Lees Valley & Snow? Sat17June

[Transalper]

Yep, Plug and I are looking at riding in to Lees Valley again this comming Saturday (17th June) and hope to have some fun in the snow while in there.
Any other adventure/duelsport bike riders keen might like to post your interest here then we will arrange a meeting place/time.
We will hit the road about 10am if things go well and be cruseing thru Belfast by 10:30am (after picking up something to take for lunch).
I want to be home again by 5pm.
To learn more about Lees Valley, check out the summer ride organised by far queue http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=24678
He has maps and stuff there.

[cooneyr]

Damn, that would be a wicked ride! Off to Nelson this weekend to help the inlaws paint their house unfortunatly, so sorry I'm out. I though you guys didnt like the cold though :blip: and with the WX being predicted this WE I think it is going to be kinda cold :cold:

I recon you are going to have some fun getting through - hope you still have the knoblies on! I would definatly head up country if in Canty over the WE.

Best of luck and keen for some photos.
R

P.S. Transalper - I keen to find out more about the track between Geradine and Fairle that you did on your the Brass ride.

[clint640]

Jeez that sounds like fun, It's amazing the depth of snow a bike will plow through. When it gets packed down & icy it's nasty though. It looks like we'll just miss getting a dusting on the MMMMM ride.

Cheers
Clint

[far queue]

After asking around it sounds like this should be rideable tomorrow without too much bother as far as the snow goes. There’s around 2ft of snow at West Melton still, and there was 1ft of snow at Swannanoa on Monday (obviously less now) and there was around 4” of snow at Loburn on Monday (all gone now), so there was less and less snow the closer you get to Lees Valley.

The main access to Lees Valley for the locals is from the Ashley Gorge end which gets graded in snow conditions and will have been done by now. So, if there’s going to be much snow it’ll be at the Loburn end.

If you really want to play in the snow the Waimak gorge may be the better option as there’s sure to be snow there.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is rain in the morning and fine in the afternoon. If there’s a lot of rain then the river crossing could be a problem as the Okuku river rises real quick in inclement weather. It was running at around 1 m3/s when we did it last time and was also at this level last Sunday but was running at 147m3/s in the crap weather on Monday, had dropped to around 5 m3/s by Weds, was back up to 17 m3/s this morning and at 1515 this afternoon is running at 56 m3/s. So with more rain forecast you’ll be lucky to cross it.

Sooooo, I might go for a play at the Waimak tomorrow afternoon, but it all depends on what the weather actually does, so probably wont make the final decision until tomorrow morning. I don't have the range to be able to go most of the way through Lees valley and be able to turn back and make it out. The Waimak offers more options for baling out if need be.

[Transalper]

good to know, will look at the Waimack option in the morning too

[laRIKin]

Basically Far Queue is saying what we talked about on Thursday night after your TXT Transalper.

So that's what I would have put in the TXT to you Transalper.
But I can't be bothered TXT-ing that much crap.

So It sounds like we, that is Far Queue and I (was pre arranged) are going up one side of the Waimak river and down the other side (120+ odd k's) and from what I have heard there is enough snow still there and it maybe make it hard to get up and down the river tracks as there is not much traffic to clear and beat down the snow on the tracks and the roads.

So like Far Queue I'll TXT you in the morning on what I will be doing and I have a smaller tank and do not want to be walking/pushing the bike out of the Lees valley (if we have to do about turn) and if the weather does as predicted really turn to crap, it could get really interesting in that valley.

I have been though there in better weather and there has been snow though there, so f**k knows what it is like there at the moment, so be careful mate. (phuck I now feel like your mother, must have an other Bourbon and not reply while drinking)

Maybe easier to talk about this tomorrow morning on line?

[far queue]

Basically Far Queue is saying what we talked about on Thursday night after your TXT Transalper.

So that's what I would have put in the TXT to you Transalper.
But I can't be bothered TXT-ing that much crap.

Neither can I, I gave Transalper a ring after checking out the local conditions with Flocker. I also checked with the Ashley gorge motor camp this arvo to see if they knew anything about current conditions in the valley. They didn't, but they did say they had no snow themselves and there was 3ft at Oxford.


