power line track/W.A.

[Greg 80series]

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010578.jpghttp://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010577-1.jpg[/IMGhttp://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010581.jpg]http://i151.[IMG]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010591.jpgphotobuckethttp://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010611.jpg.com/http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010606.jpgalbums/s123/lunithttp://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010647.jpgoons/http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1010638.jpgP1010642.jpghttp://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/P1000930.jpg

[Greg 80series]

A day trip up to the power lines.
Track had a bit more mud than I'd seen before but every one enjoyed themselves.
Even picked up a couple of stragglers that day who had not done the track before and they appeared to have enjoyed it as much as everyone else.
Must have been hundreds of 4x4s up there this day, as you had to que to get up some of the hills.

[scarecrow2]

great pics Greg. :waycool: that first one looks like a ripper. wouldn't want to get stuck in that.

[toy75ute]

WOW YOU ARE A LEGEND.I REMEMBER THE POWERLINE TRACKS FONDLY AND I REMEMBER BEING BOGGED ON A VEEERRY STEEP AND THIGH DEEP MUDHOLE HALF WAY ALONG THE TRACK HEADING WEST FOR 7 HOURS IN WINTER TIME BY MYSELF AT NIGHT IN A SHORTY 40.WINCHED OUT USING MY HIGHLIFT AND STRAPS.YOU LUCKY BUGGER,WISH I WAS THERE RIGHT NOW.:truck:

[Swaggie]

whats the go with access to the track these days? When I moved from Perth there had been a few changes come in, IIRC you're no longer allowed to stray from the track.
My uncle has recently bought his first 4bie and would like to take him out to the powerlines sometime..

[Greg 80series]

G-day Swaggie
Mate you can do the entire track from Sawyers to the end, cant remember name of road it finishes on, but takes 3to 4 hours to do depending on how long you want to play or how long you get stuck for.
You can go off to any of the other tracks so long as there are no signs saying water catchment areas as rangers do not want to find anyone doing the wrong thing in places they shouldn't be.
Plenty of places to camp, so long as you take rubbish out with you.
Take your uncle up there swaggie, and I'll bet he has a ball, you can can do the easy stuff or the harder tracks it's up to you.

[Greg 80series]

Toy75 ute
G-day mate.
Yeah it's still a great track, was up there a couple of months ago now, was one of those days where carnage was everywhere.
Put a dent in quarter panel of cruiser showing off to some mates, and a mate in his 100 series did the same when he got to close to a tree and got a bark massage on his wagon.
Some one else dented there side steps to the max and saw a lot of other cars with damage that day.
All good fun and to be expected some times
Where abouts are you living now mate?

[troopymad]

in regards to the last pic of the ute in the bog hole
yes it is fun to try and go in the BUT
the bog holes near the end of the powerlines track r OFF LIMITS
so please stay out of them

[Swaggie]

Greg,
I have had great fun at the powerlines in the past :) (and Mundaring before that was closed off).
Either about the time I moved to Busselton (Dec 07) or when I sold my last 4bie in 05 there was talk on another forum about the track remaining open, but not the bog holes at the end, or for that matter anywhere either side of the track.
But great to know its still open, I have taken a few people up there for their first time 4bying before. Nice mix of easy and hardish through there.
Will be in Perth next weekend, but only overnight, but hopefully can do something before the end of the year. And who knows, I might have another 4by of my own by then :)

[Greg 80series]

Hi Troopymad
Mate just out of curiosity, why aren't we supposed to go through those water holes at end of the track?
I haven't heard of not being allowed to drive through them before. Is there something I dont know about these particular puddles?
I like to do the right thing, so if I'm not could you please tell me why.

[Greg 80series]

Hi Scarecrow
Yeah mate I 've seen a few cars get stuck in there and it aint a pretty sit, lol
Does always pay to walk them first in case they are deeper than they look.
Would pay to take a depth gauge, like a mate who aint real tall or the missus, and get them to walk it first.

