Davies High Plain Adventure
March 2011
Trip Leaders:
Laurie & Heidi Miles				Zebra	80 Series TD
Convoy:
Joe Carpenzano				Catterpillar	79 Series TD
Judith Theobald				JAT	100 Series Petrol
Robert & Bee-Lee Fairweather				Cav OK	Prado 2007 TD Auto
Ian Wells				Demon	200 Series TD
Michael Schuettke				Michael	100 Series TD
Our Trip in Google Earth
Davies High Plain Adventure Trip Pics
Saturday – Driving over Mt Pinnibar
Our meeting place on the Friday evening was the Colac Colac Caravan Park five kilometres west of Corryong. Throughout the week we had all been nervously watching the changing weather forecasts. Since driving on the Davies High Plain and surrounds on wet and muddy tracks is not for the faint hearted, nor is camping in driving rain and traipsing around in mud the most pleasant experience either.
On the Saturday morning, our spirits were lifted with the sun breaking through and in anticipation of the trip ahead.  After the trip leaders briefing, we left the Park and headed south along the Benambra Corryong Road enjoying the magnificent scenery of the Nariel Valley.  We were soon turning off the bitumen, de-airing our tyres and commencing our 4WDing along the Wild Boar Track up to Mt Sassafras at 1,587M.
		After a morning tea break, we headed down the Paddy Joy Track to check out the Wheelers Creek Hut. With the tracks to the north closed, we circled to the south on the Wheelers Creek Track. Although an easy 4WD track, it contained many fallen trees. After chain sawing 3 trees, we finally turned back when we struck a one metre thick tree blocking our path.
Our new journey took us up the very rocky Mt Gibbo Track to the summit of Mt Gibbo up at 1,750M. At this point Laurie consulted the weather bureau & noted that rain was expected tonight. Intermittent light rain and cloud ensured that concentration on the slippery tracks was paramount (isn’t it always) nevertheless, that didn’t stop a number of convoy members calling out across the radio ‘bring it on’.
Unfortunately, their wish was granted but not with the anticipated outcome.  Nearing Mt Pinnibar, our trip leader decided the track to Mt Pinnibar would be too slippery and even if the convoy had of made it to the top the cloud would have prevented enjoyment of the scenery.
		Despite the cloud cover, the scenery was still spectacular on our steep descent on the Mt Pinnibar track down to Tom Groggin station.  Fortunately our trip leader who knows the area so well led us to a secluded camping ground at Dogman’s Hut on the Victorian side of the Murray River. After such a long day, the evening around the campfire was rather short, with rain approaching. Bed appeared the most attractive option for most of us. Ian Wells #2486
Sunday – Driving over Davies Plain After overnight rain, it was a fine if overcast morning at the Dogmans Hut Camp ground. Breakfast was taken overlooking the scenic panorama of Mt Pinnibar, partially shrouded in cloud across Tom Groggin station.  It was to be a day of challenges with Mother Nature deciding to make our day more interesting.
		With wet tents packed we set off for Davies Plain Track but with only 100 metres covered we got the call from our tail end Charlie, Joe, that he was stuck, and how.  Somehow he had managed to slide sideways into an unnoticed clay bog that everyone else had missed and had sunk in up to the door sills.  In pouring rain a doubled up winch pull using Michael’s vehicle as an anchor saw the stricken vehicle slowly dragged free of the clay.
Fortunately it was not far to our only major water crossing of the day at the Buckwong Creek.  The creek wasn’t particularly deep but was fast flowing and it was the flow that caught out a motorcyclist heading in the other direction toppling him over and drowning his engine.
With the events of the morning timing was perfect for morning tea at Buckwong Creek which allowed us to have a chat with a couple in a Britz camper also heading up the Davies Plain track.  We were amazed that the Britz was travelling in these remote areas without any recovery or communications equipment and on road tyre pressures.
		Soon after departing we came across a huge tree over the track which required a detour over the neighbouring terrain.  In the greasy conditions it was a slow trek with only Demon requiring a snatch after failing to find traction on the slippery clay surface. This was the last of the recoveries but not the end of the greasy conditions.  Davies Plain Track is very different to the rocky tracks of the previous day being predominantly clay and earth surfaced.
