Adventure Magazine

Getting High on the Old Ghost Road Spectacular mountain biking in a unique wilderness By Eric Skilling Absolute focus. This moment was all about the thrill of racing along the trail, anticipating the direction of the next turn, guessing how big those rocks were and picking the right line as the bike careered over sporadic streams in a spray of cold water. Nothing else mattered as I weaved between tree trunks, under overhanging branches and around huge rocks. The closeness of the forest exaggerated the sense of speed and yes, I was on a high. Several metres away one of those typically clear West Coast rivers crashed and cascaded its way over giant granite and marble boulders, but its beauty went almost unnoticed as I concentrated on the path ahead. It was the second day of my journey, and I had reached the last 8km of a 25km section from Lyell to Stern Huts. Already I understood why trampers and mountain bikers got so excited about tackling this challenging trail – today must rate as one of the most stunning and varied mountain biking days you will find anywhere in the world. And it is less than a third of this remarkable track. Cycling the Wilderness Trail had inspired me to come back and explore more of the distinctive forests, rivers and mountains that make this region so unique. The intriguingly named Old Ghost Road promised 85km of adventure set in a magnificent corner of West Coast wilderness, but I underestimated how spectacular and memorable my four days here would be. This second day had begun with 6 km of almost continual climbing through a tranquil beech forest, the floor covered with lichens and thick, bright-green mosses. Apart from the gravel crunching under my tyres and the noise of my breathing, the only sound to break the silence was the call of the occasional bird. Above: Slips Briges above Mokihinui. Image by Jonathan Kennett 14//WHERE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS/#235

Climbing through stunning native forest. Image by Sven Martin