Island Saddle (Rainbow Road) mid-winter adv ride

[cooneyr]

For the mad or just very keen how about a ride to Island Saddle (plus a little bit maybe) on Sunday the 22nd of July. Without snow this would be a long day ex Chch i.e. around 7 hours so with snow ????? Point of the day is to go adventuring in snow if we can find some. :Punk:

Will need good knobbie tyres - I would suggest D606/MT21/EO9 or similar after my experience on Banks P last weekend. Will also need good warm gear.

Leave Chch from the Peg Pub (southern end of the Motorway) at 8.30. If it is raining it will be miserable as hell and no snow so wont go. No guarantees of snow though.

Basic route is via Sefton, Pyramid Valley, Hanmer and return. There are a few pylon tracks of the side of the main Island saddle road that could be worth a look.

Are any nutty enough?

Cheers R

[sAsLEX]

I drove , sorry, over there on New Years eve this year/last year and it snowed for a good hour or so of the journey then........... I don't really rate your chances of not getting snow!

[cooneyr]

I drove , sorry, over there on New Years eve this year/last year and it snowed for a good hour or so of the journey then........... I don't really rate your chances of not getting snow!

Plug rode over there on Boxing day last year or there abouts and got snow so am hopeful. :Punk:

Cheers R

[warewolf]

Sounds like fun, but I'll have to give it a miss. Hoping to do a cross-country race that day... unless like last month it is canceled due to snow?!

What altitude is Island Saddle?

[cooneyr]

... unless like last month it is canceled due to snow?!

Go the snow:Punk::Punk:


What altitude is Island Saddle?

Bout 1370m.

For the Nelsonites - I don't think we will get through the Rainbow so will have to come down to Hanmer first.

Cheers R

[warewolf]

Nordie will be racing, too.

Were you planning to stay on the publicly-accessible southern side of the locked gates?

[cooneyr]

Nordie will be racing, too.

Were you planning to stay on the publicly-accessible southern side of the locked gates?

Yep - don't intend on getting the key. Point is to play in snow and once past Island Saddle there will be less and less.

Cheers R

[nigelp]

Would love to come but dont think my skills/bike would be up to it! Have fun though!!!! :rockon:

[Garry.W]

dont think my skills/bike would be up to it

How will you know
if you don't go
and have fun in the snow
with friends down below

Poetry 101 :zzzz:

We'd better see some pics of this jaunt from those who are just mad enough to make it :yes:

[Transalper]

Are any nutty enough?

Cheers RWhat kind of dumb ass question is that :rolleyes: of course i'm :stupid: enough to go.:wacko:

And including the Pyramid Valley again gives me that start half an hour late wait half an hour in hamner back up plan again. I'll try to get there on time :bye:

My last snow ride was Lees valley on the Transalp using Mitas E09 tyres, was a fun day.

[cooneyr]

What kind of dumb ass question is that :rolleyes: of course i'm :stupid: enough to go.:wacko:

And including the Pyramid Valley again gives me that start half an hour late wait half an hour in hamner back up plan again. I'll try to get there on time :bye:

I thought you would be up for it if you weren't busy. I think we should maybe meet up in Hanmer this time :shutup: All got a little interesting for me last time we didn't (not that not meeting up had any bearing on my incident).

Righty - ones enough, time for me to go find a rear tyre. There will be pics of this trip!

Cheers R

[Skinny_Birdman]

Would you consider waiting for a little ol' two fitty?:third:
I'd probably stay in Culverden with friends, either one way or both, but if you think there's too much road then I'll forget about it.

[Transalper]

Would you consider waiting for a little ol' two fitty?:third:
I'd probably stay in Culverden with friends, either one way or both, but if you think there's too much road then I'll forget about it.Shoot man, i was just going to send you a heads up on this ride.:niceone:

[cooneyr]

Shoot man, i was just going to send you a heads up on this ride.:niceone:

What he said.

