Midwinter Godley Hut Mission Pics - Dialup Beware

LT1-62 · Post by **LT1-62** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:47 pm

Hi Guys
Thought Id throw up a few photos of a trip that me and me old mate Ben
(aka tank on this forum) made during winter. Had a photographer along
with us so got a few cool pics that I have up until this point pretty
much forgotten about.

We drove in on the first day, hiked up to the Godley hut that evening
and stayed overnight. Experienced some of the most breathtaking
scenery I have ever seen in my life, despite this being the second
time Ive been up this valley.

The trucks:

Tank the SOA locked BJ74

LT1-62 the LT1 powered 60 series cruiser

Convoyin'

Half way in, playing at the red stag hut...

LT1-62 · Post by **LT1-62** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:57 pm

Crawlin on through, jigglin up the beers

Ben showin off

Playing in the snow

None of us had actually been all the way to the Godley hut before, and after walking for half an hour started to wonder if it still existed. BUT there it was...

Took in some nice scenery on the way up...

Walked in with a backpack of beers, but as the sun went down it was almost too frickn cold to drink em! Left em in the snow to keep them warm...

Panoramic of the moraine plateau and hut

Went for a walk the next day and tried to find the Godley glacier, alas the 'track' up was now a 60 degree scree slide. This is as far as we were willing go with skate shoes and snowboarding gear...

panoramic majesty

possibly the best view from a longdrop in the world...

This piece of ice had obviously come from one of the three glaciers that terminate at this lake. Views like this make you proud to be a New Zealander.

Drove out late that afternoon and me mate Quinny braved the roof rack to get these shots. Got the carpet a little wet...

All and all not a particularly difficult drive with the built trucks but certainly one to open your eyes to the beauty of the South Island. Hopefully this area stays open and unspoilt for years to come.

yepuraloser · Post by **yepuraloser** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:19 pm

Those are some amazing pics, & beautiful scenery. :thumright:

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:06 pm

Its great up there, did you go upto the mcCauley (SP) hut too? did both godley and that a couple of years ago, broke my front hubs going across the first river crossing to the farm though.... so did the whole trip in 2wd

Torrential rain and howling gail over night, so river was fun in the morning

have to do it again soon....

philux · Post by **philux** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:51 pm

man that looks like one sweeeeeeeet trip, where abouts excatly is it :?:

callum007 · Post by **callum007** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 6:44 pm

i did the trip couple years ago.. truck was half standard back then.

looks like you had fun

http://rides.webshots.com/album/554084961vBZuRU

Post by **mike** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 6:52 pm

very very nice photos, looks like you had a blast.

Mike

LT1-62 · Post by **LT1-62** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:00 pm

Dear lord, your avitar makes me feel funny...

Bill> We didnt hit up the Macauley hut this time, although the last time I was up there we did both. The Macauley hut is luxurious, but not as fun/long a drive in.

Philux> It is on the fringe of Mt Cook National Park, a must do trip if you live in the SI and enjoy 4wding

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:04 pm

wicked pics dude...

killer..

hosehustler · Post by **hosehustler** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:55 am

LT1-62 wrote: It is on the fringe of Mt Cook National Park, a must do trip if you live in the SI and enjoy 4wding

awsome pics of a beautiful area, we did an ORE trip there a while back

pics...
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... _album.php

would love to go there mid winter this year......hmmm might oganise a trip

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:56 am

hosehustler wrote:would love to go there mid winter this year......hmmm might oganise a trip

I'd go if the Mrs would let me

This is what killed my hubs, stupid electric toymota hubs.. grrr

I blame Mike, he asked me to make a splash so I hit it at 50-60kmh

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:18 pm

Spectacular! Top marks to the photographer.

Cheers
Clint

fweddy · Post by **fweddy** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:39 pm

What sort of trucks do you need for the run?

Factory type stuff no good?

Is it mainly clearance issues?

