Mount Buller new EPIC trail

[gnarly_rider]

So if you were to do the Mirimbah Cafe shuttle to TBJ, that would obviously eliminate the 'boring' 100% fire trail descent from Stonefly.

How would that stack up/rate as a ride then? Obviously still a lot of climbing, but at least it would remove the whole "I've just climbed Stonefly, now I lose all that elevation on $%^#@ firetrack!!! Fark!!!"

From what I've read thus far, my preference is still to do the 'traditional' Buller XC loop of Corn Hill/Silk Lane/Stonefly out and back (getting both Stonefly and Corn Hill descents). Then on another day shuttle to TBJ, climb/descend the 'end' of Epic, then finish with Delatite or Klingsporn runs...

 

[Duane]

Not counting the descent, the worst fireroad part of the ride I thought was the fireroad after TBJ. I don't mind the stonefly climb, much prefer technical singletrack to fireroad, it was a shame to loose most of the elevation from stonefly on a fireroad descent. I cannot agree that having a crap ride prior to the descent is good just to save the trail from downhill bikes.
For the money invested I saw a lot of people buy shuttle passes, maybe buy something at TBJ, spend some more at Mirimbah afterwards and almost no-one spent a cent on Mt Buller. I've seen plenty of downhillers spend on accommodation and meals etc on the mountain.

 

[Beej1]

Glad to be reading some honest opinions about this new trail. The magazine article I read painted a very different picture. Thinking of heading there just after my 40th in early March for a long weekend's worth of riding. Personally I am a huge fan of Klingsporn as a way of getting down the mountain - it never fails to disappoint. I haven't ridden Delatite but it looks pretty dull compared to Klingsporn. Probably faster, but nowhere near as narrow and sketchy.

 

[gnarly_rider]

Personally I am a huge fan of Klingsporn as a way of getting down the mountain - it never fails to disappoint. I haven't ridden Delatite but it looks pretty dull compared to Klingsporn. Probably faster, but nowhere near as narrow and sketchy.

I'm with you there NP! Though damn Klingsporn's mentally draining..

In fact, my avatar is on Klingsporn.ound:

Glad to be reading some honest opinions about this new trail. The magazine article I read painted a very different picture.

I am wondering how many of those articles are rating the Epic by incorporating the GangGnags/CornHil/Stonefly singletrack 'approach' into their quality assessment/review, as opposed to solely the new 'extension' in isolation, which is I guess what I (we?) am really interested in.

 

[Beej1]

Though damn Klingsporn's mentally draining..

I know! But totally worth it. It tends to be the last riding I do every weekend I go, and the combination of exhaustion (mental and physical) and elation as you roll down the road to the store after that long, narrow, sketchy, windy descent - for me - nothing in this country tops that so far. Every time. My goal is to go sub 20mins. I'm currently at about 23. Have had some pretty decent offs - often which land me at least 10m from my bike down steep slopes. But I just love that shit.

Kudos for taking the time to stop and snap a photo. I keep meaning to - most of the descent is very picturesque.

 

[rowanb]

Glad to be reading some honest opinions about this new trail. The magazine article I read painted a very different picture. Thinking of heading there just after my 40th in early March for a long weekend's worth of riding. Personally I am a huge fan of Klingsporn as a way of getting down the mountain - it never fails to disappoint. I haven't ridden Delatite but it looks pretty dull compared to Klingsporn. Probably faster, but nowhere near as narrow and sketchy.

Agreed - Klingsporn is cool. I'll ride the Epic trail again, because friends will want to give it a go. I'll ride Stonefly, Gang Gangs, Misty twist and most especially Klingsporn again because I want to ride them.

 

[gnarly_rider]

I know! But totally worth it. It tends to be the last riding I do every weekend I go, and the combination of exhaustion (mental and physical) and elation as you roll down the road to the store after that long, narrow, sketchy, windy descent - for me - nothing in this country tops that so far. Every time.

Agreed, it's has always been my end of weekend must-do closure; typically the partner is happy to chill (she'll have done a Delatite in the AM), and shuttle me once, so I get in two runs on a 6inch duallie, with full face and maybe some armour. Though typically I seem to be beating her down the mountain, so she doesn't get to chill much (she does however seem to be finding it a good excuse to rally-drive down the mountain...).

Yeah the exit down that final chute into the park is like "Farkin yeah!" with a celebratory fist pump every time!