Cheers R

[bell]

It's quite possible you'll find a metre of snow at Island Saddle. I was talking to a bloke at last years' Rainbow Rage and he'd tried to get over the pass at some point the previous winter and found more than a metre up there. Suffice it to say that he had difficulty getting over it. He was on a 650GS.

Keen to see the pics from your ride folks.

[cooneyr]

Ummmmm yer - take a look at this webcam (http://www.hanmer.co.nz/) or the last ten pics here (http://www.hanmer.co.nz/hanmer.htm).

The webcam is looking at the Leslie Hills (Amuri Range) south east of Hanmer which is all of 1000m high and there is currently just a little bit of snow and some on them let alone the snow in Hanmer.

This might turn into a mission just to get over Jollies or Jacks Pass let alone getting to Island Saddle. Like I said - nutty :Punk:

Cheers R

[Lugzy23]

Hi guys, will be keen for this one, will be in Hamner that weekend so will chuck KLR on the trailer and meet you in Hamner. The two passes behind Hamner are usually pretty good, Jacks Pass is fairly highly maintained and unless the snow is very fresh I cant really see any problems on that side. There is a great track that I rode last year on the TF over by Jollies that starts out in the forestry and then follows the pylons up the hill, its fairly steep though, will need knoblies for that.

[cooneyr]

Hi guys, will be keen for this one, will be in Hamner that weekend so will chuck KLR on the trailer and meet you in Hamner. The two passes behind Hamner are usually pretty good, Jacks Pass is fairly highly maintained and unless the snow is very fresh I cant really see any problems on that side. There is a great track that I rode last year on the TF over by Jollies that starts out in the forestry and then follows the pylons up the hill, its fairly steep though, will need knoblies for that.

Excellent - another nutter to pick up dropped bikes :D Glad to have you along. I'd been wondering about that track (you mean Hydro road?) for a while but the gate on the bottom is always locked as far as I know so never been there. I've seen Jacks with plenty of ice on some of the shaded corners but hopefully we will at least get over to the Clarence.

We should get to Hanmer (will fuel up at the Caltex just out of town) around 1030 ish maybe. PM your cell number and I'll get in contact from Culverden.

Cheers R

[Transalper]

I've done Hydro road from the top down on the Transalp on E07 mitas tires in summer with my mate Rob on the R100GS. The gates were unlocked then, lucky because i don't think we would have made it back up the road on our tires, very steep, very loose.

[cooneyr]

I've done Hydro road from the top down on the Transalp on E07 mitas tires in summer with my mate Rob on the R100GS. The gates were unlocked then, lucky because i don't think we would have made it back up the road on our tires, very steep, very loose.

We we could go and have a look at it, but if it is too difficult I'd rather save my energy for getting to Island Saddle. I'd rather go up Jollies than Jacks anyway.

Cheers R

[mattsdakar]

If I wasn't working I would have been a starter...enjoy

Matt

[NordieBoy]

If I wasn't working I would have been a starter...enjoy

Matt

If I wasn't sane I would have been a starter...

:D

[Skinny_Birdman]

If I wasn't sane I would have been a starter...

:D

The line between wuss and nutter is as hazy as one's vision after falling onto one's head, as might happen (for example) while riding in snow......

[cooneyr]

Got my hairy new D606 at lunchtime. Will slap (sweat) this on along with the 14 tooth CS this weekend and should be all set.

What you on about SB? Falling on ones head in snow - I guess you would know being a dropper and all that :dodge:

Cheers R

[Skinny_Birdman]

What you on about SB? Falling on ones head in snow - I guess you would know being a dropper and all that :dodge:


I'm not a 'dropper', my bike just gets tired and likes to lie down a lot.

[NordieBoy]

The line between wuss and nutter is as hazy as one's vision after falling onto one's head, as might happen (for example) while riding in snow......

