Lees Valley & Snow? Sat17June

**Transalper** · 15th June 2006, 23:18

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/sh...ad.php?t=24678
He has maps and stuff there.

**cooneyr** · 16th June 2006, 07:59

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

and with the WX being predicted this WE I think it is going to be kinda 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** · 16th June 2006, 12:02

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** · 16th June 2006, 16:24

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** · 16th June 2006, 18:09

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

**laRIKin** · 16th June 2006, 18:27

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** · 16th June 2006, 20:07

Originally Posted by lemans

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.

Originally Posted by lemans

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.

Originally Posted by lemans

Maybe easier to talk about this tomorrow morning on line?

Yep, I'll check in here in the morning.

**Transalper** · 17th June 2006, 08:35

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** · 17th June 2006, 08:41

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** · 17th June 2006, 08:43

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**Transalper** · 17th June 2006, 08:46

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** · 17th June 2006, 09:03

Originally Posted by Transalper

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** · 17th June 2006, 09:37

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

Now just think of all those old farmers daughters staying over night jokes.

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

**far queue** · 17th June 2006, 09:48

Originally Posted by lemans

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.