Mt Airlie

[baby_troupe]

Just did a trip last weekend to Mt Airlie.
I am still putting together the trip report, but here are a couple of pics to tide people over :D

http://www.4wheeler.ca/uploads/post-2-1078704193.jpg

http://www.4wheeler.ca/uploads/post-2-1078704536.jpg

[dario1au]

they are great photos.
I am from Sydney, could you tell me how to get there?

thanks

dario

[baby_troupe]

they are great photos.
I am from Sydney, could you tell me how to get there?

thanks

dario

Yep. ;D
Drive thru Lithgow & turn towards Mudgee
When you get to Capertree, turn towards Glen Davis
The property is off that road & you will need the land owner's permission before you start.


BTW I have a complete trip report ready to post, but I am waiting for one last little thing :D

[baby_troupe]

Click on http://www.baby-troupe.i8.com/Trip-Reports/Mt-Airlie-March-2004.htm for the same report with pictures;

Pre Trip Note:

Parts of this trip are run on Private Property.

You must (as we did) get the owner’s permission before doing this trip.


Convoy

Peter, Helen & Josh 75 Series Trayback

Phil 75 Series Trayback

Gary & Kelly Hilux

Kevin, Lance & Cheryl Hilux

Col & Stella 70 Series Prado (Baby Troupe)

Barry & Joyce Jackaroo

John & Marilyn Discovery

Darryl Defender 110

Julie 80 Series

[baby_troupe]

Trip

For us, we left Hornsby @ 2:40pm on Friday after work & headed out with the heavy traffic through Castle Hill & Richmond, before finally reaching camp at the Mount Airlie Property at around 6pm

We met all of the others & decided to set up camp, & take a few scenery photographs of the camping area before heading into Capertree for dinner & a few quiet drinks with most of the crew. Unfortunately they didn’t sell Hahn Ice, so I didn’t do too much drinking (not that I drink much anyway).

We came back to camp & had a few coldies with Darryl & Julie while we finished setting up camp, before we joined the rest of the crew around the fire for a while before heading to bed around 11pm.

On Saturday, we awoke around 7am. Kevin was already up & getting the fire restarted. We spoke briefly about the trip itinerary before we had breakfast & decided a good time to leave camp would be around 9am.

At 8:30am, Peter & Phil arrived in their 75 series traybacks & we all had a quick intro before heading off up the mountain. At this point it had been raining lightly for a few hours & we thought if we get much more rain, the landowner may close the tracks, so we had better get under way.

From camp, we headed up a short hill climb, where the first incident occurred. Kevin had forgotten to lock in his hubs & their hilux wasn’t going to climb that hill in 2WD. A quick jump out to lock in the hubs & they were under way again.

At this point, the two 75’s were up front, then Kevin was being followed by Gary who in turn was being followed by us. Behind us was Barry, then Middo, Darryl & Julie was Tail End Camilla.

As we were following Gary & I had not done this track before, I was pretty much following his lines without really thinking about the capabilities of our vehicle verses the capability of his hilux. He went up a short climb & had a little fun with a small rut. I didn’t see the rut, but soon found a lack of wheel travel & looses stuff under the rear end stopped our progress. A quick change of line & we were under way again.

From there, we followed the track towards “The Grotto”. ON the way there, there was an interesting stage where there were 2 options, one a medium track with a bit of loose & uneven ground, the other with similar stuff, but some slippery steps as well. Gary, Julie & Darryl all took the harder track, while Middo, Barry, Kevin, Peter, Phil & ourselves too the “easier” option, which still was quite challenging. We managed to pick up a front wheel & get a little wheel spin climbing over part of it.


Then we traveled a few hundred meters to a walking track, which was quite scenic, walking along a small rock face, through a creek & up a few ladders. This is too hard to describe in words, but to me it looked fantastic

From here, we started traveling only a few hundred metres before we found the track blocked by a large tree which had fallen.

We all climbed out & helped Peter to clear the track before continuing on.

