STEELJOCKEY
12-10-2009, 11:46 AM
Well, how do I start to describe the weekend - AMAZING!
The weekend was planned from quite a while back, to spend 10 - 11 October 2009 touring around the high (and low) country in the Brindabella Mountains to the west of Canberra with a group of excited Rodeo drivers (and tag alongs).
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/BrindabellaCrew-PowerlinesTrail.jpg
On friday afternoon, 4 Rodeos, 1 Toyota shorty and a late Nissan Patrol cruised into the mountains, and setup camp at Flea Creek (elev. 490m) after descending the first of many steep tracks to come. If this first trail was just a taste, what fun could be found in the mountains over the weekend, thought the newcombers.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/FleaCreek.jpg
Saturday, the small group awoke to a slight frost on the tents and trucks, and after the sun had cleared the ranges, dried the tents and defrosted the windscreens, they packed up and headed back up the steep trail to meet the last of the arriving trucks at Picadilly Circus.
After meeting up at Picadilly Circus with another 3 Rodeos and a Jackaroo and airing down, they set off on Two Sticks Road, then into a treed valley on Curries Road, joining Pabral Road and circling around the base of Mount Coree. Discovering Coree fire trail open, the 7 Rodeos, Jackaroo, Toyota and Nissan zig zagged their way up the steep ridge line to the top of the Mount and perched with cliff faces on either side of the summit at1421m above sea level. They enjoyed 360 degree views back to Canberra in the east and across to Tumut in the west.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/SummitMtCoree.jpg
The convoy then continued the tour onto Powerlines Trail, had lunch and scones, before playing in some mud holes, only having to snatch out one Rodeo from a bog hole. The Toyota Shorty decided to have a go at the wheel sucking mud, and with wheels spinning and mud flying, slowly crossed the swamp and emerged covered in mud from sump to roof.
After the mud fun, the group continued the tour, following Powerlines and Webbs Ridge, enjoying the scenery, before crawling down steep Waterfall trail, and even steeper MacIntyres Trail to setup up camp next to MacIntyres hut on the Goodradigbee River, elevation 460m. A raging camp fire was shortly lit, and all enjoyed dinner by its warmth and told camp stories until late into the night.
Sunday, they awoke to a light shower on the tent roofs, prompting all to pack up quickly in case the rain set in, but thanks to the hasty donning of a lucky cap, the sun broke through and shone on the group, drying them out.
Breaking camp early, the convoy crawled up the steep trail out of the valley, listening to "Happy Birthday" sung over the UHF by two lovely Princesses to the author, who now has a lovely gift sitting pride of place on the mantle piece at home.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/RodeoConvoyWaterfallFireTrail.jpg
They wound their way along Folly Fire trail, searching for the beginning of Baldy Range trail. With no guide signs in sight, one Rodeo volunteered to scout up an unmarked trail with a GPS and see where they were. After radioing back he was on the right trail, the rest tried to chase down the swift moving Gold Rodeo across Baldy Range and Dingi Dingi trails, but had no chance. He showed his talent, skipping across the loose, rocky and rough terrain in 2WD, picking lines and using his 33" MT's to even out the bumps with skill.
Pausing for lunch at the top of Waterfall Fire trail, the lucky cap had filled up to overflowing, and couldn't hold the rains back. A storm crossed the Ranges while scones were served on a silver service as the group sheltered in their trucks from the rain and hail.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/SconesSilverService.jpg
With foggy windows and heaters blowing, the convoy picked their way through the trees, finding Powerlines trail a fish tailing challenge in the slippery mud, with one Rodeo requiring a snatch. Another showed his skill with a front auto locker installed.
Some hasty repairs were done to bypass a seized aircon pump (luckily a spare toyota fan belt fitted the jackaroo) and a couple of misbehaving EGR valves to keep the convoy rolling. (insert song here)
As the sun finally shone through, they beat a hasty retreat out of the mountains, until the leader, in his 4WDing excitement, led the group literally up the garden path, frightening some dirt bike riders with menacing bull bars appearing out of the tightly growing wattles. After getting directions from the riders, the leader humbly apologized for the chaffing detour and repents his ways. A secluded camp spot was found on the detour though, and after the leader suggesting it might be a good spot for the next "Roundup", a resounding "NOOOOO" was heard over the UHF.
A slow cruise was then commenced back in to Canberra to refuel and air up, and everyone head for home with fond memories of the Rodeo Roundup in the Brindabella Range.
