42nd Traverse Dec 08

[Windsock]

Did the 42 traverse on Sun 7th Dec 08. Track was very well maintained with fresh digger marks still clearly visible. Only needed to engage centre diff lock a few times and only then was precautionary rather than absolutely required. Not a trip for shineys despite good track condition under the tyres as due to overgrowth of scrub on tracksides the paint on shineys would need extensive cutting & polishing.

A few steep climbs would've been more interesting in damp/wet conditions but in dry conditions all driving was pretty ordinary. I even thought it may have been a conspiracy to keep 4WDs out of there. Make the track so good it removes the required level of adrenaline rush most of us seek.

Only saw a couple of hunters on quads (one of them had a few good size poaka on the dog trailer ) and a mountain biker at the very start heading in opposite direction to me. Plenty of mountain biker tracks in the dust though and a few 4WD tread patterns.

Overall it was a fun 3.5 hours of driving a route I hadn't driven previously.

[skid]

Did the 42 traverse on Sun 7th Dec 08. Track was very well maintained with fresh digger marks still clearly visible. Only needed to engage centre diff lock a few times and only then was precautionary rather than absolutely required. Not a trip for shineys despite good track condition under the tyres as due to overgrowth of scrub on tracksides the paint on shineys would need extensive cutting & polishing.

A few steep climbs would've been more interesting in damp/wet conditions but in dry conditions all driving was pretty ordinary. I even thought it may have been a conspiracy to keep 4WDs out of there. Make the track so good it removes the required level of adrenaline rush most of us seek.

Only saw a couple of hunters on quads (one of them had a few good size poaka on the dog trailer ) and a mountain biker at the very start heading in opposite direction to me. Plenty of mountain biker tracks in the dust though and a few 4WD tread patterns.

Overall it was a fun 3.5 hours of driving a route I hadn't driven previously.

they have a working bee around february each year to maintain the track and cut scrub if you are interested.

its one of very few tracks that 4wders maintain and abide by the winter closure.

its just a shame that other user groups don't turn up to help at the working bee.

did you turn into the lookout at the mountain end of the track, awesome views

[Windsock]

Hi Skid,

I saw the turn off to the lookout but I didn't go out there unfortunately. Realised too late it was the lookout turn-off and decided to carry on rather than find somewhere to turn around. Aside from the drive being a part of the surprise my wife sprang for me as our wedding anniversary I was also (more) interested in looking for turn-offs in a recce for potential future trips up that way for trout fishing the upper Whanganui.

Appears there are a few tracks leading to the river (e.g. Pony Club Track down to Taylors Camp and other unnamed tracks as listed on the DOC map) but on looking at them they are most used by Quads so does anyone out there drive down to the river or closeby on these tracks in a normal size 4WD?

EDIT: OK, just found the following quote on http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/tongariro-taupo/ruapehu-area/tongariro-forest-conservation-area/ "4WD vehicle access on the 42 Traverse is open between 1 December and 30 April only, and 4WD vehicles are not permitted off this route. There is no access to any other roads off the 42 Traverse."

Ah well, I guess the river wasn't that far away for walking...

I guess the dates of the working bees will be posted up closer to the time? I figure that the track although fresh at the start of the drive season would need serious work after the summer rains and all the traffic at the end of the season. Would be a fun event for sure to get on the end of a shovel or slasher up and down that track.