Amanda’s Snow Trip 07.
Robin, Shelly & Kids………...……..62 series
Jim, Sarah & Kids……………….….Jackaroo
Rod, Raelene & Kids……………...GU Patrol
Bob, Melinda & Luke……….….....MQ Patrol
Bear…………………………….….GQ Patrol
Dennis, Jodie & Kids…………..….Pathfinder
We met and left from Sommy at 0730, picking up Bear at Pakenham and went straight to Dargo, where we dropped off our gear at the Pub and Inn, then it was snow, snow, snow.
We all know it’s been a bumper year for snow, but when you get up there and are getting bogged going downhill with chains on, you know you’re in the right place.
Day 1. We spent the first day roughly between Blue Rag Tk and Kings Tk on the High Plains Rd, the snow was cleared and a fire was started and everybody took to the toboggans having heaps of fun. Robin had brought a couple of Tow Ropes and the adults were soon flying behind the GU.
A great first day was finished off at approx 1630 when a nasty looking weather front started to come through, we packed up and headed down the mountain nose to tail due to the fog which had reduced visibility down to about 20ft, it was a long trip but we arrived ready for a big feed at the pub and a good sleep.
Day 2. Up and away we were heading to the snow via Talbotville when the troops convinced me to take a detour down Bulltown Spur, there had been heavy rains in recent months and we had been seeing flood damage and mud at every river, so I said “this could take a while, but it sounds like fun”. Well 4 and a bit hours later we emerged at Talbotville having reopened the track, there had been some unreal driving, road building and detours used to get there, Amanda and Jim pulled a couple of big stands trying to get out of the river and both had to be snatched up by Bear and his 35”/GQ, just about everybody had a wheel hanging way up in the air getting around a big logjam at another exit. Speaking of tough exits, we had one claim the bottom of Amanda’s bulbar along with reshaping her bashplate after I advised her to cross the river and see if she could bounce the front over it, being that the river edge had been cut away by the floods and was nearly all rock this didn’t work so well, so she backed across to the shallow side and we built 2 ramps in the river out of large rocks which worked great and saw everyone get over without any trouble.
We stopped for a late, very relaxed lunch at Talbotville, followed by a drive out along Brewery Creek Tk and Nth Bassalt Tk but clearing the road of big trees took forever and with the temperature dropping we decided to give the snow a miss and headed home via Sth Bassalt Tk. Another beaut meal was enjoyed at the pub and a large fire was enjoyed till the wee hours.
Day 3. Leaving town early we headed back up the High Plains Rd the snow had hardened up nicely and the going was easier than the first day, however once the crust was broken we bogged car after car, so we recovered all cars and pointed them downhill to make our escape later in the day. Another large fire was built and the kids and adults spent the day playing in the snow, exploring and enjoying another long lunch. It was another fantastic Annual Snow Trip and we can’t wait till next year……………K & A.
For Pictures click here