Brass Monkey 2010 by gravel

[XF650]

Anyone we know?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3782...ral-Otago-snow

My biggest fear was that our wheel marks would lead others in, especially on innapropiate bikes. I put the word out but we obviously didn't do enough, which I sincerely regret.
More to come....

[chasio]

Sounds like an adventure...

[cooneyr]

Was it snowing lots during the day? If not why didn't they turn around and go back out whence they came. Sounds a but strange to me. Also a little DT couldn't even get through shoulder deep snow. Definitely more to this story me thinks. Keen to hear XF.

[helenoftroy]

My biggest fear was that our wheel marks would lead others in, especially on innapropiate bikes. I put the word out but we obviously didn't do enough, which I sincerely regret.
More to come....

Dont go away Struan!!

We all want to hear.......

[JATZ]

My biggest fear was that our wheel marks would lead others in, especially on innapropiate bikes. I put the word out but we obviously didn't do enough, which I sincerely regret.
More to come....

And then he buggers off, Nice.....

[dmc]

Talking to the boys they said it was pretty bad this year, we got the 950/990's through even tho it was closed last time no worries but they said it was getting too sketchy so it must have been pretty bad for them to pull out.

[XF650]

On Friday morning I headed off with 2 other Ashbertonians - Craig (XR650R) & Ian (690 Adv). These guys are fast (& I'm a slow rider) so as you can imagine the wee DT was tapped out trying to keep up. However it's interesting to note the all 3 bikes showed the same fuel consumption for the trip, the only difference being their bigger tank capacity over the DT.
We headed inland past Geraldine, following the old bullock trail which is a maze of gravel roads to Waitohi. Then over the Brothers track to Fairlie for smoko.
From Burkes Pass we blasted through the McKenzie Pass to the Haka Pass Turn off. I had phoned ahead to check with farmers that the Pass was clear for bikes, so felt smug when i took the road closed pic. Initially the only obstacle was a bloody big mob of sheep, but when it got higher it got trickier. A couple of GS's on roadier tyres turned back but then a gagle of scooters made over the top OK.

[tri boy]

I'm just happy nobody suffered from extreme cold/exposure. Things can turn nasty in extreme conditions.
Some lessons would have been learnt hopefully.
A koha to the local search n rescue might be appropriate. MHO

[tri boy]

I'm just happy nobody suffered from extreme cold/exposure. Things can turn nasty in extreme conditions.
Some lessons would have been learnt hopefully.
A koha to the local search n rescue might be appropriate. MHO
(I wasn't attending the rally, or traveling to it. Too bloody cold for this lil goose).

[XF650]

One the way to the Cattle Creek I had the buzz of overtaking an XChallenge, only to discover later he was one of "mattsdaker" lot, riding out to Kurow with a broken collerbone!! That was an amazing feat on his part & I trust he's mending well.
Menzies Pass & Myers Pass were a blast, the pic showing ice in Myers.

[Aslan]

I'm just happy nobody suffered from extreme cold/exposure. Things can turn nasty in extreme conditions.
Some lessons would have been learnt hopefully.
A koha to the local search n rescue might be appropriate. MHO
(I wasn't attending the rally, or traveling to it. Too bloody cold for this lil goose).

+1 to Tri Boy's comments - glad you're OK Struan - I'm sure it would have been cold enough for you this year

[XF650]

OK, now it gets messy.
We got a message in Kurow that some bikes (no names) were going to have a crack at getting through Dansey's. It was still officially closed & I had previously checked with a contractor who confirmed this. However we started to wonder if in fact enough work had been done during the day to at least get bikes through. So the vote was to go have a look & if it looks shitty to turn back to Weston & go to Ranfurley via the Pig Route.
I was encouraged by the culvert repairs on the Duntroon side of the Pass, so thought the story might be true. Pic is looking down from the summit, no worse than the Haka, this will be a piece of cake.....

[XF650]

By now Craig & Ian were well ahead & I was riding with Jules (TT500) & Paul (XR600).
Round the next corner & oh dear - a group of larger capacity adv bikes were struggling to come back up!!

[XF650]

As you can see the snow was getting deeper but Craig & Ian had still gone on through that snow drift in the pic (notice theirs are the only wheel marks). Jules & Paul headed off on foot to check they were all right while I stayed to help push the "pink sheet" riders (you know who you are) back up the hill a bit, & to photograph their predicament (boy was that going to come back & bite me!!).

[dmc]

By now Craig & Ian were well ahead & I was riding with Jules (TT500) & Paul (XR600).
Round the next corner & oh dear - a group of larger capacity adv bikes were struggling to come back up!!

Talking to the boys they got in so far and it was getting worse and worse, think they were only on Scorps this year and they reached their limits, took awhile to get out by all accounts.