Lake Chalice / Mt Patriarch?

[buggsubique]

Just a quick call to see if anyone has been up to Lake Chalice (off North Bank Rd) here in Marlborough. I see there appears to be a 4wd track that goes well beyond the end of the road up to Lake Chalice and leads up to Mt Patriarch. Has anyone done this or know if it is openly accessible short of me popping down to the local DOC / forrestry office.

One the attached piccie, Mt Patriarch is lower left of the screen.

Looks like the mean ride if it is accessible. Nordie - you done it?

[JATZ]

I was up there a while back, the road goes well past the Lake Chalice track, I only got to a sign that says "don't go past this sign" or words like that.
The track looked well rideable after that.
Awsome views from up there.
You can see the track just below the ridge above lake chalice and mount Patriach in the distance.
Wouldn't mind heading up that way myself at some stage

[NordieBoy]

It's apparantly an open road and ends a couple of km short of the top but it's a great ride.

I've been meaning to do it for a while and now I've got a new rear tyre I've got traction again :D but there's a x-country next weekend and a Classic MX on the 3rd :(

[cooneyr]

Between Mt Patriarch and Altimarlock you fullers have access to what must be close to two of the highest roads in NZ. On Mt Pat you can get up to 1500ish and Altimarlock is 1696. I'm keen to go for a look see around Mt Pat at christmas if I have a bike.

[Lugzy23]

Yeah you can get up there as long as its not closed for logging, might pay to give DOC a ring they could probably tell you. The road was really good last time I was up there, and there is a sign that says "road closed blah blah blah", so we walked from there on, you should be able to get round on a bike piece of cake and Ive seen a 4WD go round there but you would not want to go off the edge cause its one of the biggest drops ive seen. Let us know how you get on, its about 5 years since ive been up there

[buggsubique]

Well the closest I could do it would be the weekend 15/16 Aug. Definitely keen to hook up with a couple of dudes to go check it out. Been having a play around the Onamalutu forest roads lately. infact, went out when it was pissing down on saturday arvo - had a blast in the wet with a couple of very deep and very fast river crossings. But it's a long crawl out if it turns pear shaped...always in the back of my mind!

[NordieBoy]

Damn, 16th is the final round of the cross country series :(
Warewolf would probably be up for this but he'll be racing too.

[buggsubique]

No dramas, get back with a date that suits most and we'll do it.

[zeRax]

count me in fellow blenheimite whom i havent met ~

[chrisso]

Used to go up Mt Patriach in the 80s when Wacker Anderson owned the property.Jeez that guy was a character, 1 leg-house full of goats, sheep , possums. Goats living in his old London Taxi that he drove into town once a month. Barry Crump couldnt have come up with a better character.
As far as i recall the track to Lake Chalice was easy walking-You might need the owners permission to get to the track??all sounds like fun to me.
I lived in Blenheim

[JATZ]

Almost any time suits me, might be a good excuse to get some new tyres on the :scooter:

[CrazyFrog]

Mt Patriach is easy to get to, just the last section at altitude is prone to rock slides, if the track is clear, you could just about do it on a road bike. Primo ride, but watch the wind forecast, it's quite exposed.
Get to it down North bank Rd, follow for about 35km to TopValley turnoff. It's all signposted from there, turn left a few more kms up Top Valley onto Staircase Rd, and you can't get lost. It's about 60km return from Top Valley turnoff, or 160 return from Blenhiem, so bear in mind your fuel.
It's also a good detour to do the Onamalutu loop if you're going in that way, allow another 40km for that.
See my photo album for some shots of the Patriach ride, me on the XT600, and a mate on a KLR650.
Have fun or let me know when you're gonna do it, I'll come along again.

[Padmei]

[ and you can't get lost. .[/QUOTE]

AaHaahaahaahaaahaahaaha

[CrazyFrog]

HeHe, nuthin like sending them up the wrong track, especially when they're low on gas!

[buggsubique]

came across these pics online from a previous trip - looks fricken amazing but I gotta get me own pics!

http://picasaweb.google.com/jk.kiwi17/MtPatriarchTripMarlboroughNZ

[CrazyFrog]

I'll hold the camera, you smile. Just let me know what date....and book a sunny day for us

[buggsubique]

t'will be towards the end of august I'm thinkin...unless I get a sudden burst of "f*ck work and everything about modern life except combustion engines" and need to get amongst it...

but yeah, watch this space and we'll get something sorted for three weeks away or so. :cold:

[CrazyFrog]

t'will be towards the end of august I'm thinkin...unless I get a sudden burst of "f*ck work and everything about modern life except combustion engines" and need to get amongst it...

but yeah, watch this space and we'll get something sorted for three weeks away or so. :cold:

I'm thinking about havin a look up Patriarch on Sat 16th Aug, so will ring DOC to check acess is okay after the big winds a week ago. Who's keen to join me? :niceone:
See Nelson rideout thread for Mangatapu pics today.....

