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看到其他4wd club的trip report, 和我们的路线相近,贴给大家参考
Here is a trip report from a recent trip by some members of the Murray Bridge 4wd club.
The trip was 8 days so I will post it in installments. There are some pics that I'm trying to work out how to include but haven't quite worked it out yet. By the way a special howdy to Split Pin and gang who we met later in the week
HIGH COUNTRY 2010
DAY 1
After travelling via various routes to Bright on Saturday, everybody met at the servo on Sunday morning at around 9 am. The group consisting of Tony & Mari-anne Eckermann (Jackaroo), Wayne, Marg, Kirsty and Guy Jackson (Patrol), John & Deb Chambers (Landcruiser), Greg, Di , Nathan and Todd Schulz (Landcruiser) and Robbo and Carrol (Troopy). We left Bright and headed straight for the Blue Rag Spur Track with John and Deb staying behind and re-joining the group that night. Supposed to be one of the ‘to do’ tracks in the high country it didn’t disappoint, with fantastic 360 degree views. Then following a steep 1200 metre descent, lunch was had at the bottom of the track on the Wongungarra River. Lunch finished, it was back up the now steep ascent onto the North Basalt track continuing to the South Basalt track and another rather steep descent into Talbotville for Camp. During the afternoon we were able to have some contact with John & Deb via radio and found them waiting for us at our first night campsite. Weather was slightly cool with a little rain. In the evening the camp was visited by a very friendly kookaburra which was able to be hand fed.
DAY 2
With everyone ready to move, we left camp at 9 am and left via the Crooked River track stopping about half way to explore the Good Hope gold mine site while Tony tried to locate the source of some rather noisy creaking coming from the rear brakes. After the 26 river crossings in 8kms and an adjustment of the Jackaroo handbrake, we travelled up the steep Bulltown Spur Track to the site of Grant Mining Township where we spent some time looking at the history board. Jacko had found a mine some years earlier so we went searching for it and after a short drive found it and went inside for a look. The main shaft went in some 200 metres. A group photo was had and everyone exited to travel on to the Grant cemetery for lunch. The cemetery was overgrown with new growth after the bushfires and with the inclement weather we didn’t spend much time looking around. Into the afternoon, the mist set in which made for some interesting driving conditions. We came across a hunters camp at the bottom of the Matheson Spur Track and got talking to a guy over the radio who had just been there making some preparations for the upcoming hunting season and we were invited to use the camp if we wished. We moved on with talk of maybe coming across some snow if we could get closer to Mt Hotham (don’t know who started that one). Conditions got very foggy at the top of the Stock Route Track and there was even some ice on the windscreens at one stage - that was the closest we got to snow. Taking some tracks that eventually led us through Cobungra Station, we made camp at a nice clean roadside park at the turnoff to Victoria Falls lookout. Unfortunately the weather was still inclement and not much social activity was had.
DAY 3
After packing up camp, we left for Omeo, stopping to take in the view north to Mt Kosciusko which we found out later was covered in 15 cm of snow at the time. Into Omeo for some fuel and supplies - the bakery was very popular, we headed off to our destination for the day - Limestone Flat. The scenery changed with a lot more undergrowth and the trees more scrubby in apearance. Robbo finally got to use his brand new chainsaw as there were a number of trees which had fallen onto the track. Lunch was had on the side of a more major road and from there we eventually reached Limestone Creek campsite at about 4pm. The kids were keen to try their hand at fishing as Jacko had spotted a number of small trout in the stream. It wasn’t long before Guy had a small brown trout which was promptly returned to the stream because of its size. John did the honours and went off to cut some fire wood with the help of some of the crew. Camp ovens were put on to cook. Then it was time to relax and enjoy a beautiful evening with good conversation and some cool beers etc. Just on dusk some brumbies were spotted not far from the camp, so all got to see them before they headed off into the bush. Into the evening Nathan and Guy returned to camp having found some caves telling everyone how good they were. People retired at their leisure with the last ones going to bed around midnight.
DAY 4
An early rise had everyone ready to travel out for the trek to the head of the Murray river. This wasn’t going to be easy with about 5 kms of walking and a rise of over 400 metres. Carol and Mari-anne decided to spend the day in camp and relax, having some fun as we found out when we got back , with some rangers who were very interested in the Schulz’s & Jackson’s Oztents. One of the rangers mentioned that if his wife knew about the shower tents we had setup, he might be able to get her enthusiastic about getting outdoors for some camping too. Carol even did a sales spiel on Robbo’s new intercooler - Marianne and the rangers were most impressed. The rangers warned the two girls not to get too close to the brumbies as they had a real nasty streak and had been known to attack people.
