2004 end of year 4WD trip to Pemberton - Trip Report

Fish & family, Ug Boot and Shirley, Froggy & family, Bullet & family, Pluto & Leonie

Two days Rachael, Kurt & Donna.

For one days outing, Captain & family, Tim & family (visitors)

By Froggy

Pluto & Leonie, and the Frogmeisters headed for Pemberton on the 27th of December 2004 via Mandurah, Bunbury, Sue Road, Brockman Hwy, Stuart Rd and the Vasse Highway. We had a pretty clear run apart from a bit of a navigational challenge through Bunbury in an attempt to beat that bottle neck of traffic just outside of Bunbury.

We arrived in camp about 3.30pm, there was no coverage with the CDMA mobile in camp off Tramway Trail to get in touch with the ranger, Jeff Kempton. Arriving in camp I noticed there was a camp host which meant camping fees applied at this campsite now. The fees are $5.00 per campsite per night, not too bad considering there is now a certain level of security at camp with the camp host being there almost all the time. There is fire wood dropped off every day as well and campfires were permitted in the allocated areas at camp. Our camp host's name was Robbie, later being referred to as Ranger Robbie by most of the happy campers camping there.

Pretty leisurely start to the day in the morning. Whilst waiting for Bullet and Fish to arrive in camp we went for a drive through the forest to Yeagerup Lake. We crossed the Warren River from Heartbreak Trail and headed deep into the forest and I mean real deep into some beautiful timbered country. If it weren't for the GPS systems Pluto and I had running, we'd still be out there lost somewhere.

It was hot and humid with a heap of them little sticky bush flies that just wanted to befriend you anyway they could most of the time. We eventually came across a huge tree that had just recently fallen onto the track. It was so fresh you could still smell the sweet nectar of twisted timber, like that sweet smell of freshly cut timber.

We had two choices, head back into the forest and back track or find away around this huge tree. We had all the gear on board to make a way around the fallen tree. Our reasoning was simple, based on safety... if someone was trapped with a bushfire behind them and no way around this tree, they'd be cooked. So out came the drag chains and extension straps. We cut a track but at the same time being conscious of any negative environmental impact we may have caused. Certainly nowhere near to the extent of the old growth felling of beautiful majestic trees we witnessed earlier, it was very sad to see so much devastation of age old flora. This part of of the country should be left alone, we simply cannot afford to lose such a State asset as OUR old growth forests.

We got all three vehicles around the tree no problem, took a lot of elbow grease and sweat to get us around, but it was a great team effort. The next obstacle was an interesting one, centimetres to spare on either side of another fallen tree only to negotiate huge ruts downhill. There were three options to get around this obstacle, all three of us taking all three different options. Leonie putting the GU Nissan right up against a tree with literally no room to breathe. I tried putting the Toyota through by saddling the ruts on the other side, but the right rear fell into a HUGE rut, lucky for the tall suspension and the 33' x 12.5's tyres preventing any panel damage. And yup, we all got out on foot to take a look at the best way through this obstacle.

Onto Yeagerup Lake, took the shortcut back to camp and received a message from Fish on the CDMA, Fish was a little bewildered as to how to get to campsite as his normal way in was blocked off. We continued on around the Tramway Trail circuit in an attempt to look for Fish and blow me down, there he was just left of the exit of campsite on Stirling Rd.

Bullet had not even left Perth yet, he said he would be leaving Perth late afternoon and arriving around 9.00pm at campsite. But it wasn't going to be Bullets evening as when travelling via Donnybrook his passenger side trailer tyre had a pretty serious major blow-out completely stripping the side wall of the trailer tyre. Bullet did well to keep everything together when the tyre blew travelling at about 110kph. Bullet & family arrived in campsite well after midnight due to the wheel change on the trailer. 

On the morning of the 29th it was overcast and very fresh, with rain threatening. It was this morning we got news of the devastating Asian Tsunami, just unbelievable!. Our plan was to head for Fish Creek via Northcliffe and find away around 'One Tree Bridge' which has been decommissioned. On the way to Northcliffe, I decided to get in touch with Captain and arrange the following days activities as Captain was leading it. We managed to get in touch with Captain who was staying in Denmark - Ocean Beach Caravan Park (CDMA to CDMA) Captain made the decision to catch up with us today instead of the next day. 

With Pluto leading, Pluto's plan was to get us as close to the Broke Inlet mouth as we could on the South-Western side, Southern Ocean. None of us had been to this part of the country, so we were all looking forward to visiting a place we never been to before.

Very dusty and all 5 vehicles spread out utilising good communication skills over the UHF, repeating information from the leader back to tail end which ended up being me. Nearly loosing Bullet at the Fish Creek turn off, had to call him back. We all aired down at the entrance to the Fish Creek Track, possibly not needing to air down at this point as the track down to Fish Creek did have a lot of stakes on it running the risk of staking a tyre. A small water crossing to negotiate, nothing too serious. Captain and Tim were breaking in and out on the radio, they were behind us and every chance we got, we were giving them directions on how to catch up with us.