[buggsubique]

Looks like a couple of the Nelson lads might not be free? That aside, I would be a starter on the 16th.

[NordieBoy]

Sun 17th is the final round of the Club Cross Country Champs.

[CrazyFrog]

Looks like a couple of the Nelson lads might not be free? That aside, I would be a starter on the 16th.

I just phoned DOC, and road is open (no windfall trees) but snow could be an issue up top, mmmmm, snow = fun! Def bring the camera! I'll PM you for your phone number.
Quick message for the gods......Please, please, please be fine, I've been really good this year.:innocent:

[NordieBoy]

I think I'll be there :D

Not too fussed on Cross Country Racing at the moment.
5cm longer forks may change my mind but I havn't got them yet...

[Padmei]

I think I'll be there :D

Not too fussed on Cross Country Racing at the moment.
5cm longer forks may change my mind but I havn't got them yet...

Hang on aren't you coming 3rd?:not:

[buggsubique]

Crazy's got it sorted, the rain gods are being slayed as we speak and we're gonna meet at the Northbank Rd intersection at 9am. :2thumbsup. Bring on the weekend!

[JATZ]

Crazy's got it sorted, the rain gods are being slayed as we speak and we're gonna meet at the Northbank Rd intersection at 9am. :2thumbsup. Bring on the weekend!


Ah Crap, I'd have to get up xtra early for that :shit:, I'll still pencil it in the diary :done:

[zeRax]

WOOOOO where to MEAT

[Padmei]

Just got the ok to go on Sat so I'll be there hopefully. Would I need the MT21s for it you think or ok on stokers. I don't know if I'll get them in time...

Crazy want to hook up for the ride over?

[JATZ]

Just got the ok to go on Sat so I'll be there hopefully. Would I need the MT21s for it you think or ok on stokers. I don't know if I'll get them in time...

Crazy want to hook up for the ride over?

Guess I'll still have my old tyres on , so if I can get up there you should be able to

[Padmei]

Mate I couldn't believe you could ride with tyres that slick. Ok I guess we'll be taking turns pushing:niceone:

Are we going to get together for the ride over? I don't think I'll be going over Maungatapu on the way there - on the tarseal for me so if anyone else wants to do it the easy way...

[topo]

JATZ, i've got a part worn E-08 (front) you could throw on, mighht handle a little better than that trials tire you've got currently. i'm in the process of negotiating with the "co-pilot" but will def be heading over via the mungatapu (2up) in the morning if i get the OK.

[JATZ]

Mate I couldn't believe you could ride with tyres that slick. Ok I guess we'll be taking turns pushing:niceone:

Momentum is everything :woohoo::eek:

[topo]

Momentum is KEY!!!!!!!:2thumbsup

[CrazyFrog]

Crazy's got it sorted, the rain gods are being slayed as we speak and we're gonna meet at the Northbank Rd intersection at 9am. :2thumbsup. Bring on the weekend!

How about we push this out to 10am for your Blenhiem crew to meet at Northbank Rd Highway int, which will give the Nelson riders more time to get over there....Boys, it's still winter, dark and chilly at 7.00am!!! Yeah I'm soft, turn it up.
Gives us an option to take road over (less time) or Mangatapu for the keen ones -they'll need half hour more. Any suggested meeting time in Nelson anyone? Perhaps 8am for Mangatapu riders, 8.30 for roadies.

[buggsubique]

Yeah, whatever works, 10am sounds good. Weather looks like it will be fine too - although the metservice have been getting it wrong here lately...:oi-grr:

[NordieBoy]

Hang on aren't you coming 3rd?:not:

3rd after 3 rounds.

My cunning plan is to race 1 race of a 4 race series and get a trophy :D

[NordieBoy]

Gives us an option to take road over (less time) or Mangatapu for the keen ones -they'll need half hour more. Any suggested meeting time in Nelson anyone? Perhaps 8am for Mangatapu riders, 8.30 for roadies.