I'm taking the easy way out and doing a 3-hour X-Country Race on a 1979 XR250 :scooter:

[The Pink Panther]

if its not too cold should be their

[cooneyr]

if its not too cold should be their

Snow cold - nahhhh :D

Cheers R

P.S. Whats with the circle with a cross below to the right of you name?

[warewolf]

If I wasn't sane I would have been a starter...Boom-tish!


I'm taking the easy way out and doing a 3-hour X-Country Race on a 1979 XR250 :scooter:and hopefully you won't have to invest in a set of $250 snow-stud tyres, thereby doubling your investment in the wee beast...

[Skinny_Birdman]

P.S. Whats with the circle with a cross below to the right of you name?

Well, we've all said that the pink seat makes it look like a girl's bike.... I guess we were right.:laugh:

[warewolf]

Well I think there's a good chance you chaps will find snow next weekend.

There is snow on Takaka Hill; yesterday we had to use chains on the 4wd to get along Canaan Rd to the Harwood Hole car park. That's only 7-800m high. The latter, lesser-trafficked parts were deep enough that the underbelly of the 4wd was ploughing through it.

Without the chains, I only ju-u-ust made it in to the caving hut. It would definitely make a good play area for the bikes.

[Skinny_Birdman]

Now the inevitable question, do Pinky and I need to turtle it up with heaps of fuel? What sort of distance do you reckon we're talking about from Hanmer to Hanmer?

Cheers
A

[cooneyr]

Now the inevitable question, do Pinky and I need to turtle it up with heaps of fuel? What sort of distance do you reckon we're talking about from Hanmer to Hanmer?

Cheers
A

Bout 55km each way so if you allow 150+kms for playing around etc then should be ok. Besides we will have a KLR and an IMS DR - just bring your wallet :D

Few days out yet but couple of potential fronts to top up the snow. Fingers X'd they move on before Sunday.

Cheers R

[cooneyr]

Jeeze - been watching metview (http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzsi) over the day and it went from Okish on Sun this morning to crappy looking southerly front to not so bad again. Who bloody knows whats going to happen.

Was hoping for a nasty front to go through midweek but doest look like its going to.

Cheers R

[far queue]

Who bloody knows whats going to happen.It's going to be cold and horrible and you'll end the day cold and rooted! :cold:
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But it'll be fun all the same in a masochistic sort of way, and you'll pleased you did it! Have fun :yes:

[cooneyr]

Snow Snow and more Snow. Might even be snowing while we are there (down to 800m). From Jollies Pass on we are above 750m. Snow is much nicer than rain though!


Thu Jul 19 Issued at 4:29 am 18 Jul 2007 NZST
High cloud increasing. Scattered rain developing at night, falling as snow above 1300 metres.
Wind at 1000m: Light and variable.
Wind at 2000m: Light easterly.
Free air freezing level: About 1600 metres.

Fri Jul 20 Issued at 1:26 pm 17 Jul 2007 NZST
Mainly fine, with morning frosts. Light winds at all levels.

Sat Jul 21 Issued at 1:26 pm 17 Jul 2007 NZST
Fine at first, with light winds. However, a cold southerly change towards evening, strong about the tops, bringing a brief period of showers. Snow lowering to 700 metres in the evening.

Sun Jul 22 Issued at 1:26 pm 17 Jul 2007 NZST
Cloudy periods, with a few showers in the west. Snow down to 800 metres. Cold southwesterlies, fresh about the tops.

I gotta stop looking at the weather sites. :innocent:

Cheers R

[426crasher]

Hey there Ryan and co. I'm up for this ride.Will probably try to borrow a mates trailer to drag the wr up there as i dont fancy a cold early morning ride to Hanmer on the wr seat,arse would be finished by the time i get there !! Are you meeting up in Hanmer or off towards the start of Jollies.Trailer should take 2 bikes if anyone else is on for it.

