Monday 15th - Thursday 18th April 2024
Leaders: David H
Participants: Geoff & Tony
Distance Driven: 187 km
Minimum Altitude: 206 m
Maximum Altitude: 1648 m
Monday 15th of April, Day 1
The trip started badly with the news that Graham was stranded on the side of the highway with engine problems and would not be able to participate. The three remaining trippers met at 12 o’clock and following a briefing, motored off along the Dargo High Plains Road.
We aired down at Gradys Track, turned left and began a steep descent which was followed by a steeper climb until we reached Link Road where we stopped for lunch. Next was Conways Track which was even steeper and rougher.
Near the bottom of the track we gathered firewood before proceeding to the bottom of the track where we came out near Kingswell Bridge and turned left towards our camp for the night at Black Snake Creek Camping Ground.
We got a great fire going and after a meal sat around the fire until we turned in for the night. The camp ground was stretched out along the river bank. We were down the non-toilet end, away from other campers.
Tuesday 16th of April, Day 2
The next morning was cold and by 8.40 we were on the move again. Kingswell Bridge was the obvious way to cross a body of water, unless you are a 4x4 driver, in which case we took the preferred option and used the offset ford. The water wasn’t much deeper than the bottom of the tyre rim so no problems encountered.
A quick drive saw us at the bottom of the Billy Goat Bluff Track which we saw immediately would be rocky and difficult. ‘Rough at Guts’ would be an appropriate description. Within a very short time my traction control system was protesting quite loudly that it was being overworked. An option that I hadn’t given a great deal of thought to over the last 10 to 15 years was to use the rear locker which I put into action. The difference was immediate and I highly recommend using it if you have one.
I have no idea what the scenery was like as I was concentrating on the track ahead the whole way up. We finally reached the top and set out to walk to the Pinnacles Lookout. Any scenery missed on the way up was soon forgotten as the view from the top was worth waiting for.
We then decided to drive to Mt Kent but soon became aware that the track we were on was incorrect, so we took another with the same result. Using an old Bushies trick we tried all available tracks until we finally got the correct one. Of course Murphy’s Law meant that it was the last one that was correct. This track, which appeared little used and overgrown in places, proved to be worthy of our time. Near the top it became heavily rutted and I succumbed by slipping off the top of a rut and was unable to go forward any further. A reversal and different line was the answer.
David added to the 2.5 meter rock cairn that is still a work in progress.
We took various tracks back to the Pinnacles Road and on to Horseyard Flat Camping Ground. Another fire was lit but unfortunately the evening was cut short by rain.
Wednesday17th of April, Day 3
Rain overnight meant that I had to pack away a wet tent after which I had breakfast and we set off along Pinnacles Road to Old Moroka Road and on to Moroka Hut. The tracks were wet and it appeared that more rain had fallen here than at the camp ground. There were numerous puddles, wannabe bog holes and a couple of almost bog holes. The surface of the track however was pretty solid.
Then it was on to Mt Wellington, via Moroka Range Track with more water lying around. The climb started in bush and trees, changed to snow gums, then dead or dormant snow gums, then heavy, heavy mist. The track up was slow and very rocky. The mist cleared slightly for a glimpse of what we were missing before closing in again.
We then made a quick visit to Millers Hut, again slow going and with limited visibility.
We drove back down the way we had gone up, to Moroka Road, Howards Road and Kellys Lane and stopped at Kelly Hut where we had a chilly lunch.
Exiting via the Hut Track we stopped to once again gather firewood and turned left on to Tamboritha Road, looking at a couple of camp grounds along the way. We settled on Cockatoo Camp which was a large camp with smaller camps within the area. It also had toilets.
We lit another camp fire, drank the remains of the cheap red and off to bed. The trip was officially over and we all made our individual way home. Thanks to David for being a great trip leader, Tony for being a magnificent TEC and me for just being there.
Text: Geoff
Photos: David