Fowlers Pass, St James

[countryguy]

Went for another quick ride into St James this arvo. Rode to the top of Fowlers pass via a goat track . I'm pretty sure you could get all the way to Lake Guyon via this route but may be difficult returning due to the track descending a big shingle scree from memory. If the rivers low you can ride out via Malings Pass and Doc's new road should avoid river crossings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34778980@N06/sets/72157623406075839/

[Skinny_Birdman]

Cracking pictures mate. I'm really going to have to get up that way again soon.

[junkmanjoe]

yes great photos,, are you allowed to ride a motorbike up there, can see mountain bike track in one of your photos..
dont think the 9fiddy would like it up there..

JMJ

[countryguy]

Its not really a mountain bike track as such but is an old historic stock track now being used by the odd mountainbiker. It is a reconised tramping route and 'legal road'. The route dates back to the early settlement of St James. I doubt many riders know its exsists. It is a short but spectacular ride from the Clarence Valley to the top. I'm pretty sure you could ride furthur but it gets quite technical and would probably pay to have a mate or 2 along to push if the going gets tough.
Easily accessed from the old Fowlers Hut in the Clarence Valley between Hanmer and Lake Tennyson.

[junkmanjoe]

cool, drag Jatz in there on the BIG, he be fine....
you have to try and go right through one day, unfinished business.....

JMJ

[Woodman]

great pics, I think you need to organise a tour for us.

[dino3310]

great pics, I think you need to organise a tour for us.

yeap X2 on that, i dont see stuff like that up here

[countryguy]

great pics, I think you need to organise a tour for us.

Need to wait till its officially 'open' but if any one is up this way I'm happy to point you in the right direction.

[alane]

If I come down to the Clarence reserve ride on Sat 6th,might give it a go on Sun 7th.Just what do you mean COUNTRYGUY ,when you say,"it gets quite technical further on". My bike is pretty high geared,& steep knarly climbs could turn out embarrasing.---Where would "pushing" be likely to be required??
Also a bit confusing,you saying in your initial report ,"return might be difficult owing to the track decending a big shingle scree from memory".-----as this is,as I understand it, nearer to the lake Guyon end,have you tramped it on a previous occasion or something????
Shure are cool pics. ALAN

[countryguy]

If I come down to the Clarence reserve ride on Sat 6th,might give it a go on Sun 7th.Just what do you mean COUNTRYGUY ,when you say,"it gets quite technical further on". My bike is pretty high geared,& steep knarly climbs could turn out embarrasing.---Where would "pushing" be likely to be required??
Also a bit confusing,you saying in your initial report ,"return might be difficult owing to the track decending a big shingle scree from memory".-----as this is,as I understand it, nearer to the lake Guyon end,have you tramped it on a previous occasion or something????
Shure are cool pics. ALAN

I have walked it years ago when hunting in the area. Its relatively easy to the top from the Clarence Valley but then zig zags down a steep face and from there over a couple of small ridges and down some valleys and through creeks to 'Stanleyvale' at the head of Lake Guyon.
To be on the safe side i would ride with a mate in case you have to lift, carry, push etc over any unrideable sections if any! I'm sure its passable by mountainbike all the way but I imagine you would need a low geared bike to be able to ride it easily. My main concern would be decending down the Zig Zag to find you have to come back the same way. It is steep with tight corners. It is a single track from the Clarence valley with some big drop offs so if you went over the side I doubt you would get your bike back up the face by yourself. By pushing I mean walking it and I doubt you could do it by yourself back up the Ziig Zag which is just beyond the top where I rode. Having said all that it would be no big deal to 'scout' it on foot first. Its an ideal track for a lightwieght low geared bike.

[alane]

Thanks Countryguy----I realise I,d be risking it ,to say the least,to do it on my own on my old XT600. Would be a "piece of cake" on my little KL250 Super Sherpa.(Big ain,t always better)
Maling pass would be a better option ,alone ,on a bigger bike.
(Found a few pics of the area on the Nelson mountain bike club website.)
Gotta check--it--out,befor it gets over run & over regulated.
Cheers AL.

[umopom]

Need to wait till its officially 'open' but if any one is up this way I'm happy to point you in the right direction.

Hi countryguy - sounds like an awesome ride any idea when it may be "open"? Woodman is the ideal person to tackle the zig-zag bit so we can follow him!!
Cheers
JC

[countryguy]

Hi countryguy - sounds like an awesome ride any idea when it may be "open"? Woodman is the ideal person to tackle the zig-zag bit so we can follow him!!
Cheers
JC

There are signs posted saying vehicle access is limited until the property is completly destocked later in the year. Word has it that this particular route will be restricted to walkers only in the near future.
It is an old pack track dating back many years . I have seen a very old photo of Jock Fowler (hence the name) bringing a team of bullocks and a wagon down the pass using posts through the wooden spokes as a brake.

I should add that once the area is opened up it will be possibly to ride to Lake Guyon over Malings Pass (see my other post) a nice ride but nowhere near as challenging.
Any one wanting to attempt it or ride part of it I would advise to do it 'unoffcially' soon! in case DOC put barriers up. I live in Hanmer and are happy to meet over a couple of beers if I'm not working and point you in the right direction.

[Woodman]

Hi countryguy - sounds like an awesome ride any idea when it may be "open"? Woodman is the ideal person to tackle the zig-zag bit so we can follow him!!
Cheers
JC

Yea , pick the guy with the heavy bike. It does sound very tempting. Is it accessible from the clarence valley we are going to this weekend? or am i way off?

[cooneyr]

Way off. Think Kailoura vs Lake Tennyson.

[countryguy]

Yea , pick the guy with the heavy bike. It does sound very tempting. Is it accessible from the clarence valley we are going to this weekend? or am i way off?

Upper Clarence Valley between Hanmer and Lake Tennyson about 1/2hr from Hanmer. Track starts directly behind the old tin hut in the Clarence Valley.

[thepom]

I can always come along for a lie down......

[alane]

:Yep !----I vote we do it with Woodman out in front ,as the sacrifical lamb---(well bike,in this case)After all there will be plenty of KLR,s left in the world if his is no--more.:laugh::laugh::laugh:
We,ll utilise his Nelsonian pioneering spirit.:yes:

[NordieBoy]

And just to make sure, I'll bring a camera.
Never fails.

[umopom]

OK so when are we going to give it a go??!! Would be a neat day out before winter sets in - some time early April?

[countryguy]

Sounds like a plan :-)

[Woodman]

:Yep !----I vote we do it with Woodman out in front ,as the sacrifical lamb---(well bike,in this case)After all there will be plenty of KLR,s left in the world if his is no--more.:laugh::laugh::laugh:
We,ll utilise his Nelsonian pioneering spirit.:yes:

No worries, although you are way better at picking the good lines. Definitely keen for this one it sounds like a good challenge.

[countryguy]

I'll try and get back out there in the next couple of weeks and walk the zig zag and maybe a couple of k's of the valley to see just how knarley it is. I'll also check it out with a couple of local hunters that know the area.