Dargo to Bright via Blue Rag MEDIUM / HARD

VHC, VIC

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Plan is to drive from Dargo area through the bush and out of to Bright via Blue Rag. This will be a MID-WEEK adventure, so you will have to take time off work.

23rd March
- Drive to Dargo, setup camp around Italian Flat

24th March (Bush day 1) - might be a short day
- Visit Harrisons Cutting
- Drive to Talbotville Camping Area (few different ways to get there)

25th March (Bush day 2) - might be a bit of a longer day
- Talbotville Camping Area, up Basalt to Blue Rag and end up Twin Jeep track or around there and find a camp (most likely bush camp, bring a shovel with you)

26th March
- People can choose to either head home via Porepunkah / Bright or head home back down via Dargo

Trip is planned to not spend the whole day behind the wheel (although Thursday might be a longer day). I want to camp a bit, see the views, stop anywhere interesting, setup camp early if possible, get a fire going and actually relax away from work and the busy life. We will have 2 FULL days of bush, so hopefully plenty of time to explore. Hopefully tracks and campsites will be empty as it will be the middle of the week.

I rated trip as MEDIUM / HARD because I never did some of the tracks we will be driving. Tracks WILL be steep and possibly slippery with occasional rock steps etc.

LOW RANGE, GOOD TYRES, RECOVERY GEAR AND A WINCH ARE A MUST.

Depending where you fill up, it might be around 250km to 300km of steep roads, and very steep tracks where your engine will be working very hard in non-stop low range. So please make sure you have enough fuel for the trip. Depending on what fuel your car takes, you might be able to fill up at Dargo - otherwise plan ahead. Once we hit the bush, there will be NO FUEL until Porepunkah / Myrtleford.

PLEASE COME PREPARED

Requirement

  • Electric Winch
  • Recovery Gear

  • Peter (Stumpy11) Completed Proficiency training

    GOING
    Driver + 1 Adult
    Stumpy11 (2006 GU Coil Cab TD42)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch



  • Nick (Morphen83) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 8 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    3.0 Diesel GU (2015 Patrol)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Trevor (Trevor56) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 3 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Patrol GQ (1993 GQ)
    • 37" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Kelvin (TREXGQ) Trip Leader - Level 6 (Completed over 83 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    TREXGQ (1993 Patrol)
    • 33" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front Diff Lock
    • Winch

  • Paul Morris (MoWah)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    BJ (1989 BJ70)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Ivan (Subbo1)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Subbo (2005 Prado)
    • 2" Lifted
    • Winch

  • Darren (ldvt60) I had chainsaw training I had winch training Completed Proficiency training


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    mine (2017 T60)
    • 32" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Rear Diff Lock
    • Winch

  • Richard (rtexplora)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    105 Series (2000 Landcruiser)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Glenn B (Hanglider) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 1 trips)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    JKU Wrangler 08 (2008 JK Sport Unlimited)
    • 33" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Winch

  • Marc (GONM4D) I had chainsaw training I had winch training Completed Proficiency training Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 2 trips)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    GONM4D (2003 Patrol)
    • 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Steve (blue rangie 304) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 5 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    ex blue rangie/ landcruiser (2015 wildtrack)
    • 32" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Rear Diff Lock
    • Winch


  • Dave (Stoops) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 4 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Triton (2016 Triton)
    • 31" Tyres
    • Winch

  • Aidan (Aidan4x4) I had chainsaw training Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 2 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    80 series cruiser (1992 Landcruiser)
    • 35" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

Trip Leader Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
Glad to see some good interest.

Anyone has any suggestions for tracks / tings to do? Any huts along the way we can check out (without massive detours).
10 Jan 2021
Trip Leader Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
UPDATE

My leave has been approved, and there seems to be enough interest.

Dates are now locked in.
14 Jan 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
Hi Thurstain, I did the South Basalt out of Talbotville before Christmas and there is one steep section but has good grip, and the group of four car made it up without any issues, where as on Billy goats two car struggled in one section near the top.
28 Jan 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
Hi Thurstain, I did the South Basalt out of Talbotville before Christmas and there is one steep section but has good grip, and the group of four car made it up without any issues, where as on Billy goats two car struggled in one section near the top.
28 Jan 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
Hi Thurstain, I did the South Basalt out of Talbotville before Christmas and there is one steep section but has good grip, and the group of four car made it up without any issues, where as on Billy goats two car struggled in one section near the top.
28 Jan 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
Hi Thurstain, I did the South Basalt out of Talbotville before Christmas and there is one steep section but has good grip, and the group of four car made it up without any issues, where as on Billy goats two car struggled in one section near the top.
28 Jan 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
Hi Thurstain, I did the South Basalt out of Talbotville before Christmas and there is one steep section but has good grip, and the group of four car made it up without any issues, where as on Billy goats two car struggled in one section near the top.
28 Jan 2021
Trip Leader Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
Did you do basalt all the way to blue rag? I never drove that, I know it's steep but from what I've seen online it can be challenging?

