AUSTRALIAN X-TRAIL FORUM :: Trip Reports :: Caves to Caves Attempt

Australian X-Trail Forum Trip Reports
Caves to Caves Attempt

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Toddyh03 Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663

Caves to Caves Attempt

Hi All,
we (My Xtrail, a kitted Prado, Trition and Hilux) attemptted to complete the Caves to Caves trip on sunday. We started from the Wombeyan Caves end and planned to finish at Jenolan Caves. Just a couple of pics along the Wombeyan Caves Road from Mittagong

The bridge at Wollondilly River was almost overtopped by flood waters. See the video below

Seeing the river like that made me a little nervous knowing that we had to cross the Kowmung River later that day. Anyway we crossed the bridge (the detour would have added over 2 hours) and continue to Wombeyan Caves.

From Wombeyan Caves we headed up Langs Road, onto the Goker Fire Trail to the Range Fire Trail and eventually onto Uni Rover Track up to Mt Werong. This section was fairly easy and very little mud was encountered. Any Xtrail should have no problems through this section. In particular Uni Rover Track is 2wd standard. At the intersection of Range Fire Trail and Uni Rover Track there was a nice bog hole off the side of the track which we all had a go at. The Hilux went last and carried a bit too much speed and off went the front number plate. Picked it up and carried on.
Off this track we turned onto a side track that lead us to Banshea Road. Again this was easy going. From here we turned on to the 4wd only Kowmung River trail. The only reason this trail is 4wd only is the water diversion humps and the clay that would be very slippery in the wet. The track has been graded recently and is in very good condition.

We descended down to Dingo Dell Camp Ground for lunch. Its actually quite a bit smaller than I had imagined. Here we had our first creek crossing. Apparently this creek in normally a trickle but as you can see not so today. The Prado did the test run.

Then the Xtrail

From here it was a climb that required 4wd followed by the descent to Kowmung River.

The descent is steep in sections but definitely Xtrail doable. With the lift and A/T tyres it was relatively smooth sailing for me. When we got to the river this is what we saw:

One of our guys walked the river and it was belly button deep and flowing so fast that he ended up drenched as he couldn't maintain a footing. There was no way the Xtrail would make this. The water would have been mid-windscreen height and I would have ended up down river. The Prado dipped its front wheels in just to get a feel for the force and decided no way it could make it either. So we turned back and climbed up and out of the valley. I took a bit of video of the climb out. Doesn't really show how steep it was but worth a look anyway.

This link shows the path we travelled. I tracked it using MyTracks on my phone.Wombeyan to Kowmung track

So we ended up back on The Range Fire Trail and decided we should have some fun anyway. So I suggested Upper Werong Fire Trail. The track was a very steep descent (way steeper than Kowmung trail) down to Werong Creek which was fairly deep and had a steep, muddy climb out on the far side

We all negotiated this successfully and were then confronted by this steep and rocky climb out of the valley

Again all successful and made it to Jerrong Road. From here we headed south and found Middle Werong Fire Trail. The first one was so much fun why not have a crack at this one too. Track map below
Middle Werong Fire Trail

Again we wound down to a creek crossing. This one was more rocky but it wasn't the creek crossing that was of concern here. The climb out was phenomenally steep and very rocky.

Yet again the Xtrail amazed me and I made the crossing and the climb with no issues. This section would be a lift and A/T tyres minimum for an Xtrail.

The top of this track had a fun little bog hole

Then onto Mt Werong Track heading south. We stumbled on Lower Werong Fire Trail. There was a sign at the entrance saying 'locked gate 5km' but we thought we have a look anyway. Another very steep climb down towards the creek. This track was the most boggy of the day by far.

The creek crossing was very steep in and out (thankyou bash plate) but it was nothing compared to the bogs that lay ahead. The water through this one was mid-door height.