[cooneyr]

Hey there Ryan and co. I'm up for this ride.Will probably try to borrow a mates trailer to drag the wr up there as i dont fancy a cold early morning ride to Hanmer on the wr seat,arse would be finished by the time i get there !! Are you meeting up in Hanmer or off towards the start of Jollies.Trailer should take 2 bikes if anyone else is on for it.

Hi Crasher - glad to have another nutta along. TA, Pink Panther, and I will be coming up from Chch. TA and I will be riding up (wont we TA! :D) but Pinky might be interested in a trailer ride if he is still coming.

We are meeting Skinny in Culverden and Lugzy at the Caltex just south of Hanmer. We are planning to fuel up at the Caltex around 1030 so would meet you there.

Just checked the weather again and its not looking to bad for Sunday now. It will probably change 6 more times before Sunday though. I'm not sure how mad keen the rest are if the weather is crap but I will post on Friday lunchtime about the WX and making a call.

Cheers R

[Transalper]

... TA and I will be riding up (wont we TA! :D) but Pinky might be interested in a trailer ride if he is still coming....I will post on Friday lunchtime about the WX and making a call.

Cheers R
I'll still be looking at the forecast just before i go to bed on Saturday night.
And... but but but... it's a trailer... towed by a car...with a heater i assume.
Oh ok I'll ride all the way... all the way there at least.

[cooneyr]

I'll still be looking at the forecast just before i go to bed on Saturday night.
And... but but but... it's a trailer... towed by a car...with a heater i assume.
Oh ok I'll ride all the way... all the way there at least.

I know what you need - a big glass of HTFU :D :innocent: - heater be damned. Though my tune may change by 5 in the afternoon. :shutup:

WX seems to be holding and looking not to bad. Dont think there will be much if any rain on the way there or back but may be some snow falling up there and may be windy. Check out the Metservice Nelson Lakes Mountains Page (http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=nelsonlakes), it should be the best prediction for the Hanmer on section.

Been looking at Topos and Google earth. Island Pass may be worth a look. It is about 1km south east of Island Saddle, the same height but is a dirt track. Get onto the track from the valley floor on the north side of Island Saddle (just north of the culvert if you know where I mean).

Cheers R

[Lugzy23]

Hi all
Think I might leave the KLR at home and take the TF, as I havent had a chance to get a knobly on it. Am only riding from Hamner, so should be sweet, and then that means I can find some real nasty stuff to ride. Just a bit slow on the road sections thats all

[Skinny_Birdman]

Hi all
Think I might leave the KLR at home and take the TF, as I havent had a chance to get a knobly on it. Am only riding from Hamner, so should be sweet, and then that means I can find some real nasty stuff to ride. Just a bit slow on the road sections thats all

TF!!?? You mean this TF?? :laugh: .... excellent.

[NordieBoy]

TF!!?? You mean this TF?? :laugh: .... excellent.

The Annoying Thing?

[Transalper]

On MSN Pinky told me he's doing the Sefton Trailride this Sunday, so we will not catch him on the road.

[Skinny_Birdman]

The Annoying Thing?

Yeah, you know. Ba-ding-ding-ding and so on. Go two strokes! Go the TF!!:rockon:

[NordieBoy]

Yeah, you know. Ba-ding-ding-ding and so on. Go two strokes! Go the TF!!:rockon:

Just wondering what TF stood for?

[Skinny_Birdman]

Just wondering what TF stood for?

Suzuki TF (125 isn't it Lugzy?)
'Too Fast' perhaps, or 'Twenty Flatout'.....

[cooneyr]

Well it looks like the WX is going to be wet in the morning and clearing over the day. Sounds like it should be snowing higher up though (still clearing over the day) so would probably be snow from Jollies Saddle on.

I'm still keen to go and I think TA is keen. We will make another call on Sat arvo but I dont think things will change much now.

