monkey gum fire trail

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

left home at 7.30 am as huey does his best to relieve himself but he was no match for the grande and the bridgestone gods . as i drove down the coast all local rivers and streams were chocolate milk and flooded , audley weir closed , macquarie pass closed , gerringong rd closed . i wonder if the trail will be closed either by a gate or by the Boolijong river . the gate was closed but not locked . the track starts off innocuously enough albeit with lots of very large and deep looking puddles . as boomslang advised i stayed to the edges .

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

its nice that the sat nav works in the forests . at this point im thinking apart from having to reverse out of a few puddles when the bullbar threatens to disappear this is not all that hard . but then . at the 6 -7 km mark . holy crap ! im either goin down that or turning around . quite a few moments of trepidation while i remember that there is a creek at the other end of this trail that i have to cross , ive never done this track , i don't know how deep this creek could be in flood and im by myself . if i go down this hill im in it for the long haul , if i have to turn around im in the poo real deep . hmmm what would Bear Grylls do . ok im goin in . and expecting some damage .

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

unfortunately as always the photos don't show the steepness , slipperyness or the size of some of these rocks , or the fact that there was no way that my sphincter would even pass gas at this point . im glad that i did it from south to north as it was all down hill . if you want a real challenge do it north - south but make sure you have lots of time and recovery gear . mind you it would be easier in the dry . at one stage i found myself going down the track sideways on the clay . a few times i had to back up to change lines in the ruts . gotta love traction control , just stick the boot in and let the car do the rest .

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

the first pic is the Boojiong river which is the one i was worried about crossing . on the way down the very long descent i meet some dirt bikers who told me it was only 2.5 ft deep . luckily it was and with a rock base .for a while i was having palpitations about it being like nolans brook . i walked it . at the creek in the 3rd pic i met a group who were going to take it on north to south . i told them i didn't envy them and hoped they all had really good winches . they had a long wheelbase rodeo , suzuki vitara , 60 series cruiser with equally old tyres and an old hilux . then again they were probably wondering what's this poof in the prado doin out here by himself . then the sun came out . up yours huey you didn't stop me . last pic hmmm do i take the left or the right , decisions

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Can't wait for the text as the photo's tell an interesting story.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

the gate at the northern end of the track which is actually mintbush trail . the track changes name 3 times along the way . ooooh powerlines . there are many tracks down here . i started the track at 10.am and was done by 1.00 pm and back at Berry booza/ refreshment stop by 2.30 and home by 4.30 . i would have stayed and explored some other tracks but i figured i pushed my luck enough for one day . and the damage report so far . haven't looked under the car yet .

[Boomslang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boomslang]

Looks awesome Kav. Good on you for doing this track by yourself in the wet.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

I had just finished watching the 4WD Action DVD with Roothy doing that track!

I can understand the trepidation, gutsy call doing it on your own though.

See ya on the tracks, Richo. (maybe not that one though)

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

i haven't seen that one richo . what no. was that one ? might need to contact AJ about some sliders .

[Milti 1974 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Milti 1974]

Told ya you would enjoy some nice puddles!

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

That is an excellent track.

We did it back in June in similar wet conditions, going north-south (Patrol x 2, 80 series, my 120). That ascent in the wet clay was quite interesting to say the least, and it was before the lift was done......

Similar damage as well, though it was the rear of the drivers side step on my vehicle that copped it - opposite point of impact when heading in the opposite direction?

Trip report was done here