Many, many Jeeps
On the road
Off to Harvey we went - and it was pouring down. This bodes well for a day in Harvey - the hills and mud are something else.
After a driver's briefing we were off to the hills.
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Many, many Jeeps
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On the road
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Miraculously, the weather had cleared by the time we got to the powerlines track just outside Harvey. There, we aired down and headed for the first obstacle of the day.
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We were instructed that only cars with lockers and winches should attempt the climb. Froggy had brought a hand winch with him so I figured we were covered and in any case - how bad could it be?
Waiting to cross the creek
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The creek
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The hole
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Having (sensibly) walked the track beforehand I had seen the hole in the photo above and noted the handily place chicken track around it (not visible in the picture). However, when I got there the mud conspired and we went towards a large log (which I missed the first time) and the hole. D'OH!
In the process of extricating myself from the mud, I had to back up an inch or so and proceeded to pop my right-rear flare off the car. D'OH! D'OH! Oh well, it was in one piece and only the clips had broken - I've got spare clips. Onto the back seat with the (now spare) flare.
As predicted, however, I didn't make it through the hole (although I tried really hard!) and needed a brief snatch up the hill. No big deal. Only a couple of cars made it through unassisted.
Sorry about the blurry photos - hard to take good shots without the flash in a forest while it is raining.
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The same hole!
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And again
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There is a Jeep in this photo
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And in this one too
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Missing flare
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Clearly I can fit bigger tyres on now
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On the log that I lost my flare on
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Headed towards the hole
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In the hole
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Still in the hole
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Reversing out of the hole
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Sideways in the hole
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Didn't need that number plate anyway
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The next obstacle was only about 300 metres up the hill. By the time we got there (after watching/helping multiple people through the hole) there was a recovery in progress and several other cars in various stages of ascent. I briefly tried the right-hand side of the track (left-hand in the first photo below) before deciding that the chicken track was a better option. I parked there waiting for the hill to be clear - but it was obvious I wasn't going to make it up without assistance.
Parked on the chicken track
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Patrol being recovered at the top
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Halfway to the Patrol
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Looking back down the hill
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Winching
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More cars stuck on the hill
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At this point lunch was called. Froggy and I set off to construct the well-needed chicken track with an axe. There was an existing quad-bike trail the needed two or three sapling removed from it so we could fit the cars up. A couple of JOCWA drivers helped out and we made the track.
That didn't stop a few of the other drivers with more capable cars have a go at the hill.
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The video below is hosted on YouTube. If you can't view it or would like the original file, let me know.
First attempt
Second attempt
Third attempt and success
Eddie's first attempt
Eddie's second attempt
Eddie's third attempt
Eddie getting there
Final bit for Eddie
Eddie right at the top
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And with a little counterweight action
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With that hill conquered we headed out - Froggy was on a deadline and we were late.
Looking out over the valley
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