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MAPS, DOCUMENTS
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Trailflix: Six Foot Track - Trail Review |
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163Km is a long way to go for a bike ride. But this trail is definitely worth it. You can do it in a day but you’d be on the train (2 hours each way) or on the road (90 minutes each way from the CBD) for over 300Km, plus the riding time. If you can, it’s much better to do an overnight, staying in somewhere like Blackheath (the Blackheath Motor Inn is a friendly spot) and enjoy the Blue Mountains night time Hospitality. Take someone who isn’t riding and wants to spend some time in the area on less energetic pursuits (there are plenty)...but is happy to drop you off & pick up the pieces at the end. It’s certainly doable without logistics support, though. I first rode with a mixed group of guys – a couple of hardcore Uni riders and the rest of us between 30 and 40. We had 2 cars and dropped off all the bikes at Black Ridge Road near Jenolan. Then 2 of us drove back to Megalong and dropped one car off while the rest waited. It added 70 minutes to the start of the day but we had a car at the end to drive us to the other car. The remainder biked up to Blackheath along Megalong Valley Road to await the car pickup crew. Tough climb but with not much traffic, a really sweet ride.
Do it by train much the same way: go to Mt Victoria (last train stop until well past the Blue Mountains) and ride from there up to the trail and afterwards ride up as we did to Blackheath and catch the next train home. I’ve heard a few people do that. Easily achieved in a day.
Most Sydneysiders prize the Blue Mountains – for good reason - and for some, the 6 Foot Track is the ultimate hike or run (45km) in their season. For MTBers, we’re only allowed to bike the middle 27Km but it’s still a very good ride, and mostly downhill.
But beware: both times I’ve done the trail, we had accidents. Come of the descents are truly treacherous and if anything they’ve become harder in the past couple of years through erosion, despite all the good work the NSWPW do on the tracks with grading and the roller. The first time two guys missed a corner and absorbed a fair amount of shingle in their legs as a result. Bikes were OK but they were both bloody. Same day, one of the guys slipped on a rock on the singletrack after Coxes, and went over the side. I was immediately behind him and he was going too slow and it didn’t grip so he slowly toppled as he couldn’t pull his feet free. He was more surprised than but hurt but gashed himself so it was a vampires dream…
On our filming ride, Cam broke a thumb when a sand pit on one of the corners was deeper than he expected and the front wheel just dug in. First aid kits are essential on any long ride. On 6 Foot Track, we use them.
That being said, it’s a whale of a ride and if you’re prepared to carry extra gear, you can tent overnight in a couple of wind-protected places. And if you’re heading out that way for the weekend, make sure you check out Jenolan Caves. Well worth an extra day or if you have great logistics you can fit it in the afternoon.
If you want a taste of the trail, do half of it: Drive to Megalong Valley Road entrance and take the track all the way to Coxes River. It’s a great downhill on the way there but somewhat less captivating on the way back and a good 7K each way for a morning or afternoon dash. |
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