Jonkershoek - what a gem

[braailegend]

 

 

For carp?

 

Yep, my little pond i love to target.. Also some trout in there for the patient or lucky

[Gerhardc]

My 1st ride at Jonkershoek on Tuesday. Awesome day. Awesome Trails. Will be back soon!!!

[tubed]

Can one of the locals please tell me roughly which is the best way (in their opinion) to ride the valley,

 

ie do the Northern side first - up to Nek,Canaries down and then up to top of trail again and the other northern side singletrack Elliottii etc, before crossing over the valley and up to the fire hut and doing the single track from there down.

 

What's the best sequence?

 

thanks

[LanceB]

Tubed, I think you are riding it quite correctly.

 

My route is:

 

Up through the Forrest on the Eastern/Northern side, until you stop rolling on that incline gradient just under the Saaltjie’s bankie.

 

Then down the three top (new) Canaries. As you exit the third one (which features the wall-ride), turn right, track along that jeep track until you see the new warning signs for the AM-line. Then keep tracking along that jeep track, it should snake back in a southerly direction, which has a drop-in point for the new, big, line Bennett and Hylton built, drop in and jeep keep rushing that singletrack until it links up with the Slangpad singletrack (flowtrail).

 

Once that is done, slog back up with the jeep track past the lower Canaries, until you reach that T-junction with the DH-track in view. Then cruise down to Never-ending story, climb up to the higher section, drop-in, complete both levels. Once to a halt on that jeep-track T-junction, track back in a Northerly direction, drop into the lower section of the DH-track, run that, until you reach the circle route.

 

Complete circle route until you have the gate in your field of view, peel off to the left, over the bridge, through the gate, climb to the very top of the fire trail, drop-in, run that, scare yourself at the right-hand hairpin of destiny, complete all three levels. Stop. Cruise to carpark. Get ready for relationship termination…

 

It’s a long day out, but well worth it. The new section they’ve built, which drops-in just under the saaltjie, has complicated things in the best possible way, as you now need to track ‘back’, against the notion of turning left as you roll out of the lower (third) Canary section, which one would usually have done, and then cruised down to the climb up for newer (mid) Never ending story.

[tubed]

Tubed, I think you are riding it quite correctly.

 

My route is:

 

Up through the Forrest on the Eastern/Northern side, until you stop rolling on that incline gradient just under the Saaltjie’s bankie.

 

Then down the three top (new) Canaries. As you exit the third one (which features the wall-ride), turn right, track along that jeep track until you see the new warning signs for the AM-line. Then keep tracking along that jeep track, it should snake back in a southerly direction, which has a drop-in point for the new, big, line Bennett and Hylton built, drop in and jeep keep rushing that singletrack until it links up with the Slangpad singletrack (flowtrail).

 

Once that is done, slog back up with the jeep track past the lower Canaries, until you reach that T-junction with the DH-track in view. Then cruise down to Never-ending story, climb up to the higher section, drop-in, complete both levels. Once to a halt on that jeep-track T-junction, track back in a Northerly direction, drop into the lower section of the DH-track, run that, until you reach the circle route.

 

Complete circle route until you have the gate in your field of view, peel off to the left, over the bridge, through the gate, climb to the very top of the fire trail, drop-in, run that, scare yourself at the right-hand hairpin of destiny, complete all three levels. Stop. Cruise to carpark. Get ready for relationship termination…

 

It’s a long day out, but well worth it. The new section they’ve built, which drops-in just under the saaltjie, has complicated things in the best possible way, as you now need to track ‘back’, against the notion of turning left as you roll out of the lower (third) Canary section, which one would usually have done, and then cruised down to the climb up for newer (mid) Never ending story.

 

Many thanks LanceB - sooo looking forward to this!

[Slowbee]

cannot wait to be in decent enough shape to ride these trails again

[Toon63]

tomorrow I'm there riding it for the first time in 2 years can't wait

[PhilipV]

jonkershoek needs a ski lift.

[Guest Omega Man]

jonkershoek needs a ski lift.

The guy who runs the restaurant tried to see if it was a viable option. The European ski resorts are replacing their old ones all the time so you can get 2nd hand ones reasonably cheap. I think the Harties one is a 2nd hander from Europe.

