With winter looming I'd like to get another run in before the weather turns and the tracks close.
Planning another Big River through to Woods Point run, similar tracks to the trip(s) last year, but have found a nicer way out of the area via Casper Creek track that has some really nice views over the Thompson dam thanks to recent logging activity.
So the plan is meet at Warburton, air down at Stockmans Reward, head towards Frenchmans gap, drop down to Abbot Link track, splash through the river, as you do, (its not deep) and have lunch around 1.00pm at Woods Point, then go out through Jerico and stop to look at the diversion tunnel before climbing out of the valley for the run home.
Suitable for inexperienced drivers - if the weather is not good we can skip some of the steeper sections - but must have AT tyres for this trip, no road tyres and F&R recovery points.
Best option is to bring a picnic lunch and plan for self-sufficency for the day including morning and afternoon tea breaks, no hurry on this trip.
**You will need a full tank of fuel for the day, last chance is Warburton (our meeting point) if you need to top up.
****Trip is not suitable for SUV's, you will need low range gearing ****
Requirement
Alex (TEQ-80) 
Hey Kevin,
Sure, Stockman's Reward is where we'll be airing down.
Right next to the river with some (low) bridges to fish off the main road and a little one round the back of the campsite
There's plenty along the Big River Road, Stockmans Reward, Vennel's etc so take your pick, we'll be there about 10.00 or 10.15am, have the billy boiling for 20 people, there's a good bloke !.
Cheers..
07 Mar 2016
Tarnia Carli (Wombatroo) Just wondering I just got a email saying new trip. But its full? Have I missed something. Couldnt have filled in 2 minutes 😕 tarnia
07 Mar 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) About an hour from listing to filling... Wow.
Have to do more WP trips as it looks like a popular destination eh ?
09 Mar 2016
Dan (Disco_Dan) Maybe I'll be lucky and manage to score myself a spot on this one. I've been wanting to scout the area for tracks and camping spots, though I haven't been game enough to go alone.
02 Apr 2016
Dan (Disco_Dan) Mark (Yarra_Ranger) wrote: Dan (Disco_Dan) wrote: Maybe I'll be lucky and manage to score myself a spot on this one. I've been wanting to scout the area for tracks and camping spots, though I haven't been game enough to go alone.
Hey Dan I see you are into fly fishing, I'd like to do a trip that focused more on high country fishing than ... I can't say I'm any good at fly fishing. I'd be up for a trip like that though. I have yet to do any high country fishing, the highest I've went was Blue Rock and a couple of the rivers that feed into it. Nothing is living in those waters though!
03 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Dan (Disco_Dan) wrote: Maybe I'll be lucky and manage to score myself a spot on this one. I've been wanting to scout the area for tracks and camping spots, though I haven't been game enough to go alone.
Hi Dan,
There's plenty of river access from the Big River road- we peel off though pretty much as soon as we meet the river and start heading up and out of the valley. You can go all the way along the Big River road in a 2WD and check out the spots, no way would you get stuck in a fourby all the way along that road.
05 Apr 2016
Dan (Disco_Dan) Alex (ALX4X4) wrote: Dan (Disco_Dan) wrote: Maybe I'll be lucky and manage to score myself a spot on this one. I've been wanting to scout the area for tracks and camping spots, though I haven't been game enough to go alone.
Hi Dan,
There's plenty of river access from the Big River road- we peel off though pretty much as ... That's comforting then. I might head out that way and have a look at some stage. I'm not a particularly big fan of being stuck in a spot where there isn't any phone reception and no chatter on the CB.
05 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Just over 1 week to go, its come up fast.....
Look forward to meeting everyone (except Kev who we'll meet at Stockman's Reward around 10.00am-ish) please be on time at the servo and don't forget supplies for a break(s) during the day.
Now we hope the weather gods favours us as we have a nice route planned if its dry. If its wet we'll just skip some of the steeper bits based on peoples confidence as this is meant to be a relaxing day out with a bit of low-ranging to remind us why we love the outdoors.
08 Apr 2016
Dan (Disco_Dan) Mark (Yarra_Ranger) wrote: Dan (Disco_Dan) wrote: Alex (ALX4X4) wrote: Dan (Disco_Dan) wrote: Maybe I'll be lucky and manage to score ...
Thanks for the heads up mate. I'll remember to throw something in the car. Getting shot doesn't sound particularly fun.08 Apr 2016
Billy (75_Cruiser) WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Sorry guys, the other half just informed me that I've double booked us for that day :(
08 Apr 2016
Kevin (riordak_ranger) Mark, see mate if you had the phone off when we were away you could make this trip. no worries mate work first to keep her indoors happy.
Big Kev
09 Apr 2016
Kevin (riordak_ranger) Weather Alex for
Saturday 16 April
Summary Min 15 Max 20 Shower or two.Possible rainfall: 0 to 3 mm Chance of any rain: 50%
Cloudy. Medium (50%) chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.
09 Apr 2016
Kevin (riordak_ranger) Mark (Yarra_Ranger) wrote: Hey Kev, when we got back from Billy Goats, I got 1 day of work done, then took another 5 days off down the coast, so I'm not surprised the work has piled up. I cleared a heap off today, maybe if someone pulls out later in the week I'll jump back on if I get enough done, but I'll have to pull my finger out.