Meanwhile the main group were well on their way to the starting point of the day’s walk, taking roughly 1 ¾ hrs to drive along the Cobberas Trail (very rough with an interesting steep pinch in the middle). John and Deb followed and continued on in their vehicle as they left us to start our walk. We walked for nearly 2 hrs to get to Cowombat Flat. It didn’t take long to locate the stream. We then followed it as far as we could still see water until it seemed to disappear. After that it was a series of boggy patches where we could still hear the water running underground in places. It was decided to have lunch and a well earned rest in the shade of some trees. After lunch, at a suitable spot where the steam started to flow consistently, some photos were taken and given the time of day, it was decided to start heading back. At least it was going to be mostly downhill on return to the cars eventually getting back to camp around 5:30 pm. After tea that evening the boys wanted to go back and explore the cave, so Tony and Jacko went with them to supervise. An hour or so later the boys returned, and everyone was keen to have a look in the morning before leaving camp.
DAY 5
A more leisurely start to the day with some of the group enjoying bacon & eggs for breakfast before packing up for the day’s drive. A short walk from the camp had the troops down on their hands and knees crawling through the entrance to Sheehan’s cave. Even Deb Chambers was coerced inside for a look around. Once in, the cave opened up and we were able to move around the large chambers with relative ease. There were lots of stalactites & stalagmites with many offshoots to explore. There was a lot to see and one could spend hours exploring if they were prepared to get a little dirty crawling through the smaller tunnels. Time was ticking and we had to move out, finally leaving camp at 11 am. Leaving via the Limestone Creek track we headed downstream to a camping area called the Poplars - the first public vehicle access to the Murray River, where the river was now about 5 or so metres wide(approx 15 kms downstream from where we had walked to the day before). Onto Mcarthy’s track, and then Davies Plain track and lunch at Charlie’s Creek camping area. Continuing on the Davies plain track, we turned onto the King Plain track and descended from 1760 metres down to 830 to get another look at the Mighty Murray (pretty steep in places). Once back up on the Davies Plain track, we stopped for a look at Davies Plain hut which had survived the recent bushfires and was in very good condition. Crossing into NSW, camp was made at Tom Groggin on the Mighty Murray which was now close to 10 metres wide with a nice waterfall just downstream from camp. Happy hour was had on the banks of the river where everyone just sat and relaxed in the afternoon calm.
DAY 6
John and Deb had to leave the group and left soon after breakfast to go home to Mt Pleasant. After some discussion the night before, an unplanned day trip was organised to go to Thredbo and see Mt Kosciusko given we were only 20 Kms away. Taking the chairlift as far as we could go it was then a 6.5 km walk to the summit. Greg and Di went as far as the lookout while the Jacksons, Robbo, Nathan and Todd made it all the way to the summit. All the snow we had seen a few days earlier was gone bar for some small areas of snow left over from the winter. Then it was back to camp for another night.
DAY 7
An early start to the day saw everyone ready to go at 8:30 am. Crossing the river back into Vic we headed for the Mt Pinnibar Track and another steep climb to the peak. We were joined by 2 other vehicles which had passed us while we had stopped to check out some noises coming from the Jackaroo only to find out that there was a rather large tree blocking the track. Not having a chainsaw they stayed with us until we reached Mt Pinnibar. Great views were had at the peak before we headed onto the Mt Gibbo-Mt Anderson tracks. It was then onto the recently bulldozed Pheasant Creek track with a very steep descent to the Gibbo river for lunch. What goes down must go up! And a just as steep rise saw us heading out of the river and eventually onto the Benambra-Corryong road. It was then straight to Taylors Crossing on the Mitta-Mitta River and our last camp as a group at Kennedy’s Hut just downstream from the crossing. Another great happy hour was had where Jacko and Tony decided to try and make fire by rubbing sticks together. After possibly a few too many beers and much conjecture from the audience it was deemed futile. Must have been the cheap Victorian timber!
DAY 8
Another early rise and everyone was ready to leave soon after 8 am. A quick stop at the Wombat Creek post office site and we were heading out on the Wombat Creek Track , which was possibly the steepest and shaliest track of the week - a good one to finish off the trip with. Then onto the Razor track and down the Omeo highway to Mitta Mitta to put some air in the tyres and buy a pie from the shop. Schulz’s & Jacksons headed off to Shepparton and home arriving back in Murray Bridge around 11:30 pm. Robbo and Carol & the Eckerman’s headed for Echuca and one final camp on the banks of the Murray before getting back to Murray Bridge on Monday afternoon.
All in all a great week was had. Good company - Great times |
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