So It sounds like we, that is Far Queue and I (was pre arranged) are going up one side of the Waimak river and down the other side

Yep, sounds like it, depending on the weather.


Maybe easier to talk about this tomorrow morning on line?
Yep, I'll check in here in the morning.

[Transalper]

Is that 8.4m3 water it the river in Lees Valley this morning? Well Plug and I are going to have a look at it at least. Then if its not too late we might try catch the rest of you around Oxford if you've gone by way of the Waimack.

[far queue]

Well, the weathers looking good here this morning. No rain, no wind, high overcast to the North and blue to the South, 2 deg. I'm keen for a ride when it warms up a bit. It'll be to the Waimak though due to the uncertain conditions in Lees Valley and my lack range to get out again. The Okuku river flow was 22 m3/s at 0745.

What's everyone else doing?

[far queue]

Is that 8.4m3 water it the river in Lees Valley this morning? Well Plug and I are going to have a look at it at least. Then if its not too late we might try catch the rest of you around Oxford if you've gone by way of the Waimack.

Okuku Fox Ck is the one you want to look at for the river flow.
When are you leaving?

[Transalper]

a, was looking at wrong river reading, now see Okuku Fox Ck, and is indeed 22m3/s and i'll at least take a photo of it.
Departing my place 10am, give us a txt if you go to waimack, another if you hit oxford. We'd be keen to ride back via south bank of Waimack i think

[far queue]

Departing my place 10am, give us a txt if you go to waimack, another if you hit oxford. We'd be keen to ride back via south bank of Waimack i think
OK, will do. Have a good one, it'll be interesting to compare snow pics later.

Now, where's that Lemans got to?

[laRIKin]

Here I am, Here I am.

So it looks like Far Queue and I are doing the up and down the river bed as planned with maybe apart of the Eyre River as well?
And of course stopping at Oxford for a coffee and muffin.
What time do you want to leave Far Queue?

Have a good trip boys to the Valley and we may see you at the Cafe 55.
Apart from the river the roads could be good, how knows.
Just get out of there if it turn's or you may be a guest to some farmer :blip:
Now just think of all those old farmers daughters staying over night jokes. :blip:

I'll stay on line for answers or PM's or updates.

[far queue]

What time do you want to leave Far Queue?

I was thinking meet at the corner of Main Nth Rd and Dickeys Rd, that's at the start of the motorway on the left, at around 1030. But I'm flexible, so whenever suits you.

I've just got to change the front sprocket down to a smaller one and put some warm stuff on then I'm set.

[laRIKin]

Sounds good to me I'm just about ready to go.

[far queue]

Sounds good to me I'm just about ready to go.
OK, the bike's ready, I'll see you at 1030.

[Transalper]

Plug and i are heading off to Lees Vally now, will keep in touch by txt

[laRIKin]

Well I'm home and thawed out and got most of the feeling back in my feet and hands.

Phuck it was cold getting home, the last 29k's were tuff.
I have a sore jaw from clenching in to stop the chattering.
I was OK apart from my hands (MX gloves and rubber medi type gloves under) and my wet feet froze. (F/Q can tell you why I got wet feet)

Bugger it I'll tell, in one of the last deep fords we had to cross. (long and deep)
We had the sun in our eye's and poor F/Q was stuffed and sore.
As we had to lift the bike's around and over trees and had done a bit of synchronised crashing at one point.
F/Q attacked the ford with gusto and got off line and just about went in to a deep water hole and was just a bit stuck.
As he could not pull the bike back out of the hole, so I (stuffed as well) had to jump in the the ice cold knee deep water to help him pull the bike out of the hole. (I'm glad that he stopped where he did or it could of got ugly)
Well I owed him one as he had to help we pull my bike out of a rut when I threw the chain.
Strange really as the chain was set up right and must have been the log in the rut that flicked the chain off.

