ATTENTION
I have had feedback external from this site about this post.
In no way would I recomend attempting to go down the ashley river at this time of year. We were VERY lucky to get out of this situation safe and sound especially with all of our trucks. The farmer that helped us out with his tractor helped never had to and I/we are very thankfull for his help and appreaciate that he risked alot in doing so.
I was only today made awear of the size of the rescue effort launched by many to find us.
Just a note for anybody reading this, We were very lucky, The aid we received was from the kindness of hearts of our rescuers.
Just got home from a trip down the ashley river, It was a great trip, very challenging, lost of water,..... I droped into the river, loose al power and die in some very swift, rather deep water. Fairly quickly I was pulled out some checking we discovered the cam belt had snapped (its only done about 60'000k) thats fine, take it easy while towing me out to the first place we could get out.
Then we come accross a part where another river joins and the only way down the river is through the water!!!!
A couple test attempts swamped 2 trucks. Me and another guy found a good line after that. hooked up 20M rope and had a go, that didnt work as he got washed a tad low and got swamped. I got pulled off to the side and then pulled him out, next up we made up a 40M rope and tried again, success it worked and we got through!!! Bugger he dropped into a big hole...The other 2 trucks wernt keen to follow through the worst part to come help, we couldnt do anything, we couldn't walk back to them as the water was 2 swift. We were in there hands. They decided to call the cops and make a fire to keep warm while me and the guy that pulled me froze in my truck wating 3 hours for help.
Help came in the form of a bigass 4WD tractor, and that almost got stuck several times!!!!.
This is to warn others of what can go wrong.
Ashley river
Ashley river
Last edited by MATT4U on Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:08 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Leithfield
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Steve_t647
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Bummer, well at least they didn't send a jetboat like they did to a friend of mine, we (3 viehicles) drove in and recovered the truck's later that day, he said the problem was a radiator hose but the boat was to get him and the others out not bring parts or help.
Took hose and water back he drove it back, the only reason they called was the number of river crossings and his was the heaviest truck.
Good to hear you all got out!
Took hose and water back he drove it back, the only reason they called was the number of river crossings and his was the heaviest truck.
Good to hear you all got out!
Al we mite have called but my phone was flat, I and got hold of tim earlier but that was before we got into big trouble.
Last edited by MATT4U on Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sorry to hear you have had a little grief over the post Matt. Has got me thinking though that with all the experience this site has spread over the country why can't we get together little recovery squads to help each other out in times of need. No charge except for the coverage of fuel and breakages to recovery gear by the poor stuck bastard. I'm always willing to pull someone out if the trucks going. Gives me more and more practice and you are never too old too learn. Reckon I should start a thread along those lines?
rain, hail, sleet or snow, we go!
Heh, seems there's more to that than meets the eye.
In the original post you made Matt, it is clearly apparent the sensibility and responsibleness of your self and of those involved in the trip. You all new when it was time to pull the pin and seek help.
An unforseen event occured (Matts cambelt) and it was then that an attempt was made to end the trip. That did not work and rather than risk further drama, help was called.
What is wrong with that. If it were a mountain climber stranded up Mt Cook with a busted leg, he would be praised as a hero and on the News Headlines.
In the original post you made Matt, it is clearly apparent the sensibility and responsibleness of your self and of those involved in the trip. You all new when it was time to pull the pin and seek help.
An unforseen event occured (Matts cambelt) and it was then that an attempt was made to end the trip. That did not work and rather than risk further drama, help was called.
What is wrong with that. If it were a mountain climber stranded up Mt Cook with a busted leg, he would be praised as a hero and on the News Headlines.
I havent posted on here for a while, but couldnt resist.
Matt4u - Without reading the paper, and not having all the info available I am unable to comment further on this particular incident.
However in a nutshell...
I am glad to hear you and other members in your party are safe and sound, after all that is the most important part to any adventure, regardless of whether its a 4wd trip, a hunting trip, or a scenic flight.
I am guessing that it was never your intention to swamp your truck in the river, after all no one wants to do that on purpose! Also the enviromental impact of a diesel or oil spill in the river may of had a negative impact, again you would not of wished this to happen, however sometimes it is unavoidable in the situation that you were in.
