Rob (Bessiethebeast)
Hi Jim,
I would like to join you on your Dargo - Big River trip and thought I should introduce myself. I drive an 80 series landcruiser, lifted with diff lock. I am an experienced 4wder, If you have any questions please contact me.

Regards

Rob

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Rob

You are most welcome to come along, I use to do this trip each year from 1980 up about 2005/6 but I not had time since but I'm back at the tracks and having fun, what day can you come, as I say I be driving down a few days before, (I like to camp two days to see what the weather is up to and how high the rivers are, it not a good to take the new bees into deep water.)

Rod Marks (rokkitt)
G'day Jim,
Just registered to join you on this one, I will drive up on Thursday night and see you at the camp site. Looking forward to it already.
Rod

Chris (Cdolman1)
Hi Jim, would it be possible to make a checklist of basic equipment we may need for this type of trip?

Rob (Bessiethebeast)
Hi Jim,
I will most likely drive up on the Thursday night and join you at the camp site like Rod.

Regards

Rob

Kevin (riordak_ranger)
Question for Jason and Celia, who is looking after the pets? Jason, Celia you will love the high Country. Jas listen to Jims advice and you will be fine mate. Remember what he said if your not sure just ask.

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Chris

As you will know every 4x4 shop you go to will tell you that you need this and that and at the end they will ask for $6,000 or more for a lot of junk that you will never use.
So after having given it a bit of thought, (yes I know that there is a lot more gear that you can get but how long is that bit of string when you start out. It is better to do some trips and see what others have and would it work for your needs) So I have tried put it into three basic lists.

"Must have" "Should have" and if you can it "Would be good to have".

"Must have"

Recovery point's front and back
Basic recovery gear (Snatch Strap)
Winch Dampener (to put over the snatch strap for safety)
2 Bow Shackle rated at minimum 4.7 ton (see if it fits your recovery points)
80ch UHF CB Radio (at least a handheld with plenty of batteries)
Snorkel (this stops water getting into the engine on river crossings)
Shovel
Fuel for about 600+km
Food for the trip, along with extra in case we get stuck.
Warm clothing
Water for your party (we will be able to get water from some of the rivers and creeks.)
Rubbish bag to take your rubbish home.

From here on it's a very long bit of string.

"Should have"

It is good if you got a Tire gauge and 12v pump. (I have got got one so don't worry if you have not got one, (if you do get one don't bother with the cheep ones, they are junk, get a 4x4 one)
Underbody Guards
It is cheaper to get a whole Recovery Kit than to buy each bit one at a time (then you got all the recovery gear in one hit)
http://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au have a good deal

1 x Snatch Block, 10,000kg
1 x Snatch Strap, 8,000kg, 9m x 60mm
1 x Tree Trunk Protector, 10,000kg, 3m x 75mm
1 x Extension Strap, 5,000kg
2 x Bow Shackles 4.7T each
1 x Winch Dampener
1 x Pair of Gloves
1 x Recovery Bag

This list of good to have but if you haven’t we will work it out.

Winch
Axe
Camping BBQ Plate
Chain Saw

I can go on and on with the gear that you can get, if you go to the desert the gear is a bit different from what you need in the high country so I hope that helps. PS I know that I have forgotten some thing, but hay I’m getting old.

Jim (JimMc)
Hi every one I have added one more place to the trip if we get to many it will take all day to cross each river crossing, and there are 23+ on the first day.

Allan (Big Pig)
Well Jim this looks like a ripping trip, I am not on it , my wife won't camp and I like to spend the easter break with her, I just wanted to clarify the 600klms, is this from Dargo and how far to nearest fuel when you get back on a made road.
My Jeep isn't as economical as many diesels but more economical than most petrols and with my 2x10 liter jerry,s my range with a mixture of easy and hard tracks would only be about 450 to 500.
I'm sure I will get to do a trip with you this year.

Jim (JimMc)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Jim (JimMc)
Hi every one I have added some tracks for you to look up if you like, have a look at the Wonnangatta Station history it a great read and they say that the Wonnangatta hut is still haunted by Jim. (may be we should put all the kids in the hut for a night) Just joking or am I.

Please remember that the tracks, and the way we go is dependent on weather if we get a lot of rain I will leave out some track that have deep River crossings.

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Rob do you have any idea of time you will arrive, so I have the CB ch10 on to talk you in, I like to camp down the bottom end near the trees if you look on Google Maps for “Grant Victoria” you will see the loop track about 354mt northeast from Macmillans Road that’s the old Town site. The turn of to the old town site is 5.2km from Dargo High Plains Road.

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Rod do you have any idea of time you will arrive, so I have the CB ch10 on to talk you in, I like to camp down the bottom end near the trees if you look on Google Maps for “Grant Victoria” you will see the loop track about 354mt northeast from Macmillans Road that’s the old Town site. The turn of to the old town site is 5.2km from Dargo High Plains Road.

Rob (Bessiethebeast)
Hi Jim

If it is ok with you I think I will meet you at your house or a meeting point near you and follow you to where your staying. Let me know if that works for you?

