Trip: 4 to 5 Nov 2023
It was a cold and overcast morning with showers threatening. Five intrepid adventurers met at Queanbeyan for the trip. Departure was scheduled for 8.30 but we were all early so we set off to Braidwood. It was a politically incorrect all white party but I am pleased to report that we became more diverse at Braidwood when two coloured vehicles joined the group.
The temperature was in single digits at Braidwood but Ralph was unperturbed, wearing sandals and shorts. The rest of us were in jeans and jumpers.
After a briefing from Simon we headed off on the Cooma Road.
It is sealed for a the first 20 or so kilometres but then turns to gravel on and off. As we approached the Big Hole turn off, a healthy looking border collie, sitting by the side of the road, tried to herd a couple of the vehicles. I am pleased to report that he was still healthy looking after we all had passed him. Unfortunately, there were also a number of wombats in the road. Sadly they will not be batting and more woms, in this world anyway.
Not much longer and we reached the turnoff to Middle Mountain Road where we reduced the tyre pressures and selected low range. Another briefing and we were off.
The first few kilometres were uneventful. We reached Minuma Range Fire Trail without and drama and headed north. We stopped at Dampier Mountain Fire Trail for a decision. It was cold and misty and we had had the occasional shower so Simon offered us the choice of heading straight for camp as opposed to the scenic route planned.
There was a fire ban in the park (it wasn’t raining very heavily) and no one fancied the idea of sitting in the cold and wet with nothing to do so we continued on north. Simon extolled on the virtues of being lead vehicle as he described wallabies, kangaroos and several lyre birds crossing his path.
The road was becoming more and more littered with sticks and bits of branches when Simon announced that his ABS light was on the dash. Ralph wondered what an AVS was? We continued on, unphased. Some minutes later Linden advised that Page 97 of the owners’ manual gave the answer. “Go to your nearest Toyota dealer”. Sure, there is one just down the road!
At a convenient spot not far from a trig point that looked like it was destroyed in the 2019 fires we stopped for lunch. Simon confirmed that the ABS sensor was disconnected from the wires. Probably due to sticks. Thankfully, the rain had abated to just mist. Simon assured us that the views were splendid, all the way to the ocean. We could see maybe 50 metres so we had to accept his word.
Simon also guaranteed us that we would see a big difference when we got to Mongamula Fire Track. He clarified to say that he meant in the amount of sticks. He was right, but not in the way he meant.
Some way along the convoy came to a halt. There was a tree down across the road. Simon and Craig got out their blunt axes and dealt with it in short time. We carried on but soon stopped again. Another tree. Quite small this time and it was cleared before the entire party had stopped. The next obstacle was the Deua River. It wasn’t deep, so it didn’t slow us down.
We were now in the river valley going back and forth across it. The road was well maintained and progress was good… until we came across the grand mother of all fallen trees. Naturally it was across the road and it was wedged at both ends. That, together with an estimated weight of several tons, meant that winches were not an option. Its metre plus circumference also meant that blunt axes were not an option either.
As we pondered our next move Andrew walked on down the track to see if there were more. Thankfully this seemed to be the last as Andrew saw evidence of trees have been cleared. He figured they gave up when they met this one.
No one was keen on a very long back track so we decided to build a bridge. Naturally there were no really large rocks but there was an abundance of small branches and small rocks. These were quickly piled up and the gaps filled with shovels full of earth. Simon ensured that those of us standing idle and taking photos also put our backs into the work. Surprisingly quickly we had respectable ramps on both sides of the tree. Then it was decided to finish the job with 8 recovery boards.
So it was now time to put our engineering to the test. Simon went first after ensuring that only one person either side of the trunk was giving instructions and the rest of us were well out of harm’s way.
Amazingly he breezed across, as did the remaining 5 cars. Only Ralph with the big Range Rover bottomed out but, as he said, he has rocker slider rails so he just pressed on.
We had no sooner completed this adventure when we saw a vehicle coming the other way. I stopped him to warn him of the tree and see how the road ahead was. He was not concerned about the tree. He had a very big chain saw. I guess our bridge was not going to run the test of time. He assured me that the road to Merricumbene Fire Tail was fine. Maybe for him.
We came across another tree down. This time it was a multi-trunked jobbie. The big cars got over it easily but the Jimny was beached with wheels either side. I went back a little and then bounced him over, to the amusement of at least one other participant.
As we travelled up to Merricumbene we passed over several more trees. They were only a minor inconvenience. So much so that Simon stopped announcing them. But then we came to a very steep hill with some serious ruts. Simon took a couple of goes to determine the best line which he passed on to the convoy. He suggested that lockers might be useful. What are these “lockers” you speak of? Everyone successfully achieved the climb, but the Jimny was close to the limit of his road tyres, spinning all 4 wheels in a gallant attempt to gain traction.
We stopped at Merricumbene and Simon announced to us that we had left the hardest behind us as this was the main drag. We drove on to Bendethera Fire Trail. Our track at times was quite over grown but the wild flowers were in abundance. At Bendethera Fire Trail Simon told us that this was the way caravans come in. They must be tough and the tow vehicles powerful as it is very steep and windy. So, after some serious downhill and a few more creeks, we were finally in camp.
We were actually earlier than expected despite our unanticipated adventures. We chose a camp nearby the old homestead beside a creek. We had plenty of space but most of the grass showed ample evidence of wombats and some pig damage. We did have time for a happy hour before the rain came in and sent us to our various tents.
We rose early. It was misty rain and the ground looked quite damp. How did this bode for the trip out? Only time would tell.
After a good gossip we were packed and ready to go. We were given the option of exploring the area or just heading off. No one was keen on tramping around in the bush in the rain so off we went. Thankfully the river crossing was no deeper than Saturday and we all reached Dampier Mountain Fire Trail without drama, having been farewelled by a huge soggy mob of grey kangaroos.
Here we go. The road was getting wetter and wetter as we gained altitude. The surface was mostly good, albeit slippery and progress was being made… until… we came to another very steep hill with severe rutting near the top. Simon suggested those mysterious lockers would be good again. Apparently they were. The vehicles with them just walked up. When it came Jimny’s turn I saw the size of the ruts. They would have made Crocodile Dundee proud. Big enough to easily swallow the poor Suzuki. But there was no choice. Onward and upward, hopefully. Well, poor Cricket struggled and struggled. The wheels all spun and he slid sideways but then he finally found some grip and he miraculously pulled himself out the other side.
Some way further on a lyre bird ran in front of me, so the sweep does not always miss out.
Aside from some blind hairpin corners, that was really our last obstacle before we got back to Cooma Road and re-inflated our tyres. Simon offered us a scenic trip via Parlour Creek and Harolds Cross Rd to Captains Flat which we all accepted, except Craig, who, living in Bungendore, took the more direct route home.
We made it to the Flat. The pub was closed but we found a little store selling drinks and bacon and egg rolls. It was lovely and warm inside and we were welcomed by the friendly dog. He had only just recovered from an expensive run in with a brown snake but seemed none the worse for wear.
Here we bid each other fond farewell and headed for home individually.
Author: David Brown
Attendees:
- Simon Nickson Toyota Landcruiser S76
- Ralph Radovan 1996 Range Rover
- Craig Skipper Isuzu DMax Ute
- Andrew & Linden Chalmers Toyota Landcruiser Troopy
- John Worthington Holden Colarado
- David Brown Suzuki JB74 Jimny
Acknowledgements:
- We thank Simon for his planning and excellent leadership.
- Linden and Andrew Chalmers and Craig Skipper for providing the photographs.