I'm aware of the section up Billy Goat, a locker will make a big difference if not, there are different lines to take and most cars should be ok to come up it with the right line and a bit of go.
28 Jan 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
the start Basalt was very steep but with really good traction, if it rains it will be a different story though.
Is the plan to meet at the Dargo Pub on Tuesday, and just one other question on how much Diesel / range will be required....Its probably a hard question to answer.
19 Feb 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
the start Basalt was very steep but with really good traction, if it rains it will be a different story though.
Is the plan to meet at the Dargo Pub on Tuesday, and just one other question on how much Diesel / range will be required....Its probably a hard question to answer.
19 Feb 2021
Stephen Berryman (pacer25) Premium Member
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: just booked in a job for that week to good to pass up, sorry for the inconvenience i was looking forward to the trip
23 Feb 2021
Trip Leader Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
Hi everyone,
I have updated the trip details and trip requirements. This will NOT be a beginner or stock car friendly trip.

Please read and understand these requirements. Tracks will be steep so low range, recovery gear, winches etc are a must. Some tracks will be very hard if it rains.

Come prepared. Just to be safe you should prepare for around 250km to 300km of steep roads and tracks - so bring enough fuel especially if you can't fill up at Dargo (depending on what fuel you need). Once we leave Dargo, no further fuel until we reach Porepunkah.

If you are not coming, please withdraw from the trip ASAP to open up spaces for other people to join.
27 Feb 2021
Mojo Safarinur (MojoPajero) Premium Member
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Health
27 Feb 2021
Steven (ReefMaster) Premium Member
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Due to Work commitments , very sorry Thurstain as discussed .
02 Mar 2021
Trip Leader Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
Hi all, just checking in.

Please make sure if you are not coming to this trip, withdraw from the trip now. So far 2 people made contact with me to confirm they are coming.

We will meet on Tuesday at Italian Flat Campground just north of Dargo.

Make sure you plan enough fuel. From Dargo we will do about 250 km of offroad and dirt before hitting Myrtleford / Porepunkah / Bright to refuel.

I will arrive at camp a bit earlier, probably around 4 to 5PM. Maybe have dinner at the Pub. Not sure yet.
16 Mar 2021
Ben Hookway (Hookers)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Looking at the weather forecast from Saturday to Thursday in the High country it has rain forecast, and feel it has the potential to make the trip very challenging, plus the potential for setup/ pack up if rain is forecast every day.
20 Mar 2021
Peter (Stumpy11)
Similar thoughts to Ben. What are others thinking?
21 Mar 2021
Peter (Stumpy11)
Similar thoughts to Ben. What are others thinking?
21 Mar 2021
Johnny Lauder (Johnnyl17) Premium Member
Hi guys , In last 3 days at home have had 245mls in my rain gauge so have been keeping a close eye on weather everywhere . Forecast for vic alps has been steady in that time and is shower Sunday Monday Wednesday , rain Tuesday , cloudy Thursday Friday . I don't have much faith in the accuracy of the Bom as rain could be half an hour and shower can be 10 mins and the Bom has covered their butt . I'm packing Berty now in rain and leaving in 2 hours from Newcastle and travelling over on tracks from this side to Dargo . Can someone text me or ring me on 0432681759 if trip gets canned . I can give a report on conditions up there tomorrow arvo as I'm booked in for pub meal at Dargo 1800 lol . Cheers ........ Johnny
21 Mar 2021
Trip Leader Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
I'm currently at the Grampians and it's raining non stop. To be honest I'm not looking for a week of rain and camping in the wet with No campfire to enjoy.

Packing up drenching this morning wasn't fun. Also some of the tracks get quite bad in the rain and don't want to spend days winching.. This was supposed to be a mid week touring and relax trip.

The plan and highlight was Blue Rag and if the weather is bad, we won't be able to see anything as we'll be in the clouds.

Seems like others have concerns about the rain too.

I'll cancel the trip.
21 Mar 2021
Trip Leader Thurstain (Tcm9669) Premium Member
TRIP CANCELLED - Reason: Due to weather concerns. Others in trip are concerned also, so I'm cancelling it and will run similar trip another time.
21 Mar 2021
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TRIP CANCELLED

4 GOING, 13 Interested
5 adults
Trip Date
23-Mar-2021 (Tue) to 26-Mar-2021 (Fri)

Meeting Point
Italian Flat
7:00 PM (Tue, 23-Mar-2021)