My goal is to go sub 20mins. I'm currently at about 23.

That's a great goal NP! Where are you starting the clock from? Strava only shows 2 sub-20's starting form outside the Alberg (?) carpark (I'm 24.5 from there) and about 8 sub-20s starting from the ski-resort fire track just after it crosses the ski run (I'm about 22 from there)

http://app.strava.com/segments/646891

Biggest challenge I find is to try and not stop at the look out point! "Must not stop, must not stop.. Oh god the arms! Must not stop..."

Have had some pretty decent offs - often which land me at least 10m from my bike down steep slopes. But I just love that shit.

Technically and mentally gruelling with some nasty penalties if you off... With age I am more and more likely to armour up. Last January I was centimeters from breaking the collarbone on the very last rocky section at the bottom; was on the ground groaning for 5+ minutes, and the bruising was with me for a week or two. I seriously reconsidered my lack of body armour at that point..... (had arms and legs, but left body in the car)

Kudos for taking the time to stop and snap a photo. I keep meaning to - most of the descent is very picturesque.

Many years ago, in a group of 6 riders, one of who is an avid photographer, so we let him go ahead to do his thang.

 

[Beej1]

That's a great goal NP! Where are you starting the clock from?

Top of HH chairlift. But I vary which way I go from here so it's not really that official. Certainly not with GPS or anything - just looking at my watch panicking whether I've left enough time to make the bus. Sometimes I go down Outlaw. Sometimes down top of International. Sometimes down top of ABOM. They all cross Klingers at some point. I think the quickest was down top of ABOM.

We're probably pretty close in time. And I too debate about how much armour to wear. I once faceplanted on one of the rocky scree corners one year we hired DH bikes and I left it a little too wide open. At the bottom I discovered my jersey was in tatters over my whole chest, and the chin guard of my full-face was scratched to the bejeezus. Would've been a long, slow, painful roll down had I been armourless.

 

[Nautonier]

My suggestion to make it a bit more fun is to ride the whole Stonefly loop, and once you get back to Howqua gap, take Circuit Rd across to TBJ and rejoin the "Epic" there. At least then you get a singletrack descent for all the climbing.
]

Agree 100%. I thought the entire Epic ride was brilliant, but next time I would definitely do the Stonefly descent and circuit road to TBJ rather than the fire road descent.

Can the person(s) who over-braked on the front (probably in the wet) and cut out those little slots right in the middle of the corners on the descent please head back up there and fix them. Cheers.

 

[dottyman]

Agree 100%. I thought the entire Epic ride was brilliant, but next time I would definitely do the Stonefly descent and circuit road to TBJ rather than the fire road descent.

Can the person(s) who over-braked on the front (probably in the wet) and cut out those little slots right in the middle of the corners on the descent please head back up there and fix them. Cheers.

I rode it that way a week ago. You can't miss that Stonefly descent. Yes the circuit road is boring but it gives you a chance to rest and drink.

I was totally stoked to see the Cafe at TBJ. Awesome coffee and good dudes working there. Thats a great idea to open that business. The choc slice was delicious and the pies looked great too.

The guy working there, Nick said the opening weekend was so wet and the new descent s/t got flogged then I reckon. It was dry and rutted by the Thursday.
Its a cool ride, demanding some fitness and I did it in about 6 hours with many breaks. An awesome*first time to Buller.

 

[aligogs]

Me and 2 mates rode the epic trail yesterday (Monday). It is an epic! Around 4 hours of ride time and then a few good stops on top. The cafe at TBJ is great, big props to the guys there.. Everyone should stop by and show them some support.
We also did the stonefly descent then fireroad round to TBJ.. It's such a good descent you'd be mad to take the epic fireroad! And the last descent is incredible.. Save something for it cos it's a lot of fun. 16 minutes of flat out descending!! Will be back

 

[Ugboot]

Need a group to book the Mirimbah shuttle

Hi there,
Is anyone going to Buller and wants to ride the Epic trail/Klingsporn etc during the week starting the 1st February? Me and the partner are heading down and want to try to get a group together so we can book some shuttles.
Cheers.

 

[Beej1]

...I thought the entire Epic ride was brilliant, but next time I would definitely do the Stonefly descent and circuit road to TBJ rather than the fire road descent.