However it appears that rather than risk the your life, the lives of the others in the party, and rescuers lives, you decided to sit and request assisitance.
There are a number of groups in the country that go out of their way to discuss ones misfortune publicly, for reasons only known to them (but think of words like jealously, bitterness, lack of confidence and in more recent times computer lovers), so dont take it personally, you have apologised and thanked the farmer and others involved, and you have learnt one of lifes little rules, you wont do that again.!
Whilst more care and attention/planning may of been good, hindsight is a wonderful thing. E.g Check the weather forecasts.
However I think like others have said on here, that the media and environmental groups should focus their energy on other "so called catastophic enviornmental issues" such as the Helicopter crashing in Lake Taupo with a bucket full of 1080 poisoned carrots!!
or the factories pumping crap into our waterways!!
After all you never hear the Police or Greenies complain when a car has an accident, slips off the road, smashes a few native trees on the way down and lands upside down in the river do you?
Why
ACCIDENT - this is the same situation that you were in, yes whilst there are things that could of been "avoidable", the same can be said for the crashed cars, the crash could of been avoided.
Also I suspect that "other 4wd drivers/clubs " are putting their spanner into the works too, to make them look better, and to avoid a backlash of your incident, when in reality it was as I mentioned above an accident, they too would of or will have a similar incident.
They should focus their energy on the real vandals of New Zealand nature and historic places and stopping this sort of carry on e.g Macetown track
Chin up mate
We all learn from our mistakes, and tomorrow will be a new story.
Matt4u - Without reading the paper, and not having all the info available I am unable to comment further on this particular incident.
However in a nutshell...
I am glad to hear you and other members in your party are safe and sound, after all that is the most important part to any adventure, regardless of whether its a 4wd trip, a hunting trip, or a scenic flight.
I am guessing that it was never your intention to swamp your truck in the river, after all no one wants to do that on purpose! Also the enviromental impact of a diesel or oil spill in the river may of had a negative impact, again you would not of wished this to happen, however sometimes it is unavoidable in the situation that you were in.
However it appears that rather than risk the your life, the lives of the others in the party, and rescuers lives, you decided to sit and request assisitance.
There are a number of groups in the country that go out of their way to discuss ones misfortune publicly, for reasons only known to them (but think of words like jealously, bitterness, lack of confidence and in more recent times computer lovers), so dont take it personally, you have apologised and thanked the farmer and others involved, and you have learnt one of lifes little rules, you wont do that again.!
Whilst more care and attention/planning may of been good, hindsight is a wonderful thing. E.g Check the weather forecasts.
However I think like others have said on here, that the media and environmental groups should focus their energy on other "so called catastophic enviornmental issues" such as the Helicopter crashing in Lake Taupo with a bucket full of 1080 poisoned carrots!!
or the factories pumping crap into our waterways!!
After all you never hear the Police or Greenies complain when a car has an accident, slips off the road, smashes a few native trees on the way down and lands upside down in the river do you?
Why
ACCIDENT - this is the same situation that you were in, yes whilst there are things that could of been "avoidable", the same can be said for the crashed cars, the crash could of been avoided.
Also I suspect that "other 4wd drivers/clubs " are putting their spanner into the works too, to make them look better, and to avoid a backlash of your incident, when in reality it was as I mentioned above an accident, they too would of or will have a similar incident.
They should focus their energy on the real vandals of New Zealand nature and historic places and stopping this sort of carry on e.g Macetown track
Chin up mate
We all learn from our mistakes, and tomorrow will be a new story.
Great comments Zukin. You're right, I think we can expect, quite unjustifiably, to receive undue negative attention from "real" 4wd clubs. They will see us as a bunch of weekend hoons happy to drive on damagingly and larger than necessary tyres and as club rejects rather than those who choose not to join a club for various reasons. In fact many of us are happy club members as well as happy ORE users.
Those of us who do not join clubs will be seen as being the type of 4wd enthusiast who just wants to make huge ruts and mess on DOC land and can't get away with that in a club.
Now we all know that's not true but ORE is a very public forum and there is likely to be potential backlash for any careless or "hoon-like" comment made. I'm not implying that you made such comments at all MATT, I think your post served as a humble warning rather than a proud trashing of your truck and the environment.
