West Coast 4X4, Easter 4WD trip report.
From Froggy, Easter trips leader.

Day 1, Black Friday.

It was a very foggy Froggy morning, Friday the 13th, indeed a very 'Black Friday' morning. Conditions were not favourable for driving down to Pemberton, or at least out of the City, we were driving in about 10 to 15 feet visibility at times. We had heard during the week that the Mandurah bypass roads were being worked on. Why these people work on these roads during the busiest times of the year, I will never know. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that there would be endless rows of vehicles jammed up in traffic as a result of such road works. 

Sofia and the Frog was almost the last to arrive at the departure location. There were 9 vehicles in convoy when leaving the departure location, looking very smart indeed heading into Perth along the Mitchell Freeway, through the lifting fog. We managed to leave a tad after 7.30am. Brent's place was filled by Pedro in another ForeRunner. We managed to get a call from Bullet on the mobile phone whilst in transit shortly after departure. A decision made to meet Bullet and family at the service station near the corner of Nicholson Road and Thomas Road. We gave simple directions to Bullet, directions that the convoy could not even follow, missing Anketell Road :-\ Onya Froggy...

Unfortunately the servo station we were heading for wasn't open, some of us didn't get time for breakfast and was hoping for an opportunity to pick up something to eat there. Wasn't too long before Bullet and company (Lisa, Louise, Kane & Luke) turned up. The Prado was loaded like the rest of the vehicles but was towing a rather full trailer as well. Bullet mention something about tyre pressures. Before he had a chance to say hey to everyone, we had them tyres up and ready for Highway pressure.

Due to the road works at Mandurah, we decided to head down the back roads. Apart from some mentally retarded road incensed 'YOU IDIOT' blithering 'road kill' suicidal dim wits, namely a driver of a grey Holden Commodore, we had a pretty good run down to Donnybrook. 

Na seriously speaking, when are these idiots going to take a very deep breath and realise that they are a danger on the roads to themselves and other road users and stay just home over Easter. I tell you, its not the speeding, its not the alcohol that is killing people out there on OUR roads and it is most CERTAINLY not the multi-novas that are preventing such idiotic behaviour out on Western Australian roads. It is purely and simply impatience. 

These idiotic road users must have the BEST camping grounds on arrival to their destinations. Whilst CALM and other land manager adopt the attitude of 'best in - best dressed' in certain camping grounds, this senseless impatient behaviour on our roads will continue to happen where we are ALL at risk of losing our loved ones to road carnage. On the way home, it is most certainly fatigue that is the main contributing factor to major accidents on our roads. 

Driving home today, I saw the SES crews (State Emergency Services) out there in parking bays, offering 'Driver Revival' stops. The Frog takes his hat off to all the volunteers that assisted in this venture, a huge slap on the back to the guys ;-) This is the RIGHT approach in preventing an accident from happening rather than mopping up afterwards. The result of multi-novas, pursuit vehicles with radars on board on our country roads and other so called preventative measures our police force have put in place is nothing but a bloody joke. I sat down after tea tonight and watched the News and I learned that there were 5 deaths on our roads this Easter. Second highest only to Queensland, bugger me! How can WA with a smaller population have such a high Easter Road toll? I invite ALL 4WDrivers in ALL 4WD clubs to please set an example to the general public next Easter out on OUR roads and promote, promote, promote safe driving before and during Easter. This Easter statistic is simply 'UNACCEPTABLE'. We as the 4WD fraternity of this State CAN make a difference. 

Firstly we need to speak with CALM and get them to change the 'best in - best dressed' policy in CALM managed camping grounds. Even if it is going to cost us some money to pre-book these camping grounds...and if it only saves one life, then lets bloody well make this HAPPEN!

Sorry folks, been driving on WA roads a very long time and I have noticed that the behaviour of our drivers on our roads is getting notably worse every year. And it isn't just our younger drivers that is causing all the head aches, it is ALL age groups out there. 