[troopymad]

Hi Troopymad
Mate just out of curiosity, why aren't we supposed to go through those water holes at end of the track?
I haven't heard of not being allowed to drive through them before. Is there something I dont know about these particular puddles?
I like to do the right thing, so if I'm not could you please tell me why.

i posted pics a while back on some site of me going in those bogholes
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd200/troopymad/update2007.jpg

and was flamed to hell over it as i didnt know
i think the story is that if we just stay to the main track and dont cut up everywhere it will stay open
so thats why the DEC made it a no go area but it does seem funny that theres no sign stateing the fact

[Swaggie]

I think the bog holes were closed off to prevent the spread of dieback. It could also have been for erosion reasons... or do I remember correctly that the powerlines track is still in the catchment area?

[Cruiser Roo]

Ah yes the Mundaring (spelling?) powerline track. I did it a couple of times while i was in perth but in the summer so no mud but still sooo fun. A pic of me at the same section as Gregs 3rd pic. I took the 'poop ya pants' line. Even engine braking in L1st was to fast :)

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k103/g60-r/DiscoDrivin.jpg

[davoee]

G-day Swaggie
Mate you can do the entire track from Sawyers to the end, cant remember name of road it finishes on, but takes 3to 4 hours to do depending on how long you want to play or how long you get stuck for.
You can go off to any of the other tracks so long as there are no signs saying water catchment areas as rangers do not want to find anyone doing the wrong thing in places they shouldn't be.
Plenty of places to camp, so long as you take rubbish out with you.
Take your uncle up there swaggie, and I'll bet he has a ball, you can can do the easy stuff or the harder tracks it's up to you.

Its all catchment area with plenty of those sighns

you cant drive any track thats not bitumanised, graded,sheeted or improved in anyway within the catchment area. In addition a fair bit of the catchment area is closed off for dieback

basically within the catchment area with the exception of the powerlines track you can only drive on the roads and only the roads not closed with dieback

------------ which is a very large % of the catchment area.
Also now within 2km of all reservoirs is absalutly no go on foot or car with the exception of the bibbleman track

camping is not permitted anywhere out there with the exception of the bibbleman track
campsites

[troopymad]

I think the bog holes were closed off to prevent the spread of dieback. It could also have been for erosion reasons... or do I remember correctly that the powerlines track is still in the catchment area?

yes thats 100% correct - and it is the catchment area

[MatMan]

I have been in perth since forever, had my fourby for a couple of years now and still not been. Where did you organize the trip? I dont know anyone who has 4wd's so i dont get to go out very often. Plus i am not sure if my navara could handle it...

[Swaggie]

Hi MatMan,
Forums are a great way to meet other 4wders to organise trips and so forth.
I'm sure if you were to mention a day and a time you will probably find someone who can show you the ropes (or gearsticks?!)
The powerlines are a great beginners track, and you can pick you challenge level.
As long as your navara is roadworthy you should have no problems, although it may show up any problems you need to get fixed as you start going offroad more- ie my mates pajero was a good road car, but as soon as we got it near sand it would start to overheat.
4wding is a pretty easy skill to pick up, as you grow in experience you'll learn to pick the best lines.
You may also like to find a local 4wd club, google for them, or let your fingers do the walking :)
Brendan

[Greg 80series]

G-day Matman
If you to Sawyers Valley pub on great eastern hwy and start from pub which is where me and my mates always meet up, then head back towards Perth for a few hundred meters there is a road on left which says power or sub station road.
Turn left there and follow gravel road up to top of the hill.
When you get to the top turn left, that is the power line track.
If you haven't done it before as I dont know how much 4by experience you have go with a mate or two or put a thread up on the forum and see if anyone is willing to go for a run.
I'd be keen to show you, but cant do it this w/end as the cruiser has a couple of problems that will need to be fixed next week before I can go hard on the track again.
Not to mention that I'd thought I would nip up the bolts on the head and snapped one off-aaarrrhhhhh-.
Dont know why whenever I touch it sh#t happens.
Anyway look forward to seeing you out there at some stage and having a bit of a laugh.:cry::truck:

[Greg 80series]

:drink::thumb:Hi Troopymad
Cheers mat I never knew that.
And as you say there ARE NO SIGNS stating those holes are in catchment area or anything about dieback.
Now that I know I'll keep out of them and let my mates know.
Dont want the track closed down because of the lack of info about some of these areas.All the best
Greg

[Greg 80series]

Hi Cruiserroo
Mate I know that particular bit of track well and it's even worse now.
Still haven't developed bollocks big enough to actually tackle that crevice.
The mind is willing but the pocket isn't if it all goes pear shaped.
The guys we go out with try and egg us on a bit but none of them have done that bit yet.
Yes where're all wimps. lol:cry:

[troopymad]

i smell a road trip coming on

anyone in?