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:21 pm

My truck was stock bar mud tyres and snorkel, only had 2wd too, got stuck twice, but couldn't go through the rocky section closer to the glacier. would need 4wd for that. One of the others was pretty standard tho and that made it. need a couple of trucks though

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:32 am

What program are thosen photos running as I can't see them.
Al

4x4Wolf · Post by **4x4Wolf** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:06 am

Some good pics, much better than mine. I did this trip last year with a 4x4 club looks a lot different to when i did it, we had a lot of snow on the ground. didn't make it all the way to the Godley hut maybe next time.

http://picasaweb.google.com/brent.mitch/

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:37 pm

are you changing to another truck or just taking a break?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Toyota/auction-84537038.htm

LT1-62 · Post by **LT1-62** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:40 pm

Aaron wrote:are you changing to another truck or just taking a break?

[url]http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Toy
ota/auction-84537038.htm[/url]

Sigh... I guess Im taking a break. Living in Auckland and having my truck garaged 150kms away just doesnt make sense. I made some cool trips in it last year but not really enough to justify keeping it, Im still only 50% committed to selling it though. Will probably build a late 60s early 70s muscle car in the mean time, one day when I move on from Auckland I'll build something offroady again...

DieselBoy · Post by **DieselBoy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:14 am

A bit off topic, but how far up towards the Glacier do you think it would be safe to travel in a single vehicle????

I'm heading down that way for three weeks starting from easter and that was on the plan, before heading to Mt Cook. My rough plan was to get as far as one of the huts.

LT1-62 · Post by **LT1-62** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:05 am

Hey Dieselboy
You can drive all the way to the Macauley Hut which is super lush. The better drive though (in my humble opinion) is up the Godley Valley. You can drive straight to the Red Stag Hut, but that is only half way up the valley (actually prolly a little more than half). The most difficult driving is from the Red Stag hut onwards. You can drive all the way to the glacier terminal lake (see pic) but have to walk to the 30mins-1hr Godley hut. There are lots of rock piles on the way to get your rockcrawler on, you end up doing a lot of that anyway though when you inevitably lose site of the main track and have to go crosscountry to find the main trail again. I guess you could drive all the way to the Godley if you had a purpose built rock buggy...

DieselBoy · Post by **DieselBoy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:23 am

Cheers for that. Will go for a nosey and see how far we get. Hopefully have twin lockers by then so can travel solo that little bit further safely :lol:

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:01 am

DieselBoy wrote:Cheers for that. Will go for a nosey and see how far we get. Hopefully have twin lockers by then so can travel solo that little bit further safely

I got to the hut without even realising I was in 2wd... only noticed when climbing the bank to the hut

Moriarty · Post by **Moriarty** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:04 pm

DieselBoy wrote:Cheers for that. Will go for a nosey and see how far we get. Hopefully have twin lockers by then so can travel solo that little bit further safely

Sorry about the offtopic........

Remember the strife Ben had with twin lockers?
dead cv's............ BOTH SIDES!!!!

DieselBoy · Post by **DieselBoy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:09 pm

But i don't drive like Ben :wink:

Moriarty · Post by **Moriarty** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:25 pm

DieselBoy wrote::lol: But i don't drive like Ben

Few do!!!!

:twisted:

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:36 pm

Remember the strife Ben had with twin lockers?
dead cv's............ BOTH SIDES!!!!

Fit a gu front axle, bigger cv's.
Al

DieselBoy · Post by **DieselBoy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:22 pm

Wow, this is one of my better thread hijacking efforts :lol:

I have had no problems with a front auto locker running 35's. I would say its because the engine is still N/A, and i can drive things gently. The rear locker will only enhance this, and being an ARB, its selectable (and farken expensive :evil:

)

Anyway, enough of this thread jacking, we'll get scolded

What i really want is opinions from those that have been up there, is it sensible to head up there by ones self, even if well equiped with a good vehicle and spares??

By the looks of the photo's, its nothing i haven't done before provided the river is low. Not attempting deep crossings solo :lol:

LT1-62 · Post by **LT1-62** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:55 pm

I think you'll be OK, you could always walk out. If it was the middle of winter it might be a different story...

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:00 pm

You'll be fine dieselboy. I followed my bro in law(Hosehustler) up in the terrano on 31's got stuck once up as far as the vehices can go, careful drivng though. I would go up by myself in the snow, now I have the kitted safari and would have in the terrano on 33's with the tirfor. It's flat as a cowpat. Do you have EPRIB :?:

Al

Midwinter Godley Hut Mission Pics - Dialup Beware

Midwinter Godley Hut Mission Pics - Dialup Beware

Midwinter Godley hut mission