We do need to be really careful as the anti-ORE crowd, whatever reason they may be anti-ORE will pick up on anything they can to feed their distorted opinion of us whether we like that or think it's justified.
Likewise at events like the Sheffield MudPlug if we are to fly the ORE banner it needs to be as a bunch of people who love their 4wheelin, choose not to join a club but support the ethos of clubs in preserving our access to NZ countryside and taking care of it. Those of us with ORE stickers on our trucks need to be responsible and be aware that draws attention to ORE and act accordingly. We need to be able to continue to enjoy ourselves as we do and not get dragged down like so many clubs do into never having any fun in case a member of the public spots them driving through some mud and writes to the Press about careless destruction of NZ bush by members from club "x".
Not trying to upset anyone or dampen anyones' fun just saying the bigger ORE gets, as it is by the day, the more attention we will attract and the more people have to take responsibility for their individual actions as ORE members affecting the larger community of ORE users. Certain people and/or organisations will knock us down anyway as they do the responsible 4wd clubs but we still need to try our best to make sure we avoid it where possible.
Good on ya Matt for posting the warning and for thanking people involved for the help they gave, it's a shame there's been any negative backlash about this.
Cheers.
Greg.
Those of us who do not join clubs will be seen as being the type of 4wd enthusiast who just wants to make huge ruts and mess on DOC land and can't get away with that in a club.
Now we all know that's not true but ORE is a very public forum and there is likely to be potential backlash for any careless or "hoon-like" comment made. I'm not implying that you made such comments at all MATT, I think your post served as a humble warning rather than a proud trashing of your truck and the environment.
We do need to be really careful as the anti-ORE crowd, whatever reason they may be anti-ORE will pick up on anything they can to feed their distorted opinion of us whether we like that or think it's justified.
Likewise at events like the Sheffield MudPlug if we are to fly the ORE banner it needs to be as a bunch of people who love their 4wheelin, choose not to join a club but support the ethos of clubs in preserving our access to NZ countryside and taking care of it. Those of us with ORE stickers on our trucks need to be responsible and be aware that draws attention to ORE and act accordingly. We need to be able to continue to enjoy ourselves as we do and not get dragged down like so many clubs do into never having any fun in case a member of the public spots them driving through some mud and writes to the Press about careless destruction of NZ bush by members from club "x".
Not trying to upset anyone or dampen anyones' fun just saying the bigger ORE gets, as it is by the day, the more attention we will attract and the more people have to take responsibility for their individual actions as ORE members affecting the larger community of ORE users. Certain people and/or organisations will knock us down anyway as they do the responsible 4wd clubs but we still need to try our best to make sure we avoid it where possible.
Good on ya Matt for posting the warning and for thanking people involved for the help they gave, it's a shame there's been any negative backlash about this.
Cheers.
Greg.
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Steve_t647
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Mongoose wrote:We do need to be really careful as the anti-ORE crowd, whatever reason they may be anti-ORE will pick up on anything they can to feed their distorted opinion of us whether we like that or think it's justifed.
I am not sure why there is so much attention in this, you did the right thing and came home safley, a recent trip in the south island was well organised but one unprepaired vehicle and a lot of other mistakes ended up the death of a very expierienced 4wdriver.
Be proud that you knew when enough was enough and got help. Accident's happen with any hobby and deaths happen in any sport even rugby.
I am not sure why there is so much attention in this, you did the right thing and came home safley, a recent trip in the south island was well organised but one unprepaired vehicle and a lot of other mistakes ended up the death of a very expierienced 4wdriver.
Be proud that you knew when enough was enough and got help. Accident's happen with any hobby and deaths happen in any sport even rugby.
I'm not sure either but that's what I'm saying the attention is there justified or otherwise and that must be considered. I was commenting more on the attention this has received than I was on the rights or wrongs of this particular incident. As I said I also applaud Matt for his original post.
was it an article?