[MatMan]

i smell a road trip coming on

anyone in?

This idea arouses me:D

[julian14588]

i been up there a few times in the last couple of months only been up around the dam side of the track would like to do the full track one day when i get the time and a snorkel turned my engine in to a water pump last weekend lucky enuff no damage was done filled my intercool right up ill add some pics
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/julian14588/DSC00291.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/julian14588/DSC00446.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/julian14588/DSC00449.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/julian14588/DSC00462.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/julian14588/DSC00461.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c198/julian14588/DSC00297.jpg

[BFT RANGER]

The guy sitting on the back of the cruiser is lucky the snatch strap or bow shackele did'nt break.
But great photos any way.

[davoee]

:drink::thumb:Hi Troopymad
Cheers mat I never that.
And as you say there ARE NO SIGNS stating those holes are in catchment area or anything about dieback.
Now that I know I'll keep out of them and let my mates know.
Dont want the track closed down because of the lack of info about some of these areas.All the best
Greg


Its often been said theres no signs for that area. im not sure if they have been pulled down or what.
i dont know if it is dieback area but it is def all catchment.

there are so many very nice scenic areas which can be accessed by decent well used tracks without tearing the place up but are actually no go areas. And many of the sighns are contradictory for instance A die back no go sighn and a public firewood collection sighn on the same track

[Greg 80series]

Did some one mention road trip??
The juices are flowing and the urge to get dirty again is coming on strong.
Maybe we should organise one up there over next couple of weeks and I'll try get some of my mates to come along as well.:waycool::truck:

[MatMan]

Does anyone know how wet it is at the moment? My navara hates water. I am thinking about sealing various bits up under the bonnet.

[Greg 80series]

Howdy Matman
Mate it's a bit wet and muddy in places and any of the puddles that you do have to drive through aren't that bad, the sus ones you decide whether you want to go through them or not.
The track has one particular slippery and a bit muddy hill climb but if you build the track up a bit it's fairly easy, give or take a few goes to get it right:D.
Other than that its' as hard as you want to make it:drink:.

[Biggswah]

was up there on the weekend the track was fine except for 1 section that was a little slipery (sustained a little battle damage) :eek: the only real water probs was 2 deep holes 1 near the begining that as was a bit iffy up near cole road end and the other towards the end , headding up on sat to see if it has dried out,

:thumb:
Biggswah

[Biggswah]

hey guys im headding there tomorrow if any one is keen, sorry for the late notice

[julian14588]

should be heading up there this Saturday some time with a couple of mates if any one wants to tag along

[Yonk]

If someone is free to tackle it during the week, then I am IN!

[BushyD22]

i'd be keen as for a mid week run, but i've run out of spare tie rods. it'll have to wait a week or so. last time i went up there had a ball scaring the shit out the missus.

[Greg 80series]

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/th_20090705_103210.jpg (http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/?action=view&current=20090705_103210.flv)
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/th_20090705_115533.jpg (http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/?action=view&current=20090705_115533.flv)
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/th_P5160052.jpg (http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/?action=view&current=P5160052.flv)
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/th_20090705_103713.jpg (http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s123/lunitoons/?action=view&current=20090705_103713.flv)

[julian14588]

that first vid you got there , last time i was there it had been raining really hard all week and that hill was just a big mud slope with a deep mud hole at the bottom of it we had to go arond

[Biggswah]

When was that ???

[2twistd]

powerlines this weekend for sure test out the new cooper st tyres if ya keen msg me 0406998982

[julian14588]

about a month or 2 ago not sure ,it was raining the whole time we were there that hill was an awesome mud slide

[Dirty_Harry]

commiting this weekend