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Mitsubishi 4WD Owners Club of Qld (Inc) |
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7TH AUSTRALIAN 4 X 4 GATHERING MITTA MITTA 2008 21-24 March 2008
Most of the members and their friends arrived on Thursday 20th March; the Doherty’s stayed at Lake Hume near Albury, as we were not informed that you could arrive earlier?????? Friday: As the majority of Mitsubishi Club were already there, they ventured off to Mt Benambra, this trip along with the others are mainly forest roads and tracks with a couple of steepish tracks thrown in. On the way to Mt Benambra there are splendid views of Tallangatta Valley (by the way you don’t pronounce it the same way as we say Coolangatta, it’s pronounced TAL LAN GATTAR – check with Jenny Gordon). From the feedback, the members were bitterly cold and blown away. If it was any conciliation, Stephen and I had to dismantle our camper during gale force winds at Lake Hume by 10am (I should have brought the surf board as the waves on the lake were sizable) and then put it back up at 11.30am. We are becoming experts at this and there are fewer arguments, due to the practice.
Thankfully breakfast and dinner were supplied during the whole gathering and we only had to take our lunch during the trips. By the time we came back from driving in the Highland you certainly didn’t feel like cooking. The Male fraternity of the group certainly kept us entertained at happy hour every afternoon, from Errol hiding Phil’s beers when he was pumping up his tyres, Don telling us about his day out with one of the locals and nearly buying a cordless lead and Errol and Robbie (Errol’s brother-in-law) and their three flat tyres in two days and Errol being told off for the over use of the Rattle Gun. Saturday: Once we sorted out the coloured ribbon problem, we headed off to Mt Emu, 11 vehicles in tow run by Graeme who was a member of Toyota Landcruiser Club of Victoria. It was cold, at 9am it was 9°, but that didn’t bother Stephen, he put his heated seat on. The majority of the tracks were very good; there were only a couple of occasions were the car lost traction. The track was classed as Medium with black sections (difficult) however compared to our tracks it would be more like easy/medium. Along the way the views were spectacular and as we drove higher you could see the difference in the vegetation. The fires from 2003 still left a trace, but considering the area was suffering from drought, it has made a very good recovery. We chewed up a lot of dust during the trip up, but it was worth it, the view on top of Mt Emu was breath taking. We had a 180° view over looking Falls Creek, Mt Buffalo in the distance and many other mountains of the Victoria Alps. We had lunch here and just devoured the sights that lay before us. It was about 24° and we were 1250 meters up. Many items were up for discussion during the trip and it had been agreed by all that Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria all suffered the same poor public transport problems. It was also proven that Pajeros have a better turning circle than Patrols as they had to make two attempts to go around a sharp corner where the Pajero cleared with plenty of space. Mt Bogong, what a magnificent mountain from all angles, it is Victoria’s highest mountain and they are very proud of it. Toyota Landcruiser Club run regular trips around this mountain as 4WD it is the only way you can see the mountain. The only access to it now is by foot or by helicopter. The government has stopped all grazing by Horses and cattle on Mt Bogong to help preserve its natural beauty. If you are going to have a flat tyre when you are out in the Victorian High Country, who are you going to call????? The MITSUBISHI RECOVERY TEAM!!! They are very well equipped, to even carry a cordless rattle gun and considering that Errol had already used up his spare tyre the day before from a puncture and now the spare was punctured, it was decided to use Barry’s spare, but it was a lot larger tyre than Errol’s and normally it wouldn’t be compatible, but because we have the MITSUBISHI RECOVERY TEAM with us, the heads got together and EUREKA, if we let the tyre down it will become compatible with the others. In record changing time we were on our way down the mountain. It was back to camp for happy hour at 3.30pm NSW time (this was a daily occurrence) bit hard starting at 2.30 Queensland time. Dinner was at 6pm and the presentation by Mitsubishi 4WD Club Committee members, Eric Newmann and Barry Willis for the 2010 Gathering at Pomona, which was received with tremendous enthusiasm by all present. The feedback from other clubs is wonderful and they have marked it on their calendar as a MUST DO for 2010. Barn dancing followed, however the majority of our group went to bed early. Sunday: Early start again 8.30, this time we had white ribbons and 13 vehicles departed for Quart Pot Flat Run. We were lead by Ken and Judy Boyle and Eric Newmann was Tail End Charlie. It was a little warmer today 12°, we followed Little Snow River which leads