Has anyone just done the Old Telegraph Track

hi all
when the front tyres drive along a short length of log and get to it's end the log will cock up under your vehicle and do extensive damage driving length ways over short logs is a no brainer
logs that are place across a track side by side corduroy fashion are good to get you over a boggy section but as soon as floods come the logs shift to all angles and then become a big hazard as I have mentioned above
so if I was to come across a situation as shown in the photo
I would shift them out of the way or lay them as suggested to avoid risk of damage
cheers

Yes and there is simply no need for them in Palm Creek or anywhere on the tele. A crow bar and a few shovels does a way better job in a few minutes. Last year I took all the logs out and attempted to burn them , but they were too wet to burn.

+1000

Local advice is great, but do have a look for yourself, even if you just end up having a look. At worst, it'd be a pity to bypass a crossing without even a pic, even if you decide to go around.

Besides, no harm in looking. I keep telling the missus the same thing too LOL

Spot on Russ

We got to Daintree Village and they said that the CREB was still closed. But we went to the sign and got a photo regardless.

The only crossing that we did not negotiate was Gunshot. Just didn't want to do it and prove anything. Besides we went around and met a couple of the locals and a had a cuppa with them on the bypass. Great stories to boot. Nolans was at bonnet height but still a good easy cross.

Phil

PS To Olsen and his mate we didn't put the logs in Palm Creek and did not have any trouble with them "kicking up as well. Maybe you aren't driving on them properly!!

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.

I guess it could be argued I hijacked the thread- but for a good cause. I agree with all you have said. My point is there was a massive, perhaps thousand fold increase in the damage in a single year between 2011 and 2012 and a million fold increase in toilet paper and rubbish. Anyway I think I made my point. Thanks

Oh and by the way I am a local :-) so I experienced the rain- out was two parts of nothing.