Can anyone please tell me what the condition of this track is now.
The only descrpition I have of this track is from 1997 4wd book which states
The crossing is not for the faint hearted. Washed-out ledges, deep water and steep hill climbs abound, not to mention drop-offs measured in hundreds of metres. there is simply no room for error along much of the 45km route. Please heed the warnings - this is a very dangerous track.
9 years on is this track still described like this?
mike wrote:Can anyone please tell me what the condition of this track is now.
The only descrpition I have of this track is from 1997 4wd book which states
The crossing is not for the faint hearted. Washed-out ledges, deep water and steep hill climbs abound, not to mention drop-offs measured in hundreds of metres. there is simply no room for error along much of the 45km route. Please heed the warnings - this is a very dangerous track.
9 years on is this track still described like this?
Any info would be greatly appreciated
Mike
Yeah, I would stay well away from this track if I were you and come to auckland instead
Cant actually tell you sorry, STILL havent done this track - apart from the first 5 or so kms from Owhango end on a quad last year, hoping to play on the track with the trailbike over winter when the slopes are shut (since it will be shut to 4wds)
DieselBoy wrote::D Well, we did it. Got down there after lunch on Saturday and did some exploring at the Owhango end and set up camp. Left for the Natpark end at about 9:00am on Sunday. The track was in excellent condition, infact, maybe slightly to good condition!!! We were waiting for it to get nasty!!! It never happened There were a few interesting bits around slips and in and out of streams, but the rest was a nice scienic drive suited to an old lady in a 1300cc front wheel drive automatic Honda Civic No one had any problems apart from me, i got hung up on the rear diff as usual, on a rock in a puddle, had a bit of trouble getting the old girl to fit on the second to last bridge, had both left and right wheels on the outer guide rails Then the last clay climb, the ruts narrowed up to the point where she climbed up the sides and the tyres were only making contact on the side walls. A bit more momentum and a bit more black smoke was all that was needed. If any of you have been wanting to do the track, now is the ideal time!! It won't be like this after winter thats for sure. Thanks to Doc and the 60 4X4er's that did the work, its great to be able to drive 42k's worth of track in a day and get to the other end in the day light!!! We were out a 1:30pm. Pete.
the bit about the civic may have changed
Last edited by wopass on Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If you already know everything, DON'T ask bloody questions!!
hi mike yes yes i did the track just over a month ago a walk in the park its so easy going you could prob drive it in a car a little rutty in places but nothing even 31 inch tyres would struggle with,you can tell theres been a vast ammount of track maitance in there.
i think it took me 3hrs cruising,and highly disapointed so dont ask me to go mike or maybe i could take the daily driver
krawlr wrote: highly disapointed so dont ask me to go mike or maybe i could take the daily driver
Hey Krawlr want to go Kidding....... Nope I wouldnt ask you to come on a boring trip. Prob going to head up on the friday and do the track that friday or the sunday coming back.
I'm keen for a serious bash the weekend after next though. I'll try and get some access to rallywoods eh But of course it will have to cater for my puney 31" tyres
krawlr wrote:hi mike yes yes i did the track just over a month ago a walk in the park its so easy going you could prob drive it in a car a little rutty in places but nothing even 31 inch tyres would struggle with,you can tell theres been a vast ammount of track maitance in there.
i think it took me 3hrs cruising,and highly disapointed so dont ask me to go mike or maybe i could take the daily driver
Well did it on the friday. Under two hours with a lunch break. Its definitly a track you can do solo in the dry weather. I did it reverse from ohwangoagogoa to the mountain.
I must be an idiot, I can not find the 42nd on topomap.
Can someone post a couple of GPS co-ords for me so I can see where this is.
Running out of summer, the truck is finally registered and waranted so need to get out for a play.
The 42 Traverse goes in about 7kms past the turn off to the Chateau and comes out at Owhango, just north of the Rarimu Spiral.
Its about 46 kms to drive , but very easy track these days should not take anymore than 2-3 hours depending on how long you stop for lunch or whatever.
I've emailed you a GPX file of the route.
John
Last edited by jdeburgh on Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:24 am, edited 2 times in total.
I think it closes the end of April because we have been going there on Easter for about the last 5 years (except this year) and last time i rang DOC (last year) it was closed about the end of April.
Sorry to be a stickler for details but if you call it by the right name you might have better luck finding it.
Its the 42 Traverse. The 42 is a compartment number. Not latitude, not distance and definitely not the 42nd track as i sure as hell can't find the other 41 tracks that went before it.
We took 8 trucks through the 42 just before easter. Track is in excellent condition. Came across 30 mountain bikers coming from the chateau end.
One of them pionted out that I should have my horn blasting whenever driving up hill so the bikers would know to slow down. Just shrugged my shoulders and carried on.
THE MOUNTAIN BIKES THINK THAT THE TRACK IS THERES, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BIKE CRUISING ROUND THE CORNERS KEEPING LEFT LIKE WE TRY TO DO, THEY DO LOOK FUNNY THOUGH AS THEY TRY TO AVOID YOU . THE NAME COMES FROM BEING STATE FOREST 42. CHEERS
VAUGHAN
Exactlly right, 4x4s and Motor bikes have been doing that track a long time before mountain bikes became popular. Still i guess we have to put up with them, although most of them are anti 4x4. They forget it was 4x4s that kept those track open in the first place. Otherwise they would be too overgrown for a mountain bike to get through.
The 42 is voluntarily closed until summer. It's part of the deal going with DOC, would probably not be a good idea to go through this weekend.
Check with the local DOC office though
John
-Vehicle: Rangie - 4 Wheels, 3 doors, Engine, Gearbox, other whirly bits, Steering wheel, Radio, Seats, Pedal that makes noise, pedal thats stops it, and pedal that helps stop the crunching noise when using the gear lever. http://www.feilding4x4.org
(since it will be shut to 4wds)
or maybe i could take the daily driver 
Would love to tag along...
