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Certain Death?
The Pink Heifer, it's the stuff of legends. Developed from an original route of Dafydd Davies' the Heifer route is on the far side of the main road from the visitor centre in the Coed y Brenin Forest. It shares some trails with the MBR and Karrimor, but is much more than either of these. A large figure of eight with the second loop the longest, this longer loop can easily be ridden twice, forming the incomparable Pink Heifer X2. In the Summer the MTB Britain crew have been known to do the X2 followed immediately by the Red Bull. Ouch.
As many of you know the Summer (HAH!) of 2001 saw the destruction of several large bridges at Coed y Brenin. The original route of the Heifer crossed three of these, one of which is impossible to ford without risking your life (certain death on many days!). So out came the maps and a rough plan to forge a new route avoiding two of the un-crossable chasms, the third stream is easily crossed.
We followed the route as normal almost to the first smashed bridge, then took a short fire-road on to the Karrimor, thence up an unknown and funky 'green doubletrack' to who knows where? And that's where it went, nowhere! Nowhere has now been found and placed firmly on the map. Useful. So we tried another tack, we back tracked up the Karrimor for just over a mile to where another 'dotted line' suggested there had once been a trail (5years is a long time in logging land) At first there appeared to be nothing there. I did a fair impersonation of Basil Faulty looking for the Duck a la orange inside the trifle by diving in to the worlds densest wall of Christmas trees looking for the 'Lost Trail'. There was nothing to see but more trees growing as they do at CyB, on an impossibly steep hillside (almost a cliff). Out with the magnifying glass and the tiny map to see if more detail could be extracted from the rather optimistic dotted line. Perhaps it did show the start a little further along the main trail? Hopes of this sank as it became apparent that the main trail (remember this is part of the famous Karrimor) was almost overgrown with 'teenage' conifers which all but touch in the middle of the track. But then, what's this? he cries, with dramatic effect... An opening.
The Edge
The lads weren't about to follow me on another David Bellamy style root in to the undergrowth, so I alone followed a soon to be lovely little trail, a tad masked by undisturbed fallen pine needles. Mmmmm, what's this? it drops over a solid rock outcrop, then turns about and becomes a narrow path along the steep hillside (straight down would be suicide). I called the lads down and we took some pictures (good job I had my 800 ASA film, this bit is darker than a cave) as they dutifully dropped over the rock and carved the right hander. These boys are pretty good! We carried on, on the narrow trail with an unhealthy drop to the left. Only the ever present baby fir trees would catch you if you stray leftwards. Crikey, is that a drop-off, on this narrow a ledge? With heart pounding I went for it, this was no time for brakes! Next a loose double switch-back, tasty, then the trail splits both ways around a rock, both looked dodgy! Finally it continues to traverse over slippery rocks and gets all off-camber before popping out at a place I must have seen a dozen times! Right next to the one and only surviving bridge! Deep joy.
Steep Alternative
After you cross the spectacular foot bridge a steep climb takes you up past the ruins of an old stone copper smelter and soon after drops down and crosses a small (sometimes deep) stream. Since the MBR was re-routed through here, the rocks of the stream bed have been re-arranged leaving an easier task of riding through. It's still not too easy though! The main problem is the right turn and climb up out of the water which is do-able if you have the confidence. A steep singletrack climb takes you to the top of the infamous 'Dragons Tail'. This starts with a fast rutted singletrack and is long with two flat sections which can get a bit muddy. The second flat section has a small climb and then let go those brakes for some real fun. After a 200 yard singletrack descent a drop-off signals the felled section and a rocky left hander takes you to a new flat, tight and disappointing right switchback to a long traverse of the hill. But, you don't want to do that! Instead, immediately after the rocky left hander, bear right on grassy singletrack aiming directly for the single fence piece barrier. Drop over the MBR motorway and take the narrow singletrack directly behind the barrier. Now you're on the Dragons Tail proper, follow this steep narrow rut as it swoops right and then left down to the trees. As you enter the trees the trail bears left and then widens over tree roots before you take your pick of dodgy drop-offs down to the riverside road.
