Ref: http://tracks.org.nz/track/show/65
Print date: 13 Feb 2012 16:01:59
Also known as: Grant's Track
Location: Makara Peak, Wellington, New Zealand
Overview:
Skinny alternative climb out from bottom of Leaping Lizard to Nikau Valley with lots of challenging switch-backs.
Grade: Intermediate
Access: Bike and Foot
Description:
This is the challenging climb up from the southern extremity of the Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park.
After diverging off Leaping Lizard, this track starts out innocently enough with a gentle meander along a grassy valley floor. Then things get tough, as the track climbs up a series of very steep and tight switchbacks. Apparently some people actually enjoy the type of punishment meted out by this track. To each their own.
After a while the track mellows somewhat, as it generally continues to climb towards Nikau Valley – though some sections are, again, quite steep. Parts of the upper section are very narrow, with the gap between trees barely wider than bike handlebars.
Once you meet Nikau Valley the fun continues, as you'll need to forego much of the altitude gained on Possum Bait Line as you drop into a valley before eventually climbing out to meet Missing Link.
Getting there:
Bottom (southern end) is just up from the lowest point on Leaping Lizard.
Top (northern end) meets Nikau Valley about 250m from its Leaping Lizard end.
Other notes:
One-way, uphill from south to north.
Length: 1.30km
Conditions: Single track
Last modified: 16 Jan 2011 by Ian
Created by: Jonny