Mt Walker
26th June 2005

NOT MORE LOOPINS!
AKA LOOSING A DISCOVERY 3 NEAR LITHGOW HOSPITAL!!

Greg Stuart

Billed as the survey for “GPS For Dummies”, I at least now know who the dummies were and where they went. But what I can’t figure out is where it is written within the LROC’s Trip Leaders Handbook, that trips must start at McDonalds…

Not that any of this was the least bit unexpected and in fact is all part of the appeal of attending one of Flash’s infamous Mount Walker escapades. So it was on a rather glorious Lithgow winters day (read wet and miserable), that we underwent the formalities at the said hamburger emporium, then struck out west with low expectations and full of cheer.

We turned this way and that, with Flash doing his best work up front on the radio mike with running commentary such as “Err hold up a bit folks” and “Now we’re heading into unfamiliar territory”, interspersed with “I think the track we want is up that way” and “Or perhaps back this way”. Anyway we were at least confident that he was in charge!

Up in the unfamiliar territory section, we came across some new and interesting hills to explore, when we were once again turned around. But not before Josh and I amused ourselves on the steep, slippery rutted hill. Well at leat I did, Josh was too busy deflating two tyres in twenty metres. The deep ruts did their job on the combination of alloy wheels and tubeless tyres, forcing mud in and unseating the bead.

Defender owners unite and with his and my spare, the red Defender had three different wheel types out of four. While I just ended up with two flat spares!

We ended up back on the highway, while Flash drove east, then west, then east and - oh I just waited till the convoy moved off! Down the bitumen, then back into the bush, we hope…

Ah, forward with purpose and finally we made progress into the heart of the forest. Up into a clearing, underneath picturesque transmission towers and stunning views of power stations. Messrs Barnes and Burdett sorted out their differences of opinions and no further discrepancies were reported.

Off once more and driving here and there, over hill and dale and stuff. Winding down to the river and not just across, but along as well. Then up and ‘round some more and Ah! I spy a hill to the left that not only looks familiar, but far too tempting to resist! So I charge at it with the glow of the green Maxidrive light filling me with confidence. And again - and again. One more time folks - ah-ha that one did the trick!

The top, which could be driven to in a car if you cared to go round (and lets face it all but Richard and I did), was where Flash designated we’d have lunch. Despite almost being bathed in watery sunshine earlier, it proceeded to bucket down as soon as we set ourselves up. Oh well, out with the drizabones and set up an audience to watch Josh as he busied himself with fixing tyres. Whilst Josh was proudly using his highlift and rocksliders to break the bead, and David jumped at the opportunity to try out his new ARB compressor, I elected to check out the dam levels.

It’s been a few years since I did this trip and I remember well the road near our lunch stop, disappearing into the dam. What dam? The drought has eliminated what was once Lake Lyall and reduced it to mud flats with the merest trickle running through it. So I elect to take a couple of photos. First from where the road had disappeared and then from the other side. The water was only a few inches deep. But I’d not countered on the few foot of silt on the exit on the other side!

A quick call on the radio and I was relived to get a reply. Of course the rescue party arrived; complete with the ‘rent a crowd’ to give advice from higher ground. Josh rightly observed that perhaps being stuck in mud in the bottom of a dam when it’s raining, is not the smartest move I’ve ever made!

Back on solid ground again and we turned for more driving in the hills, when Matt announced that he and Richard would part company with us and hit the road home early. So they turned left where we turned right and we bade our fond farewells ‘till next time.

Flash guided us across creeks and up hill and down dale until we started to climb in earnest. One rutted steep hill has a shear drop on the right and a solid bank on the left. Flash bounces round like he’s on a pogo stick and we all slip to various degrees – except for the Disco 3. Damn that Terrain Response I say! Up and up we wind until we were amongst the clouds and at the base of the final assault for Mount Walker itself.

Nothing for it - but to give it a go. Jil made it up to the main rock ledge where she sat spinning her wheels. Josh pointed out that it would be worth me pushing the extra skill switch and the glow of the Maxidrive light may help! Douh! Back down for another run and more equals less this time. This is repeated a couple more times and I give up. The rain has made a difficult hill impossible, given the slippery nature of the surface. Still, there’s always next time.

Back down and round and round we go as Flash leads us out to the Highway once more and the light eventually fades. Another great trip and the first part of the cunning plan is laid for the forthcoming “GPS For Dummies” course. Thanks to all for their great company and to Flash for his ‘expert’ guidance. Thanks also for John for being willing to bring their new Discovery and show us all it’s true mettle. Just as all the magazines are saying, this new Land Rover makes everything else out there look redundant!