Hi Matt, was it an article in the paper that "dissed" ya? I'd be interested to read it if anyone can post it. I did a trip recently to lake Sumner, and another driver was told by a "local" that we're "destroying their road", even though no-one was "bashing". We were all just cruising. It's high time that we all just accept the fact that no matter what we do, or are seen to be doing, we're gonna cop flak from people about "harming the environment" or "ruining roads". They see a vehicle with big tyres, and raised suspension, and decide that we must be up to no good. The truth is, most of the time we're in places they cant even get close to, and as I think Supralux once said in another forum, (feel free to correct me if I got that wrong), the big tyres etc mean we dont have to tear up tracks that shineys and cars use. Most of that type of damage (from what I've SEEN) is from idiot boy-racers in a $200 car, and dirt-bikes "hanging it out" around every available turn. The moral of my rant? No matter what the recreational activity you choose, there's always some asshole ready to ruin your fun, wether it's sport (they dont "score" kids games anymore, the "non-winners" might get upset...WTF??!!) or hunting or 4wding. So just ignore their crap, they'll find something more offensive to them than 4wd's, and start whining about that instead.........
Welcome to life
Welcome to life
"He who dies with the most toys wins!!"
Thanks for the support guys.
The artical was in a paper yesterday and I was emailed a copy. It wasnt that bad but there was a couple things im not that impereesd with but thats life.
Im open to comment to anyone about this, so if anyony wants to know more my number is in my sig and I can be pm'd as well
The artical was in a paper yesterday and I was emailed a copy. It wasnt that bad but there was a couple things im not that impereesd with but thats life.
Im open to comment to anyone about this, so if anyony wants to know more my number is in my sig and I can be pm'd as well
I have read the article and Mike has an electronic copy which I have asked to be posted could be some copyright laws there who knows. The article is not that bad as far as the press goes. What concerns me most is the impresson the farmer has gained from Matts post, reckons it will encourage others, and the "between the lines" on what the Combined 4WD clubs have to say about it all. And I don't care who I piss off with this. I have written a reply to the editor bascally saying that although the incident occurred for whatever reason/s it is not in the best interests of 4wd clubs to berat non-club members. At a recent club in the canterbury regiopn meeting it was publically raised and therefore on record in the minutes. I hope that ORE participants that are members of that club, challenge those comments at their next meeting in matters arising from previous minutes. I know they have spoken with the person off the record but make it formal 
I won't be going to the access meeting next week as I most definitely want to attend my club meeting to challenge any anti ORE shit that may arise and it will because Mike has already been castigated by my clubs access officer. When I said for Mike to ask if he could publically post his diatribe he back down but expect it to be raised in the "safety" of a club meeting. In my letter to the editor I have challenged clubs to get involved and educate, educate, educate and maybe just maybe the 4wdriving fraternity can be as one and fight all access issues as one voice.
Al
I won't be going to the access meeting next week as I most definitely want to attend my club meeting to challenge any anti ORE shit that may arise and it will because Mike has already been castigated by my clubs access officer. When I said for Mike to ask if he could publically post his diatribe he back down but expect it to be raised in the "safety" of a club meeting. In my letter to the editor I have challenged clubs to get involved and educate, educate, educate and maybe just maybe the 4wdriving fraternity can be as one and fight all access issues as one voice.
Al
rain, hail, sleet or snow, we go!
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Leithfield
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I have also written & emailed a response to the Editor Matt ... will be interesting to see if it is published:
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to your provocative example of Editorial hyperbole titled ‘Farmer fed up with 4WD thrill-seekers’ (July 11, 2006). Perhaps it is my oversight, however I did not discern a protagonist reference to “thrill-seekers” other than that of your own; this then records your editorial prejudice.
It is unquestionable that the decision to progress such journey in said conditions was ill considered, however the evidence suggests that mechanical failure had significant antecedent, a salutary lesson has been observed, and rather than a public flogging they are to be afforded respect for their incident management and subsequent recompense.
I for one balance unfortunate incident against lesson, and also register the noble good that 4Wd’ers proffer time and again during climate tempest.
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to your provocative example of Editorial hyperbole titled ‘Farmer fed up with 4WD thrill-seekers’ (July 11, 2006). Perhaps it is my oversight, however I did not discern a protagonist reference to “thrill-seekers” other than that of your own; this then records your editorial prejudice.
It is unquestionable that the decision to progress such journey in said conditions was ill considered, however the evidence suggests that mechanical failure had significant antecedent, a salutary lesson has been observed, and rather than a public flogging they are to be afforded respect for their incident management and subsequent recompense.
