Davidman
5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
Firstly, thanks to Bullstat for steering me in the direction of these tracks.
Headed up to the forests around Neerim on Sunday to try out some new tracks, specifically Suckling Track and Reference Track. Suckling Track runs in a large loop which starts at the end of Tolleys Track. Reference Track runs between Vesper Road and Suckling Track which then joins back up with Wild Bull Track and Hawthorn Track which head back to the Latrobe River Crossing.
It had not been raining in this area for about a day and a half, but there was still plenty of water around, the ruts were full and the clay was still very muddy and not looking much like clay.
After crossing the Latrobe River and heading along Tolleys Track, we came to the T intersection with Suckling Track. Decided to turn left here and follow it around in the big 'loop' and end up back where we started. The track itself runs for about 8 Klm's and most places are reasonably flat. There are a number of ascents and descents that were some fun, especially given the ruts and the slippery mud / clay.
Towards the end of Suckling Track, we saw the sign for the track that Bullstat had some fun on the other week. Reference Track. After a quick little drive further along Suckling Track to make sure that we had a way out and weren't stuck, we headed back to Reference Track to give it a go. Turns out there was no need to check our exit from this area, as we only got a couple of hundred metres along Reference Track before we came across the ' ascent from hell '. Hard Up Haul Track has nothing on this, you can even walk up Hard Up Haul, but not this one.
Anyway, turned around, headed out and looked for another way in. We worked our way to the start of Reference Track, which runs off Vesper Road and headed in. Reference Track isn't a long track, only runs for a few kilometres or so and the first 90 % of the track would be classed as easy. Then came the fun bit. The GPS showed we were only about 500 metres from where we turned around at the bottom of the ' hill from hell ' a little while back. And guess what, the mud, ruts and clay was just as bad at the top as it was at the bottom.
Anyway, as they say, no guts no glory, it was steep downhill, how hard could it be winching down a hill, and we had checked the bottom and if we could get down, we could get out. In today's conditions, there was no way anyone could have made it up this section. Love to give it a try in the dry though.
In short, 500 metres of having no control over which way your vehicle heads, just following the ruts The ruts ranged from only a a hundred mm or so down to " Oh Sh!t......why is the 4BY balancing on the diff ". Anyway, with a bit of rocking, turning the steering and so on, didn't end up having to get out of the Pajero and made it to the bottom. There was one section toward the bottom where the rear of the car was threatening to overtake the front, I think Bullstat knows where I am talking about.
Got plenty of pictures and videos of the tracks. Split Reference Track up into 4 vids which cover the start and mid sections ( the easy bits ), the second last bit ( easy compared to the last bit, but still difficult ) and obviously the last 500 metres down the hill. Don't you just love aiming the car in the right direction and then leaving the rest to gravity.
I will post the videos ( via YouTube ) and more pics Monday evening. Cannot do it at work Will also add track files to Reference Track and add Suckling Track and a few others to the Tracks Section tonight.
Well worth a trip up to this area.............thanks again Bullstat.
Headed up to the forests around Neerim on Sunday to try out some new tracks, specifically Suckling Track and Reference Track. Suckling Track runs in a large loop which starts at the end of Tolleys Track. Reference Track runs between Vesper Road and Suckling Track which then joins back up with Wild Bull Track and Hawthorn Track which head back to the Latrobe River Crossing.
It had not been raining in this area for about a day and a half, but there was still plenty of water around, the ruts were full and the clay was still very muddy and not looking much like clay.
After crossing the Latrobe River and heading along Tolleys Track, we came to the T intersection with Suckling Track. Decided to turn left here and follow it around in the big 'loop' and end up back where we started. The track itself runs for about 8 Klm's and most places are reasonably flat. There are a number of ascents and descents that were some fun, especially given the ruts and the slippery mud / clay.
Towards the end of Suckling Track, we saw the sign for the track that Bullstat had some fun on the other week. Reference Track. After a quick little drive further along Suckling Track to make sure that we had a way out and weren't stuck, we headed back to Reference Track to give it a go. Turns out there was no need to check our exit from this area, as we only got a couple of hundred metres along Reference Track before we came across the ' ascent from hell '. Hard Up Haul Track has nothing on this, you can even walk up Hard Up Haul, but not this one.
Anyway, turned around, headed out and looked for another way in. We worked our way to the start of Reference Track, which runs off Vesper Road and headed in. Reference Track isn't a long track, only runs for a few kilometres or so and the first 90 % of the track would be classed as easy. Then came the fun bit. The GPS showed we were only about 500 metres from where we turned around at the bottom of the ' hill from hell ' a little while back. And guess what, the mud, ruts and clay was just as bad at the top as it was at the bottom.
Anyway, as they say, no guts no glory, it was steep downhill, how hard could it be winching down a hill, and we had checked the bottom and if we could get down, we could get out. In today's conditions, there was no way anyone could have made it up this section. Love to give it a try in the dry though.
In short, 500 metres of having no control over which way your vehicle heads, just following the ruts The ruts ranged from only a a hundred mm or so down to " Oh Sh!t......why is the 4BY balancing on the diff ". Anyway, with a bit of rocking, turning the steering and so on, didn't end up having to get out of the Pajero and made it to the bottom. There was one section toward the bottom where the rear of the car was threatening to overtake the front, I think Bullstat knows where I am talking about.
Got plenty of pictures and videos of the tracks. Split Reference Track up into 4 vids which cover the start and mid sections ( the easy bits ), the second last bit ( easy compared to the last bit, but still difficult ) and obviously the last 500 metres down the hill. Don't you just love aiming the car in the right direction and then leaving the rest to gravity.
I will post the videos ( via YouTube ) and more pics Monday evening. Cannot do it at work Will also add track files to Reference Track and add Suckling Track and a few others to the Tracks Section tonight.
Well worth a trip up to this area.............thanks again Bullstat.
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