G'Day Stretch,
Not totally up to speed of what is imediately in the vicinity, but a trip from Tom Groggin Campsite area is worth it, one of the best ways to learn what you can do with your 4WD is get into a club that is not overly large.
The trip up to the Davies High Plains is incredible, the biggest hurdle is crossing the Murray itself from the Tom Groggin Campsite area, the end of a dry summer is the best as it is a U shaped ford and not a straight one, a wade across first is of paramount importance, if you can only get halfway across getting support with a pole holding you up against the current and you are singing soprano, its not worth risking your vehicle . We have yet to make this fording and as the present owner of Tom Groggin Station wont let the public use the concrete ford of the property, this will involve conytinuing onto Khancoban, then onto Corryong 9 last fuel stop ) then head towards Mt. Pinnibar via Thowgla.
The scenery from atop of Mt. Pinnibar is incredible and the descent down to Tom Groggin station can be interesting if it is wet, good all terrain tyres are essential, recovery gear is mandatory,and you cant beat the engine breaking of a diesel.
When you get to Tom Grooggin station it is hard to believe you are back nearly to your starting point, you can chuck a stone across the Murray.
The trip up to Davies plain is medium in the dry but can be difficult in the wet, depends on how much aqua pura has come down, on these rolling camps we usually swag it, but pack a flooered tent just in case, you cannot depend on getting a posy in Davies hut as it is a popular spot for a nights stay. The last trip we did up there was Easter two years ago,it was persistantly raining when we got to the hut campsite area, luckily I had thrown a reasonably sized dome tent in as an after thought, we chucked our swags in that and were snug and dry, mind you you when the call of nature is on , I would have beaten Herb Elliot- those who don't know who Herb Elliot is can go and get far away. There was six inches of water running from where we were up on the slope between us and the hut, as to how cold it was, up about 50 meters in elevation there had been a light dump of snow and in the sunshine of that day stopping for Kodak moments was to be expected.
Footnote on getting to know what your 4WD can do safely is in itself a great experience, I always believe that going out with experienced people is the best way and best not go away with the gung ho variety as they can be more intent onshowing you how great they think they are.
If on the track you come to a spot where you are not willing to go because of inexperience, get on your radio and tell them so, a good crew would appreciate that then spend half the day righting your vehicle and possibly towing it home.
How big should a party be , well not big enough to form into clicky groups, but I feel that there should be at least 3 vehicles so if you have to tow some one out, you have the lame duck in the middle, with support vehicles front and back supporting and towing with tow straps- not snatch straps as you will bugger them as towing is not their purpose
There a probably a lot of things that I should mention, but as our crew, "Loose Nuts 4WD" generally do pack the essentials without really thinking about it .
Happy Treking- Bushnut
Ther are several roads crossin your route and you can get back onto the Barry Way, head to Jinjabyne and then back to Rudd Town
