Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge & Mt Peel Mountain Bike Marathon
11 April 2010
The Epic
Mt Peel is a mountain biking classic. 85km of tough uncompromising mountain biking with a total ascent/descent of 2340m and a 20 minute portage through snowgrass.
The marathon is a complete circuit of Mt Peel. It starts from Peel Forest township and heads along sealed road towards Mt Peel Station. It passes historic St Stephens Church and Mt Peel Homestead and then begins an unrelenting climb, including portage to a high point of Coal Hill at 1617m affording magnificent views of the upper Rangitata River basin and the main divide including Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
The white knuckle descent to the Hewson River is steep and rough. At Lochaber, the ride joins the final half of the Blue Mountain Course and follows Bernard Stream towards Blue Mountain. The course gradually ascends a saddle (1050 m) before down-hilling alongside Howards Stream and Andrews Stream.
The course then crosses back over the Orari River for a short sharp ascent of Scotsburn and a thrilling descent back to Peel Forest.
Location
CAN
New Zealand
43° 54' 54.288" S, 171° 15' 42.192" E
website:
http://mtpeelmtb.co.nz 
