Saturday, Jun 29, 2013 at 08:03
Whilst I agree with your comments comparing the overall condition of the track in the 70's to the condition today and the gradual degradation being caused by traffic and use, the original post was asking for first hand opinions on the current condition from people who have just returned.
I too have driven the OTT since the early 80's on many occasions. I can say that for the last 3 years in the first 3 weeks of June it has been possible for fairly standard and unmodified 4x4's to drive the track from end to end without assistance.
In 2009 we drove the track the first week of April and it was still drier and easier than this year.
This year in the same time period it was not possible to do so without a winch due to the extent of sloppy mud and how far it reached up the entries and exits to a few of the creeks. This mud was there before the first car traversed the track this year and no amount of shovel/crow bar work would make any difference as it just needs more time to dry out at these crossings. The rest of the track was normal.
It was particularly quiet up there for us with no more traffic than the last 3 years so pinning the current condition on traffic this year is a long shot. We always try to beat the pre-school holiday rush and were again succesful in our plans with being able to
camp in the majority of popular spots on our own.
All across the top the locals were talking of a particularly dry season, but the wet they did get was very late. In fact it was still raining almost every day we were up there. Locals involved in tourism were almost apologetic for the rain saying it was most unseasonal.
I should also add that I don't think it really matters that the OTT has degraded over the years due to the volume of traffic it now gets and the methods people use to cross the creeks. For those not wanting the challenge there is the easy option via the PDR.
I don't agree with people destroying the environment and cutting down trees to put logs in the mud and totally agree with your frustrations about what people do with their
toilet paper etc......absolutely disgusting and worse than I have previously seen. It is very disappointing to see what some people do with their
toilet paper and general rubbish throughout the entire top end. We picked up and removed volumes of rubbish that we found along the way. In fact we made comment when we were having lunch on
the beach right at the tip that the term "Tip" unfortunately has another, and almost more relevant, meaning when describing
Cape York Peninsula.
I think vehicles should be appropriately equipped, prepared and modified to traverse the track without damage to the environment and carry all of their rubbish out with them.
Might see you up there one day.
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