Mike Harding posted:

Well said Dave.

It seems we do agree on some things John :)

I'm heading up that way (on my own - as usual) tomorrow for 5 to 10 days and like you guys I am _amazed_ at some of the people I meet - like the solo motorcyclist a couple of years ago who had: no maps, no compass (never mind GPS), no supplies and (honestly!) did not know what a topographic map was when I showed him where we were ("So where do you get these then?"). Apparently he had become lost a few months earlier and had used his mobile phone (I'm amazed it worked!) to call police who sent in a helicopter to guide him out - cost him $3000 but didn't deter him.

Tomorrow I'll have enough food for 2 weeks+, 35lt of water, a UHF CB, a HF radio, CDMA, a GPS, 2 compasses, computer mapping at 1:25000 and a backup paper map at 1:250000 plus an EPIRB and, most important of all, a healthy sense of cowardice. In addition I have left full details of where I'm going and how to make HF contact with me and when to send in the cavalry if I'm not heard from. I don't want to be big, butch and tough - I just want to enjoy myself and stay alive.

Mike Harding

geocacher (djcache) posted:

Yep.

DJ

Member - John (Vic) posted:

Duncs
4wd Victoria is currently working with Parks Vic and DSE to start a track grading system.
My understanding is the discussions are in early stages at the moment and are a very difficult issue to address as a track that may be graded say easy changes to say hard or very hard with a bit of rain.

This may be a step in the right direction for a standard measure to be used if it can be agreed and kept up to date.

Member - bushfix posted:

Armstrong track at Mt Bulla Bulla, near Deddick.

yep, with the rain leading up to Easter weekend it did not auger well when you have people who might put "gung ho" before track care. Unfortunately, sometimes you can't back track and conditions might result in track maintenance by the 4by driver being minimal at best.

geocacher (djcache) posted:

GQPat,

Your definition of hard and an inexperienced persons definition of hard though are two different things, and a track you found easy can be hard in different conditions. I personally love the trip out along the Blue Rag, I don't find it particularly taxing, others I know who went out there recently will never go back and will take years to get some passengers fingernails out of their dashes, not to mention their own out of the steering wheel.

I'm not about to suggest that the experienced can't get into trouble, they do and have particularly where they overestimate their ability. But in this area the inexperienced could easily get into trouble. 4wd manufacturers are more and more loading up vehicles with the likes of traction control, hill descent technologies and many more features that further the chance that an inexperienced person may end up over confident.

It's interesting to note that like P platers, 4wders are more likely to get overconfident in their own ability the longer the go out and do it without getting into trouble, the more experience you have the harder and more dangerous the situation will be that you do find yourself in trouble in.

Further to that the conditions play such an important part in the High Country. You can wake up one morning to clear blue sky and sunshine and drive anywhere you want without difficulty but then the clouds build and it either snows or rains and the same track you passed with ease in the morning can turn into a nightmare by mid afternoon.

I don't particularly care what you choose to do as long as you are prepared properly, that you and all convoy members AND their passengers know the risks involved and are capable of calling for help if or when you need it, realising that it may be a long time coming also. Too often that is not the case.

The alternatives include wheelchairs & coffins. You are a long time dead. Challenging/adventurous is great fun until it all goes horribly wrong.

Other posters here seem to indicate that my experiences are not isolated with many indicating having assisted people grossly unprepared for trips up there.

Enjoy your trip - safely,

Dave

geocacher (djcache) posted:

Keep you fit too.... :o)))

Dave

Member - Jeff M (WA) posted:

Yup it always amazes me how different a track can look on foot. We walked a track in Kal over easter thinking it looked a little rougher than the others, holey heck. We turned around and went the other way once we'd walked it. It was rediculous. We found a Car Jack and a Spark Plug in the ruts of the hill, not a good sign of a successful ascent! LOL

geocacher (djcache) posted:

I've been in both ways.

Your first option is my preferred route as I love the climb up Harry Sheppard Tk.

A few of us went in the second route you mentioned last year and one towed his T-van in. No problem.

Either is fine.

Dave

geocacher (djcache) posted:

PM for you in your inbox.

Dave