Today was time to try the Cardrona Ski Field climb. Plan was to ride the road up and then take the 'Peak to Pub' mountain bike trail descent.
The Crown Range
Getting there requires a drive over the Crown Range; a road I've driven and cycled before and spectacular itself.
Back in 2003 we cycled it heading towards Queenstown. In 2004 I climbed it heading West; memorable for being the first ride after a couple of weeks holiday and then having to pedal just as hard down the other side thanks to a stiff westerly headwind!
In 2016, down for a conference, I flew in on the dramatic Crown Range approach to Queenstown Airport (below left). I also joined a mountain bike adventure from the summit down to Arrowtown (right) but we had a spectacularly easy climb to the top that day!
The road starts near Arrowtown with the infamous switchback section. They lead to a viewpoint with spectacular views towards Lake Hayes and beyond.
There was no traffic, fun revving the Bravo through the gears on the climb, mostly in second and third using the revs. That twenty-year-old five-cylinder engine still sounds so good when exercised.
Had the radio on and was sad to learn P.J. O'Rourke died. Often didn't agree with him but always liked hearing his views and humour.
P.J. O'Rourke, R.I.P. | Reason
No one did more to mainstream libertarian ideas about peace, love, and understanding over the past half-century than P.J. O'Rourke, who has died at the age of 74...
I thought about riding the 'Race to the Sky' road but after clearing the rush hour traffic on the Waiorau Nordic (Snow farm) Road found the gates locked, road closed.
Cardrona climb
So Cardrona it is, parked at the bottom, ready to ride.
The road was well graded and wide, ready for all those winter sports.
Heading up.
I was listening to Alan Alda talking to Abigail Vieregg about a bizarre way they observe Neutrinos, particles from space, in Antarctica:
Clear and Vivid | Abigail Vieregg: Seeking Cosmic Messengers
Dangling from a balloon the size of a football stadium miles above the South Pole, a payload built by astrophysicist Abby Vieregg peers down at the ice looking for messenger particles from the most energetic places in the universe
No need to use the chain bay today!
Felt like I was riding to the sky.
Looking back across Cardrona Valley.
'Fools Corner', felt like a long way up but not even halfway there.
Yes, the gradient in places was... yeah
This is half distance but nowhere near half effort.
The scale of nature
Crouched down to frame this photo, looking back to where I started, and noticed a photo bomber mid-frame. The S21 zoom picked him, or her?, out.
Switchbacks to the sky
The fine white dust mostly wasn't a problem. I only saw a few vehicles, but it took only one to learn to stop on the windward side of the road as they passed...
Life is everywhere | Cardrona Skifield Road
I just had to park...
Chukka Corner 2km to go.
Plenty of up left...
The last push.
Near the top I got first view of the other side, looking towards Queenstown.
Dusty road, clear sky.
Cardrona Ski
Defended by Snow Artillery?
Snow makers at rest waiting for the wintry weather to arrive.
The village was quite busy, people cycling and riding 'mountain karts' on trails in the ski area.
Chair lifts taking freewheel mountain karts up for people to ride down.
Peak to Pub descent
There's a series of mountain bike trails from the peak straight down to the Cardrona Pub.
I decided to ride a bit of the road before joining the 'Peak to Pub Trail
Off the road, onto the trail. Awesome downhill, 617m descent, but quite demanding in parts.
They were doing trail maintenance in a couple of areas but most of the run was clear.
A few bridge type obstacles but mostly natural trail.
The last part is a fast downhill run to the pub.
The Pub!
It was about half three by the time I got here but didn't have time for a drink. Had to get back to Queenstown to meet up for a drink with a TWL colleague who was down working. The photo was taken by a couple of road cyclists after I'd taken theirs for them. They were heading over the Ranges for Arrowtown.
Loading up to head back over the Ranges to another pub.
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