Trip Date: 28 Feb 2015
Trip Leader: Leo Henry
Vehicles attending: 8
Members attending: 14
Visitors attending: 2
Trip Summary:
The day started early at sunrise with a few late comers to our starting point at Maccas Richmond. With eight of us now in covey it was over to the west side of the Blue Mountains for our first stop at what was one of Mother Natures most spectacular views. The Capertee Valley in all its glory veiled in a mist and fog adding to its splendour and remind us she is not only the World’s Biggest Canyon but also one of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders with Pantoneys Crown as its centre piece.
After a quick hello to Col and airing down we were straight into it. Being lead by one of the club’s founding members and a veteran of Col’s Place and the Mt Airley tracks we were soon at 1000m ABSL to see another side of the valley where this time we could get right out to the edge to be spoilt with more stunning views of this mostly untouched wilderness.
So onto the main track and it didn’t take long for our vehicles to be put on many different angles and bounced around from side to side. A tight dense and rocky track in many places but the real challenge didn’t take long to present itself. The first IFS vehicle didn’t take long before it needed winching, which proved to be quiet a slow process, so the double locked up trucks, having very little problems, easerly assisted the IFS vehicles with a snatch and tow.
It was lunch time by the time we made the first place that vehicles could be turned around so the decision was made to leave the IFS trucks at this point as the terrain was getting even harder as we approach the top. Rocks and ruts become the order of the day putting our trucks on some very uncomfortable angles, very close and touching rock walls on occasions.
Finally we make it to the top and full points went to our member Huy who made it in his 80 series with open diffs, some guidance and a lot of determination. Great driving Huy and to all who got as far as they did, some further than others without assistance. But what goes up has to come down and down we came once again in single file negotiating lines and taking our time to avoid damage.
But with all the care taken things can still go wrong and Brett found himself hung up on a balder that wedged up into his front end and bent his control arm. Not being able to go forward or backwards his was the only recovery we had to winch back up the hill to save potentially what could have been a lot of damage done.
All in all a great day of 4WDing adventure and experience gained. Thanks for putting on the trip Leo and leading us to what are spectacular views and for most of us the discovery of the World’s Biggest Canyon that we didn’t know we had. What a treasure!
This has been Charlie Grasso reporting by request of the trip leader.
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