I for one balance unfortunate incident against lesson, and also register the noble good that 4Wd’ers proffer time and again during climate tempest.
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Leithfield
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Steve_t647
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Some of these club's dont have a lot to talk about, new trucks with problems going on trips, a truck with only 2wd being pulled through, and even someone loosing their life on a trip.
You did the right thing planned and followed through when it got too tough called it a day you were prepaired and organised the problem occured through a mechanical failiure, you called for help.
If you didnt have a mechanical you would not be in the press at all.
You did the right thing planned and followed through when it got too tough called it a day you were prepaired and organised the problem occured through a mechanical failiure, you called for help.
If you didnt have a mechanical you would not be in the press at all.
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hosehustler
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The whole thing has been totally blown out of proportion 
Oppotunists have seen it as a great opportunity to pump out and beat their chests like tarzan, bag ORE, and generally give us all a hard time labelling me as a qoute "goon"
I am not a goon but one who enjoys a recreational family pasttime immensly, my family, my father, and brother's family are all involved here both running trips, participating, and helping out members of the wider ORE community.
I think a flood as they described it in the paper was a good definition, of what should come, I propose a flood of letters to the editor from members in support of our sport in general and let all concerned realise that not all here are "goons" but some very professional people who enjoy these "thrills"
we are the majority, write your letters to the editor and be heard make sure you write factual information and sign it with your name, anomity is a cop out, just like the peeps we have who surf on in here, don't say a bloody thing then bag the crap out of us generalising about the fact that i'm a goon because i'm a member 
like it or not the site is growing, looks like a club will be formed (whether I like it or not) the majority spoke through a national poll.
This is a public forum where anyone can say what they want 24hrs day, that to me is a beautiful thing
Oppotunists have seen it as a great opportunity to pump out and beat their chests like tarzan, bag ORE, and generally give us all a hard time labelling me as a qoute "goon"
I am not a goon but one who enjoys a recreational family pasttime immensly, my family, my father, and brother's family are all involved here both running trips, participating, and helping out members of the wider ORE community.
I think a flood as they described it in the paper was a good definition, of what should come, I propose a flood of letters to the editor from members in support of our sport in general and let all concerned realise that not all here are "goons" but some very professional people who enjoy these "thrills"
we are the majority, write your letters to the editor and be heard
make sure you write factual information and sign it with your name, anomity is a cop out, just like the peeps we have who surf on in here, don't say a bloody thing then bag the crap out of us generalising about the fact that i'm a goon because i'm a member
like it or not the site is growing, looks like a club will be formed (whether I like it or not) the majority spoke through a national poll.
This is a public forum where anyone can say what they want 24hrs day, that to me is a beautiful thing
I hate signatures
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niblik
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Leithfield wrote:And the common english translation: ...
"Hey bitch what you at - you trick'n for the man ...
Mudder Trucker's engine got smoked and laid him a bad trip ...
shit happens - all dope now ...
Chill - they be your homies too - righteous !"
ah! now its clear.. thanks leithfield..
pity about the media... theyre out to make headlines, not friends..
As has been said its got blowen way out of the water so to speak. As it turns out there was more mechanical failure involved in what happened as the truck that towed me had a broken transfer case so only had rearwheel drive when he towed me through the water. If this had been known at teh time the decision of the other not to follow us may have been differerent. These were to events that could no be foreseen.
as a person that races/rides motor bikes and enjoys "the odd bit" of 4wding I cant say alot of people but i can say that there seems to be a small percentage of people in both crowds that do the majority of the damage. I have crossed the old man range(central otago) a few times on bikes an once in my truck, every time i go up there the tracks from 4wds seem to be getting wider each time( in some place up to 5 sets of tracks wide) but then you get further down the track and pass a person with road tires!! making an absolute mess, I wasnt impressed. but upon questioning him and recomending he followed the road going back to the tar seal where he belonged, he just started bad mouthing our group of 30ish motorbikes saying that we made all the mess even though we had been following the track... i will admit some bikers do make a it of a mess up there mainly in the peat bogs. once again there isnt many people that partake in this either. it just just seems to me that there is a few f**kheads causing alot of trouble for the rest of us.