spudmonkey32
Likes Dirt
Am looking to do this ride sometime in the next few weeks, via silk lane and stonefly - has anyone done this and have any tips. Is it a reasonable day ride or is that a bit optimistic.
cheers
Ian
cheers
Ian
Craig's Hut (didn't it burn down?) is on the other side of Mt Stirling from the top of Stonefly, so still a fair way off... Yes the riding is brilliant, but quite strenuous!Is Craig's hut the one at the top of Stonefly? If so I rode from Mt Buller to there and back last weekend via Gang Gangs/Silk Lane/Stonefly/Corn Hill/Gang Gangs return track and it only took about 2.5 - 3 hours. The hardest part of the ride is the killer hill climb from Howqua gap up to the top of Corn Hill. If you were knackered by then you could bypass that and simply head back through the Silk Land fwd track to picnic table.
It's an awesome ride, one of the best I've done in Aus. Great technical climbs and brilliant downhill sections. Does require a bit of fitness and a reasonably light bike...
For the 3rd time!!!!!They rebuilt a replica hut in the same spot
I rode my 29er anthem there back in Feb, perfect bike... Brilliant trails! When I arrived back at the bottom of stonefly, a youngish fella showed up, not quite sure where he was going, intending on riding stonefly on his 9er steel hardtail... Single speed! Good luck, thats a tough (but spectacular) grind.Craigs Hut is about 5 kms from Bluff Spur Hut which is the one at the top of Stonefly. Im not sure why you would lug a 5-6 inch bike through a great cross country ride like that.
I second these comments. From the top of Stonefly you still have to climb up to the top of Stirling and then it is a solid ride to Craig's Hut with no food or water. There will likely be a few 4wd enthusiasts at Craig's Hut but there is still no water or food and you are a long way from help. As with much of Buller Mobile Phone coverage is patchy. The descents are fast, rough and strewn with loose rocks. The climbs are the same but much, much slower (everything you ride down you have to ride back up again).Its still a fair ride out from Stirling, with the main issue being you are quite isolated once your leave stirling esepically coming into this time of year, being in an alpine region with extremely variable weather
Its all steep 4WD tracks from Stirling onwards, for a component group of riders its a good half day ride there and back with a break at Craigs Hut
Wouldnt reccomend doing it with less than 3 people though due to being so isolated
As pointed out earlier it is a fair ride and in an area that can turn nasty with little notice any time of year but particularly from now through to late spring (in fact snow/sleet predicted for the next few days with a top temp in the low single digits).Thanks for all the information and advice - greatly appreciated. Just waiting to see if the weather will be kinder otherwise its going have to be delayed until spring/summer