bulletproof Chasm track re opened

[fourby]

climbing up out of chasm

[NJV6]

PS What other tracks did you do Glen on the West Coast ?

Cheers Richard

Hi Richard, thank you for opening the track up time and again. We enjoyed it. The other tracks we did were Nepoleons, down zigzag and up Subaru Hill. Subaru Hill has had a bit of spade work done on it so it was easy enough. Other tracks included up slab hut, reefton saddle, Trevs Hill, Petrol Hill loop and did all the tracks up Wills claim/bike track. One track up here we were running out of daylight when came across a new track (steep) over a bank where a slip has taken out an old track that we turned back. We also went into Big River as hadn't been in there before. We also did Mt Greenland on the way up the coast.
Very little damage on Chasm track except the VX with doors getting a hammering.

best 4wd track ever. NJV6...my missus said she would divorce me if I ever took her back in there, and we went thru quick when she was with me.

Same, Zoe said never again

I ended up at the back when we got to the waterfall and my wife had a sleep in the Pajero while we rebuilt the bank. It is at the waterfall where the highest potential for damage is with a tree stump on the left side when heading towards the grey.

Taking The marlborough club through here on easter weekend aswel as Mt Greenland will keep you all posted

Cool, Mt Greenland is all good at the mo, no spade work needed at the washout, blue pug hasn't got any more friendly, neither have the rolling rocks at the top!

Kerry Smith and Barnsy cut the new track into the Grey River in Feb.

Didn't know there was other tracks? There were campers on the manuka flats almost on the track, seemed an interesting place to camp!, the track we used dropped into grey river almost opposite exit, just drove upstream a little then across.

Glen

[Bulletproof]

Kerry Smith and Barnsy cut the new track into the Grey River in Feb.

Didn't know there was other tracks? There were campers on the manuka flats almost on the track, seemed an interesting place to camp!, the track we used dropped into grey river almost opposite exit, just drove upstream a little then across.

Glen

Hi Glen,
The track you used to drop into the Grey is the new track. For a while we had been dropping in at the start of the rapids and boulder bashing up the side to where you crossed.

Good to hear that Subaru hill is good because it did have quite bad ruts.

It sounds like you have done all the main tracks. Did you go down the one opposite Trevs hill to the bottom of the hill again? It has some wire across it at the top. We did it at Xmas and had to do lots of winching.

Cheers Richard

[Nigel Bannan]

The Sinda club have spent a good amount of time and effort to tidy up the hut at the bottom of Greenland to the point of making enough for camp sites. Heaps of history in that hill as they found lots of old mining stuff to keep them entertained for three days.

Nig

[NJV6]

No we didn't do that one. Did it a few years ago and it was a bit of winching then, was told it very cut up now and we weren't interested in winching through mud, plenty of those opportunities here in Southland!!!!

[L-andy]

Did the Chasm from Snowy Rd south to Waipuna Rd at QBW. Never done it that way before.... 6 trucks no issues other than a broken J arm on a Hilux. Grey was at about 1500mm on the gauge at Waipuna which put it about halfway up the door and dipping the headlights occasionally.

We started nice and early because as expected there was good amount of windfall to clear from the recent storms. Not so much at the grey end but lots on the higher ground towards the Clarke end. We had 4 chainsaws and all used 3-4 tanks each.

Longest mission was where the track drops into the chasm from the black bogs. Two big trees had come down from the bank between the terraces and completely blocked the track on the lower terrace. They were laying along the track roots n all with no way round. When they came down they also smashed off a big beech which was blocking the bottom of the ramp and also needed clearing. Its not very tidy but we got a way through.

Also worth mentioning that the boulder at the top of the ramp on the Clarke side is now gone. The second truck to winch up loosened it so we got rid of it once and for all.

Long day but a great trip. It took about 4 1/2 hrs longer than last time, we crossed the Grey at dawn and crossed the Clarke at dusk and that was without any major mechanical issues so you can never be too prepared.

L-andy

[Bulletproof]

Did the Chasm from Snowy Rd south to Waipuna Rd at QBW. Never done it that way before.... 6 trucks no issues other than a broken J arm on a Hilux. Grey was at about 1500mm on the gauge at Waipuna which put it about halfway up the door and dipping the headlights occasionally.

We started nice and early because as expected there was good amount of windfall to clear from the recent storms. Not so much at the grey end but lots on the higher ground towards the Clarke end. We had 4 chainsaws and all used 3-4 tanks each.

Longest mission was where the track drops into the chasm from the black bogs. Two big trees had come down from the bank between the terraces and completely blocked the track on the lower terrace. They were laying along the track roots n all with no way round. When they came down they also smashed off a big beech which was blocking the bottom of the ramp and also needed clearing. Its not very tidy but we got a way through.

Also worth mentioning that the boulder at the top of the ramp on the Clarke side is now gone. The second truck to winch up loosened it so we got rid of it once and for all.

Long day but a great trip. It took about 4 1/2 hrs longer than last time, we crossed the Grey at dawn and crossed the Clarke at dusk and that was without any major mechanical issues so you can never be too prepared.

L-andy

Excellent report. It is good to know it is open again. The track must have been in one hell of a mess to use so much chain saw fuel. Did you winch the big boulder out and drag it to the bottom ?

Anyway you earned your beer that day

Cheers Richard

[L-andy]

Thanks Richard,
the windfall was in pockets just far enough apart to have put the saws away etc then drive 2 mins and all out again. There were probably 3 pockets north of the chasm. Then we met some hunters who said we would find 3 more between the chasm and the Clarke but it was probably more like 5!

The boulder came loose when the second truck went up. we managed to crowbar and roll it after that.

Going the other way (Waipuna Rd to Snowy Rd) will be tricky on the exit from the chasm now. We (SINDA) managed to make a gap just wide enough to slide past but going up will be difficult not to damage a passenger door.

Cheers

Andy

[L-andy]

Double post, whoops

Cheers

Andy

[Bulletproof]

I have found 2 old photos from the 90s today that show how huge amounts of water changes things on the Chasm track .

Originally this bridge across the Clarke was the start of the track instead of the river in the valley we use today. A huge flood took one third of this bridge first but we still used the road from the end of the bridge. Then a couple of years later the middle section got washed away as well and finally DOC removed the rest of the bridge.



The road from the end of the bridge followed the hill around quite high up to the head of the river we use today to get onto the original road.

Here is another photo before the big washout happened at the same time as the Chasm was formed.



The amount of water to dramatically change things like this is why the track changes from trip to trip and we have to be prepared for anything.

Cheers Richard

[Pedro]

We did the chasm track Clarke to Grey and it was bloody awesome, you definitely need bars if you like straight panels, we took 2 vehicles in, Nissan swb and my disco, apart from shearing the steering shaft off it was easily one of the best tracks I have been on for a long time, used the winch 3 times getting out of the chasm and drove the rest. Track seems in pretty good nick and must been one hell of a job opening it up Richard!! I must thank Richard for the track info and offers of help when my truck shat itself, would of happily turned around and done the track again, I fully intend on returning in the future and doing it again..


Cheers

Pedro