NSW/Vic High Country May trip - the aftermath :)

[omaroo]

Just rang the Mt. Mittamatite Caravan Park in Corryong to find out some local details. They stock both ULP and diesel in the Caltex servo out the front. They are normally open from 7:00am to about 7:30pm every day, but will open up the servo for "emergencies" and late-comers. They also sell food essentials (meat, veggies, bread, etc) from their kiosk if we need any.

They are the last station south, so we will need to come up there when we run low on the 'ol gasoline and dieseloline.

If we want to stay there on Thursday evening, they will let us in late, and have campsites from $13 a night through to cabins for $38 (standard) $40-something for older-style and $50-something for new ensuite cabins. If we decide that we are too tired to carry on to Stacey Bridge we will stop. Better off $13 bucks less in our wallets than off the side of the road in a prang.

Camping sites - there are some people coming down later than the first group so we need to stay at Stacey Bridge on the Thursday & Friday nights so that they can meet us. We have gary Fox coming down from Sydney as well as Rod Muir (L'Cruiser friend of ours). We also have Butt Craic and Cal coming from Perisher for a day or two.

I suggest that we probably stay at the Cattleman Creek Camping Area at Wheeler Creek Hut on the Saturday evening and then at the Ski Hut on the Scrubby Creek Track on Sunday evening. We'll see.

Looking at the topo's I've not seen lines so close together for quite a while..... it's pretty steep.... especially on the Zulu Creek track. Great fun!!

[maddog]

http://ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8326

This won't affect us will it? We're not really going on any snow 'fields' as such?

[TIGGER]

pffft.... chains



(you'll be right)

[maddog]

Oh I'm not thinking I'll need them, especially not with the new tyres My question was more a matter of is someone going to say 'you can't pass this point unless you have chains on' .. in which case I'll probably just drive over their vehicle and continue on

[omaroo]

Ben

Nah.... not mandatory where we're going. That's not to say we won't need them though

At the snow fields - like heading up to Perisher, they usually have staff on the side of the road pulling drivers over and ensuring that chains are fitted before proceding.

There 'aint gonna be any little guys pulling us over...... !!

[omaroo]

One last-minute thought.....

Have you all checked how much anti-freeze you are running in your engine coolant? You will probably have to cater for -10 C overnight to be reasonably safe. Maybe drain a little coolant off and top her up with your favourite flavour of glycol.

Cheers
Chris

[Butt Craic]

Chains are not required to enter the national parks if you drive a 4wd or an AWD even through the height of the ski season. They are required for 2wd cars and they won't let you through the park gates if you are not carrying them . . . but that shouldn't be an issue anyway.

Technically you should not have to pay the Park Enterance Fee ($16 or $17 each day you are in the Park) as you head in from the Thredbo but that's not to say they won't try to make you pay. I think the official ruling is that if you are passing through the park you don't need to pay but I'm not at work and unlikely to be able to get you the info before you head off.

Fuel is expensive - in Jindy it is around 111.9 for both ULP and Diesel. For those of you running diesel, it is probably worth ensuring that you fill up from one of the alpine servos because they have an additive that ensures the diesel doesn't get really thick overnight in the cold . . . not great for your car but it is better than pushing.

It didn't rain for most of today but they are still forecasting snow over the next couple of days so be prepared for it to be a bit chilly . . . if anyone saw the edition of JP a month or so ago, take a look at the guys doing the snow trip and you won't feel so bad about the weather.

There is some pretty steep terrain around but it is fire trail style rather than the boulder strewn tracks that most of you are probably used to . . . just stay off the brakes on the way downhill if it is wet!

If it is snowing tomorrow arvo you are best advised to avoid driving to Corryong in the later hours of the evening. They are not clearing the roads regularly yet and it can get pretty slippery on the roads that take you from Thredbo over to Corryong. If you want an update from Perisher as to the road conditions, give me a call on 0408 030 182. Worst case, there is a couple of caravan parks in Jindy that you can camp in . . . . hell, there's plenty of paddock out the back of my place if worst comes to worst.

Drive safely and hope to catch you guys over the weekend.

Nathan.