The West Coast 4X4 convoy of 10 vehicles arrived in Pemberton in a comfortable four and a half hours using the back roads avoiding any traffic hassles. After refuelling and purchasing last minute items we made our way to camp. We had a pretty good idea of where the camping area would be, though none of us had been there before. I left Ed's (All Tracks 4WD Club trips leader) mud map at home and was going on memory alone. Anyhow, without too much trouble we stumbled on the right camping grounds. In good faith to Ed and his crew, I will not disclose these camping grounds, all we can say is that they were bloody marvellous indeed ;-) I would like to make special mention of All Tracks hospitality and their generous contribution in allowing us the opportunity through CALM to camp along side them, even if it was 200 metres away, thanks guys ;-)

A few of us were very keen to head for the beach and check out the River crossings, especially the Warren River. As soon as we had the tents up and unpacked several items, we were on our way. Myself in the mighty 60' with Hool's in his 60', Scrounger in the 80', Gadget in the GQ Nissan, Pedro in the 3L turbo diesel and Leroy in his V6 ForeRunner. I took the quickest route out to the Yeagerup Dunes only to find a CALM station there at Yeagerup Lake checking on National Park fees. Some of us bought yearly passes for $17.00, this is only for the local area from Augusta through to the Broke inlet covering the D'Entrecastreaux National Park and the Shannon National Park.

Moving on we eventually came to the base of the largest moving sand dunes on the Southern Hemisphere, Yeagerup Dunes, quite an impressive site indeed. Unfortunately, as we arrived, we found that we were not the only ones with the idea of heading toward the beach Friday afternoon. What we came across was a dude in what looked like a Hilux dual cab towing a trailer. This twit was trying to get this diesel powered vehicle towing a trailer onto a dune where most vehicles had their tyre pressure set to just above 10psi to get onto the dunes....unbelievable. What was even more unbelievable was that the CALM guys we just paid our National Park fees to, allowed these vehicles to pass. Speaking with the CALM rangers back at camp on the last night shed some light on why this practice is allowed to happen. These CALM National Park fee collectors are simply only volunteers for CALM and do not have jurisdiction or authority telling the general public what to do, they can only make suggestions. They do not have the power invested in them to stop people from doing idiotic things with their vehicles. 

Our group lost at least 40 minutes while waiting our turn to enter the dunes. None of us had any trouble apart from Gadget whom had to have another run at the hill climb onto the dunes. Scrounger and I were one of the first to climb this hill, which was pegged out so that we could follow a route through the dunes to the other side. Low and behold, the Hilux that was trying to get a trailer up onto the dunes holding many vehicles up for over 40 minutes, was parked in an extremely unsafe position at the top of the dune. Furthermore, they had their kids running around on the thoroughfare Track. There can only be one word for this kind of behaviour, 'IDIOCY'. It was obvious these people had very little knowledge of 4WD off-road etiquette. We ask these people to join a 4WD club and learn the skills and abilities to travel off-road in a 4WD vehicle safely, so that they are more familiar with keeping the best interest of their kids safety in mind.

The plan was to head for the beach and check out the river crossing at the Warren River Mouth for the next day's 4WDing. I asked the CALM volunteers if the River was open and if in fact it could be crossed, they said no. They said that the River was open and was like a quick sand mix at the mouth and there was no way of crossing. We also asked the paid CALM rangers who were doing their best sorting out the mess at the baser of Yeageup Dunes the same question, they said, yep! no problem, the River mouth could be crossed. 

The track down to the beach was in a very sad state indeed. Descents, hill climbs and some interesting terrain I can handle, but to see this great track in such a sad state makes the job of trying to keep these tracks open that much harder. Now here is the tip for all 4WDrivers heading in this direction, and it is supported by the land managers in the area - CALM. Deflate your tyres to the recommended pressure for this terrain specified by CALM and secondly, make sure your shock absorbers are in very good condition. This will smooth the track out and not make it so corrugated and shake the hell out of a vehicle. I have driven this track many times over over the last 15 years, and over this Easter break, I have noted that the track is in its very worse state than I can ever recall. Towing trailers through the area has to be banned, the track cannot handle this kind of transport. Off-road trailers without letting tyre pressure down to at least 10psi have to banned as well. Any large groups of vehicles from other 4WD clubs needs to rethink their itinerary and strategies for each days outings. Break the convoy down to manageable size with respect to oncoming traffic. Send part of the convoy off in a different direction for the day, i.e., Fish Creek or Lake Jasper and Black Point. If we ALL do these very simple steps, this track should stay open for a very long time for ALL of us to enjoy in good condition. The ball is in OUR court, we have the opportunity to help CALM manage these areas and help keep this coast open. Lets ALL support CALM, WA4WD Assoc and KOCO in doing what is best for the environment and sustainability in keeping these areas open always for 4WD access.