Make sure you dress to stay dry. The cold is much easier to handle if you are dry so good waterproofs including gloves and feet are kinda important. Plastic bags in boots may be the way to go. Also bring lots of food and water cause its important to keep eating and drinking. It may be cold enough that drinking bladder hoses freeze so would suggest a plain old bottle.

Any questions feel free to ask. I spent my years at Uni mountain climbing so have a reasonable idea how to deal with this sort of conditions.

Cheers R

[Lugzy23]

Twenty flattack and maybe a weebit more if you fart. Na shes good offroad, and theres plenty of snow around it will be good fun, and I couldnt care less if I drop it

[Skinny_Birdman]

I'm still keen to go and I think TA is keen. We will make another call on Sat arvo but I dont think things will change much now.


Bring it awn!! :rockon:

[far queue]

It may be cold enough that drinking bladder hoses freeze so would suggest a plain old bottle.I think it unlikely that you'll have a problem with that. It's Hanmer you're going to not Siberia. I would expect you'll probably get cold hands and feet, but the body should stay warm 'cos your work rate will be fairly high. As you say eat and drink lots, keep the energy and hydration levels up. It's hot work picking bikes up out of the snow all day :D

[cooneyr]

Game on I recon fullas. Going to be a bit damp getting to Hanmer but should be good from Hanmer up - may be a little snow but thats part of the experience.

Cheers R

[young1]

Suzuki TF (125 isn't it Lugzy?)
'Too Fast' perhaps, or 'Twenty Flatout'.....

isnt it Trail and Farm, the TC was Trail and Country and TS Trail and Street?

From memory doesnt the TF (or was it the TC) have something (and I cant remember what it is down by the front sprocket) that you moved(?) and it lowered the gearing of the bike, a bit like low ratio in a 4WD

[far queue]

From memory doesnt the TF (or was it the TC) have something (and I cant remember what it is down by the front sprocket) that you moved(?) and it lowered the gearing of the bike, a bit like low ratio in a 4WDYep, that was the TC that had a lever that selected high/low ratio. I used to have a TS185 and a mate had a TC125 - it was a mid '70's model.

[Transalper]

Thank goodness that's over.
It was a big day out requiring a lot of effort in places, quite a lot of push and shove. Whose stupid idea was it anyway. Next time someone says snow remind me i own a CRF230 too.

As always glad i did it and had a great run home through the Pyramid Valley thanks cooneyr.

[far queue]

So, where's everyone else? Did you leave them up there in the snow? and the pics ?

[cooneyr]

Well I told you all you'd have to be nutty but I wasnt expecting quite that nutty. All the snow had been compressed by vehicles and then frozen. About 1/2 way up Jollies we struck it and most of us managed to ride to within about 500m of the top then the fun began. Lots of pushing cause we couldn't get any traction. Despite the ribbing it got before hand the TF with its low gearing, light weight, low seat height and big knobbs was the machine to have. Rode to the top no worries while the rest of us sweated our way up the hill. The worst bit was that it was hard enough to walk let along push. The crampons would have been worth the effort of carrying.

Once over the top the ride down the other side proved to be interesting - riding in ruts but if you get it wrong your going sideways till you manage to get the front wheel back in line. Cause there was so little traction that could be a while it you didn't completely loose it and end up at 90 degrees to the track or on your arse. Lots of tripoding.

We got to the first gate north of the Amuri Skifield turn off and decided to have some fun in the fresh snow. This was about 30kms short of Island saddle or about 10km from Hanmer. We possibly could have got to the saddle but at 30kph it would have taken a while and there would have been more than one drop. The fresh snow was fun until you hit a drift and bellied on the skid plates. The might TF did some ice dough nuts on a frozen creek (well tested first).

Got back to Hanmer soaking wet from all the sweating so changed as much clothing as possible. Put my waterproof overtrou on under my codura pants cause they were so wet. Pumped up the tyres and then back to chch via Pyramid Valley. Was one of those days you put down to experience but heaps of fun.

