October - anyone up in the high country?

Yep - as always. We tend to do a few privately-owned trails (that we get exclusive use of), so if the normal trails are still shut (DSE and NWPS can be a month too slow opening after the winter) we'll deviate.

I've heard the old fella's worth a couple of bob....

Yep - the Murray can be running high. That's why we're being totally flexible. If we can't go that way, we'll double-back and head down to Corryong and down the Benambra road to the Wheelers and Pinnibar areas. We'll just wander where we can. No set itinerary.

Crackles - you're a local.... so where are you based? We're in Cooma (Wambrook).

Chrispy if you do a little homework on the track closures, you might save yourself a heap of back tracking. These are just a few of the closures in the Pinibar region.
Closed from: 1 May to 30 November 2005
7 Davies Plain Track
8 Kings Plain Track
Closed from: 16 June to 27 October 2005
1 Surveyors Creek Road
4 Blue Gum Ridge Track
5 Shady Creek Upper Track
6 Pinibar-Tom Groggin Track
9 Mount Murhpy Track
10 Buckwong Track ( Mt Murphy Trk to Davies Plain Trk)
11 McCarthys Track
12 Misery Trail (Dapples Creek Road to Davies Plain Trk)
13 Macs Creek Road
14 Limestone Creek Track
15 Cowombat Flat Track
16 Rams Horn Track
17 Cobberas Trail
18 Mc Farlanes Flat Track
Cheers Craig.....
Benalla Vic.

Thanks Craig

We'll be doing mostly private tracks that we know of. Whatever else is open when we get there - is open. Pinnibar down to 5-Mile and Wheelers to Benambra will all be open, or should be. We'll probably troll around in that region for a while too. As per usual, we tend to call the DSE and NPWS on the day - because they sometimes surprise us and open up something unadvertised - it's happened a few times before. It's worth making the phone calls right up until the day you want to travel.

Again - where are you based?

"Cheers Craig.....
Benalla Vic."

& yes Parks do open up a few tracks early as it's physically impossible to get around all the gates in one week. They just don't advertise the fact. They often keep tracks closed longer too particually if they've had heavy rain or if there is snow remaining. The ranger up in the Davies Plain area has often sent out extended closures in the past. This year Association members have been offered early entry into the high country in places to assist clear fallen timber off the tracks although you must have complete the accredited chainsaw course 1st.
Cheers Craig.........
Benalla Vic.

Hey there Moose :)

If you're referring to the pics on our omaroo.net website, then yes - they are all on our patch of dirt. We only get that a couple of times a year (we are at around the 800-900m mark) but when it snows it's a fabulous place to be. A good fire in the evening and a glass of red..... mmmmmmm.

We're with the "High Country 4x4 Club" - which is based back in Sydney, but goes up into the hills at every opportunity. We do overnight trips every two weeks at the moment - right through to summer. The website is at http://www.highcountry4x4club.com/index.html if you want to see what we do :)

Do you get to come down south much if you're up there in Brissy? If you haven't come down to the high country before it's a great place to be.

Cheers mate
Chris

Chris - every 2 weeks! - that's a very active club.
Nah - never been into the high country in earnest but it has been on the wish list for some time. It's a matter of being able to get holidays at the right time of year, and enough of them to make it worthwhile. With kids in high school we're a bit limited for a while but after that the HC will be a definite destination.
We do have a sort of HC up this way - the New England Tablelands area can get very chilly in winter and we've spent many a pleasant night around campfire with a suitable beverage in that part of the world. I rather enjoy camping out in the cold.
Cheers from the Moose.

Any time you want to come down - we'll show you around:)

New England - yup... I've spent a few freezing nights in Glen Innes and Armidale..... brrrr! It's quite high at that point.

Cheers
Chris

Cheers bushfix... :)

We'll be in Sydney for a few days prior, so we'll be coming down on Sept 31st. We'll try and deviate through the Brindies if we get time. Chan 27? OK

Crikey - why is everyone making a meal of this post? I'm just asking the friendly question as to whether anyone is going to be down that way in early October - is there any harm in that?

There are no private tracks down near Tom Groggin apart from the station tracks. I wasn't referring to that area persee. I'm referring to some private land back towards Corryong. I don't think I need to explain it all - unless you think you need to make me.

