How many are like me?

Maybe I am different. I got my 4by to take me places my 1978 Nissan Camper couldnt reliably take me not to try and look like something out of the tuff Truck challange. If getting somewhere that I want to go is a challange then so be it but I would rather get out and walk for a bit than risk stuffing something up in the middle of no where. Just recently I ended up on the wrong side of a 40k walk when I could have opted for a 5 min walk - never again if I can help it

You're not the Lone Ranfer there.

When I travel alone I just automatically go the easiest / safest route. When mucking around in a group, I find I have to concentrate and force myself to take the most challenging path. My auto pilot keeps steering me away from it.

Trevor,

I suppose that's why a lot of people are in clubs so they can, in relative comfort if they get stuck, get help without too much hassle. No doubt plenty of ribbing that night round the campfire when they do need help though.

Cheers Trevor.

Yes you are "TOTALLY" correct most of us 4x4 drivers love the hard stuff
But in this day and age of "ACCOUNTABILITY" right or wrong we have to be accountable for our actions ( don't get me wrong, I have been guilty of having mud over my truck that you can't tell it from a toyota/nissan) and I am fast reaching the grey army status (not that there is anything wrong with that ??)
"BUT"
We live in the currant "WORLD" and that dictates that if us responsible 4x4 drivers don't do the right thing more and more tracks are going to be closed ???
You only have to look at the amount of mail on this site alone regarding negative feed back, re 4x4, ie "OUR BEST MATE SCREWBy"
The realality is "ALL OF US 4x4 ENTHUISISTS HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE DOING THE RIGHT THING" OR in the future we will be restricted to privately run 4x4 parks.
All you young "GUNS" out there that think what does that old "FART" Know what he is talking about make no mistake in the 20+ yrs that I have been travelling this great land of ours "THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL" there has been quite a few areas across Australia that have been restricted or closed to to 4x4 activities.
At the risk of sounding like that I am destroying "ONES" fun the "REALITY" is we have to be seen as being responsible to the environment or our "FUN" is going to be taken away from us.
Just my thoughts
Barry

I have to agree, I do take the easiest route and it seams to happen automatically. I also agree with what Barry said about being seen to be responible and take account for your actions. I'm a 30 year old with 3.5 y.o twins and a 6 month old, I want to get them out of the house as they grow up and show them this great country, but due to the irresponsible few among us I won't be able to take them anywhere. Last year we took a trip down the Holand track, the piece and quiet, clean, fres air and no one for miles, in the lastest Western 4WDriver magizine there was this bit of news

Holand Track Cops a Hiding
ANd so should the vandals who went out there recently on motorbikes and 4wd's to rip up the track and sensitive areas around granite outcrops. I mean, really, where's your head at guys? You know full well you're doing a lot of harm. And you're really screawing the image of 4W drivers and bike riders everywhere. Not so much in the eyes of the authorities because they know the bulk of us consider the environment. But in the public's eyes we all get tarred with the same brush through the wrong ctions of a few. Let's hope land managers recognise the problem real soon and allocate special areas where you can go and play around without having to resort to desecrating fragile environments that the rest of us treasure.

Brad.

Always err on the side of caution. That way you will stay out of trouble. If you need an adrenalin rush, go swim with the white pointers! lol

I remember with a flourish the first car with a small stick I drove. White 3cyl 2stroke Zook, and THE first thing I did is look for something challenging. Its in the blood. I love getting offroad, but once there always look for thew best line, least damage route. Such is the essence of tread lightly.

I do hope you are not like a couple of clowns we met up with recently. They pulled into a camping spot next to us with mud and dirt all over the two utes. We had seen them earlier in the trip.

Where did you get all that crap on the vehicles?. Oh we like a challenge, so we drove on some roads that had been closed due to rain!

Well, hello.

PS:the last vehicle that the authorities caught driving on closed roads copped a FINE. $1300 per wheel.....

Regards
Mike