Can any knowledgeable folk (or Nautonier) please confirm something: I'm looking at the Buller Trails map and it seems half of the Stonefly loop is included as part of The Epic - I'm assuming it's the climbing half of Stonefly yeah? So what Nautonier is explaining is doing this climb, then back down the Stonefly descent everyone talks about, then taking a fireroad climb (Circuit Rd on map) to meet up with The Epic at TBJ? Is the climb on Circuit Rd a grueling one? In fact ... looking at the gradients it kinda looks pretty level.

Either way - can anyone estimate the timeframe required to do Buller village to Mirimbah via this route (e.g. GG, Picnic, Woolybutt, Stonefly loop, Circuit Rd, rest of Epic)? 4hrs super-fit, 7hrs reasonably fit sound right?

Cheers,

np.

 

[gnarly_rider]

Can any knowledgeable folk (or Nautonier) please confirm something: I'm looking at the Buller Trails map and it seems half of the Stonefly loop is included as part of The Epic - I'm assuming it's the climbing half of Stonefly yeah?

Correct

So what Nautonier is explaining is doing this climb, then back down the Stonefly descent everyone talks about, then taking a fireroad climb (Circuit Rd on map) to meet up with The Epic at TBJ?

Correct

Is the climb on Circuit Rd a grueling one? In fact ... looking at the gradients it kinda looks pretty level.

Yup, pretty level, if not actually ever so much more down for the last third into TBJ.

Either way - can anyone estimate the timeframe required to do Buller village to Mirimbah via this route (e.g. GG, Picnic, Woolybutt, Stonefly loop, Circuit Rd, rest of Epic)? 4hrs super-fit, 7hrs reasonably fit sound right?

Cheers,

np.

Without Stonefly say 3-4 hours? (below is me solo and pretty much non-stop, moderate bike fitness, so buffer up the time from there, especially in a group)

https://app.strava.com/activities/246214770


Easy-going conservative Stonefly loop say 2 hours?




I have never done the Epic firetrail descent from top of Stonefly, and never will; I'd personally be pretty rope-able to lose all that elevation on firetrail. Especially now knowing that the Circuit Rd transport section is dead easy.

 

[Beej1]

Thanks Gnar.

I was confused for a moment looking at that Strava Route thinking ... it looks like he skipped Stonefly and just did the Circuit Rd. Then I realised that's exactly why you linked to that route. Much appreciated.

While you're here - that Strava route .. to me it looks like you took a combination of Trigger Happy and Woolybutt to Howqua Gap? The arrows on the Buller Map seem to indicate Woolybutt for down and Trigger Happy for up. I've no idea whether they're a strict 'one way' setup or whether it's "do whatever you want" and Trigger Happy is the more interesting way to get from Cornhill to Howqua?

 

[gnarly_rider]

Thanks Gnar.

I was confused for a moment looking at that Strava Route thinking ... it looks like he skipped Stonefly and just did the Circuit Rd. Then I realised that's exactly why you linked to that route. Much appreciated.

You're welcome

While you're here - that Strava route .. to me it looks like you took a combination of Trigger Happy and Woolybutt to Howqua Gap? The arrows on the Buller Map seem to indicate Woolybutt for down and Trigger Happy for up. I've no idea whether they're a strict 'one way' setup

Yes, she's a one-way track! Ooops, you busted me! :tape2: I only do it that way solo, and early in the morning, before anyone's climbing it. Doesn't flow that well, but still a blast, and stunning views....

Trigger Happy is the more interesting way to get from Cornhill to Howqua?

Yes. And much safer than that Woolybutt rock strewn fire-road descent down to Howqua gap. And it still pickups all the Woolybutt singletrack descent at the bottom into the gap.

 

[Beej1]

... I only do it that way solo, and early in the morning, before anyone's climbing it. Doesn't flow that well, but still a blast, and stunning views....

Sold. I'm gonna get my crew up early on Sunday and try this out. Hoping we can make it to Mirimbah with enough time to shuttle back up and have one more run down to the bottom via either Klingers or River - depending on time of day and whether Klingers has re-opened after the running race (3:30pm according to BikeBuller website).

 

[mtb101]

going up to Mt Buller in a few weeks to do EPIC etc, what's the best way to climb back up from mirimbah? any single track climbs or just road?

 

[Duane]

Couple of mates that are about 1000 times fitter than me rode back up the road. I take the shuttle.

 

[mtb101]

thanks I found a route on strava;

https://www.strava.com/activities/230973169


only adds a bit more climbing, will be nice to cruise up and smell the alpine air.