You don't cross the Murray in October. I'd like to see ANY 4WD do that. You know some people who can get you across the weir at the station and then through their private land. Sheesh! Why does everyone pretend to be high country "locals" whenever the subject is broached. I'd say one out of fifty who claim to be locals really are! I'm in Cooma - so does that make me a local? Probably more than most.

Oh... I'd love to be able to edit responses to this site. It would kill the "anger" response problem. Sorry about that. Your tone set me off. You make it sound like I'm a Queenslander who doesn't know the track drill in the H/country.

You look local. Where are you? The "other" local up further on this page never said where he was based.

Again - we have 5 days to wonder around and see what's open. If nothing is, then we have private alternatives.... even around Berridale.

Take it easy. Cynical or jealous I may be but local I definately qualify for. Lived in the North East for 20 years and now get back home regularly from Shep. Wrote the two Vic High Country trek notes. Grew up on family income derived from Alpine Resorts, High Country tourism and the Alpine National Park.

Maybe its the fact that you proposed a trip that most locals who know the area backwards and even those who just visit regularly because they love the place can't do or wouldn't contemplate for at least another month, and for some areas maybe longer.

That tends to generate the responses you got. People predominantly have been suggesting that they don't want to see you waste your time on limited access.

If I proposed on this forum to do the Canning in January or Cape York in the middle of the wet I'd expect the same sort of responses.

Why run a trip there in October when your options are so limited? That's what I can't work out. There are so many places there to visit but unless you want bitumen and 2wd type logging tracks (oh I'd love to make a comment about them being perfect for a jeep but you might take it the wrong way...) you are so much better off visiting in another month.

Maybe it's because I spend all my touring time in public land but I'm not really aware of very much private land up there that's worth making the trip for if 4wd touring is what you are going for. If you are after a spot with a decent view to stop at and camp on a river for a week that may be a different story. They vary from little know corners of farm paddocks to well known caravan parks or 4-5 star type B&B's and stuff.

There's some areas down around Dartmouth that you can still get into too but I can think of better places to go.

If you pick some of the more popular deer hunting areas then the poachers who break in before the tracks are closed will have done much of the track clearing and chainsaw work for you.

Have a nice trip. If you are up there from November - May we might bump into each other. In October I'll be in Arkaroola.

Dave

No harm done or intended Dave. We're all here for the same thing.

The reason that we are doing our 5-day trip at the beginning of October is that it is the only time where eight individuals' free time co-incides each year.

We will be mostly sitting on the banks of a stream somehwhere contemplating our navels and enjoying foggy morning breakfasts. We WON'T be touring on closed or even moist tracks. We are a club of people who RESPECT and specialise in the area, and are even individual members of groups such as the Kosciuszko Huts Association. We in fact have a registered hut (1850's) on our own property - so we understand and cherish preservation.

We'll be doing another 13-day trip up there in December/January - so if we bump into you then that'd be great!

Cheers
Chris

The "other" local up further on this page never said where he was based. Sorry Chris, have a look at my respose down the bottom
" BENALLA VIC"
I hate to have to justify myself but with 27 years of building powerlines in the hills from Corryong to Woods Point I think it qualifys me as a local ;-)
& please don't take too much offence when we suggest that rivers may be high & tracks closed, as I agree with Dave when he said that we "don't want to see you waste your time on limited access."
Many interstaters have no idea what to expect down south so as you will see on many previous posts both Dave & I warn everyone of the conditions they can expect as it's near impossible to tell an individuals experience from just a few lines.
Cheers Craig.....

Hey there Crazie - and thanks. Arrggghhh!!! ;)

We might even end up going a bit further south - so maybe Mt Sterling area could wind up being thrown in to the itinerary.... depending on conditions and closures where we are.

Cheers mate - and have a great trip yourself!

Cheers
Chris

I could bite my tongue or I could stick my neck out... and I've never been one to miss a sterling opportunity like this one. :o))

The locals would spell it "Stirling".

Course you could just tell me to go to Buggery - but being local I'd know where it is as it's not far from Stirling, and I'd love to.

:o)))

Dave

Dave - I'd call it sticking your neck out. Thanks for being facetious.

You are right though....

Cheers

all this time and thats the only spelling mistake you have picked me up on.........

being local too, doesnt make me a great speller...

Sorry Crazie...

Dave