The track might look flat and easy in the pictures but don't be fooled. You could get the speed alright up bit if it went wrong it did so very fast so speed really wasn't a good idea if you valued your indicators etc.

Cheers R

[janno]

Ya mad buggers!

Sounds like you would have benefitted from outriggers with skis on the end . . .

Better than sitting at home though, that's for sure. Great photos!

[Balrog]

Great Photo's Guys

Looks like it was an excellent challenge.

Jim

[cooneyr]

Great Photo's Guys

Looks like it was an excellent challenge.

Jim

I'm just bloody glad we didnt have to push your beasty up the hill. I'm knacked just from getting the "light" DR up there.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

The TF looks like a TS with a big seat.
Hmmm.
The "F" may be for "Farm".

I'll possibly post more when my brain warms up but that's as good as it gets this early in the morning.

[clint640]

Youse fullas are mental! Nice pics!

Even a Norf Islander like me knows that soft snow + low farmbike = fun, packed snow + tall trailbike = not fun. Me & me bro had some great fun on a couple of old dungas (one may have even been a TF) when we got snowed in up at a friends station up the back of Gizzy a few years back. Plowing flat knacker into soft snowdrifts to try & punch through was awesome.

Cheers
Clint

[young1]

Great pics, thanks for sharing them!

[cooneyr]

Youse fullas are mental! Nice pics!

Even a Norf Islander like me knows that soft snow + low farmbike = fun, packed snow + tall trailbike = not fun. Me & me bro had some great fun on a couple of old dungas (one may have even been a TF) when we got snowed in up at a friends station up the back of Gizzy a few years back. Plowing flat knacker into soft snowdrifts to try & punch through was awesome.

Cheers
Clint

We had no idea what the snow was going to be like but we soon found out. In the deep soft stuff the grunt of the DR650 was the way to go. Could just keep the rear spinning and working away without working hell out of the motor. On the hard stuff or the shallow snow then the TF rocked.

Cheers R

[warewolf]

Plenty of smiling faces... sounds like it was a great day!

[Skinny_Birdman]

On the hard stuff or the shallow snow then the TF rocked.


In the photo of the TF, note also the absence of the trick 'slip off' can, removed for added HP, not to mention dB.

Wicked day, and I mean that most sincerely..... So where to next!!!

Cheers guys, especially for the pics.

A

[Garry.W]

Woohay :yes:

Looks like good fun ya mad buggers, good on ya for giving it a shot - and the photos to prove it :rockon:

[Lugzy23]

Evening Men

Great day yesterday, poor old legs were feeling it a bit today, wasnt it worth it though. Below are a few of the photos from the day. They didnt turn out too bad. Might have to do it again sometime.

[far queue]

Well done guys. That stuff looks good from a distance but it's hard work when you're in it isn't it. Good to look back on though :rockon:

[426crasher]

Wot a day!! We didn't get far but had a heap of fun trying,well worth the effort.Plenty of flapping around in the saddle n lots of pushing. Most of us were knackered by the top of Jollies.The weather came out to play aswell which made it better.Roll on the next ride. Now did someone mention a newby pommie ride round Lees valley,hmmm sounds good to me.

[426crasher]

A few more pics

[Transalper]

:laugh::doh::niceone::clap: :sweatdrop :whistle::blank: :lol: Here it is.... (9minutes long)

NCASa-xgbhc

[XF650]

Brilliant vid Carl

[cooneyr]

Awsome vid TA. Good to see that everybody had a drop or two included!

Studded tyres next time :D

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

. :woohoo:

[Skinny_Birdman]

Another beaut video Carl. Available in stores for Christmas?

A

[PLUG]

nice work TA :rockon:

[marks]

Your videos are great fun to watch - love them. And like the way you used the logo thingy at the end - made Glen smile.

cheers

Mark

[cooneyr]

nice work TA :rockon:

He's alive :shit:

Hi P