4WD CLUB

Huts Recon Weekend

Dates	Sat 22^nd & Sun 23^rd January 2011
Event Organiser	Wylie McGinnes

Attendances Visitors *

Paul & Maxine Burke, Vince Bosua, Matt Ahern, Clayton Bryant, Albert Armour Visitors* Kevin & Liz Burke*, Gane Ahern*, Markus Richardson (VHCHA)*

The day started with everyone meeting at the Mansfield Bakery for a 9am departure. A stop to top up the tanks at the BP Roadhouse saw us head north from Mansfield along Graves Rd & Old Tolmie Rd before turning east onto Bunston’s Rd and a 6km run to Cambatong Rd. About 1km into Cambatong Rd we turned right into Stockyard Creek Track. The track didn’t look the best and there was a closed gate, so myself and Markus from the VHCHA decided to head down the track to check it out for the rest of the group. A lot of grader work led us to miss the entrance to Stockyard Creek Hut and track back a few hundered metres. This road was ok so we gave the group the go ahead to come down. A quick inspection of the Hut revealed some damage to the outside verandah roof and supports where a few branches had crashed through. Some loose floorboards and the shower block were also noted for future repairs. Stockyard Creek Hut On our way out of Stockyard Creek Track, our illustrious trip leader did the unthinkable and hung himself up going through a washout at the top of the track. After a bit of digging and laughing and then having to be winched out we were on our way again. A good lesson learnt though... remove the towball and hitch if you aren’t going to use it! It’s under that mud somewhere!! We continued another 9km’s until we were met with another closed gate, this time the road had been washed away, this stopped us from visiting Evan’s Creek Hut. We decided to head down along Cambatong Spur Track (which had some awesome views from Bald Hill) to reach Tomahawk Hut from the south. Again we were turned around due to a new bridge being built towards the end of Carter’s Road. We detoured out of the forest along Buttercup Rd back to Merrijig and onto Howqua track to Sheepyard Flat to relax with a few beers and a swim in the river, before settling in for the night. Some rolling thunder and a well orchestrated light show kept us entertained into the night, and the possible threat of heavy rain overnight had everyone hunkering down for the night. The next morning started with a drive by of Fry’s Hut, before visiting the private huts of Pickering’s & Noonan’s. We continued along Brock’s rd from Sheepyard flat, until we came across a very sharp downward right turn onto an unnamed track which lead into the Jamieson River are which houses the Upper Jamieson Hut. Pickering’s Hut Upper Jamieson Hut Noonan’s Hut After departing the Upper Jamieson Hut, we ventured further into the wilderness. We headed along Bluff Link Rd to Bluff Hut and further along to Lovick’s Hut. Bluff Hut Dunny Bluff Hut Lunch @ Lovick’s Lovick’s With time getting away from us (approx 2pm by the time we reached Lovick’s), we stopped for lunch and afterwards Paul & Kevin decided to head back to Sheepyard Flat and pack up the tents, food and the other halves and head home. That left the rest of us to venture on and take in the last Huts of the weekend, we drove back past Bluff Hut where Paul & Kevin turned left and bid their farewells and we turned right onto 16 Mile Jeep Track, heading towards Pikes Flat and Bindaree Hut. Bindaree Hut Pikes Shelter Pikes Shed On the final leg home we decided to go for a walk up to Bindaree Falls, which are found half way along Bindaree Rd before you get back to Circuit Rd. The walking track starts at the hairpin turn on the bridge, very hard to miss! Well worth the steepish 15-20min walk into the falls. With the day almost done, and with us starting to lose light we called into our last Hut, Howqua Gap Hut on Circuit Rd. From here a few more cars left us and headed home. The remainder stopped at Telephone Pole Junction (TPJ) to re-pressurise tyres and hit the bitumen back home. Howqua Gup Huts – Old & New End of Report Report by Wylie McGinnes