BTW if you wanted to camp overnight you would be better off camping around woods point, at the end of the trip. Comet ...
My Plans are that I will camp after the trip at Woods Point and meet everyone at the Warburton, car park opposite Shell servo at 9am Sat morning.
11 Apr 2016
Greg (Bassman) Looking forward to this trip. I now have 2 adults and 2 kids going - hope that's ok.
We've got minimal experience but survived one on these trips late last year so hopefully you guys will get us through safely..
We'll meet you guys at Warburton..
Also will be looking to camp the night somewhere afterwards so hopefully the boys can though a line in whilst we sit around a fire for a frothy or 2....
Greg
11 Apr 2016
Kevin (riordak_ranger) Greg (Bassman) wrote: Looking forward to this trip. I now have 2 adults and 2 kids going - hope that's ok.
We've got minimal experience but survived one on these trips late last year so hopefully you guys will get us through safely..
We'll meet you guys at Warburton..
Also will be looking to camp the night somewhere afterwards so hopefully the boys can though a line in whilst we sit around a fire for a frothy or 2....
Greg
Greg you will be fine mate Alex is a great leader. One thing I will say mate please no matter how silly the question please just ask. I ask a leader once what gear should I be in..
11 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) No worries Greg. Don't have any misgivings - this is a nice cruisey day, a lot of it on low range though due to slow going, not out to test our rigs, just enjoy a day out in the scrub. Travelled these tracks many times and there's no nasty surprises unless we have trees down that means backtracking, but I know the way around any track closures with alternates if we come a cropper. Learned most of these track in the 80's and 90's mostly on motorbikes so don't even need a map on the day :-) but bring one if you want to mark the trail for a revisit. I never tire of this area.......
There's a good range of people coming so we can help with any lines to be taken or best gear to use. If anyone has misgivings, we find another way, simple as that. I've run this a few times though and even first timers have had a ball.
There's some 'challenge' sections up for grabs if people want to try them as it's steep countryside - (just ask Garry or Jason from the last trip) but we plan on going around these and re-joining further up. Bring a picnic lunch and look forward to some nice driving and some river crossing action ! Hi speed may be involved.......
12 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) I'm good at staring at chainsaws thanks Kev. LOL.
But much appreciated :-)
12 Apr 2016
Pauly (Dagy) Chainsaw, tools and White Tim Tams will be on board. :-)
12 Apr 2016
Greg (Bassman) So is anyone else considering camping the night somewhere after the run?
Just looking for some suggestions...
Greg
12 Apr 2016
Pauly (Dagy) Yeah I'm possibly looking at camping, not sure will depend on wheather, how I feel but will be takeing the gear to sleep and sit around the campfire for sure
12 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) [Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.
13 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) [Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.
13 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) [Private Message Sent] - If you are GOING, please check your inbox.
13 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Hmmm, something went wrong with the message I sent to the guys who were considering staying the night and it went to everyone, apologies.
We can easily split the trip into those who want to stay and those who just want a day trip, what sort of numbers do we have for "day only' and "overnight' ?
I have someone who can lead from the end of the trip back to Warburton for those just doing the day trip as I might stay if the weathers not to bad too.
13 Apr 2016
Pauly (Dagy) Looking forward to tomorrow, being lead by the thumping V8.
15 Apr 2016
Greg (Bassman) Looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will be kind.
See you guys at 9:00 AM at Warburton, (car park opposite Shell servo)
Greg, Pam, Dylan & Jed
15 Apr 2016
Kevin (riordak_ranger) Car packed, everything on board for a great weekend. May have a bit of rain but it would only be spitting. See yous in the morning at meet point
15 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Don't forget that full tank of fuel guys as no opportunity to refill all day. Looking forward to a great day out !
15 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Hmmm. Done my trip report but can't 'paste' it into either the forum or here.
Anyone got any clues on how to import text please ?????
20 Apr 2016
Pauly (Dagy) Alex (ALX4X4) wrote: Hmmm. Done my trip report but can't 'paste' it into either the forum or here.
Anyone got any clues on how to import text please ?????
Hi Alex do you want to e mail it to me and I will give it a try
20 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Thanks Dagy, should be in your home email account now. No mean editing !
20 Apr 2016
Pauly (Dagy) From Alex - nothing edited:
From: Alex McAllister <Alex.McAllister@PACCAR.com>
Date: 18 April 2016 at 2:27:53 PM AEST
To: "awmcallister@gmail.com" <awmcallister@gmail.com>
I really had a great day out with the stubby lever locked into low for most of the day once we turned off the Big River Road just after 10.00am. That’s a goodly 5 or 6 hours of wear on my low range cog and I’d rather be wearing that one out than the high range one. That’s why we drive 4WD’s !
Nice to meet a few new-to-me bods on the day I hope everyone else also enjoyed the run. I think we had 9 or 10 different types of trucks, great variety of rigs for sure !
