Hadley Challenge

This is the course for the Hadley Challenge, which is happening August 23rd, 2009.
See http://hadleychallenge.blogspot.com/
A Googe Earth file for the course is available from the blog.

The course runs along single track, woods road, four-wheeler trails, multi-use trail and a very small amount (200m) of road. The trails are well drained and are almost never muddy, even after a rain; but rain will make the roots and rocks slippery. There are a few mud-holes on the woods roads, but the worst one have a go-around trail. You may have to ride around a few puddles, but if you find yourself riding through a mud-hole, that means you are probably off course.

Riders doing the 26 km course will start at Marysville Place. There will be a neutral roll-out of about 400m from Marysville Place to the official start at the beginning of the multi-use trail.

The course proceeds for about 5km along flat multi-use trails to where the multi-use trail intersects Hwy 628. The course turns right on Hwy 628 for approx. 200m before turning into the woods to go up the Hillside trail. Cones will be placed, but this is otherwise an open secondary highway, so take care. Checkpoint #1 is at the Hillside trail head on Hwy 628.

The Hillside trail starts with a short series of switchbacks. This trail is new and while the switchbacks are rideable, they are still a bit soft, and we expect that many people will be walking. The trail is about 1 km long and after the switchbacks it is generally fairly smooth, though there are a couple of gullies with bridges at the bottom where some care is needed.

The Hillside trail comes out into a firm gravel pit and after crossing the gravel pit, joins up to a well-packed dirt road. The 14 km start is at this point. Proceed up the dirt road for about 200m and cross the new highway location - all dirt, well packed. Immediately after crossing the new highway location, the dirt road forks - there is usually a big puddle. Do not take either fork. Turn into the woods on the left, onto Pooh Bear trail.

Pooh Bear is a straightforward trail about 400m long. It comes out on a woods road. Turn left and follow the road for about 700m. Halfway along there is a Mudhole Bypass trail on the right. DO THIS TRAIL. It is a fun little trail and it is also faster than riding through the mud.

The course then turns to the left for the start of Stone Bridges. At first this looks like a grassy four-wheeler trail, but it soon turns into single track. This trail is about 2 km of classic east coast single track. The Drunkard’s Walk is in the middle - you’ll know it when you get there. The bridges that the trail is named after are close to the end.

Stone Bridges comes out on the Gibson woods road. Checkpoint #2 is here. If you need to bail out, you can go down (left) on Gibson’s road to the Penniac road, but this is a last resort. There is a big mean dog near the bottom of the hill that will bite you if you are unlucky.

Continued below photos...

Map Legend
Single track = Green
Multi-use / Four-wheeler = Cyan
Woods Road = Blue
Road = Red