That should make it 9am at Pelorus then :niceone:

[buggsubique]

Well it's pretty cold over here and I see there is snow on the hills around Okaramio / Kaituna and snow cloud pretty much covering all other hills around here!:cold: Met service reckons it'll be fine tomorrow though.

I'm still keen to shoot up for a look see - if it's snowed in then we could still come back a few k's and head through Onamalutu's forest tracks / roads.

Bring some tread and mittens would be my recommendations.

Oh, I think Havelock is out of gas too, so might pay for the Nelson lads to come through to Renwick to fill up? Just a couple of K's past our meeting spot anyway.

[CrazyFrog]

Yeah, plenty snow here too, could be a cold one.
I might have tyre tread issues, I can't get to the bike shop today to get the tyre changed, but I'll give the track a crack anyway, could be entertaining for spectators! Heated grips going on tonight. Mmmm, warm hands.

[zeRax]

damn, i want heated grips :(, anyone tried those oxford heated grip wraps?

[topo]

Just heard from "family" whose house look's a mt Patriarch from the wairau valley, they currently have 150mm of snow on their front deck and snow is still falling. possibly another derstination is in order? franch pass, or somewhere nearer to sealevel perhaps.

[JATZ]

See you 's tomorrow then

[zeRax]

that much snow on their front deck o_O

[Padmei]

I would be happy with a ride anywhere reasonalbly close by. There seems like shitloads of snow around looking at the front of tonites paper. What do you others think?

If it's still shitty tomm morning I may pull the pin & do a short ride around here. I don't fancy slipping around all day - May be too expensive:no:

[JATZ]

Just heard from "family" whose house look's a mt Patriarch from the wairau valley, they currently have 150mm of snow on their front deck and snow is still falling. possibly another derstination is in order? franch pass, or somewhere nearer to sealevel perhaps.

Mt P might be a bit ambitious then ?

Totranui then ? maybe a gallop into birds clearing on the way ?

Any other sugestions ?

And I won't have to get out of bed so early :woohoo:

[topo]

How abt coffee at frence pass that way if anyone wants to go further there's plenty of extra road to be had out the sounds. also abt half way for both nelson and blenheim guys.

[JATZ]

How abt coffee at frence pass that way if anyone wants to go further there's plenty of extra road to be had out the sounds. also abt half way for both nelson and blenheim guys.

Yeah I'm up for it :banana:

[topo]

I'll bring the coffe (or T if your that way inclined).

[Padmei]

How abt coffee at frence pass that way if anyone wants to go further there's plenty of extra road to be had out the sounds. also abt half way for both nelson and blenheim guys.


Sounds good to me. I've not ridden down there on a bike. - Jatz you'll still have to get up early :buggerd:

[Padmei]

I'll bring the coffe (or T if your that way inclined).

Hang on there's no cafe???:shit:

[JATZ]

Hang on there's no cafe???:shit:

:doh: I'm sure resourceful adv riders will come up with something

[topo]

Whose bringing the biscuts then:clap:?

[zeRax]

ack ack ack ;\

[NordieBoy]

So where do we turn off wherever to get pointed towards French Pass then?

Edit: Ok, left at the Rai then...

[NordieBoy]

So what time are the Maunga's leaving Nelson then?

[Padmei]

Do we want to meet up at the Rai perhaps for us roady wuses & hard core maungatapu - warm,coffee better than waiting by the road...
10am? too early/late?

[Padmei]

I haven't checked the seppo forums but has anyone seen an element that runs off a 12v source. Imagine a travel mug full of water with an element dropped in - instant (well not quite) hot water:laugh:

[topo]

sounds good, we'll be leaving Mapua around 8, going through nelson stopping at Mobil Tahuna for fuel (8.25 ish) hopefully going over via the munga but will check conditions at the time. meeting at rai valley at 10am sounds good.

[JATZ]

10:00 or there abouts @ rai sounds good to me, be going through nsn about 9 ish, be in Mapua about 8:15 Topo

[topo]

JATZ, will either see you at the mapua tavern(8-8.15ish) or mobil tahuna (8.25-8.50ish).

[CrazyFrog]

JATZ, will either see you at the mapua tavern(8-8.15ish) or mobil tahuna (8.25-8.50ish).

Nordie, Jatz and crew....Mangatapu riders, how about 9am at Branford Park? Decide where to go from there...

[JATZ]

Guess I could do a drive/ride by, 9:00 then, Branford park

[NordieBoy]

Sounds good to me.

