Srathbogie Ranges Solo Trip Report VIC
- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12507
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
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Srathbogie Ranges Solo Trip Report VIC
It's about time I got around to posting about my last (and first for 2015) offroad trip, this one being my first solo trip in "unknown territory" that's longer than just a day trip.
It started out with packing at home and getting Ruby Scoo sorted for the trip - new gear such a Uniden CB given to me by a good mate Venom and some lights on the rear bar finally! Packing the gear in a different manner took a little longer than expected, plus there were expected storms in the area, this is what we saw from our backyard:
I decided after our later than expected departure time that we would head off after dark and have a bit of a solo night 4wd session - which was totally awesome. We fuelled up at Elmore Shell servo enroute to the Stratbogie Ranges. Start point was the northern end of Lightening Ridge. A few hundred metres up we aired down to about 20psi. There was one particularly challenging section of eroded granitic rock that was a decent amount of fun at that time of night before making camp at 2am - this pic is prior to making camp for the night:
The next day was a bit of exploring - not knowing what sort of tracks to expect, was hoping for some challenging stuff but the majoity of it could've been done in 2wd
This was an impressive boulder covered in moss on Lightening Ridge Tk:
We checked out a lookout on this track but it wasn't as spectacular as anticipated
Following some "old" logging tracks that were very tame (and disappointing) we came across this impressive gum over the road:
In this area we noted quite a number of trees that had been burnt out in two or more directions, creating a large number of tree like this one:
.
It started out with packing at home and getting Ruby Scoo sorted for the trip - new gear such a Uniden CB given to me by a good mate Venom and some lights on the rear bar finally! Packing the gear in a different manner took a little longer than expected, plus there were expected storms in the area, this is what we saw from our backyard:
I decided after our later than expected departure time that we would head off after dark and have a bit of a solo night 4wd session - which was totally awesome. We fuelled up at Elmore Shell servo enroute to the Stratbogie Ranges. Start point was the northern end of Lightening Ridge. A few hundred metres up we aired down to about 20psi. There was one particularly challenging section of eroded granitic rock that was a decent amount of fun at that time of night before making camp at 2am - this pic is prior to making camp for the night:
The next day was a bit of exploring - not knowing what sort of tracks to expect, was hoping for some challenging stuff but the majoity of it could've been done in 2wd
This was an impressive boulder covered in moss on Lightening Ridge Tk:
We checked out a lookout on this track but it wasn't as spectacular as anticipated
Following some "old" logging tracks that were very tame (and disappointing) we came across this impressive gum over the road:
In this area we noted quite a number of trees that had been burnt out in two or more directions, creating a large number of tree like this one:
.
- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12507
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
I can't remember the location off the top of my head, but there was an awesome lookout that was occupied by a bunch of motorcyclists that we weren't waiting for them to leave, so we headed to the top of the peak of this place:
An interesting seasonally closed track caught our attention - and from the DSE signs about closing the track it made sense after curiosity got the better of us - there's no way we would have passed this, or the next section that would've been impassable unless you ran a full blown tonka toy anyway:
It was quite a shock to come across the pine plantation that had been cut down for production:
And more after trying to navigate our way through the continually changing maze of the common pine plantation:
After working it out we found ourselves at camp after having a sneak peek of what was to come tomorrow - the climb up Lincoln Ridge Tk (from memory). We setup camp before a thunderstorm ran in:
Before camp:
Mid setup:
Final setup - rear bar swing arms got in the way since adding the rear lights not allowing me to remove them:
It rained heavily that night, we managed to get a fire going amongst it
.
An interesting seasonally closed track caught our attention - and from the DSE signs about closing the track it made sense after curiosity got the better of us - there's no way we would have passed this, or the next section that would've been impassable unless you ran a full blown tonka toy anyway:
It was quite a shock to come across the pine plantation that had been cut down for production:
And more after trying to navigate our way through the continually changing maze of the common pine plantation:
After working it out we found ourselves at camp after having a sneak peek of what was to come tomorrow - the climb up Lincoln Ridge Tk (from memory). We setup camp before a thunderstorm ran in:
Before camp:
Mid setup:
Final setup - rear bar swing arms got in the way since adding the rear lights not allowing me to remove them:
It rained heavily that night, we managed to get a fire going amongst it
.
- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12507
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
Once we got a fire going it was time to chill out - a bit of mucking around due to boredom and his is the end result:
The next camp from us sent two 4wd's up later that night - they both got stuck so we decided to give it a miss the next morning and opted for the easy way up in the same direction since we were a one vehicle show.
Mt Bugaree was our aim - a particular rock that was vehicle accessible, here are the results:
.
- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12507
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
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On our way down from the rock we stumbled across this local - not every day you get to see a little fella like this:
On our way out we stopped by some good friends then headed home. For a double over nighter it was a great trip that marked one year offroad since second gear was lost on the Dedick Tk - one that's on the list
Upon arrival home this is how Ruby Scoo presented:
I'm looking forward to the next offroad adventure - hopefully a few more challenges next time. Strathbogies was still very enjoyable with plenty of tracks to check out next time!
Cheers
Bennie
On our way out we stopped by some good friends then headed home. For a double over nighter it was a great trip that marked one year offroad since second gear was lost on the Dedick Tk - one that's on the list
Upon arrival home this is how Ruby Scoo presented:
I'm looking forward to the next offroad adventure - hopefully a few more challenges next time. Strathbogies was still very enjoyable with plenty of tracks to check out next time!
Cheers
Bennie
I finally got around to reading this, some great pics, esp the ones from Mt Bugaree!
Awesome to see a koala in the wild...I havent seen one in its natural setting for a few decades!!
Yes, that creek crossing may have been a little difficult lol
Awesome to see a koala in the wild...I havent seen one in its natural setting for a few decades!!
Yes, that creek crossing may have been a little difficult lol
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Owner SubieLiftOz, lift kits for Subarus
'97 Forester: EJ22E; 4" Custom Body Lift; JDM STi plated LSD; 20mm WRX RSB; Snorkel; Kings
Owner SubieLiftOz, lift kits for Subarus
'97 Forester: EJ22E; 4" Custom Body Lift; JDM STi plated LSD; 20mm WRX RSB; Snorkel; Kings