[baby_troupe]

Then we followed this track for another km or so through some good 4 wheel driving country, when we rounded a turn to head up another steep section, only to see Gary’s esky come loose & slide straight off the back of his hilux. I called him on the UHF to tell him what had happened & he said he heard the crash & thought I had driven into the rock wall behind him, it was that loud. Luckily, there was only one casualty from the incident, where a beer bottle burst later as a result of this.

We kept following this track which had many challenges including ruts, cross slopes, tight turns and some small steps up & down. Gary found an extra obstacle which gave him the chance to show what his vehicle can do. I was astounded at how well it went at attempting a near vertical rock face, before he backed down when running out of traction.

We followed the rest of the track towards the lookout, which included another little step, just big enough for us to hit the underbody, but make it over & Barry was stopped briefly by it, but a change of line & he was under way again. Once at the gate near the lookout, we stopped for lunch, before heading back on the same trails, but not before Darryl managed to get hung up on a rock under his differential, which required a little help to get him unstuck.

On the way back, we made a detour past some old diamond mines where Lance gave us all a quick history lesson on the area.

We left the Diamond mine & headed for another lookout. These are some of the most spectacular views you will see anywhere in this country.

Near the lookout, we checked out an old abandoned mine processing area where we saw an old shed & some sleeping quarters, which reminds us of how lucky we have it to have our comfortable homes etc. While there, the weather really started to get nasty, with a downpour starting & not showing any sign of letting up. Unfortunately, we still had a couple of km of steep tracks to negotiate on the way back to camp, so that made the driving a little more interesting. Luckily there were no problems for any of our travelers.

Once back at camp, I set up our in car shower & we had a nice hot shower before happy hour around the fire. During happy hour, we all had our dinner & settled in for a few drinks, where we were then joined by the property owner, Col.

This property owner spent about an hour chatting with us all covering many different topics in a very humorous & unique way. If you ever get the chance to chat with him, I am sure you will enjoy it.

That night around the fire, we all had a great time, many jokes & tales were told & a few games as well.

The next morning, I again awoke around 7am & as it was again raining plus we were starting to run out of dry clothes, we decided we would not join the others on the short trip to the ruins, instead heading home.

This time the trip was much quicker, with very little traffic encountered.

In all, this trip, Mt Airlie, was a great trip, with plenty of good medium grade four wheel driving & I would highly recommend going on it if the opportunity comes up.

Many thanks to Kevin, Lance Peter & Phil for leading us on one of the best 4wd trips I have been on & thank you to everyone else on the trip for the great atmosphere we all shared,

[Richard]

Was up there July last year and it was cold. Private track was closed as Firies were grading it. Hows the tight corner with the dropoff.

Must spend some on the North Coast NSW - always strikes me as a beautiful patch of Oz but I never get to stop and explore there.

Lucky buggas ;)

[baby_troupe]

Was up there July last year and it was cold. Private track was closed as Firies were grading it. Hows the tight corner with the dropoff.

I drove up with only hitting under the passenger front door & lifted the frons passenger whell a bit.
No damage, just bumped the chassis a bit. I stayed on the loud pedal & made it up OK with open difs.

[baby_troupe]

Must spend some on the North Coast NSW - always strikes me as a beautiful patch of Oz but I never get to stop and explore there.

Lucky buggas ;)

Not North Coast. Near Lithgow in Blue Mountains Area.

Doh - same thing, kinda... :-[

BT - your pictures look like they have a smear in the centre. Does your lens need a wipe over mate?

[baby_troupe]

Yup.
It was raining all weekend & I had a drop hit the lense & I didn't notice the smear from it until I returned to camp that night.

mt airlie used to be an excellent "B" grade track shame they put the grader over it.

[baby_troupe]

mt airlie used to be an excellent "B" grade track shame they put the grader over it.

I reckon it won't be long before it is a B again.
Some of the washouts had me thinking about it, especially being a wet track.