Amanda's Snow Trip 4th-5th August
We left Sommy at 0600, cut through the back of Moe and went past the cooling towers at the power station, then through Heyfield to fill up on petrol. At Licola we had morning tea and it was real cold and raining, which was ok because we were hoping it would snow like crazy (as the weather service said there would be a 2 day storm in that area), we were 20 minutes out of Licola and there was no snow in sight when we came around a corner and the snow was falling heavily, It was great, at MacFarlane's Saddle we stopped and put our chains on while the kids went nuts, I had a ground sheet to lay on so I wouldn't get wet while putting the chains on, Yer right!!, the snow was falling fast and the sheet was soon covered.
We headed up the hill and really enjoyed the scenery, we turned right a Arbuckle junction and went down Moroko Rd, we had been told the previous weeks storm had dropped many trees over the roads and tracks in this area, but a previous group had cleared to Moroka Hut before giving up and going back, as we had dinner, bed, and breakfast waiting at Dargo we would push through. It snowed steadily for a couple of hours and we enjoyed a smooth run most of the time and caught some glimpses of the valleys below lit up in the sun, after Moroka Hut the going was slow and many trees had to be dealt with, but we arrived at the Pinnacles for arvo tea and to take in the sights which are fantastic, snow covered ranges in one direction sunlit valleys in another, a quick stop for our yearly photo at a exposed crag of rock at the top of Billy Goat (you know the one) and down we went only to find at the bottom a large Gum had fallen across the track, with 10 blokes and families in tow it was quickly removed and we arrived in Dargo at 1845.
After fantastic meals and plenty fun it was time for bed. Waking up to a real frosty morning, (where my car keys wouldn't go into the frozen lock until after a huge breakfast around the fire in the Pub) We headed up to Talbotville for the river crossings on Bulltown Spur, there are 23 of them and after looking at the first which was flowing very fast it was decided the diesel ute with the snorkel and centipedes would go first while I attached a blind to Amanda's Pajero, the ute seemed to be ok until it started to side slip at the half way point, however with a little extra throttle he got over. Next was me in the Pajero and with its lower panels and sidesteps acting like dams we were pushed sideways, I turned up river and nailed it and was soon out, but glad I hadn't let the kids in the car. The group decided to abandon the intended route and go back to Grant (where it was snowing) and explore the mines and after crossing back over that’s what we did, we had to negotiate a million trees to get to the mines and in the end, we parked the cars and walked the last couple hundred metres, with torches and divers glow sticks (you know break & shake) we explored the shafts, vents and camber of the Union mine.
After a late lunch at Dargo blamed on more fallen trees and snow on the High Plains Rd, we headed home through Stratford...it was a great 2 day break..