Al's annual birthday winter trip: Ikamatua

[albundy]

It's on again
18, 19 20 July
Staying at Ikamatua Hotel Friday and Saturday nights prices are as follows:
Please book your own accomodation ASAP

IKAMATUA HOTEL

ACCOMMODATION PRICES (effective to March 31 2009)
Check-in available from 4.00pm - Check-out by 10.00am
IN-HOUSE ROOMS

RM 1 Double bed shared ensuite $65
RM 2 Two single beds shared ensuite $65
RM 3 Double bed with ensuite $70
RM 4 Double & single bed - no ensuite $50


Below accommodation has shared bathroom & kitchen facilities

CABINS

1 One double $25pp
2 Two singles $25pp
3 One single $25pp
4 One single $25pp
5 One double, one single & bunks $25pp or family $75
6 One double & bunks $25pp
7 Two singles $25pp
8 Two singles $25pp
9 Two singles $25pp
10 One single ($25), two bunks un-made bring sleeping bag $15pp


BUNKHOUSE

6 bunks, basic with pillow $15pp, sleeping bag required


CAMPING

Tent or camper site, no power $10pp
Powered site $25 for 2 pax, $10 each extra person

MEALS
Breakfast - continental only, self service $10pp
Cut Lunches - $13pp
Dinners - Set meals Monday - Wednesday $20pp
Dinners - Bistro Thursday - Sunday priced as per bistro menu


Friday we will be meeting at Ross by 1130 leaving up towards Mt Greenland @ 12. Always worth a warm up for the rest of the weekend. We will meet the rest of the crew at Ikamatua hotel on the friday night.
Now sat and sun will be spent in and around Bulletproof Chasm. If you are unsure of the track check out the thread and photos that go with it in the trip reports/trail reviews section.
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11140
This is a grade 6+ track and you WILL incur damage. You will need winch, x1 locker (two better) good clearance, and MT's, this is all non-negotiable. You will need extensive recovery gear, and road building tools. A degree of physical fitness will also be required. We will hopefully come out at Springs Junction Sunday afternoon if we can sort the access. Saturday and Sunday we will be on the road by 0730. This is going to be a hard tough trip, but well worth it. Limited to 12 trucks, currently have 7 confirmed. Try and organise a winch bitch as well, you will need them. If you require any further info please call me on 021 925114.
Al

[wjw]

Well I'm booked:

RM 1 Double bed shared ensuite $65

Thought I'd be extravagent as its my birthday at the end of the month too... Not far to crawl if I drink too much either..

[Bulletproof]

You will need extensive recovery gear,


Hi Al.
Could uou please make sure every one has a "TREE PROTECTOR" as part of the recovery gear on your trip as this is a DOC remote zone and we can't afford to damage the trees.

Thanks Richard

[wjw]

You will need extensive recovery gear

A Tree Protector should be standard for anyone that has a winch... or at least I'd hope so.

I'll be working out what exactly I'll be loading up once the teams are worked out so as not to weigh the truck down too much and keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. Roof rack will be ditched too...

Already decided I might need to go halves with Paul on a Prado Body...

[albundy]

Could uou please make sure every one has a "TREE PROTECTOR" as part of the recovery gear on your trip as this is a DOC remote zone and we can't afford to damage the trees

No problems Richard. All that is coming are pretty experienced guys, mostly with club backgrounds. Paul D is coming as well.
Al

[albundy]

Access update: We will not be coming out at Springs Junction due to the sale of the farm and all access has now stopped through it. There are other tracks we can look at, but the Bulletproof Chasm is still our main priority.
Al

[IcedJohnno]

No problems Richard. All that is coming are pretty experienced guys, mostly with club backgrounds.

Paul D is coming as well.
Al

Hope you boys are going to do some serious arm twisting whilst away to get Paul and Andi onto ORE. Good blokes, even if they are blond twins, with serious trucks and the right grinning attitudes.

I got Andi to post his previous Prado for sale on here a year or so back so I think he is a member, but I never see any of their witty comments here.

Have a damn good birthday Al, would love to be joining you but will be just back from a damn expensive trip to the States.
Hmm now who needs a winch boy.....

[wjw]

Hmm now who needs a winch boy.....

Maybe... just waiting on a decision from Jafa...

[Bulletproof]

Hmm now who needs a winch boy..... [/quote]


I was talking to Paul the other night and I would say there is a good chance a might need a winch boy. Hes going straight to Ikamatua on the friday.
I Got him to go into ORE the other day . He told me he didn't know how, but now he has will probably join.