Fun Climbing?
Following the riverside trail takes you on past Ty'n-y-groes car park then on tarmac to the best singletrack climb I know. This little gem can be hit at top speed from the tarmac before hopping up a smooth rock step then soon negotiating a solid rock left hander with a good drop to the right. Two thirds of the way through the section is the most difficult part for those looking to clean it (all of us?). A hop over a large root leads to a ten foot climb up tree roots which will have many struggling. If you make it up here keep your speed for a jump over a tiny stream crossing and exit out on to the tarmac again. The next two short sweet off-road sections are included to cut off two tarmac left hand bends. The first is a mad off-piste double drop through the trees to the bridge, see if you can find it directly opposite the exit to the singletrack, up a small bank. Over the bridge and another challenge, hit the bank on the left with just the right speed and you cruise up on to a natural trail which climbs up parallel to the tarmac, then bears left and drops you out higher up. This is another seriously steep and blissfully short tarmac wall which leads to a left at the crossroads then right and in to climbing mode proper.
Fallen Bridge
A long climb on a good surface with fantastic views follows. Eventually this brings you to the brilliant Plunge pool singletrack. With a grassy start and ominous 'Path in Dangerous Condition' sign the trail dips through a crossing stream before turning right ninety and getting steep and narrow. Some work has been done here, as this precarious trail fell off the mountain once and for a year or so had to be portaged for safety. Steep and earthy with sliding stones you soon see the narrow waterfall which gives this descent it's name. Don't look too hard or you won't make the first left turn and it's a long way down. If you make the first turn twenty yards drops you to a right hand off camber you need to cut tight. Finally you reach the fallen footbridge and climb down it's length before lifting the bikes up the bank at the other side. Around the corner passing the famous ant hills that give the next section it's name the 'Ant Trail' a steep rocky descent levels and narrows to a short foot wide section with a steep drop to the left.
Scary Ants
After shooting up a ten foot hump and dodging through the cutaway fallen tree the trail climbs a little. It's by this time that you may have discovered the Ant Trail's deadly secret. When damp it's leafy surface can still be ridden at top speed, until you brake. Then all hell breaks loose with wild sideways wandering and leftwards floating, the steep left hand bank gets closer' I've ridden off the edge myself, in an impossible and desperate lunge I somehow managed to ride along the bank just off the side of the trail, then back up on to the path again. Reminiscent of Mickey Mouse mid air scrambling that crazy manoeuvre saved my skin. At it's end the Ant Trail crosses a quiet tarmac road and dives down to a second larger plunge pool, somewhat changed in the recent flash flood. At wet times of the year a second waterfall plunges from the right end of the cliff, look out for it. Over this picturesque footbridge and engage granny ring for a short, steep do-able pitch then up on to the fire road and the short climb to the Dolfrwnog Tea Garden. Even in the Winter stopping here is a must with Bara Brith (buttered fruit loaf with ginger) and chocolate cake, tea and coffee just what a biker needs.
A Red Bull to Finish?
Just what you'll need to get you up the next climb which is a bit of a toughie! Make sure the cake has settled a little before cruising off up the tarmac wall of a climb. A quick diversion up the Karrimor leads on to a short cut to the top of the epic Hermon descent. Needing no introduction to many the five singletrack sections of this titanic tumble total 1700 feet of tight, tortuous descending. The final section drops steeply to the riverside road leaving brake pads and muscles wasted. Back over the slippery footbridge and a quick forest road dash to the final section of singletrack. Down to the river you go with hidden rocks in the long grass on this often overgrown trail. A steep drop brings you to a crossing of a very rocky stream out-flow. Hit this with conviction and stay loose and you can get across without a dab, then through the picnic site, up a rooty do-able climb and left over the bridge to finish on the main road opposite the CyB entrance. Those of you who need to stop at the caf' do so now, yah wimps! We ride up the main entrance road then continue on past the car park straight up the tarmac road, first left on here puts you on the Red Bull immediately after the woodsy singletrack climb, lovely.