Sorry to re kindle such an old thread but I always have a look on here for relevant info before we go do a track, I thought it was time to harden up and join this forum...
mudtroll wrote: Don't go to the end of track as a very grumpy couple live there & threatened us last year.
This comment seems to come up quite a lot when people talk about dome and you are right the folks at the matakana end are as mad as bat shit. I'm quite a straight up guy so I went ahead and knocked on their door (10:00am sat morn), very politely introducing myself etc.
I was met with angst and it seems these people are completely unreasonable despite my trying very hard to be respectful, appreciative and up front.
I cannot wait to see them again when we go therough this weekend!If they like conflict then conflict they will get.
Anyhow I do have quite a bit of experience up here, having made it through 3 times over the last 8 years. Over this period the track has not got any harder, only one dodgy bit where it has slipped that could be make or break as I recall last time thinking this wont be passable one day soon.
The first time it took me 4.5 hours in my truck (40 series with 37,s spring over axle conversion, twin lockers and a 1uz), all the other trucks tee'd up pulled out at the last minute and so I thought I'd just go for an explore but ended up getting right through just after lunch time (I did have four guys working my winch though)
The seccond time we went in there with 4 tough trucks, and I was very casual about it from my first trp up there. We got owned...
After leaving them in the bush for a week we came back with two new winches, 80 litres of water, 80 litres of fuel, and 4 new batteries to finish the job. We got out at 9pm on sunday!
The last time I did it I pissed through although I was the only one to make it in one day, we walked back in to get the other trucks through the next day.
Pics to follow...
If anyones dumb enough we'll be up there from 7am tomottor.