Richard

[swampa]

no sure if my co driver can make it either, he needs to take thursday, friday and monday off, he will let me know in the next few days if he can make it

[Bulletproof]

[quote="IcedJohn

Paul D is coming as well.
Al[/quote]

Hope you boys are going to do some serious arm twisting whilst away to get Paul and Andi onto ORE. Good blokes, even if they are blond twins, with serious trucks and the right grinning attitudes.

..... [/quote]

Talking about Andi and the bulletproof chasm track, he has a lot memories. Andi and myself were on that track between the Clarke and the Grey when the heavens opened up and the worse storm in 80 years hit the area. we had a race against time to cross the rapidly rising grey and then snowy river road was washed away.

On another occasion we went through and word go out at Ikamatua that we had gone in.These guy asked who was it and were told we belonged to the Landrover Club. They said the landrover members are girls, if they can do it any one can do it. They didn't realise The "strangerover" and my hilux were some of the most modified trucks around.
They went in and pulled the entire front end out of their cruiser and it had to be abandoned.

Another very sad memory for Andi was that this was the track where the Strangerover died. Its very last 4 wheel driving trip.

This is the moment of its demise



If this wasnt enough, the 1st trip in with the handbag Andi rolled it onto its side. A photo of this in the track report.

Here is another photo of Andi playing in the Grey in 1999, The rock is still there but not as high.



Just a few of the times Andi wont forget and the stories are no doubt getting bigger by the day. The rock will now be 20 feet high.

Richard

[wjw]

Another very sad memory for Andi was that this was the track where the Strangerover died. Its very last trip 4 wheeling trip.

Glad my insurance is upto date.

[H2OLOVA]

Haven't booked accomodations yet but i'll be there with bells on and a winch bitch, don't know if i like this "level of physical fitness required" bit........i smoke way to much for that crap thats why i bought a 4wd so i didn't have to walk

[mike]

Haven't booked accomodations yet but i'll be there with bells on and a winch bitch, don't know if i like this "level of physical fitness required" bit........i smoke way to much for that crap thats why i bought a 4wd so i didn't have to walk

Thats only for nissan owners jase - digging, putting ropes on tow hooks and pushing etc

Should be there with bells on now with mark as navi

Mike

[Mark]

Should be there with bells on now with mark as navi

Oh god, not the belly dancer outfit again.... I told you that was something that doesn't go down well with the 4WD boys when you wore it to Rallywoods last time you were up!

Yeah I'll be there. I'm just about to book flights down so if there is ANY doubt about this trip going ahead then someone had better stand up and say so now!

[Bulletproof]

Yeah I'll be there. I'm just about to book flights down so if there is ANY doubt about this trip going ahead then someone had better stand up and say so now!

The biggest risk of it not going ahead will be the Clarke river. If is up is up there is no way in. In the past it has stopped us about 3 times. But we wont know that until the time. The clarke rises very very quick but equally drops quick so even if we cant do it one day, there is a very good chance we could do it the next day. If the Grey is up we can still go in from the Clarke end and make a return trip.

Richard

[albundy]

Yeah I'll be there. I'm just about to book flights down so if there is ANY doubt about this trip going ahead then someone had better stand up and say so now!

Don't know me well Rain , hail, sleet or snow, we go
As Richard has said, keep it flexible. Plenty to do around there.
All seems to be falling into place well.
Al

[IcedJohnno]

Should be there with bells on now with mark as navi

Oh god, not the belly dancer outfit again.... I told you that was something that doesn't go down well with the 4WD boys when you wore it to Rallywoods last time you were up!

Yeah I'll be there. I'm just about to book flights down so if there is ANY doubt about this trip going ahead then someone had better stand up and say so now!

Na Mark, tis not a belly dancer outfit - in truth Mike is a Morris Dancer That would be why he drives a pommy product.

[SMOKEY]

I have BOOKED. , Al what do you think about a get together a couple of weeks before the trip to sort out gear, or will everyone just take all their recovery gear, about the only equipment I haven't got is winch rope extensions.

HOPE TO HAVE MY NEW JANDLES BY THEN,

FITZY.

[Bulletproof]

Hi Al .
Fitzy said he doesn't have an extension rope, but it probably wont matter. We should only need this for a return trip and then we will only set up one for everyone to use.

regards richard.

[wjw]

I have BOOKED. , Al what do you think about a get together a couple of weeks before the trip to sort out gear, or will everyone just take all their recovery gear, about the only equipment I haven't got is winch rope extensions.

HOPE TO HAVE MY NEW JANDLES BY THEN,

FITZY.

