can remember. Large sharp edged rocks more prominent after christmas rain, forcing tyre pressures higher to avoid snakebite punctures and grip down. Said rocks and deep ruts from runoff plague most trails, destroying any flow that might be there. Many corners where there's opportunity to push thru and gain speed have become soft, flow-sucking sandpits, forcing you to slow and get upright lest your front wheel washout and crash.

Many trails in desperate need of maintenance..

Permalink Reply by Bill Maryon on January 19, 2012 at 7:56

Rode the track last week a few times, heading up again this morning. Have just moved to canberra and am loving stromlo atm, although Im not to game to venture of my favourite track! I usually travel up the ABC switchbacks and then down the Skyline - Luge - Old Duffy Descent. The luge is in pretty bad nick though.... Anyone else recommend some good routes? (mainly for going down the hill). Here's a link showing my efforts :) Stromlo Skyline - Luge - Old Duffy Descent

Permalink Reply by Mal on January 19, 2012 at 8:21

Party Line, Bill. Rinse and repeat! (Although having now watched your video, you may find it a little tame.)

Cool video BTW. Love the integration of the GPS track!

Bill Maryon said:

Rode the track last week a few times, .... Anyone else recommend some good routes?

Permalink Reply by Steve K on January 20, 2012 at 7:50

Bill, in your video you can turn left at 1:18 down Pork Barrel, or left at 1:28 for Magpie Rock.

Pork Barrel is fairly techo but forewarned is forearmed, you'll be right. That takes you out to the northern/western side, and if you take the right halfway down Pork Barrel (where the Slick Rock junction is) then you come out at Party Line as Mal mentioned above. At the start of Party Line, consider choosing Double Dissolution instead - it has some small jumps and is a hoot (though needs some maintenance...).

(I assume you have turned right at the start for Roller Coaster? It joins up with Western Wedgetail after the Pork Barrel turnoff.)

Magpie Rock is basically another less-used way to the same area and it joins up after a bit.

Permalink Reply by Nigel Jefferys on January 20, 2012 at 20:58

Check out the Stromlo site, the maps with names is HERE and the trail updates are HERE - This rain should settle down some of the sandy bits......unfortunately I can't hang around tomorrow otherwise I'd take you for a tour after my photo shoot....maybe on Aussie Day if you are keen??

Permalink Reply by Karl B aka Crasher on January 21, 2012 at 6:14

Another route Bill to avoid Pork Barrell if you dont feel confident enough is to stop at the fire trail after the bridge on Skyline. Go left & turn onto Slant Six. At the end of Slant Six there is a hurdy gurdy, take Willows Link & it will take you to the top of Party Line & Double Dissolution.

If you head south on the FT from there you will come across the start of Deep Creek, it will loop back around to the same spot if you take the right hand tunr half way up the hill

A good run IMO.

Permalink Reply by Tim K on January 21, 2012 at 10:36

Howdy All! Just got back from a wonderful Stromlo ride this morning (Sat 21st Jan 2012).

With all the rain we had last night, I wasn't expecting much to be left of Stromlo. It was probably the best ride I've had up there in ages. A few puddles and some boggy bits down the north side, but otherwise nice and quick. :)

Rode main trunk trail to top, Cockatoo, ABC etc... then Wedgetail, Magpie down the back to Slick Rock, then out to Deep Creek, Terminal Velocity and up Missing Link. Then Double Dissolution and back to Wombats via Crim Track etc... Then Blue Tongue, Heart Breaker to top + Skyline + Berm Track to Duffy's. Blackberry Climb, Slant 6 to Wombats, + Willo's, Party Line, Crim Track to Wombats, Breakout/Joeys? + back to carpark + the ride home.

BTW, thanks to the trail fairies that have been trimming the branches around Magpies, Crim Track + Party line - allows fo much greater visibilty and not being hugged by the trees on every corner :)

Get out there and enjoy it! Fantastic! :)

Permalink Reply by Snakehips on February 4, 2012 at 13:58

Had a ride at Strommers today (Saturday). Front of hill trails a bit worse for wear. Don't go there today - wait til it's dried up a bit-should be OK Sunday.