out of Mitta Mitta and drove to Granite Peak. Once again this trip runs on the forest roads and has more challenging 4WD tracks to and from Quart Pot Flat (which is suitable for camping). This was a very enjoyable drive; our trip leaders were very informative about the history of the area along with the vegetation on the hillsides. To show their appreciation for the use of the parks and the local area, the 4WD Clubs of Victoria pitched in to help repair fences and structures, which the 2003 fires had destroyed. Dartmouth Dam, which could be seen from the eastern side of the mountain, was down to 12% however it was very spectacular from 900 metres. On the way up to the Heli Pad on the Peak for morning tea we could see the other side of Mt Bogong and that was just breathtaking. After a ½ hour break on the Heli Pad we proceeded down the mountain to Quart Pot Hut, there is two types of vegetation that I have decided I hate with a passion – lantana and blackberry bush, they both scratch your car and these tracks are thick with blackberry. It was very steep gravel decent to Quart Pot, but the Pajeros did it with ease, and a pleasant hour was spent at Quart Pot Hut for lunch. Once the second trip had arrived, we headed back up the mountain to tackle the same obstacles including a fallen tree, steep climb and blackberry. As we proceeded down the 1000 meters of Lightning Spur Track to Lightning Creek, we came across another convoy from the Gathering, which were coming up the hill. Thankfully there were only 6 of them and they were able to reverse down to a point where they could go to a safe area and allow us to continue down the mountain. Lightning Creek is very long, windy and very pretty, 14 crossings in all, which lead you back out onto the highway to a campground where the Lightning Creek and Little Snow Creek meet. There is a lot of history in this area and well worth either stopping to boil the billy or even better camping for a few days. The good thing about a lot of these creeks in the Highlands, they are free and you can just pitch a tent and stay there for as long as you like and most times can probably catch a fish. On the way back to camp we called in to have a look at the historic church at Granite Flat and then it was happy hour. Tea was at 6pm and then the presentation to the Mitsubishi 4WD Club of Queensland Committee of the 2010 of the Gathering Banner. An Auction also took place along with a mock marriage of a One Night Stand where anyone could participate with a $10 donation going to the Gathering. Out of the Auction and all other activities for the evening they raised $9000.00 however nobody purchased the fold up shower tent as once erected, no one could put it back in its packet. Country dancing followed and was a huge success. Monday: Majority of people did sleep in an extra half an hour, went for breakfast and then it was a mass exodus to head home, not to mention the fact that it had started to rain. Barry, Clare and Lindsay and Beverley were staying an extra night as they were going south. Don and Margaret left very early, as they had to collect their new NS Pajero on Friday. An hour after Don and Marg left, Errol received a phone call, apparently while Don was endeavouring to reverse his car and van, he backed into and damaging a Police car. When questioned by the Police he said he couldn’t see out of the camera and when they both went to look, they found a piece of tape had been placed across the lens by some unscrupulous suspect. An all points bulletin had been sent out to arrest the suspect immediately, further finger printing will be carried out. Police apparently have the tape of the original crime. I wonder who it could be?????????? I think the culprit might still be looming around Wodonga, mind you considering how Errol and Don like to play practical jokes on each other all the time, I think Don was probably pulling Errol’s leg. But it certainly was a good laugh. Once Eric had recovered from the stomach complaint the rest of us had endured during the weekend and no it wasn’t the grog, they headed straight home, along with the Dohertys who called into Corryong before heading north for the Hume and to confront the oncoming rain. It was a wonderful trip, everyone certainly enjoyed themselves, we made new friends and we learnt a lot from this Gathering to help us plan for 2010. The local 4WD Club members were fantastic, very helpful both in assisting us with directions, places to visit, such as the Blue Duck Hotel which apparently serves some of the best meals in the State and alternative tracks to take should we like a little adventure on the way home. The southern clubs are very excited about the 2010 gathering being held in Queensland and are already planning their trips up. On behalf of Stephen and myself, thank you to Errol and Jenny for running the trip and to all the members and associate members who attended, it was a lot of fun. I highly recommend to all Club members to attend the 8th Gathering, you won’t regret it. Debbie Doherty Back to Top
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