konazz
X-TRAIL FANATIC
Date Registered: 08-2012
Location: Canberra, ACT
TOTAL POSTS: 479
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Caves-to-Caves April 2013
Finally, after much postponing, we finally got a smallish forum group on the caves to caves trip.
We had Rob and myself, who did the Caves-to-Caves from Wombeyan to Kanangra-Boyd National park on Saturday, and added Ben (griz), Roy and Oliver in the black exxy, Nathan (nathancox) and Anthony in the white exxy, and Michael (emjay) in the gold(?) T30 on Saturday night for the trip on Sunday morning.
Saturday:
Rob and I left Canberra after work on Friday night to stay at Wombeyan (a great off-peak camp ground with fire rings).
This is my setup. Rob carefully placed my maxtrax ready to go, in case I needed an early morning recovery. Thankfully, I did not!
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
After a very athletic game of frisbee with friends from work that were staying at Wombeyan for the weekend...
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
...we got going to the Range Firetrail out of Wombeyan
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
...and on our way to the Oberon end of Caves to Caves
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Getting to the end of Range Firetrail, we turned left and headed to Yerranderrie. Its a long drive of about an hour each way (from Mt Werong to Yerranderrie).
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Yerranderrie airstrip
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
On the way back, we stopped off at the Mt Werong camp area, which is a nice, quiet area. While there are minimal facilities (1 long drop), there is a lovely stone building which can provide refuge for campers during inclement weather
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
After Mt Werong, we headed through Dingo Dell and Kowmung River, but didn't stop as we wanted to make camp at Boyd River before dark and also needed to go into Oberon to pick up some supplies. I'm sure there are photos of the site on someone's camera. We caught up with Griz and Nathan et al. with emjay as a late arrival after dark.
Sunday
After a late night around the fire, we slowly (and groggily) woke up. Someone had 'accidentally' covered my car in toilet paper - around 1-1:30am it seems! drop bears?
Shenanigans and breakfast aside, we left at 10:00am from camp and headed to Kanangra Walls look out.
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Rob took a wrong step, and had to climb back up
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Obligatory group shot
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Soon after, off to Dingo Dell and onwards. After briefing griz and nathan on how to use the downhill assist (who are big fans of the system now - although i didn't realise early models couldn't switch on DHA on the fly), we got to the Kowmung River - which for many was the first time for a river crossing.
I took Roy over the river, so we could take photos.
Griz:
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Nathan:
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
emjay:
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Mr T-P
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
After the crossing, the ascent up to Banshea Firetrail began. It was also a great time for my radio to stop working for the day (could receive, not broadcast). emjay learnt how much of a difference 4 PSI can make on the loose stuff, comparing the climb from Kowmung to Dingo Dell, and Dingo Dell to Banshea Firetrail
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Finally at Banshea Rd, we headed to Mt Werong via the Colong-Oberon stock route. A sad drive: on the left was the blue mountains national park, on the right clear cut timber deforestation (someone on the radio mentioned it was for new home developments - yep it is for pine plantations, which are used in building those new suburbs; its more apparent closer to Oberon).
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Saying good bye to Ben, Roy and Oliver who had to get back to Sydney, we had a light lunch at Mt Werong and rather than going to Range Firetrail, decided to see whether we could cut across via Parliament Hill Rd. The road escapes the harsher climate of the Boyd Plateu, and drops into a lush green valley.
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
After about 45 mins from Mt Werong, tt was with great disappointment that we were welcomed by a locked gate at the end... Range Firetrail was less than 1km away. Doubling back, we tried a different crossing through the valley which turned out to be more fruitful.
We did have to squeeze between some properties (literally making 90 degree turns between two property fences - at times, I couldn't even see a road except for the GPS telling me there was one), crossing the Abercrombie River (thankfully we were high up in the water shed, so it was nice and shallow), and arriving at yet another gate. Thankfully, there was no keep out sign, or locks - merely a request to lock the gates and be careful of the property guards.
So we traversed the property
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
and bumped into one of the guards
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
who supervised everyone's journey
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Exiting the property and turning left on to Jerong Rd, we continued until Mt Fatigue firetrail, and onto the Range Firetrail which would take us back to Wombeyan.
There, Nathan left for Sydney, while emjay, Rob and myself enjoyed some banter and a bit of a rest before the journey to Canberra - the hot pot of espresso was welcome. We also decided to settle the argument of who's air compressor is better: mine is by nearly double.
Heading off towards Taralga, the road was very dusty and hard to see because of the dropping sun - which required spacing the convoy out a bit and at times stopping until the dust settled (no wind).
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
After refilling fuel in Goulburn, we all parted ways.
Hope to have some vids from Rob's go-pro (my go-pro is RIP... battery leaked during a charge) and I know everyone else took heaps of photos.
Last edited by konazz, 14/Apr/2013, 11:21 pm
--- Michael K
2012 X-Trail Series IV Diesel TS
Member X-2600 (C)
Mods: Pedders Lift Kit, Bash Plates, 16" X-trail Steel Rims, 235/70/16 A/T Tyres, Heavy Duty shock absorbers
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14/Apr/2013, 11:17 pm
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:
Looked like a top day, so that's what everything looks like when it's dry.
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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15/Apr/2013, 5:43 am
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Toddyh03
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663
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Re: Caves-to-Caves April 2013
Great stuff Michael. That deforested area is actually state forest. Everything planted there was done so to be logged for timber. That area has been like that for a couple of years now. Not sure what they are doing as they usually re-plant quicker than that.
--- Toddyh X-2048 (c)
New: Challenger
Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
My XTrail
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15/Apr/2013, 7:41 am
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:
David, there are two common sizes, 2.0m long x 2.5m wide and 2.5m long x 2.0 wide.
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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16/Apr/2013, 5:36 am
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