[Padmei]

cu there at branford at 9

[buggsubique]

Well I might head through to try to be at the top of the Maugatapu say 9.30ish? Never ridden it, so might meet the Nelson crew up top? Otherwise don't wait for me and I'll be in Rai for 10am (gassing up, haha).

[Underground]

sounds like youre headed out my way ,mabe we could meet up and I'll show you arround

[buggsubique]

say if we left Rai at 1030, how long to get to FP? We can meet you there? Or you meet us at Rai around 10 as well? OTY.

[Underground]

I'll head out to rai ,meet you there at 10

[zeRax]

just got hopme phones on all night and morning next to my ear, will be up and awake at 7am, buggssubique, underground, im up for whatever we go on, i just wanna ride tomorrow ;D, cool to meet ya both, cheers~!

someone please tell me the whats up ;D


0211883031

kyle!

[buggsubique]

well its been raining much of the night, still going a bit. I'm riding regardless, just a matter of where & with whom! Nelsoners still coming thru to Rai? if nt I'll keep my ride local.

[zeRax]

whats ya plan of attack buggsub ^^

[Underground]

Im still keen, stopped raining out here now.

[JATZ]

We're out, having all sorts of trouble this morning getting away from the fire :baby:
You guys have fun :not:

[NordieBoy]

Branford Park 9:00am.
Rai Valley about 10:15?
Coffee/Hot Chocolate about 10:15.10?
French Pass about sometime later...


No rain here now and there's blue in the sky...

:scooter:

[buggsubique]

Yo, Zerax and I are leavin Blen at 9.15, see you at Rai.:sunny:

[Underground]

Rai at 10 it is then

[Padmei]

Hey guys I'm out - went down to the bike & it started raining again-sorry but will leave it till it dries up a bit. Have a good one

[NordieBoy]

Stopped raining! :D

[NordieBoy]

A taster for those interested in what they missed...

<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-094028-000010.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-094028-000010.jpg></a> <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-103310-000026.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-103310-000026.jpg></a> <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-135908-000143.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-135908-000143.jpg></a> <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-142022-000151.jpg><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-142022-000151.jpg></a>

[buggsubique]

Big thanks to Underground for comin out to Rai to meet us all and show us the ropes out there - brilliant wee spot you've got out there mate! I made it back with about a litre to spare, so no real dramas. Would love a bigger tank on the Z though - save carrying the mower can!

Here's a couple of my pics - Nordie, love the shoot-as-you-ride system you've got there.

Anyways, good to meet you fellas - hope the yoshi didn't p155 y'all off too much!

Buggs

[NordieBoy]

Big thanks to Underground for comin out to Rai to meet us all and show us the ropes out there - brilliant wee spot you've got out there mate! I made it back with about a litre to spare, so no real dramas. Would love a bigger tank on the Z though - save carrying the mower can!

Here's a couple of my pics - Nordie, love the shoot-as-you-ride system you've got there.

Nice place to go for a coffee :D

Your bike would have been ideal for the bit you wimped out on leaving the Africa Twin with the bald rear, the XR250 and the DR650 to do the business up through the gorse and clay :headbang:

[NordieBoy]

Only a few "issues" on the ride...

#1 Topo-T-South and his leaning tower of Ventura...
<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-093112-000007.jpg target=_new><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-093112-000007.jpg></a>

#2 Topo again with the patented "Backfire Bing"...
<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-104614-000037.jpg target=_new><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-104614-000037.jpg></a>

#3 CrazyFrog and the KTM of lowsideing doom...
<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-105918-000040.jpg target=_new><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-105918-000040.jpg></a> <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-105948-000041.jpg target=_new><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-105948-000041.jpg></a>

#4 ZeRax and the famous "Bungy Arrow"...
<a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-164728-000187.jpg target=_new><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-164728-000187.jpg></a> <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-164808-000188.jpg target=_new><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-164808-000188.jpg></a> <a href=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/slides/20080816-165604-000192.jpg target=_new><img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20080816%20French%20Pass/thumbs/20080816-165604-000192.jpg></a>

I was hoping there were no more problems as I was out of bungy cords :D

[buggsubique]

Ah, I did have a wee play up a forest track on the way home. To be honest, the hardest bit off all that was riding a trail tyre up front on those wet and gritty sealed roads.

[JATZ]

GAAAAAHHHHH, Still kickin m'self, turned out a cracker day.

Still, it was seriously pissin down when I had to make the call

Looks like a good day

[CrazyFrog]

.... the hardest bit off all that was riding a trail tyre up front on those wet and gritty sealed roads.

