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Thread: Fowlers Pass, St James

  1. #1
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    25th December 2009 - 11:44
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    Fowlers Pass, St James

    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/3477898...7623406075839/

  2. #2
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    14th December 2006 - 11:09
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    Cracking pictures mate. I'm really going to have to get up that way again soon.
    Nobody knows what human life is, why we come, why we go,
    so why then do I know, I will see you in far off places?
    Stephen Patrick Morrissey

  3. #3
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    5th September 2008 - 19:38
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    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
    I FEEL THE NEED, THE NEED FOR SPEED
    my ride picshttp://picasaweb.google.com/sueycarter
    other ride pics http://picasaweb.google.com/113645336286831595353

  4. #4
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    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.

  5. #5
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    cool, drag Jatz in there on the BIG, he be fine....
    you have to try and go right through one day, unfinished business.....

    JMJ
    I FEEL THE NEED, THE NEED FOR SPEED
    my ride picshttp://picasaweb.google.com/sueycarter
    other ride pics http://picasaweb.google.com/113645336286831595353

  6. #6
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    great pics, I think you need to organise a tour for us.
    I mentioned vegetables once, but I think I got away with it...........

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Woodman View Post
    great pics, I think you need to organise a tour for us.
    yeap X2 on that, i dont see stuff like that up here
    'Good things come to those who wait'
    Bollocks, get of your arse and go get it

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Woodman View Post
    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.

  9. #9
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    Cool Fowlers pass--------------looks like a challenge extrordinair---

    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

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by alane View Post
    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.

  11. #11
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    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.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by countryguy View Post
    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

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by umopom View Post
    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.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by umopom View Post
    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?
    I mentioned vegetables once, but I think I got away with it...........

  15. #15
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    Way off. Think Kailoura vs Lake Tennyson.
    "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

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