NSW: Saturday 4th Feburary Ben Bullen & Newnes SF

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Heading out to Ben Bullen SF and potentially Newnes SF. Mostly exploring, looking for scenic views and some decent offroading.

Please read the following disclaimer if you wish to participate on this trip. If you choose not to accept the terms & conditions therein, you are requested not to attend.
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...claimer-Notice

Track Difficulty:
Easy to medium, there's usually hard tracks available as options.

Meeting at: McDonalds at Richmond, cnr of March & Eastmarket Sts. at 7:50am, departing around 8:10 am http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&bi ... CBoQnwIwAA

Finishing time is flexible; if you want to leave early it won't be a problem (but you may need to navigate your own way out). We usually finish around 4 or 5pm.

Bring: Prado, morning tea, lunch, water/drinks, camera, air compressor/recovery gear if you have it, sense of adventure.

UHF channel 28

Attendees:
glen_ep (90)
spitfireslw (150)
sako85 (GQ)

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

How did you go fellas? Any pics?

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Yeah soon... I just finished editing the video.

It was a great day. Lots of nice scenery, a few hard climbs, a couple minor vehicle issues and we found a challenging track for next time.

One vehicle issue was with mine, going down some average steps I hear this metallic scratch and bending. No clearance issues, so my first guess was the rear drive shaft grease nipple... bingo! It survived, but put a nice bend in the sub bash plate. A few minutes of banging and bending and we were on our way again.

[Sako85 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sako85]

Was a good day out. Thanks for the trip Glen and Steven.

Hopefully I will have my winch on next time to try that track we found in the afternoon.

I only took a few pics on my phone and it is flat and I left the charget at work.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

We started way up north near Ben Bullen, and headed into Wolgan State forest, Baal Bone, and Ben Bullen State Forest.

Letting the tyres down:



Baal Bone Gap?



Climbing out was pretty slippery, a bit hard with rear locker, easy with dual:

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Ben climbed it easy:



Steven's traction control was working hard on this:



After several attempts it became obvious that the tyres just didn't have enough grip, so Ben pulled him through:

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

The grand view over Wolgan valley:



..and the track which lead us there:

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Heading down the steep section towards Wolgan Rd and Blackfellows. This part is off camper so took some care:







A swamp attempting to swallow Ben's GQ: (swamp lost)

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Near Blackfellows Hand trail. We couldn't find any aboriginal art here, but it's certainly a beautiful spot:


Higher resolution version of image above:
http://www.mighty90s.com/photos/glen..._pano_1920.jpg

After climbing up to the plateau and doing some exploring, we came across the Spanish steps track. We went down a while until we came to this steep and very slippery section. Whilst not visible, it drops off very steep at the far left:



Climbing back out of the Spanish Steps track:

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Further into Newnes State forest, we went to tackle the rough track leading to the Lost city, from the opposite side:



Steven's 150 bottomed out here, but some well placed rocks helped get him on his way again:



View looking towards the two normal Lost City tracks:

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Just after climbing back out, Steven realized he had a punctured tyre:



And to make matters worse, when attempting to undo the spare's lock nut, the nut section broke off!!



We tried a few tricks on the nut but it was no good without power tools. We tried pumping up the flat tyre, but that proved futile when we located the sidewall hole which was big enough to poke your finger through! Our final solution was to put my spare 33" tyre on his rear axle, and drive it down to Lithgow (only ~15 minutes away). Steven had to wait in Lithgow for another spare to be delivered - I hope you've made it home mate!!

(end)

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Bugger, that's a common problem on the 150 Prado. Especially if the lock nut is rattled on by a tyre fitter.

[spitfireslw Member Find all posts View Profile Close spitfireslw]

i think you have the names mixed up glen. lol

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

LOL sorry, only in the last two posts, it was a long day!

So how did you go?

[light5light Member Find all posts View Profile Close light5light]

I think your trip was very interesting. IMO any off-road trip should have a little issue, then members work together to get over the issue. I will try to get done something soon to join you all.