I got over 600m too, both with the Garmin watch and with Strava. If it wasn't 600, it was a tough 400
I loved some sections, and didn't so much love others. Funnily enough, I reckon I had more fun on the old stuff than the new. Old stuff had some slippery dustbowls but the new trails had fist sized rocks strewn about through the slippery dust. I had an off (my fault, not the trail), and that damped my enthusiasm and ability for the nicer hardpack bits of the new descent, but I still reckon the old trails have more fun bits than the new ones.
I went into it expecting some climbs, I remembered them from last year, but I had been led to believe that the new section was less climby - I had been led to believe the wrong thing. I wasn't worn out for the new climbs, but I was over it by the time I got there. Part of the problem was that I wore goggles, that was a mistake, there is far too much undulating and they constantly fogged up.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Unfortunately I enjoy all trails so this has to be taken with a grain of salt
A trail bike would have been nicer for the climbs, but would have been less forgiving on the long descents.
My endurobro bike loved the descents, and was ok on the straight climbs, but was a pig on the switchbacks.
Forget about taking a dh bike, that would suck, no question about it.
If you're hardcore, or just happy to meander downwards then an xc bike could work, not ideal though.
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