Tom Grogin at Easter

[alki]

As I couldn't make it this long weekend,I am considering going up there at Easter.
Has anyone been there around that time of the year?
What are the temperatures like overnight?
Is Victorian side of the river still open for 4wdriving(not sure if it closes at Easter or Queens birthday).
Any feedback appriciated

[Paul735]

Hi Alki..
I was up there two weeks ago and there was lots of people in 4x4 and i could understand why, its a great place..the signs on the tracks when you cross the Murray at Tom Groggin did say seasonal closure from Queens b`day till cup w/end..The only trouble you may have is with the fires last year quite a few tracks have been closed..and i fear never to be reopened..but tracks like pinnibar were open so you can get out and about.

I fished all the rivers which are just superb to look at but the fish were on strike..which figures when every man & his dog is having a go at them.

You may want to ring the rangers [Parks] people re the crossing of the murray before you head off, as it can be waaaaaay deep if any rain in the area.

Davies Plain would be open, as wella s Tom groggin track, Charlies creek is a nice area, even after the fires, camping, but the hut has gone, Limestone creek is a great camp spot by the season closure gate, [toilets] but the poplars are closed still.

Drove alot of tracks in the area over xmas, some with no traffic since the fires, the cobbera's is a great day drive [allow a day] native cat track is ok, Mt Pinnabar is a good view.

But if in the area, if you leaft tom groggin shooters hut at 9am over davies plain you would be at Limestone creek or native dog flat by 1-2pm, and the cobbera's is only 15 min away, but needs a day, but great drive, one section climbs 720m from a creek, with one switchback, up to the lighthouse lookout, where you can see Kozi, the snowy, etc 360 deg.well worth the treck. Along the way is a 6km walk into where the murray starts, bubbling out of the ground.

some pics here of my xmas trip there.

http://www.lcool.org/trips/03-04-high-country/report.html

and 2 years ago
http://www.lcool.org/trips/new_year_high_tom_groggin/tom_groggin.html

[alki]

What about weather?
Does it get to cold to camp?
I went to Vic. High Country last february and it was cold over night but still OK.

Well,
at altitude it will get cold, on the river flats it will be warmer.

I have camped in -7 to -10 in the high country, and wheeled in snow all day, depends on your definition of cold I guess.

Easter it may get cold, but not like the end of winter.

[alki]

Camping at -7 to -10 doesn't apeal to me.
I don't think I would wan't to camp at subzero temps.
BTW,I don't mind cold weather(I go to Snowies every winter)but camping............

With the right gear, you dont even notice......

Have slept like a dream, clothed, in the sleeping bag, woken up to find the 20lt water container on the car frozen solid, and the ground that icy it sticks to your shoes as you walk.

We have even had some times when the fire wont light because the cold air is coming down so rapidly, it pushes the smoke out along the ground, and the flames wont pick up.

Have camped in the snow many times, love 4wding in the snow, its something that can look easy but can be hard to do, when its deep deep snow.

http://www.lcool.org/trips/snow_2003/snow_2003_pics.html

[alki]

I am sure that camping in the snow is possible if prepered,but it's not something I would look forward to do.
I grew up in a country that has 4 months of snow season every year.
My driving test was on ice and snow covered streets,and it was in two wheel drive too(more fun ;D).
Agree about 4wdriving on snow and would go out of my way to go 4wdriving on a snow as long there is a hut or some sort of building with fire place going for overnight stay.

Well, we have afew of those around the place too in Vic... abot 270 since the fires last count...... ;D

[baby_troupe]

And might I add, there was a program on the ABC last weekend showing what a great job the Land Rover club was doing in restoring some of these.

Yes,
well quite afew of us have been rebuilding huts for years, but now the vhcha and lroc have found they can use the media to show what a good job can be done.

Some of us prefer the quite achievers.... ;)

This is one the rowlandson boys joined us on last year.

http://www.offroader.com.au/features/crowes-hut-rebuild-dec-02.cfm

[baby_troupe]

I am glad you guys are doing this, but unfortunately, the city trendites / snow bunnies who use these huts for shelter & so on don't know who does this.
I feel if they did realize this, they may give more thought to the 4wders out there that they persecute (bullbar debate etc)
I know it is a bit of waving your own flag, but maybe a plaque mounted in the huts as they are restored advertising who was responsible for the work may get a few more people in our corner.

May help some of the dickhead elelment who leave rubbish amd make big fires in the fireplaces,a nd trya nd cut wood inside on the floor that normal people look after these things, and they do need fixing from time to time even before the dickheads stay in them.

[flappan]

Alki, as for weather . . . . it can vary widely at that time of year.

We camped at Lake Jindabyne 2 easters ago , and it never got into double figures.

Be prepared to get cold weather , cause quite likely you will get something.

[alki]

May help some of the dickhead elelment who leave rubbish amd make big fires in the fireplaces,a nd trya nd cut wood inside on the floor that normal people look after these things, and they do need fixing from time to time even before the dickheads stay in them.


http://www.lcool.org/trips/snow_2003/daz_chop.jpg

:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

Well spotted Alki,
and if you knew the hut, you would know it has a dirt floor, with a flat chopping spot.

The big square home made pot belly in there is a ripper too.

We concrete brick hearths in the huts we fix now, to encourage people if they ahve to chop wood inside, to knock the corner off the axe while they do it ;D

[alki]

;D

[bbushy]

Pretty sure it was easter when we came through last year on the rally (blu125 true or not??), and from memory it wasnt too bad but if you are cold the walk from the camping area up the hill to the station and back down in less than half an hour sure warms you up!!

[alki]

Does Tom Grogin Station offer any accomodation?

Im not sure, but they are contactable by phone, as Tom Groggin station, ring directory?