We set off pretty much on time and rolled up to Big River under grey sky, but no rain despite the weather bureau’s efforts to tell us otherwise. So it was air down at Stockman’s Reward and sneak off up Snowy Road… We turned left over the bridge, with a nice easy climb up to Ely track, right turn and follow this along until we hit shortcut number 2. Nice easy low range descent down to Frenchman’s which we followed until the concrete crossing of the river which we bumped across, barely any water over the concrete….. Driest I think I’ve ever seen it.
Pretty much all of us did the top ‘challenge’ section early on, great to see everyone had the confidence to give it a go despite there being a bypass track right next door. It was a confidence boost to all of us – I had Royce right behind me and the well-kitted out DMax sailed right up, nice work.
Both Tarnia and Greg also braved the climb and it was smiles all round when we all made it to the top. There was a bit of smoke haze around us by now giving a slightly eerie feeling with an orange light instead of the normal sunshine, so must have been burning off somewhere nearby although there was reports of smoke from Canberra blowing down as well. So with our lunch stop only a famous ’10 minutes’ away, and I’m sure it will come back to haunt me over and over, we headed off to Frenchman’s Gap, across the main road to Old Coach, and stopped at the little old historic pub site for lunch. A nice spot to relax for grub, but with time getting on we decided to push on over to Clarke Spur and do the steep descent down to the river. The track was very dry, lots of surface talcum powder dust and I could see wombat holes been dug out with people losing traction on the way up with cross axle diagonal wheel spin digging out some fair sized holes !
We all made it down slowly and carefully, especially those of in in MANUALS eh Stewart… OK, we don’t get much to brag about so let us have our minute J
Crossing the river we began the climb up Abbot Link track which is where things started to go slightly awry !! Joey and I sort of had a play and flew up, damned if I could shake that Triton, it receded in the mirrors but like the ‘shadow’ car in Top Gear, it just wouldn’t go away…. I must have a look under the bonnet of that truck next time… Methinks he’s hiding something !!!!
Continued next post
20 Apr 2016
Pauly (Dagy) We stopped at the top but then the calls of ‘my truck won’t start’ and “I’m stuck” then got replaced with the slightly more serious sounding “I’ve lost 4WD” from Kev and “my transfer case is making a grinding noise’ from Stewart…. Hmmmm. This isn’t good, and it all happened on one section of track.
I turned around to go back and squeezed the Cruiser past the guys to see if I could help. Dan had struck electrical woes with some wiring shorting out that Pauly had diagnosed and fixed, so that got the Disco rumbling again, but I could see Stewart coming up the track towards me with his truck making all sorts of grinding noise and Kev’s car beached on the corner not going anywhere either. Fortunately Stewart’s problem was ‘only’ a broken engine mount and the fan was scraping away on the shroud, I think it broke giving Kev a tow up to the corner ? But it sure sounded awful as he went past…..
So I swung the 80 back around and pointed it up the steep section of the track with the Ranger strapped on to the back, poor old Kev copped a spray of dust and noise as it was a 4,500rpm pull up that whole damn track, some of it with both lockers in 1st low and still scrabbling for traction…. I sure was glad to get past the microwave towers and be pointing downhill to the Woods Point - Walhalla Road after that !
So at this point we had to call the rest of the trip off, too late in the day to drop down to Comet Flat and out through Jerico as it was mid-to-late afternoon by the time with several cars ‘wounded’ to a degree so we did some running repairs to get everyone mobile again. Greg was heading off to Jamison so he left first while we were still figuring out what to do, Kev obviously decided a camp for the night was out, he only had 2WD so also decided to proceed home so most of the guys headed off to the main Wallhalla Road at the bottom of the hill while we were still poking around Stewarts car and putting extra cable ties on Dans’ Disco to keep the wiring off that hot exhaust. Then, to top it all off when there was only 3 of us left, the Paj wouldn’t start……. Both Pauly and I thought it was a bad joke after all that we’d been thorough but noooo, dead as a doornail. So Pauly again to the rescue with his electronic skills and we had the Paj turning over in no time – something as simple as a loose battery clamp to all our relief. We decided a few beers would be the fix after this so headed off to camp the night which is another story in itself after those 30 jelly shots disappeared in quick time… And I awoke to a rubber ‘snake’ on my stretcher and apparently mischievous plans about my stretcher being re-located to the middle of the river in the night…. Hmmmm……. Yes, some people have a sense of humour J
Regardless, I hope we all enjoyed the day and there’s no major repair bills !! Sometimes even the best laid plans can go wrong.
20 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Thanks for the copy and paste Pauly, everyone please see the full report in the uploaded file section. My future trips will request everyone has a GPS to increase the chances of making it home safely if the group splits up, I don't want people being left behind and unsure of which way to go as it can add a lot of stress !
Thanks guys, lets' do it again some time !
21 Apr 2016
Alex (TEQ-80) Hey guys, I think you raised a valid point which we can all learn from hence my thoughts on a GPS. It's cheap insurance for all of when heading into areas we are unfamiliar with - should anything happen to the group or an individual, as a backup, everyone has their own 'home button' so I'm good to live and learn. Thanks for the feedback :-)
21 Apr 2016
7 GOING, 2 Interested
9 adults , 4 children (13 in total)