The country out to the mouth of the Broke Inlet was exceptional, emus and kangaroos all over the place. Low lying coastal flora meandering over and around spectacular light green covered hills. A few hills had rubber matting placed down, though not placed very well as the stakes placed in the ground either side of the matting to hold the matting in place are starting to get dislodged and threatening a tyres side wall from being damaged.

We got to the end of the track, a bit tricky to get all vehicles turned around as there is not a lot of room to negotiate. There is a quaint little campground at the end of this track, only really good for 2 or 3 vehicles. All under cover too and a great place to hold up for a few days with a good book and a hammock. Some of the likely lads went for a walk along the beach to try and get to the Mouth of the Inlet as the Inlet was still about 300m away from this great campsite.

Captain and Tim caught up with us here and we all left together after spending the best part of an hour there, having lunch at the campsite. Because we couldn't get around to the other side of the Broke Inlet, plan B took affect, we headed back to Fish Creek, passed Tuckers Hut and headed for Moores Hut along the beach, which would be the quickest way out. The beach run was to be an interesting exercise with Captain being the first to get caught, but as Captain says, ya not bogged if you can get yourself out.

I was following Fish in the auto Prado and watching the Prado from behind getting through a bit of a washout spraying some sand up well higher than the Prado's roof line, I thought I'd take it a little more tentatively. It wasn't a good idea as I did not have sufficient momentum to pull through the soft sand. Back end of the Cruiser slipped out and headed for the Southern Ocean, some quick thinking and launching all the skills on tap, managed to get the 60' to pull out of a very tricky situation, putting that one down to being over confident... and ya get that too!

Pluto up front identified another interesting obstacle, he wasn't over confident with this one so Fish and I went for a walk to sus it all out... it looked worse than it was as one had to time the waves to get through. When the water is so high on the incoming tide, the sand can get extremely boggy, almost to a quick sand consistency. The only way to be sure is to walk it and make a judgement. First and second rule of 4WDing certainly applies in such situations. Fish and I had a quick discussion with the lads about whether to turn around or tackle the obstacle facing us and so far as to say, I was happy to put the 60' straight into it first and allow everyone to make up their mind if they wanted to have a go at getting through. The 60' made easy work of it and everyone else came through behind one by one... all 6 of them. I pulled over later to allow Pluto to take back the lead... I was happy to fulfil my T/M duties on behalf of Pluto, no problem.

We arrived at Moores Hut, aired up, said our farewells to Captain and Tim as they headed back to Denmark the rest of us headed for Big Brook Dam for a well earned fresh water swim and wash, cheese and bickies with some nice red & white wine to wash it all down and of course some of the amber sweet liquid nectar to wash the dust away, what a way to finish a fantastic day, bloody awesome.

Settling back into camp, having a great evening with Bullet, Fish and Pluto. Party lights running off the 5Kva generator and the BBQ sizzling in the background. Hitting the sack just b4 midnight. What a great day ;-)

Next day, the ladies did a bit of a mutiny on us and allowed the likely ones to head out bush alone making it a testosterone only outing. The girls were happy to go for a walk and visit Hidden River Winery for lunch without us.

The likely lads headed for the Summertime Track via Northcliffe, then to the beach, cross the Meerup and taking a look at Calcup, over the Warren and up and out via Yeagerup, then back to Big Brook Dam for a body wash and then back to camp. Now, what about a trips leader for the day... since Captain wasn't there to lead the day as previously planned, I thought it appropriate to give the likes of Bullet and Fish a go at leading. Bullet taking the first leg to the Summertime Track out to the beach and Fish taking us the rest of the way to Yeagerup dunes off the beach. I led that last bit to get us back to the dam in good stead.

Bullets Land Cruiser 100 series V8 and Fish's V6 Prado making pretty easy work of Calcup Hill, tyres set at about 18psi on both vehicles. I thought I'd give the climb up the tallest sand dune in the Southern Hemisphere a miss, a bit concerned about the passenger side engine mount pulling apart on its rubber again.

We had lunch at another choice campsite right on the Warren River not far off the beach.

Even getting up Yeagerup was a bit of a challenge, staling the 60' just short of the summit, managed to pull her over the last hill in low range nice and carefully. The dune was notably chewed up and the track out was absolutely horrendous. The cause of these 4WD tracks being chewed up so much is because idiot inconsiderate nincompoop 4WDrivers are too dam lazy to air down before entering these tracks, or they do not air down sufficiently enough. Lighter the vehicle, the lower the tyre pressure and the wider the turning circle. If you are driving a Hilux or a Subaru or a Rav 4 or similar light vehicle, get those tyre pressure down, please! And stop stuffing the tracks up for everyone else by travelling on near road pressures tyres. If you are unsure what to do in terms of understanding the full potential of your 4WD and what negative environmental impact you are causing, and want to get a better re-sale value for you pride and joy, seriously... go do some 4WD driver and recovery vehicle training with a professional nationally recognised 4WD training provider. There is more to 4WDing than most people realise and these courses that are run are certainly well worth doing. Lets try and keep our 4WD tracks in good condition out there and lets stop stuffing them up for everyone else, please?!