Regards

Rob

Jim (JimMc)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Rod Marks (rokkitt)
G'day Jim, Just booked the Thursday off work so I should be up there late in the afternoon - no problems with finding the camp, just your actual location within the site but with the help of the UHF it should be easy.
Let me know if you need us to bring anything? I will have a chain saw with me to get some of that precious firewood...;)
Rod

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Rod

I think you will be able to find me easy most people that go to the area camp down on the river and I don't think any one will be camping in Grant, but I will hang some SES tape at the turn off from Mcmillans Road at Grant and at the turn off from the Dargo High Plains Road. This will help any one that new to the area to find the camp.

I will have plenty of fire wood (I'm old and don't like getting cold just look for the fire) the more chain saws we have the better, I take two the trees are big up there, at this stage hope to drive up on Wednesday to have two nights just sitting around and play Ham-radio (this retired stuff is very hard I never got any time hi hi)

Jim (JimMc)
I will hang some SES tape at the turn off from Mcmillans Road at Grant camping area and at the turn off from the Dargo High Plains Road. This will help any one that new to the area to find the camp.

Chris (Cdolman1)
I'm assuming we will be stopping at different camp spots everynight?

Chris (Cdolman1)
I'm assuming we will be stopping at different camp spots everynight?

Nigel Murden (rennige)
Error

Nigel Murden (rennige)
Error

Nigel Murden (rennige)
Is there a recommended map that covers this area?

Rod Marks (rokkitt)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Heading into the same area with a few friends, we will catch up with you for a yarn at Grant.

Chris (Cdolman1)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Car won't be ready in time

Jim (JimMc)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

Daniel (BushRanger30)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason:

Justin (juzzy 94)
Hi jim,
Really looking forward to the trip mate keen to get away for easter break cannot wait to get into the high country.

Cheers justin

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Justin Me too I been thinking that I may go on Tuesday then I can just sit and be part of the place (retirement is hard) for a day or two. I have always loved the high country and worked radio tracking Owls etc for a number of years and I still have not run out of interest of getting up when I can, when I get back from the Simpson in July I will try to set up a trip to Haunted stream trip and Omeo coach road trip, there are so many placers that I love and it's hard to see them all in one year.

Jim (JimMc)
Hi every one I just got a email back from the Dargo Store on Easter Thursday they will be closing between 5:30 - 6:00pm but they will be open on Easter Friday at about 07:30am so even if you come up on Thursday night you will have time on Friday morning to fill up and get back up to Grant. I hope this helps.

William (stocklandy4dayz)
hi ive joined this trip and my brother and i are looking forward to it but have never been to the area before

Brett (Koenandaxton)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Camping with just the family on the Murra, hope someone joins and enjoys the trip

William (stocklandy4dayz)
is anyone coming from melbourne ??

Nigel Murden (rennige)
All being well , we are planning to come up from Melbourne on Thursday sometime. Looking forward to it.

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Mark Bulltown spur should be open by the time we go I hope, I think we both know that any trip may have to be changed at the last minute, but we will see when we get closer to the time, that's why I'm going down on the Tuesday so I can drop in DSE office and find out what open and closed etc, there are a few ways we can go, but I think that Bulltown should be open and Billy goat bluff should be open I hope. If not I drive up on to the High Plains and come in to the Wonnangatta from the north that will test my memory. (PS I have a Hema and maps)

I will be make a video on the trip (I'm testing some new video toys, hope to get some shots from the back of the Hilux)

William (stocklandy4dayz)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: brothers work commitments :(

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Mark as you know I have to see what the weather is like, the skill level of the members on the trip before I can work out how far we can get in a day, and what tracks we use, I don't rush and treat each trip as my last (the joys of retirement). I hope to camp in the alpine above the snow line for a night and if we are lucky we will have a bit of snow hi hi. For the ones that have not been up there before there is a lot to stop and see, I spent a large amount of time working in that area, trapping wildlife etc, and it will be good to get back, I love the high country.

I hope to get down to the TMJ Birthday next weekend if I’m lucky.

Nigel Murden (rennige)
Hi all,
Currently planning to come up on the Thursday, probably arrive at Grant camping ground around 3-4pm. Look forward to meeting everyone then. Nigel.

Rob (Bessiethebeast)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: It is with regret I am unable to attend the Easter trip. I have been unwell for sometime and thought my fitness would be sufficient to go - unfortunately that is not the case. I hope everyone has a great time - enjoy yourselves. Rob

Jim (JimMc)
Hi Nigel

It will be good to meet you, I be camping at Grant from Tuesday, (its hard working with retirement) so far we will are down to 4 4x4 on the trip that is good number, could you have a look on the web when you leave so we know who coming, I would hate to leave any one behind, I will have no internet from early Tuesday.
I have the CB on ch 10 looking for you just give me a call when you get up there (I think I should hear you when you are back on the Dargo High Rd)

Jim (JimMc)
[Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.

William (stocklandy4dayz)
anyone going on this treip coming from melbourne ??? pm me