Hamsterley - Section 13 Opening & new trail plans announced

[Crispy]

Section 13 is now officially open - opened yesterday by none other than my lad Wesley (proud Dad moment).

It was also announced that the tender has been awarded for another contractor built section of trail. The trail will be built by the same team that did Section 13 (so should be equally as good) and will run from the transmitter mast to finish somewhere near the end of the "rabbit run" behind the Grove. The trailblazers believe the build will start in October and are asking that people refrain from riding this new section until the wearing course is whacked in as they had a lot of trouble with getting the surfaces to knit on section 13.

[KeithNMBC]

First post, just like to say that the new bit is superb, the club really enjoyed it, well done all. Now I'm well interested in another bit like this opening, the guys were saying how wonderfull it would be if that trail went all the way to the valley floor :-)

[Trailbuilding]

if they are starting in oct then with weather etc i wasn't expecting it to be ready before feb... the speed at which they got 13 done tho might mean they are quicker which will be a bonus.. can't wait.. just need a chairlift to the top now lol..

how is this gonna fit into the grand scheme of things kiwi? are the plans still to follow that map? also the black that exists atm is that being left as is or will sections get redone to bring into lione with the new stuff etc or is the new stuff being graded red so seperate?

[Kiwi]

From what I've been told there will be about 500m of slopestyle (drops, tables etc) on the next section, the rest will be flowing singletrack on a slightly narrower trail corridor. Please try to respect the request to stay off until the surfaces are ready to ride, we'll put the word out (but it is likely to be after Xmas).

[Crispy]

Just measured it on google earth & "as the crow flies" it will be approx 0.83m with 378ft drop (vs 0.37m with 98ft drop for Section 13) so 2.25 times longer with a steeper gradient than Section 13 :-)

[Crispy]

@Bob - Matt from the Trailblazers emailed me them - not seen the "official" FC ones yet...

[Dave F]

That's it mate - look at the switchbacks as you come to the end! I can picture climbing up hair-pin and on up to hidden-heather then catching your breath before shooting down this new trail - wahoo!

[Trailbuilding]

find that map lol... is it the orignal one with all the proposed sections on it...?

[Dave F]

I had a map from somewhere (Trailblazers site I think) and that shows a very snaky trail leading back towards the Grove - if this ends up being what the map shows, we'll have one of the best trails since Glentress first opened....I can't wait!

[bobtknob]

Chris, where did you get those pictures from? Section 13 was riding excellent yesterday, found some nice fast/stupid lines on it to

[Trailbuilding]

good point dave... mast down to grove will be a nice long run... can we get them to throw in some switchbacks and strech it out futher... also some black detours to..