We traversed the largest moving dunes in the Southern Hemisphere and onto Yeagerup Lake, aired all tyres up and headed back to Big Brook Dam to pick up the ladies. Only Vilma was left, the others chose to walk back to camp. We all went for a swim a wash and then headed back to camp.

Waking up to a near perfect morning for the last day of the year, nothing planned apart from picking up Donna, Kurt and Rachael from Pemberton at about 10.30am. Rachael being my eldest sons girlfriend, Kurt and Donna Rachael's parents. Just a easy sort of day visiting the Cascades, Bicentennial Tree, Gloucester Tree, Donnelly River Wines and Silkwood Wines. It was a very enjoyable and relaxing day with everyone and we all ended up back at Big Brook Dam, ordered a heap of Pizza's from Pemberton and watched the sun go down over the dam. Pemberton Pizza had to check with us that our order was not a New Year's Hoax because of the many Pizza's we ordered, hehee. Brayden let off a couple of sparkler bombs on the beach.

As we travelled back through Pemberton the Fire Brigade closed down the main street of Pemberton, they wet down the road ready for the midnight fireworks. We made our way around the detour back to camp and settled in for a great evening. Ranger Robbie had an issue with generators running past 9.00pm even on New Years. Bullet was kind enough to have his generator running and with it placed about 150meters away from the campsite, it was hardly audible. There was one looser in camp that had an issue with gensets running.. This tosser didn't even see the New Year come in. Anyhow, it didn't deter us from having a great time.

Oh and by the way, if any CALM volunteer campsite host tells you that there is a CALM ban on running generators after 9.00pm, its all lies, there are NO hard and fast rules about running generators in CALM managed campsites, we checked. All that is required is arranging an amicable understanding with all the other campers in camp. In this case it seemed the minority of campers made the rules for the majority of campers. Oh well, Robbie could be forgiven for his indiscretions as he is a Queenslander and they seem to do things very differently over the side of the country. We did our best to fit in and not upset anyone, I think we pretty much achieved that too!

On the 1st day of 2005, Ug Boot, Fish, Pluto and the Frogmeisters took off to the beach again whilst Bullet. We took Marks girlfriend and her parents for a 4WD trip down Yeagerup and up Calcup. The day was perfect and the beach was like paradise. I have never seen the Southern Ocean so calm as I was wondering if the Tsunami had anything to do with seeing this normally angry ocean being so, so calm, it was incredible to see it in this condition. Almost pristine like.

We went for a swim after lunch in the Warren River straight over from the sand bar from the Southern Ocean. A decision was made for us to attempt and conquer Calcup Hill, heading back to camp. However, the last time I conquered this mighty sand dune, I blew yet another engine mount. So this time I was going to tie down the engine mount with a ratchet tie before attempting the climb, restricting any chance of the engine mount failing for the 6th time.

We arrived at the base of Calcup Hill and there was only one vehicle successful in its first attempt, yup folks, it was the 4 litre V6, 192kw Toyota Prado running on 18psi tyres. The rest of us had two to three bites at the first section of this sand dune. My second attempt was successful and it was only a question of 2psi in the tyres from failure to success. I even missed a gear change down to 2nd low, two thirds of the way up and still made it on the second attempt. Kurt and Donna amazed at what these 4WD vehicles were actually capable of.

All on top of Calcup Hill enjoying an incredible view, then taking off the sand flags before moving into the forest, aired up and made our way back to Big Brook dam for the last time via Northcliffe and Pemberton.

Back at camp I did a big cook up with the BBQ plate. It was great to get back to basics and cook over an open fire, there is nothing like it, takes real talent to get the plate just at the right temperature and not burn anything. I BBQ'd for everyone and gees it was good ;-)

Sofia & I really, really enjoyed this end of year 4WD trip, fantastic company and great country well worth visiting. Each days events went without a hitch, all vehicles and persons arriving home safely which in itself is testimonial to a terrific West Coast 4X4 4WD holiday.

We wish Fish, Vilma and Madeleine all the best on their continued holiday to Bremer Bay along the South Coast and we'd personally like to thank everyone attending the last West Coast 4WD trip for 2004 for making this trip so, so memorable. We are now looking forward to 2005 West Coast 4X4 4WDing with great friends with common interests, visiting some magnificent places out there in the great outdoors, camping, fishing, surfing, abseiling and many other outdoor activities we might like to get involved in.

Hope to see some of you at the AGM on the 22nd of January 2005 ;-)

Cheers,

Froggy & family