Tell me about it with the wet seal vs knobbly front tyre. Road 1, TKC 80- Nil. The KTM bounces well tho'. Who let Nordie capture the kodak moment?
I must have been a bit quick picking up the KTM, my pride didn't allow it to stay on the ground too long! Great ride anyway, bring on Patriarch next time.

[Padmei]

Looked like a great day out. We'll have to reschedule the trip to Mt patriach though for another day.

Did the orange roughy decide to have a nap along the way? Not too much damage I hope...
:shutup:

[CrazyFrog]

Looked like a great day out. We'll have to reschedule the trip to Mt patriach though for another day.

Did the orange roughy decide to have a nap along the way? Not too much damage I hope...
:shutup:

Yup, lost the front end on the wet seal, just scuffed some tank plastic (damn oversize adventure tank) and footpegs/ bar ends did the rest. Continued for rest of the day no worries, thanks to gear. Don't leave home without it kids!

[Padmei]

Glad that you're alright my little froggy friend. I lost gonzo going up to the repeater station in the snow - had to drag him around on the ground to get him crossways to lift him up (after 15mins:crybaby:) & only some really lite scratches on the plastic. He's a chubby little fck.

[Underground]

Big thanks to Underground for comin out to Rai to meet us all and show us the ropes out there - brilliant wee spot you've got out there mate! I made it back with about a litre to spare, so no real dramas. Would love a bigger tank on the Z though - save carrying the mower can!

Here's a couple of my pics - Nordie, love the shoot-as-you-ride system you've got there.

Anyways, good to meet you fellas - hope the yoshi didn't p155 y'all off too much!

Buggs

Glad you all enjoyed it and got home ok ,look forward to having a go at Patriach myself, mmm wonder if that tyre will do another round?

[CrazyFrog]

That tyre you've got would be fine for Mt Patriarch, it's mostly hardpacked gravel, no nice greasy clay like the climb out of your place. Just watch out for snow. Looking forward to the next ride!

[buggsubique]

Here's a piccie of Mt P on Sunday (we drove to St Arnaud with the kids to get them all cold and wet and screamng at us in the snow...<_<).

Watch this space....

[CrazyFrog]

Ah yes, I can see the snow would have been a slight problem, considering the road runs right to the top..... October perhaps for the next planned run?

[cooneyr]

Ah yes, I can see the snow would have been a slight problem, considering the road runs right to the top..... October perhaps for the next planned run?

Na - I recon you fullas should have a go at it now. Just make sure you take the camera and some crampons :D

Cheers R

[CrazyFrog]

Okay fellas, I know I snaked ya'll by sneaking up there by myself, but I have to work this weekend and the weather was real purdy today.....
The road is sweet until just past Lake Chalice tramping hut carpark (22km from Northbank Rd intersection), but then snow gets reasonably thick, I bellied out the KTM and ended up wheel spinning. Snow appears to be melting well now, not much left in the trees, but the road is still well buried, see last pic. There was a couple of minor slips after all the rain over the weekend, nothing major tho. Nice day out.

[topo]

:drool: :2thumbsup :drool:
So how far did you actually get?

[CrazyFrog]

:drool: :2thumbsup :drool:
So how far did you actually get?

23km from Northbank intersection, 1km past Chalice carpark...still 7km to the top from that point.
Now I know what it's like to drag a Dakar bike out of the sand....they're kinda heavy when they bury themselves.:sweatdrop::cry:
Katie M might look slim but she's still got a heavy arse.

[topo]

The mighty PD's not been stopped yet since i've had it:woohoo:. i'm sure 250kg+ would get some purchase on virgin snow:yes:.

[NordieBoy]

But after the Frog has been through is it virgin anymore?

[Padmei]

Hey crazy good to see you're back in town. The bike looks cool against the snow - someone on it would have looked cooler;)

[CrazyFrog]

But after the Frog has been through is it virgin anymore?

Don't know if Topo would want my sloppy seconds. It was gettin' a bit mushy by 2pm, but If you look further afield, there may still be uncharted territory to be had, plenty o' virgin left for a keen explorer.

[R6chick]

Mt Patriarch is a cool place, i been up there once before but it was cloudy an ya couldn't see anything. i wanna go again when its not cloudy!!
an it looks even more fun in the snow!!!

[warewolf]

Katie M might look slim but she's still got a heavy arse.No no, her arse is fine, all the weight is up front :niceone:

Like Dolly Parton, she'll never fall flat on her face :msn-wink: