Thanks to all the club members that took part in the trip with the Bairnsdale 4wd club it was a great weekend and good to meet up with the members also to renew older friendships.I hope the clubs can continue to get together in the future.I would especially like to congratulate the ladies that drove on the weekend it was great to see them joining in.I will propose a trip to the Pyranees soon, probably in October as the flowers are out and it is the best time of year to go up there.
Fuzzy Chops
High Country Trip 12 to 15 April 2019
Moderator: Committee
Re: High Country Trip 12 to 15 April 2019
Here is David's trip report on behalf of the Bairnsdale Club.
After a successful trip for David Raeburn in his 1978 Suzuki LJ80 with the Suzuki 4Wd Club of Victoria, he proposed a combined trip with the Bairnsdale 4Wheel Drive Club and the Suzuki Club . Both clubs were keen to participate, the trip proposed was a medium to hard trip to suit all vehicles and was proposed in our local area as most of the Suzuki club members had not visited this area before. The group met at the Tambo River crossing as there is plenty of area to camp across the river. There were not many of the Suzuki club members driving Suzukis as the distance caused most of the members to bring other vehicles. From the Bairnsdale club there were David Raeburn – Suzuki LJ80, Brad Toohey – Nissan Patrol, Dave Rogers and Max Vincent in Daves 80 series Land Cruiser, Peter Stafford – Suzuki Sierra, Ros Boreham – Toyota Land Cruiser ute, Rob and Josie Patterson – Suzuki Jimney, Paul and Margaret Naughtin – Suzuki Jimney and eight vehicles from the Suzuki Club. Because of the large numbers attending, the group was split into two, Brad leading the first group and Dave Rogers the second. The first group left at 8am and the second at 9am to travel the Haunted Stream Track. Water levels were low in the stream but there were thirty odd water crossings, the stream was crystal clear and running. The steep decent was dry and traction good, the only recovery was David in the LJ80 trying to take the high line in one of the bog holes and slipping sideways into a large hole up to the tray on the ute. Brad hooked up a snatch strap and soon got him out.
The groups visited a mine near the track and stopped at Stirling to look at the remains of the Hotel, it is hard to believe that several thousand people lived here during the gold rush. From there, to Dawson City for lunch, this nice cleared area was the site of another township from the era.
Dawson City area is also one of the few places that the native Greater Mountain Glider still exists, this animal is similar to the sugar glider but grows to about one meter in length. It is usually dark brown or black and makes lots of weird noises in the night (enclosed picture of one found dead after a Wedge Tailed Eagle killed it a few years ago).
After lunch the groups travelled to Bald Head Road, Rob and Josie, Peter Stafford and Colin from the Suzie Club left for home, Colin severed one finger and badly damaged several others in an altercation with a circular saw the week before, we were amazed that he made the trip at all, his wife drove the Suzuki and did a great job. The rest of the groups travelled down Friday Spur and across the Wentworth River. I was there two weeks ago and there was no water in the river but this time there was water and it was flowing strongly. After the river crossing we visited Wallers Hut then up Gidleys Track. There are several big open culverts, one was boggy and steep, some needed a couple of attempts to cross, but all made it successfully to the top. After Gidleys, we turned onto the Mt Steve Track, this has recently been bulldozed and is easy with a few steep climbs and decents. At Waynes Track, we turned right and camped at Kilgowers. This is a great camp area with plenty of room for both groups, it was a beautiful night with a bit of mist in the morning. It was decided on Sunday morning to amalgamate the groups, most decided to take the hard option, David had issues with water in the fuel in his LJ80 and decided to go into Dargo to repair the problem so as not to hold up the others. The two Suzuki Jimneys left with the group decided to take the easier Wild Horse Creek Track, the others took on Pheasant Creek Track, this track is steep and reasonably hard with some rock steps but all made it and stopped to look at MacDonalds Hut, then continued on MacDonalds Road and Danes Track to Camms Top Place, another historic hut. From there the group went up Murdering Spur Track, this as a six kilometre steep rocky track but traction was good and all the vehicles made the climb with no problems except for a couple of bent side steps (fairly normal). The group went via Berrigan Road, Jones Road and Upper Dargo Road to Joes house in Dargo, this is a place used by the club on many occasions, it is owned by a good friend of the club with plenty of area for camping and some accommodation in the house and a really nice gazebo complete with a large open fire. The group went to the iconic Dargo pup for a really nice meal before returning to Joes to talk the evening away in front of the fire.
Dawn on Monday was cold and clear with some fog in Dargo, the group packed up and said their farewells to each other, the Bairnsdale group heading home and the Melbourne group deciding which way to go home. It was a great weekend of 4WDriving and really good fun to get the two clubs together, it was also great to see some of the ladies driving some of the hard tracks including Emily, an L plate driver, showing her dad how to do it. We are looking forward to meeting again to continue the friendship.
After a successful trip for David Raeburn in his 1978 Suzuki LJ80 with the Suzuki 4Wd Club of Victoria, he proposed a combined trip with the Bairnsdale 4Wheel Drive Club and the Suzuki Club . Both clubs were keen to participate, the trip proposed was a medium to hard trip to suit all vehicles and was proposed in our local area as most of the Suzuki club members had not visited this area before. The group met at the Tambo River crossing as there is plenty of area to camp across the river. There were not many of the Suzuki club members driving Suzukis as the distance caused most of the members to bring other vehicles. From the Bairnsdale club there were David Raeburn – Suzuki LJ80, Brad Toohey – Nissan Patrol, Dave Rogers and Max Vincent in Daves 80 series Land Cruiser, Peter Stafford – Suzuki Sierra, Ros Boreham – Toyota Land Cruiser ute, Rob and Josie Patterson – Suzuki Jimney, Paul and Margaret Naughtin – Suzuki Jimney and eight vehicles from the Suzuki Club. Because of the large numbers attending, the group was split into two, Brad leading the first group and Dave Rogers the second. The first group left at 8am and the second at 9am to travel the Haunted Stream Track. Water levels were low in the stream but there were thirty odd water crossings, the stream was crystal clear and running. The steep decent was dry and traction good, the only recovery was David in the LJ80 trying to take the high line in one of the bog holes and slipping sideways into a large hole up to the tray on the ute. Brad hooked up a snatch strap and soon got him out.
The groups visited a mine near the track and stopped at Stirling to look at the remains of the Hotel, it is hard to believe that several thousand people lived here during the gold rush. From there, to Dawson City for lunch, this nice cleared area was the site of another township from the era.
Dawson City area is also one of the few places that the native Greater Mountain Glider still exists, this animal is similar to the sugar glider but grows to about one meter in length. It is usually dark brown or black and makes lots of weird noises in the night (enclosed picture of one found dead after a Wedge Tailed Eagle killed it a few years ago).
After lunch the groups travelled to Bald Head Road, Rob and Josie, Peter Stafford and Colin from the Suzie Club left for home, Colin severed one finger and badly damaged several others in an altercation with a circular saw the week before, we were amazed that he made the trip at all, his wife drove the Suzuki and did a great job. The rest of the groups travelled down Friday Spur and across the Wentworth River. I was there two weeks ago and there was no water in the river but this time there was water and it was flowing strongly. After the river crossing we visited Wallers Hut then up Gidleys Track. There are several big open culverts, one was boggy and steep, some needed a couple of attempts to cross, but all made it successfully to the top. After Gidleys, we turned onto the Mt Steve Track, this has recently been bulldozed and is easy with a few steep climbs and decents. At Waynes Track, we turned right and camped at Kilgowers. This is a great camp area with plenty of room for both groups, it was a beautiful night with a bit of mist in the morning. It was decided on Sunday morning to amalgamate the groups, most decided to take the hard option, David had issues with water in the fuel in his LJ80 and decided to go into Dargo to repair the problem so as not to hold up the others. The two Suzuki Jimneys left with the group decided to take the easier Wild Horse Creek Track, the others took on Pheasant Creek Track, this track is steep and reasonably hard with some rock steps but all made it and stopped to look at MacDonalds Hut, then continued on MacDonalds Road and Danes Track to Camms Top Place, another historic hut. From there the group went up Murdering Spur Track, this as a six kilometre steep rocky track but traction was good and all the vehicles made the climb with no problems except for a couple of bent side steps (fairly normal). The group went via Berrigan Road, Jones Road and Upper Dargo Road to Joes house in Dargo, this is a place used by the club on many occasions, it is owned by a good friend of the club with plenty of area for camping and some accommodation in the house and a really nice gazebo complete with a large open fire. The group went to the iconic Dargo pup for a really nice meal before returning to Joes to talk the evening away in front of the fire.
Dawn on Monday was cold and clear with some fog in Dargo, the group packed up and said their farewells to each other, the Bairnsdale group heading home and the Melbourne group deciding which way to go home. It was a great weekend of 4WDriving and really good fun to get the two clubs together, it was also great to see some of the ladies driving some of the hard tracks including Emily, an L plate driver, showing her dad how to do it. We are looking forward to meeting again to continue the friendship.
2009 Manual Jimny
Re: High Country Trip 12 to 15 April 2019
Hey Mike, are we on again for 2020?Mike57 wrote: ↑Sat 27 Apr, 2019 9:30 pm Here is David's trip report on behalf of the Bairnsdale Club.
After a successful trip for David Raeburn in his 1978 Suzuki LJ80 with the Suzuki 4Wd Club of Victoria, he proposed a combined trip with the Bairnsdale 4Wheel Drive Club and the Suzuki Club . Both clubs were keen to participate, the trip proposed was a medium to hard trip to suit all vehicles and was proposed in our local area as most of the Suzuki club members had not visited this area before. The group met at the Tambo River crossing as there is plenty of area to camp across the river. There were not many of the Suzuki club members driving Suzukis as the distance caused most of the members to bring other vehicles. From the Bairnsdale club there were David Raeburn – Suzuki LJ80, Brad Toohey – Nissan Patrol, Dave Rogers and Max Vincent in Daves 80 series Land Cruiser, Peter Stafford – Suzuki Sierra, Ros Boreham – Toyota Land Cruiser ute, Rob and Josie Patterson – Suzuki Jimney, Paul and Margaret Naughtin – Suzuki Jimney and eight vehicles from the Suzuki Club. Because of the large numbers attending, the group was split into two, Brad leading the first group and Dave Rogers the second. The first group left at 8am and the second at 9am to travel the Haunted Stream Track. Water levels were low in the stream but there were thirty odd water crossings, the stream was crystal clear and running. The steep decent was dry and traction good, the only recovery was David in the LJ80 trying to take the high line in one of the bog holes and slipping sideways into a large hole up to the tray on the ute. Brad hooked up a snatch strap and soon got him out.
The groups visited a mine near the track and stopped at Stirling to look at the remains of the Hotel, it is hard to believe that several thousand people lived here during the gold rush. From there, to Dawson City for lunch, this nice cleared area was the site of another township from the era.
Dawson City area is also one of the few places that the native Greater Mountain Glider still exists, this animal is similar to the sugar glider but grows to about one meter in length. It is usually dark brown or black and makes lots of weird noises in the night (enclosed picture of one found dead after a Wedge Tailed Eagle killed it a few years ago).
After lunch the groups travelled to Bald Head Road, Rob and Josie, Peter Stafford and Colin from the Suzie Club left for home, Colin severed one finger and badly damaged several others in an altercation with a circular saw the week before, we were amazed that he made the trip at all, his wife drove the Suzuki and did a great job. The rest of the groups travelled down Friday Spur and across the Wentworth River. I was there two weeks ago and there was no water in the river but this time there was water and it was flowing strongly. After the river crossing we visited Wallers Hut then up Gidleys Track. There are several big open culverts, one was boggy and steep, some needed a couple of attempts to cross, but all made it successfully to the top. After Gidleys, we turned onto the Mt Steve Track, this has recently been bulldozed and is easy with a few steep climbs and decents. At Waynes Track, we turned right and camped at Kilgowers. This is a great camp area with plenty of room for both groups, it was a beautiful night with a bit of mist in the morning. It was decided on Sunday morning to amalgamate the groups, most decided to take the hard option, David had issues with water in the fuel in his LJ80 and decided to go into Dargo to repair the problem so as not to hold up the others. The two Suzuki Jimneys left with the group decided to take the easier Wild Horse Creek Track, the others took on Pheasant Creek Track, this track is steep and reasonably hard with some rock steps but all made it and stopped to look at MacDonalds Hut, then continued on MacDonalds Road and Danes Track to Camms Top Place, another historic hut. From there the group went up Murdering Spur Track, this as a six kilometre steep rocky track but traction was good and all the vehicles made the climb with no problems except for a couple of bent side steps (fairly normal). The group went via Berrigan Road, Jones Road and Upper Dargo Road to Joes house in Dargo, this is a place used by the club on many occasions, it is owned by a good friend of the club with plenty of area for camping and some accommodation in the house and a really nice gazebo complete with a large open fire. The group went to the iconic Dargo pup for a really nice meal before returning to Joes to talk the evening away in front of the fire.
Dawn on Monday was cold and clear with some fog in Dargo, the group packed up and said their farewells to each other, the Bairnsdale group heading home and the Melbourne group deciding which way to go home. It was a great weekend of 4WDriving and really good fun to get the two clubs together, it was also great to see some of the ladies driving some of the hard tracks including Emily, an L plate driver, showing her dad how to do it. We are looking forward to meeting again to continue the friendship.
Thanks
Chris.
Chris.
Re: High Country Trip 12 to 15 April 2019
I’m in
Or is that jumping the gun....
I like your old itinerary Mike amazingly scenic and awesome tracks,if you ever get tired of running this trip I’m happy to pitch in or take it on with some guidance from you
Damo
Or is that jumping the gun....
I like your old itinerary Mike amazingly scenic and awesome tracks,if you ever get tired of running this trip I’m happy to pitch in or take it on with some guidance from you
Damo