We soon climbed back to higher altitudes but with a cloud base at 1,200M we missed out on the panoramic views.  The cloud also added a challenge with visibility sometimes reduced to less than 20m - being in cloud creates an eerie stillness with no sound, not even from birds. Travelling through the mist we were surrounded by the grey ghosts of dead Snow Gums standing alone above the undergrowth.
We arrived at Davies Hut in the early afternoon where we stopped for lunch before proceeding on to our final destination of Buckwong Creek Camp ground. Once again rain fell again dampening our lunch break and promising further greasy conditions for the afternoon and we weren’t disappointed.
The first incline was greasy enough to challenge even our experienced trip leaders.  In dry conditions this track would have rated as easy-moderate but in these wet conditions it was proving a handful.
We arrived at the very scenic Buckwong Creek camp site. Soon tents were quickly set up to dry out.  Once set up there was a small wood chopping competition with Ian and Michael bringing out the hand saws to start cutting up smaller pieces of firewood, soon after joined by Heidi with the chainsaw. Robert took on the wood splitting duty with his trusty axe.  Happy hour came soon after and saw enough food to feed an army.  After dinner, the night everyone relaxed around the camp fire. However, it was soon cut short with rain moving in again and sending everyone to an early bed.
			Happy hour came soon after and saw enough food to feed an army.  After dinner, everyone relaxed around the camp fire. However, it was soon cut short with rain moving in again and sending everyone to an early bed. Many thanks to Heidi and Laurie for their time & effort to make this trip possible. Michael Schuettke #2476
Monday – Following the Limestone Creek Our campsite by the Buckwong Creek was lovely, flat, green and grassy, but after the steady rain which continued right throughout the night, it was very wet underfoot. However, by morning the rain had finally stopped, which allowed us to have breakfast and pack up camp without getting soaked.
After leaving the campsite we made the long, steep climb up the Buckwong Track which we had descended the day before.  Needless to say, the rain had left its mark on the track with many slippery clay spots and muddy bog holes. With Davies Plain track on our left, we turned right onto McCarthys Track, which was also in a similar state with many slippery and muddy sections.
	After descending the McCarthy Track down to the Murray River, our intention was to head south, following the Limestone Creek. However, after turning onto the Limestone Creek Track proved more of a challenge with the first 100 metres being a steady incline with very large protruding rocks embedded in the slippery orange clay.
We all successfully completed the section, but with varying degrees of clunking and scraping underneath. The section was uneventful, but then we were instructed to wait whilst Zebra made the next steep descent alone to ascertain the state of the track.
After an apparently a very hairy descent by Zebra, word came back that if we wanted to get home at all that night, the most sensible decision would be to retrace our steps and return to McCarthys Track. Needless to say, Zebra had an equally hairy ascent to return to the convoy.
We all successfully completed the section, but with varying degrees of clunking and scraping underneath.  The section was uneventful, but then we were instructed to wait whilst Zebra made the next steep descent alone to ascertain the state of the track.
	After descending the McCarthy Track down to the Murray River, our intention was to head south, following the Limestone Creek. However, after turning onto the Limestone Creek Track proved more of a challenge with the first 100 metres being a steady incline with very large protruding rocks embedded in the slippery orange clay.
We all successfully completed the section, but with varying degrees of clunking and scraping underneath.  The section was uneventful, but then we were instructed to wait whilst Zebra made the next steep descent alone to ascertain the state of the track.
We retraced our steps to the slippery section at the beginning of the track. Tail End Charlie successfully completed the section and made the turn back onto McCarthys Track. However, Demon was not so lucky, sliding into the deep clay ruts and getting hung up on the large protruding rocks.
After several attempts at retreating and trying to avoid the ruts and the rocks, he did manage to get through but not without some very loud banging, clunking and scraping underneath.   The rest of the convoy followed, with each vehicle being sure to stay above the ruts thus avoiding the protruding rocks.
	With all vehicles safely back at the junction, it seemed like an opportune time for a morning tea break and for Demon to assess his vehicle.  Fortunately no damage was apparent. We set off back along McCarthys Track and later turned onto Mount Hope Road.  We stopped just short of Benambra for a late lunch break, to say our farewells and to air up our tyres and clean up rego plates and lights for the trip home.
Thank you to Heidi and Laurie who once again ran a great trip, despite having to make numerous changes due to weather and track conditions, and also to Joe, who did a great job as Tail End Charlie. Judith Theobald #2139