Finally got to see the Southern Ocean. What a magnificent site it is from the top of the dune. Quite a drive to the beach itself on the descent off the dunes. The guys that hadn't been here before were very impressed with the raw beauty of this area, it is still a very wild coastline. The surf comes in straight off the Southern Ocean and it is not broken up by a reef system, the continental shelf is not that far out to sea here. Myself, Scrounger, Hool's, Gadget, LeRoy and Pedro spread out on the beach heading in a Westerly direction out of toward the Warren River mouth. The Warren River was very easily crossed, didn't even get the vehicles wet. A little soft under foot but was never going to be a problem. I suggested a quick stop to take a few photographs at a spot just behind the dunes on the banks of the Warren River, out of the wind, just perfect. A group decision was made on what was the best way to head for camp, it was a unanimous decision the head out up Calcup Hill. 

Calcup Hill in the early Australian Maritime pioneering days, the Mariners used Calcup Hill as a beacon. Yes indeed folks, Calcup Hill has been there for many years, even before a 4WD vehicle was invented. The hill has not changed since 15 years ago when I first drove my very first 4WD vehicle, a 1976 SWB Toyota Land Cruiser up Calcup Hill. Calcup Hill measures, in the old measurement, 900ft above sea level and it is one hell of a challenge for most vehicles to get up this hill. With the more higher performance vehicles this Hill can be conquered on 15psi, but we strongly urge all 4WDrivers as CALM suggests that Calcup Hill is attempted at 10psi. Not so much for the preservation of the Hill, but for the preservation of your own vehicle. Be kind to your vehicle on this hill. I am speaking from experience, you see...I blew an engine mount on the Cruiser at 10psi this time round. Fortunately we had some truck tie downs that did the job of holding the engine on its mountings, a little bush mechanics and we were able to do the rest of the 4WD activities over the next few days, even though the engine mount had split in two. 

Gadget was the last up Calcup Hill. I thought I was going to be the second one up but when I finally arrived, most of the guys were already at the top. Hool's had gone up and down more than once in the mighty 60' Series, Pedro in the 3L 4cyl, turbo diesel had no trouble at first bite at the hill. Scrounger and LeRoy were already up there, so I assumed they both managed to get up on only one attempt. Though later on I was informed that only Pedro and Hool's were the only ones that made the hill climb in one attempt. Hool's headed back down on a couple of occasions only to check on the other vehicles that hadn't got up yet.

It took us all of about half an hour to get the engine on my 60' strapped down for the run out of the area. Due to time, it was getting on dark and there looked like a front heading in over the Southern Ocean, and being up such a large hill, looking down 900 feet onto the Ocean, this weather front looked like it moving in pretty fast. Some of the guys proceeded to air up their tyres before exiting Calcup Hill, big mistake. I should have warned them. Exiting this rather large sand dune can be done half way down the highest section of the dune and there is a track off to the left heading down the dune.

Most of us were off the dunes, Pedro pulled in behind me with Scrounger not far behind. Hool's, Scrounger headed off early at different times. Hool's and Scrounger had been down here on other occasions and knew the way back to base camp. Having said that they were actually going to head in the wrong direction at the first turn, should have waited fella's :-\. Pedro did the sensible thing and waited while airing up with me. LeRoy and Gadget were still on Calcup Hill and hadn't come through yet. The UHF wasn't working too well through the forest over the back of Calcup Hill as the UHF is all about line of sight. I tried to contact LeRoy and Gadget but was mostly unsuccessful, though they didn't seem to need assistance. Was almost dark so Pedro and I made the decision to push on and leave Gadget and LeRoy on Calcup Hill. Couldn't even give them instructions on how to get out, but then Gadget does have a GPS on board and was able to pick up the main roads. If he didn't have this onboard I would have waited for them.

Pedro and I used our spottiest that literally lit up the forest from night into day, bloody fantastic it was too. No Kangaroos in sight, just the occasional incoming traffic, would be the local Cockies coming home from the pub. 

Pedro and I rocked into base camp at around 6.45pm, just in time for dinner. Hoping to see Scrounger, Hool's already at camp but did notice Scrounger missing. Scrounger had taken a wrong turn entering base camp and was out there lost someplace, but still in radio range. We managed to talk him in over the radio. About 40 minutes later, all were safely back at base camp with some interesting stories to contribute around the camp fire.

After dinner we settled down around the camp fire amongst a setting of old introduced pine trees that were surrounded by the natural vegetation of tall Marri, Karri and Jarrah trees, the evening was certainly one to remember. 

We thank the CALM rangers of the Pemberton region and All Tracks 4WD club for offering this superb camping ground to WC4X4 4WD Club, we are eternally grateful. Thankyou...

Go to  Day 2, click here.

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