Special thanks goes to RODEO4X4 for helping recconoiter and GPS Brindy tracks back in September. Couldn't have done it without you mate!!:truck:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/MacIntyresHut.jpg
The weekend was planned from quite a while back, to spend 10 - 11 October 2009 touring around the high (and low) country in the Brindabella Mountains to the west of Canberra with a group of excited Rodeo drivers (and tag alongs).
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/BrindabellaCrew-PowerlinesTrail.jpg
On friday afternoon, 4 Rodeos, 1 Toyota shorty and a late Nissan Patrol cruised into the mountains, and setup camp at Flea Creek (elev. 490m) after descending the first of many steep tracks to come. If this first trail was just a taste, what fun could be found in the mountains over the weekend, thought the newcombers.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/FleaCreek.jpg
Saturday, the small group awoke to a slight frost on the tents and trucks, and after the sun had cleared the ranges, dried the tents and defrosted the windscreens, they packed up and headed back up the steep trail to meet the last of the arriving trucks at Picadilly Circus.
After meeting up at Picadilly Circus with another 3 Rodeos and a Jackaroo and airing down, they set off on Two Sticks Road, then into a treed valley on Curries Road, joining Pabral Road and circling around the base of Mount Coree. Discovering Coree fire trail open, the 7 Rodeos, Jackaroo, Toyota and Nissan zig zagged their way up the steep ridge line to the top of the Mount and perched with cliff faces on either side of the summit at1421m above sea level. They enjoyed 360 degree views back to Canberra in the east and across to Tumut in the west.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/SummitMtCoree.jpg
The convoy then continued the tour onto Powerlines Trail, had lunch and scones, before playing in some mud holes, only having to snatch out one Rodeo from a bog hole. The Toyota Shorty decided to have a go at the wheel sucking mud, and with wheels spinning and mud flying, slowly crossed the swamp and emerged covered in mud from sump to roof.
After the mud fun, the group continued the tour, following Powerlines and Webbs Ridge, enjoying the scenery, before crawling down steep Waterfall trail, and even steeper MacIntyres Trail to setup up camp next to MacIntyres hut on the Goodradigbee River, elevation 460m. A raging camp fire was shortly lit, and all enjoyed dinner by its warmth and told camp stories until late into the night.
Sunday, they awoke to a light shower on the tent roofs, prompting all to pack up quickly in case the rain set in, but thanks to the hasty donning of a lucky cap, the sun broke through and shone on the group, drying them out.
Breaking camp early, the convoy crawled up the steep trail out of the valley, listening to "Happy Birthday" sung over the UHF by two lovely Princesses to the author, who now has a lovely gift sitting pride of place on the mantle piece at home.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/RodeoConvoyWaterfallFireTrail.jpg
They wound their way along Folly Fire trail, searching for the beginning of Baldy Range trail. With no guide signs in sight, one Rodeo volunteered to scout up an unmarked trail with a GPS and see where they were. After radioing back he was on the right trail, the rest tried to chase down the swift moving Gold Rodeo across Baldy Range and Dingi Dingi trails, but had no chance. He showed his talent, skipping across the loose, rocky and rough terrain in 2WD, picking lines and using his 33" MT's to even out the bumps with skill.
Pausing for lunch at the top of Waterfall Fire trail, the lucky cap had filled up to overflowing, and couldn't hold the rains back. A storm crossed the Ranges while scones were served on a silver service as the group sheltered in their trucks from the rain and hail.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/SconesSilverService.jpg
With foggy windows and heaters blowing, the convoy picked their way through the trees, finding Powerlines trail a fish tailing challenge in the slippery mud, with one Rodeo requiring a snatch. Another showed his skill with a front auto locker installed.
Some hasty repairs were done to bypass a seized aircon pump (luckily a spare toyota fan belt fitted the jackaroo) and a couple of misbehaving EGR valves to keep the convoy rolling. (insert song here)
As the sun finally shone through, they beat a hasty retreat out of the mountains, until the leader, in his 4WDing excitement, led the group literally up the garden path, frightening some dirt bike riders with menacing bull bars appearing out of the tightly growing wattles. After getting directions from the riders, the leader humbly apologized for the chaffing detour and repents his ways. A secluded camp spot was found on the detour though, and after the leader suggesting it might be a good spot for the next "Roundup", a resounding "NOOOOO" was heard over the UHF.
A slow cruise was then commenced back in to Canberra to refuel and air up, and everyone head for home with fond memories of the Rodeo Roundup in the Brindabella Range.
Special thanks goes to RODEO4X4 for helping recconoiter and GPS Brindy tracks back in September. Couldn't have done it without you mate!!:truck:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh151/SteelJockey/MacIntyresHut.jpg