We started off with sweat dripping of us, but as the day went on and we got colder and colder.
As we got up the river the snow got deeper and the amount of trees that had fallen across the roads and tracks got worse.
And the ice got up to about 1"/25mm thick, so we were having to take it slow and easy.
And we were not making the ground that we should have on a better day.
It took us all day to just get up to the bridge so we went home by road apart from a quick stop at the Oxford BP for fuel a pie and a hot drink.
Oxford still had a lot of snow on sides of the roads and it was deep.
I got home when it was dark (just).

It was a good ride now I'm home and warm.
Sorry F/Q for not turning off the track and on to the road earlier.
Should we go out again tomorrow and do the other side we missed F/Q?:bye: :nya:

[far queue]

My signature line is … Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, .... but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,... shouting "man, what a ride"!!!

Well there was plenty of skidding going on today, and I finished the ride totally worn out, and man what a ride.

As Lemans says we had mud, water, ice, snow and fallen trees in ample quantities, and to add a bit more interest a thrown chain and wee dip in a nice cold ford. I can see why you carry that saw with you now Lemans, it certainly got some use. It was a challenge today, and I was completely rooted at the end of it, but still pleased to have completed it. I’ll think I’ll be sore in the morning.

I never really got cold, except for fingers and toes on the last leg home, especially with boots that felt as though they were still fill of water.

Anyway, here’s some more pic’s …

1. Where not to throw a chain
2. 1” ice
3. Snow
4. Not much snow at the gorge, it was all on the tracks

So, how did you get on today Transalper? Did you and Plug make it through Lees Valley?

[Jantar]

Well done both of you. You should collaborate and write it up on the Adventure Rider site. Rep for you both.

[Transalper]

Looks like you got some good snow too. We went in from North Loburn and went as far as the main river in the middle then turned around and went back the same way. We think crossing the river would have been quite dooable but i would have wanted to take the video camera off the bike and walk that across first. Time was starting to be an issue and i didn't want wet feet (Plug already had them) so the u-turn was decided (as expected).
The snow came and went and in places there was just big patches of frozen compacted snow and they are not much fun but do make life interesting.
Our score is something like Plug, 3 or was it 4 drops and wet feet.
Transalper 1 drop and dry feet.

1-scenery on a diversion before the Valley.
2-Somewhere in the pass
3-all fords were wet this trip
4-Lunch stop
5-Transalp down
6-Plug heading for a closer look at the main river crossing

[far queue]

Well done guys, looks like you had a similer mix of snow, ice, gravel to us. Shame you couldn't make the river crossing.

[Transalper]

Heres Plugs last dance with the ice

[muzz]

Looks like you guys had fun. Would like to do that some day when i get a bike that can handle those conditions or is that when i can handle it.
Very graceful plugs that bank looks close.

[PLUG]

& what a dance it was ... for the record it was 3 tommy tip overs, all simlar to the dance & two wet feet ... it took 1/2 an hour in a bath of warm water to get some warmth back into me feet & that was after 1/4 hr in the shower ...

[laRIKin]

Glad to here you guys got home with no problems apart from being cold.
I hope there is no damage to the bike's when they had to have a rest because you were riding them to hard.

We were doing a similar thing in parts, I'm just glade we did not have the hill's that you guy's did.

At one point I got dragged of my bike by a tree that had fallen over and had rapped it self around my foot and drag me and the bike down.
I was trapped under my bike and was looking around to see where F/Q was (hoping that he was not going to run me over) and could help free me.
I could not see him.
Got my self out from under the bike and untangled from the tree.
To see he had fallen off as well (and stuck in a tree) and was looking for me to help him get up.
We had a 3rd fallen tree between us so we could not see each other.

Here's the last 3 pic's of our ride.

1/ First stop in the snow

2/ Another angle of the new chain-less type KTM (doesn't work, will stick to having a chain)

3/ A untouched track

We will have to go for a ride together again soon.
SDU has the 9/7/06 off work so will/maybe doing something then. (weather permitting etc)
She wants to try and off road ride the DR650 so it will be a easy ride.
Will post in events when she tell me what she wants to do.
The top choices are the Lees Valley or up the river with no snow.

[far queue]

SDU has the 6/7/06 off so will be doing something then.


