I've had mixed success trying to avoid the road and fireroad.
1. Ride up the xc trail to the first gate, up the bridleway with some shallow steps. Steep up and over a fence, then push / carry up another bridleway with step (that would be a nice route down).Gets you to the steep concrete ramp then 10 mins fireroad to the top.
2. As above, but right at the first fireroad, get a bit lost, it starts to rain, carry up a bit, end up riding the wrong way on the xc route (dont worry, it was a very quiet day), stiff carry, then 5 min pedal to the top.
??
1. probably quickest
3. Book on the uplift
...on a Monday?
why avoid the fireroad?
the quickest way would be pushing up the side of the downhill, but you might not be too popular and i don't think it'd be that easy
avoiding fireroad the quickest way is 1
alternativly the easiest way is to follow the forest drive road up the wrong way (then pushing up the trail for walkers that cuts off some of the corners)