Worst part was we did find that locked gate and had to go back through all that again. Again the Xtrail got through no trouble. We found ourselves on Mt Werong Track heading south to Parliment Hill Fire Trail. This basically lead to a series of dead ends and private property. It did have by far the deepest crossing of the day. Water was well over the bonnet here but relatively slow moving. The Xtrail made it no troubles. The 2nd photo shows the water level on the triton.

It was getting dark and starting to rain by this stage so we aborted trying to fire a shorter way out and went the long way back up to Uni Rover Track and exited down via The Range Fire Trail.

Great day out (very long - left home at 6am arrived back at 11pm) and the Xtrail continues to amaze me with its capabilities. Hopefully when the weather fines up the the Kowmung drops I can organise an Xtrailers trip out there. The main trails would be a great challenge for beginners and the more experience can have a play like we did here.

Last edited by Toddyh03, 20/Mar/2012, 7:59 am

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Toddyh X-2048 (c)
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Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
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19/Mar/2012, 11:04 am

cooch t31 Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966

Re:

Good stuff Todd,
I haven't done that trip for years mainly because of the Dingo Dell crossing of the Kowmung River.
I have seen it half way up a windscreen on a Cruiser at its deepest passable state and as low as just over the wheels.
Like you said, its either a crossing or a 2 hour round trip.

Wish I had known you were going, I would have tagged along for sure.
How about organizing a forum outing?

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Tony X-891c

HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1

19/Mar/2012, 5:35 pm

dlpeek Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 12-2010
Location: Macquarie Fields SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 1027

Re: Caves to Caves Attempt

Definitely definitely definitely interested.
I am away most of April but after that I should have my new Geolander AT/S tyres and already have bash plates and a pedders lift.

Sounds like a great forum outing and I would even consider camping out ....Boyd River crossing on the Kowmung Road comes to mind.

cheers and great pcs and vids of your trip Todd

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Dave Peek
X-1756 (c)
2010 T31 ST-L (S2) CVT Precision Grey.
Tow Bar, bash plates, PEDDERS lift, YOKO GEO 15 AT/S tyres.

19/Mar/2012, 6:39 pm

Toddyh03 Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663

Re: Caves to Caves Attempt

Yeah for sure I will try to organise a forum trip. Would like to wait until after a period of dry weather so the kowmung is actually crossable

Last edited by Toddyh03, 19/Mar/2012, 7:14 pm

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Toddyh X-2048 (c)
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My XTrail

19/Mar/2012, 7:05 pm

jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100

Re:

Hi Todd,

Thanks for the trip report.

Please note that none of your pics can be enlarged and this is not the first time this happens, as I have edited all of your previous pics for you, but am afraid I won't be able to do that all the time.

Please go the posting photos guide HERE and make sure Step #6 is done in your PhotoBucket account which will fix this issue.

Last edited by jalalski, 20/Mar/2012, 7:43 am

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19/Mar/2012, 9:45 pm

Toddyh03 Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663

Re: Caves to Caves Attempt

Thats done Jalal. I didn't realise you did that last time. Should be all good to go now.

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Toddyh X-2048 (c)
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Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
My XTrail

20/Mar/2012, 6:33 am

jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100

Re:

Nope, still not working. Click on your photos and see what you get. If you get "The action that you were trying to perform has failed." it means the problem is still there.

Maybe try uploading one of these photos again and see if the setting will apply to all new photos rather than the one already posted here.

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20/Mar/2012, 7:42 am

Toddyh03 Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663

Re: Caves to Caves Attempt

Had to redo all the links. Should be working now.

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Toddyh X-2048 (c)
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Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
My XTrail

20/Mar/2012, 8:00 am

jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100

Re:

Excellent Todd, the photos are awesome emoticon

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20/Mar/2012, 8:12 am

scorpion2777 Profile
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X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 05-2011
TOTAL POSTS: 130

Re:

Im going camping at Wombeyan Caves over the easter break with the kids and heading down to Yerranderie mining town ill let you guys know what its like when i get back in regards to the river and overall mud situation.

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Hazelbrook (Blue Mountains)
Ray X-1909
Old 2002 T30 TI
New D22 Navara

23/Mar/2012, 6:06 pm

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