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LCOOL Ultimate High
Country Experience :: 26 Dec 10 - 4 Jan 11
Back by popular demand, Craig and Darren ran another trip to the
Victorian High Country open to all LCOOL subscribers. This year had day
trips from two central base camps accessible to those with camper
trailers & small full offroad vans.
Camp One was to be at Limestone Creek in the upper Murray with
destinations that included McFarlane’s Flat, Davies Plain, Mt Pinnibar
& Moscow Villa.
Camp Two was on the Wongungarra River not far from Talbotville with day
runs to the Pinnacles, Blue Rag Range, Wonnangatta & the Historic
Gold area’s of Dargo, Crooked River & Grant.
Both camps are on fairly remote rivers with no facilities so
participants had to bring everything although there were several
opportunities to restock food & top up fuel enroute. The day trips
were generally of an intermediate standard although as always track
conditions & river heights can change rapidly in the High Country
after rain.
Those that have been on previous lcool runs will know it’s not all about the driving with plenty going on around camp.
(Fishing, caving, swimming) Each night was 5 o’clock nibblies at a
central fire with plenty of socializing to be had.
The Crew:
Vic:
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| Craig, Kristen,
Maddy, Lauren and Serena |
105 Series |
Darren M
|
80 Series
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Ted
|
80 Series
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| Raff |
120 Series |
| Anders, Sheree and 2
|
120 Series |
| Terry and Tania |
100 Series |
| Greg G and Carolyn |
105 Series |
| John and Peter |
80
Series |
| Harry and Beryl |
78 Series |
| Dave M |
100 Series |
| Phil M |
100 Series |
Walter
|
100 Series
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| Mark and Trudee |
100 Series |
Tony and Annie
|
Patrol
|
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NSW:
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Glen, Sharon and Raina
|
200
Series |
| Scott and Fiona |
80 Series |
Bob K
|
100 Series
|
Matt, Paula, Aaron and Jesse
|
80 Series
|
John, Maia and Alec
|
80 Series
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| Igor and Sasha |
100 Series |
Michael, Stephanie,
Isaac, Xavier and Ollie
|
200 Series |
| Stephen &
Amanda |
120 Series |
TJL
|
80 Series
|
Brian and Kirsten
|
100 Series
|
| Barry T |
105 Series |
| Kelly F |
80 Series |
| David and Sylvie |
200 Series |
| Darren and Kris |
80 Series |
|
|
ACT:
|
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| Ivan, Adam,
Matt, Jordy and Ben |
120
Series |
| Ian, Nanette and
Michaela |
100
Series |
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SA:
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| Wombat, Norene, and
Joel |
100 Series |
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Qld:
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Mark, Treen and
Georgia
|
80 Series
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(32 Cars and 71 people in case
anyone was wondering!!)
The Plan:
Sunday
26th………….
Travel day to Charlies Creek, a great big grassy area, amongst the
Alpine timbers, small stream, centre of the day trip action, Camping on
the grass, amongst the trees, the track runs through this area, and our
camp will be visible and signposted and you will be able to call up on
channel 26 UHF.
Plenty of room to send coke bottles in the air, kick the footy, put the
stumps up, or kick back under the trees and watch.
From Victoria, head to
Benambra, then Beloka Rd to Mt Hope track, over Mt Murphy, past Bukwong
hut, and turning left to Charlies Creek. [hut marked on HEMA high
country map with camping area .]
From NSW if crossing the Murray, turn left, over Davies Plain, past
Davies Plain hut and you cant help but drive through Charlies Creek.
Monday
27th…………
Take a scenic easy drive to Mt Pinnibar , great view, pass a few huts,
coming back through Tom Groggin lunching on the Murray river.
Some from NSW may like to
join us at the Murray around lunch time for the trip back into camp and
happy hour.
Tuesday
28th………..
One of the great scenic drives of this area, the Cobbera’s Trail over
the bald hills, through McFarlanes Flat track and Suggan Buggan, back
to camp for happy hour, will be a big day, but well worth the drive of
changing scenery, within a few KM of where the Murray River starts,
before ending up on the winding bitumen for a section, then back onto a
dirt road to camp.
Wednesday
29th…….
Transit day to camp 2. Lunch at Omeo, there is a supermarket to
restock, bakery, pub, park, fuel all in the main st. Then we will head
across to Dargo High Plains rd, down Collingwood Spur, across the
river, and past Station Track about 5 km & camp at the Wongungarra
River on the right hand side of Tea Tree Spur Track close to the
National Park boundry.
Thursday
30th………
Eaglevale, bring your blind/snorkel, Climb Billy Goats Bluff, bring
your binoculars, to the Pinnacles, look for a view of the ocean from
the firetower, then back down Billy Goats for the opposite view,
heading into Dargo for an ice cream, fuel if you need it, and back to
camp via the River Rd .
Friday
31st………..
A scenic drive to explore the place Grant used to be, for morning tea,
into the old mines for a look, and a fossic, before heading down
Bulltown spur, the 24 odd crossings of the Crooked River with a scenic
lunch stop at one of the old town sites, before getting back to camp
nice and early for Campfire smorgasboard cookup after an extended happy
hour for New Years Eve.
Saturday
1st……..
Today, we head for an iconic High Country location via Cynthia Range,
Wombat spur, into Wonnangatta for lunch, then Loop back along the
Humphray River toward camp. (Part day)
Sunday
2nd……..
This is the view of the high county for smoko today via the Blue Rag
Range Loop. This is close to the Mt Hotham Rd, so some may choose to
head out via Harrietville or Hotham from Blue Rag.
Monday
3rd…….
For those who have plenty of holidays, today is official pack and Head
for home day, either via Dargo Rd, Mt Hart, and Mt Selwyn, to Buckland
Valley, or even back through the Gatta, and out past Binderee toward
Mansfield.
Reports for each day are on the pages linked below.
Other links in this report are:
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