Are you sure on the date? That's a Thursday.
I'd be be interested if I'm free ... and if it's not on a Thursday :nya:

[laRIKin]

Are you sure on the date? That's a Thursday.
I'd be be interested if I'm free ... and if it's not on a Thursday :nya:

The bloody 9 feel over and turned in to a 6. (do you believe me?)

You are right and I will change the earlier post as well.
Sorry about that.

[Rashika]

Very impressive to all you guys!! :first:

Looks like a bit of fun, maybe I need a wee blatter to do that? (dont think the Buell would be too impressed with that shit!)

[cooneyr]

We will have to go for a ride together again soon.
SDU has the 9/7/06 off work so will/maybe doing something then. (weather permitting etc)
She wants to try and off road ride the DR650 so it will be a easy ride.
Will post in events when she tell me what she wants to do.
The top choices are the Lees Valley or up the river with no snow.

Sounds like you guys (both groups) had a cool (in both senses) ride! The photos are awsome and now I'm jellous. I'm up for a ride on the 9th if you'll have me. Both Lees Valley and the river are high on my to do list - wanted to do the river in a 4WD a few years ago but ECAN fenced the lower end on the southern side off before I got the chance. Have seen the light now and realise that two wheels are a much better option.

R

[clint640]

Great stuff! you guys are hardcore, makes the little bits of snow we found up here look pathetic.

Hey Lemans, the standard LC4E chain guide sucks ass & will allow the chain to be spat off on a regular basis. See your KTM dealer & get a proper Husaberg one, they're only $80 & bolt on with only some minor fiddling.

Cheers
Clint

[laRIKin]

I'm up for a ride on the 9th if you'll have me. Both Lees Valley and the river are high on my to do list - wanted to do the river in a 4WD a few years ago but ECAN fenced the lower end on the southern side off before I got the chance. Have seen the light now and realise that two wheels are a much better option.

R

How's it going Cooneyr?
You are more than welcome to ride with us mate.
If we do the river ride, it will be a slower ride because SDU has never taken the DR650 seriously off road before.
It will be quicker if we do the Lees Valley ride, but you will be fine on your bike, as you will be able to whip it around the tighter corners.

SDU is leaning to the river ride at this point.

[laRIKin]

See your KTM dealer & get a proper Husaberg one, they're only $80 & bolt on with only some minor fiddling.

Cheers
Clint

Thanks for the tip.
It's the first time it's done it to me in 18 odd months.
But like all things, there is always the first time.
And would nice to be the last time as it was hard for two of us to pull it out and I sometimes ride alone.
Then it can get interesting when stuck, trust me.

You would not happen to have the Husaberg model or part number?
Just to make it a bit easier for me, thanks.

[clint640]

The chain guide really becomes a problem on trail rides where there are lots of narrow ruts that sometimes can't be avoided, otherwise it's just a now & then thing. I don't have the Husaberg part# sorry, I think it's a common bit across most of the range.

Cheers
Clint

[laRIKin]

Ok thanks for that Clint.
I'll look in to it.

[Transalper]

Well, ok, it's been a while but then i've been busy riding and stuff.
Anyhow, it's the same old story, you need that DivX codec (http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/download/) to be able to see the video picture, and don't forget you can zoom the picture size in your player.

Quality is about what you'd expect for 2minutes 29second of video compressed to 4mb.:done:

[SDU]

Awesome T! Looks a bit :cold:
Well done Plug for not swimming!

[Warr]

How long were you out ?? you prob said :)
Rugged stuff in the ice, the non-snow bits would have been sweet.
Last time I was in anything like that was on the Old Dunstan road. The snow was a foot deep and we were in a 4x4.
Yea a bit different :)

[Transalper]

How long were you out ?? Something like 10:30am left home, back around about 5:30pm. Allow about 45minutes each way on sealed road to get there. It's a bit hard to remember, was a couple of months ago after all.

Same video but much better quality as a 12mb Quicktime file embedded here (http://www.geocities.com/gotabmw/QTLeesVllySnowKiwibiker2006.html), I like Quicktime because you can watch it as it loads and if you have the Pro version (or know how your browsers cache works) you can save the movie when its finished.