I've got a 20m one, if my group has one you can borrow mine... so I wouldn't worry about not having stuff, between us we have everything we need... now wheres that chainsaw you loved so much

[Bulletproof]

... now wheres that chainsaw you loved so much

Hi Al
Please dont think I am interfering in your trip.
When I originally said what gear was required for this trip I didn't mean that everyone would need a chainsaw. If every team had one, that would be enough as one person cuts and the other two remove the rubbish.

In case any one reading this site is getting the wrong impression and thinks we are irresponsible going in with chainsaws.
I can assure you this is not the case.

WE WILL NOT BE CUTTING ANY TREES DOWN.
This area is suject to windfall and we will only be clearing an existing track.

Cheers Richard

[H2OLOVA]

I have BOOKED. , Al what do you think about a get together a couple of weeks before the trip to sort out gear, or will everyone just take all their recovery gear, about the only equipment I haven't got is winch rope extensions.

HOPE TO HAVE MY NEW JANDLES BY THEN,

FITZY.

Will be real good to catch up Fitzy. Haven't seen you for ages. Still taking good care of that light i borrowed the last time we went on this trip

[albundy]

Hi Guys, little excited are we At the moment it is good to see the discussion taking place. Forgive me for my current lack of input. I am currently focussing on a big club trip to Haast next weekend and getting over a torn calf muscle. once that's out of the way I will sink my teeth into this one. And your not interferring Richard, in fact its good have your input. Might make you deputy trip leader. in fact I have already earmarked you for leader of the first group. You have the honour of being in front It looks like we will have 12 trucks , so four groups of three trucks , with someone who has done the track in a each group. The first group I think will have Richard and Paul D to start with. I will lead one group, Tim another and the fourth I haven't got to yet. Maybe Richard, you could put a post up with what you think each group will need, remembering the last two groups won't need a chainsaw and road repairing eqiupment as much as the first two groups. Anyone got room and knows someone who can make a video this trip. Wouldn't mind having a dedicated movie maker running between the groups getting footage. They would have to be fit Let this trip be an example to the powers that be that we can responsibly 4wd and take care of the environment at the same time showing how we can also manage a track on behalf of a govt department. Oh and good to see you on board H20, ya gonna love this one
Al

[swampa]

just my luck, my engine fried itself on the dyno this morning, cracked a piston they reckon, my fault, so we wont be coming, ordered a new engine today and this puppy is going to scream, when it goes back in it will have a single t06 turbo as well, ( i think that is what it is), it should be ready by the end of next month but wont risk it, the shop is doing all the work this time, have a good trip

[SMOKEY]

A little excited would be an understatement, will be great to catch up and where did the year go, Al I'm pleased my birthdays don't come around so quickly, so quickly in fact that i wonder whether the vehicles that where going to be finished for this years trip will in fact make the start line .
Jase just to let you know that my winch bitch is booked, brother John, so should be a fun weekend . .

WE WILL HAVE A GOOD TRIP ,

FITZY.

[H2OLOVA]

A little excited would be an understatement, will be great to catch up and where did the year go, Al I'm pleased my birthdays don't come around so quickly, so quickly in fact that i wonder whether the vehicles that where going to be finished for this years trip will in fact make the start line .
Jase just to let you know that my winch bitch is booked, brother John, so should be a fun weekend . .

WE WILL HAVE A GOOD TRIP ,

FITZY.

Will be a good trip alright, just hope i remember it

[albundy]

Confirmed thus far:

Myself + Mark (mechanic at Ricks) Safari
Tim + Rob Surf
Rick (pommie)+ Nick (Works for Rick) Hilux
Rick + Shaun (Kumho rep) + Graham (Marks mate) Surf
Richard + Janet (i assume) Hilux
Jas + (not sure who) Cruiser
Smokey + John Cruiser
Paul D + (not sure who) Prado
Bill + (not sure who) Prado
Mike + girlfriend (i think)+Mark Surf

There are two places left.

[wjw]

... now wheres that chainsaw you loved so much

WE WILL NOT BE CUTTING ANY TREES DOWN.
This area is suject to windfall and we will only be clearing an existing track.

I should qualify that, last time I was on the coast with fitzy was after the snows last year so all the tracks were blocked with fallen trees. he's way better at swinging a chainsaw than me .... and seemed to enjoy it more too...

And yes I can't wait, had a shake down driving upto Mt Hutt today, through some nice large snow banks. after that lost two bolts out of winch ... and OverDrive! so more work needs doing yet...

Will probablt have two more trips up to mt hutt next week too...

oh and the chains catch since we changed the offset on the rims... so have to stay under 15kph

[Shane]

I cant fecken beleave it,we have a club trip to Hanmer that weekend and everything has been booked .......BUGGER

Shane