Central Otago Tracks

[Baldrick]

Hi Guys

We are heading down that way at the end of the week, and was wondering about having a look at some of the tracks. what I was wondering was:

Can 1 x VX 'Cruiser get to the Serpentine Church - and how far through the Old Dunstan Road 1 & 2 could I go without needing to think about having other vehicles to assist each other? (Kids are away -so it is just mum & me :kiss: )

Truck has standard diffs, with normal centre-diff only. Usual self recovery gear - winch/straps/hi-lift jack.

What other tracks are "do-able" by a single truck. :frighten:

Have done the Nevis - Macetown thing numerous times before. Will probably do these again. :cheers:

Looking at being based at Oamaru for 3 - 4 days & then either Cromwell area or Alexandra for 5-6 days :thumleft: :thumleft:

Will take small tent etc with us if needed for overnight stays in the wilderness :afro: :scratch: :elephant: :drunken:

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :groupjump:

[albundy]

Old Dunsatn 1 & 2 no problems by yourself. You can also get to the church by yourself. I would go up old man range by myself, but then I have been up there heaps. You can go up the fruitlands track to the Oblesik on old man range by yourself first time. I would do all of these solo, but then I have two winchs though.
Al

[wjw]

They had quite a bit of snow on the old man range over chistmas so I expect it'll be boggy.

If you can I'd take a ground anchor, not much to winch off up there.

[Baldrick]

Thanks guys. Makes things a little easier to try and sort out. (Unlike this bloody computer - & then the GPS which just died with a fault saying the software doesn't exist. SHIT SHIT SHIT

Something seems to say we shouldn't be going away - bugger it - makes me even more determined!!!!

Will keep an eye on the weather for the area.

Cheers

[mudchuka]

take a pair or if you have them 4 decent tyre chains, not the crap lightweight ones either, and you will be fine, and a ground anchor, ive never seen the whitecoom rd so slippery as the 28th dec, heaps of fun though.

[Baldrick]

take a pair or if you have them 4 decent tyre chains, not the crap lightweight ones either, and you will be fine, and a ground anchor, ive never seen the whitecoom rd so slippery as the 28th dec, heaps of fun though.

Thanks for the tip - was thinking about that - then realised that the chains only fit the 31's (MT's) I have in the garage.

Would it be a better idea to throw the 31's back on & leave the 33's at home - thereby being able to take the chains?

Unfortunately, I don't have a ground anchor - or access to one. Might have to do a last minute ring around a couple of mates here.

Thanks Mudchuka

[Baldrick]

....
Truck has standard diffs, with normal centre-diff only. Usual self recovery gear - winch/straps/hi-lift jack....

Sorry guys.... that should have read: normal centre diff-lock only.

Cheers

[2roky]

getting to the serpintine church from the old dunstan near poolburn is easy wouldnt sugest to tryn get through to lake onslow from there by yourself tho even if you do have a ground anchor the tracks getting quite cut up in places and if the weather shits its self expect to feel the coldest you've ever felt. i mustered up there just before christmas a year or to ago and there was snow on the ground and a dirty southerly blown thru. i had 2 pair of polar fleece pants on wind proof hunting jakect n numerous layers of micro fleece n poler fleece on and i was still looking for more.
so what ever you do watch it up there if it cuts up rough while your on your way in turn round and head home best advice i can give you about the place

[Baldrick]

Sorry guys, haven't got my crap together and posted a report on the trip.

Will try to get something together soon - yeah I know - I'm a slack-ass

[jarps]

just been over whitecomb road from piano flat end to fruitlands on wednesday, tracks dry apart from the usall water holes so shouldnt be a problem by yourself, also did the track from clyde to bannockburn and the nevis, was a great day trip