 

The problem he has tho is that he can't secure a long enough lease on the land to justify spending 10 bar on a ski lift.

 

Having said all that you don't NEED a ski lift. The UK has a massive riding scene and they do it with uplift vehicles. And we have a ready supply of almost custom made uplift vehicles. Take one of those "game viewing" vehicles they use on the game farms. That seats 9 plus a driver. 150k 2nd hand. make a 10 bike trailer and off we go.

 

Pay R5 per uplift. The problem SA has is that it's seen as soft, weak, lame, gay or whatever other term you want to use to get free vertical.

[Caerus]

The guy who runs the restaurant tried to see if it was a viable option. The European ski resorts are replacing their old ones all the time so you can get 2nd hand ones reasonably cheap. I think the Harties one is a 2nd hander from Europe.

 

The problem he has tho is that he can't secure a long enough lease on the land to justify spending 10 bar on a ski lift.

Where is the foresight?

[LanceB]

This is not a traditional Alpine slope, a ski-lift would structure would cause substantial environmental disturbance to the undergrowth. Jonkershoek most certainly does not require a ski-lift, I have seen good people (of both genders) peddle 140+mm bikes as high as one is required too.

 

Admittedly the opportunity cost is a taxing climb, yes, but that also duplicates in fitness and commitment function as a gatekeeping element: thinning crowds on the run from the highest drop-in points.

 

A caveat: Jonkershoek is one of the very few places effectively sheltered form blustery SE winds in summer, due to the forests, which are also quite karmic to peddle through. At least, I find it to be the case. A lift would ruin it for me.

 

On DH race days, they shuttle, which I think is fair enough.

 

Thanks to trail-builders such as Bennett and Hylton, and proper support from various other people in and around Stellenbosch (too various and humble to be mentioned: Spez, Meurant) Jonkershoek is as quite close to being perfect in my frame of reference. Between JHK and Karkloof, as built and maintained in late 2013, there is an awful lot less reason to go cheese chasing in the Alps with a big bike than there was, perhaps, five years ago. Not that an Alpine riding experience is ever less than fantastic.

 

*Although it's sheltered from SE winds in the curve behind the Twins, as you climb up through the forest to the Saaltjie/bankie, wind can be powerful in other areas, especially if you are beyond the windbreak protection of the trees. Imagine how often a lift would not be able to run, as it would have to be built in an exposed area. Another EI (environmental impact) concern I have.

 

I took a proper spill on the top Canary and with a hand than looks rather odd, I won't be riding there this weekend, but for all those going to tests some of the new Spez kit, and reacquiring themselves with JHK, I most certainly wish you a perfectly squishy suspension minted time...just remember to take your bike out for some additional exploration after you've un-threaded your pedals from those demos...

[Sanderis]

I wish I knew my way around Jonkers. Really need to go discover that place these holidays.

I REALLY need to go ride there some day! Is there a map of the trails available to find all these gems or do you need to hook up with locals to show you around?? Are all the trails running from the top down, or is it circular routes?

 

Yes there is , they are sold at the kiosk left next to the entrance .

 

 

 

iRideAfrica map is complete but will be easier to ride with someone that knows the place.

 

Not nearly complete as those sold at the kiosk .

 

[Guest Omega Man]

Rode that new trail today.

 

All I can say is that trail would not look out of place in Chatel. Praise does not come any higher that that from me.

[Caerus]

Rode that new trail today.

 

All I can say is that trail would not look out of place in Chatel. Praise does not come any higher that that from me.

Damn you , was so wanting to ride there today , my stupid knee had other ideas

[LanceB]

Omega Man

 

"Rode that new trail today.

 

All I can say is that trail would not look out of place in Chatel. Praise does not come any higher that that from me."

 

That it is, an all the way down through a nicely insulated forest too. As proper as proper MTBing can get.

[Guest Omega Man]

Omega Man

 

"Rode that new trail today.

 

All I can say is that trail would not look out of place in Chatel. Praise does not come any higher that that from me."

 

That it is, an all the way down through a nicely insulated forest too. As proper as proper MTBing can get.

Agreed. Amazing trail that. I love how they've incorporated the rocks into the trail. Not only are they entertaining but the rocks will help to retain the trail. Truly amazing trail work.