Arepa (Alpha)  

Notes:

Arepa (Alpha) is the Maori word for beginning and there is a significant reason for choosing this name.

Arepa sits in the area commonly known as the Genesis Block, a section of forest that contained the first single track to be built in the Redwoods - the Genesis Trail.  Originally built by Fred Christiansen and blokes serving time on Periodic Detention guided by Red McHale.  For more information on Red and his work make sure you check out the Trail Notes video which documents a number of other Rotorua MTB Legends including NZO Gaz, Vanessa Quin and Craig Pattle.

The Genesis Block was harvested for trees during the time I visited the Redwoods in November 2014 (read about this).  A crowd funding campaign raised funds for new trails to be built in the Genesis Block and in July 2015 Arepa was opened.

Arepa is a loop that can be easily accessed from the top of the sealed section of Nursery Rd or from Radio Hut Rd near the top of the Challenge trails.  I used it on a number of occasions to get up from Nursery Rd to Katore Rd rather than just climbing up the dirt road.

The climb is full of mellow switch backs with the occasional pinch climb.  Arepa not without it's BURN but in my opinion is a better/easier option than just riding up Nursery Rd.  Getting on the Arepa from Nursery Rd will almost definitely require walking a short distance as its very sandy and steep, however this section is skipped if riding in a loop starting from the top.

There are two entrances/exits at the top, the first at the bend in Radio Hut Rd directly above the Nursery Rd, Pohaturoa Rd and Katore Rd intersection and the next directly opposite the trail head for Challenge, Challenge Roadside, Down the Guts and Boulderdash.

The ride between the two top entrances/exits is undulating with a barely registerable gradient, from opposite Challenge it's almost entirely descending to the Nursery Rd entrance/exit.  The descent has a number of A-B lines or alternative routes, quite a lot of rollers or jumps depending on how much speed you are carrying and a few technical features .. all of which are totally optional.  It's not a bad trail to take a beginner on because not only can they enjoy themselves but experienced riders can play on the features.  I'm sure it's a hit with families much like Dipper.

Blog articles that mention this trail

• 27/2/2016 - VIDEO: Top XC Rides of 2014/2015
• 22/11/2015 - VIDEO: Nine Days in the Rotorua Redwoods

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