TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

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

Re: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

Sometimes it can be a big enough challenge just getting in the first track :lol:

Absolutely! A nice little adrenalin rush to get initiated to what lays ahead. It just kept on getting bigger and better after that.

Where did you go?

I'll post my track log also. Basically, we went from South to North and stuck to Norbury Rd, with one detour that took us up a pretty exciting climb to views over the Southern Gold Coast and dreamworld. Your advice about entering from the South was golden. When we arrived at the Northern end we were at the top of what I could only think to name as "Destruction Hill"; I'm glad we didn't start there. Naturally, we took the chicken-route (whilst a souped up Maverick took on the face and bounced around everywhere). As we descended the 'chicken-route' my brother says... "this must have been one tough chicken!" :lol: Maybe better to call this one a rooster route :lol:.

Was the track log any help?

It made a big difference. Earlier in the week I used it to locate the Southern and Northern trail-heads and complete the rest of the planning. Very, very helpful! Thankyou Selwyn.

Cheers,
LFaR.

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Re: TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

This was my first day to Upper Ormeau.

The tour party included:

• My brother Rick (stock Pajero) and his son Jaic[/*:m:2f37nmmr]
• Wazamite (awesome 90-series)[/*:m:2f37nmmr]
• Me in my stock GXL (including still running my GrandTrek AT20).[/*:m:2f37nmmr]

The day started by meeting at Fredrick Johnson Park, on Upper Ormeau Rd. This is a surprisingly large park with kids swings and undercover picnic area. It makes for a relaxed meeting place, other than that, I'm left wondering who else this park serves.



I was hoping Wazamite was going to join us, but at 11:10 we left for the head of the trail. This is a large area that could easily accomodate a dozen or more cars under the shade of gum trees. In fact, this is probably a better meeting place, so you can arrive and air-down immediately. Though, for first-timers, it might be a little tricky to find.



We aired down to 24psi, walked the track to pick a line and then we were into it.







The Pajero was next and as it was coming down, I noticed a 4WD lined up behind. We were picking our way and I thought we were going to become a bottleneck for more eager drivers...



But, it turned out the driver patiently lined-up waiting for us to clear the way was Wazamite! I had given him the wrong name of the road which sent him on a grand tour of Mount Tamborine!!! He still managed to find us on the first slope... testament to Waza's impressive navigation skills.



With three of us on tour we continued over very rocky terrain. I wondered how the GrandTreks would cope. In fact, they were amazing!



An innocuous looking causeway became our first unscheduled stop. As I cautiously eased into it, I had no trouble with my approach angle. In the past, my departure angle has let me down, and it happened once again. A light scrape to the rear bumper alerted me and I stopped. To keep going at that point was likely going to cause greater damage so I reversed out to inspect:



No worries, barely a scratch on the underside of the bumper. To cross this little causeway safely, I felt it was best to build it up. Waza, Rick and Jaic were quick to lend a hand.





I now crossed easily, and Rick was next with a good line:



Waza was understandably less concerned, since his truck has a nice lift to it. His line missed the rocky path we built:



And there was a little more light carnage :



That little exercise goes to demonstrate that even the simplest of crossings have their challenges.

Many more rocky and very steep climbs where we had to carefully pick the line. Once again, it helped to walk the track, especially since this was my first time to Ormeau.



















At the top, the views were an extra treat:



Emerging from the jungle:



It was long past lunch-time - getting real hungry, we needed to stop soon. As we looked for a convenient lunch-stop, I could see that after the next little descent an open area lay ahead. Though, more patience was needed before the first coldy... the descent was likely going to remove someone's diff, so with patience and more track building... we were working hard for our lunch!



This required some more careful control and some spotting. One spotter at the top of the trail to check angles and clearance. The second spotter at the section we filled in with rocks.

Wazamite spots Rick down:





My turn next:





Thanks to my spotters, I was nicely lined up on the rock-fill that we installed:



Rick points Wazamite in the right direction:





Panoramic views over the Gold Coast and Moreton Bay. Beautiful!



Wazamite couldn't resist:







Nicely tucked under:





More vistas over DreamWorld and the Gold Coast awaited a little further up the trail:





I wonder what Waza is up to now:



Oh, now I get it :



A puddle!!!





Some mud!!!



Some ATVs:



A mud bath with rediculous ramp-over access. If your truck can get past the entry point, point then you can start. The exit is much worse!



Time for a show:



The Northern end of the trail had some crazy hills. Very challenging and technical stuff:



I guess not everyone made it.. is this the equivalent of pushing up daisies:



Finally emerged at the Northern end. We aired up at the Water Tower:



And one final photo:



Till next time.

LFaR.

[Wags Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wags]

Re: TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

Great report Matt. Now I wish I had of turned up with you on Saturday as Friday night out on the property at Canungra was one bloody cold night. Great pics too. I noticed no maxtrax on the roof this trip??

Where do you plan to venture this weekend?

Cheers,
Wags

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

Re: TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

Great report Matt. Now I wish I had of turned up with you on Saturday as Friday night out on the property at Canungra was one bloody cold night. Great pics too. I noticed no maxtrax on the roof this trip??

The MaxTrax were tucked away in my rear cabin... just in case. As you know, they are a bit like a security blanket for me... every time I go out, I gotta have them with me.

Where do you plan to venture this weekend?

Back to Mount Mee to test the suspension. Actually, had I known about Ormeau, I'd be testing the suspension there... as it is I'm booked in at Nundah so the hop to Mount Mee is pretty close. I'll be planning on getting back to Ormeau again soonish too.

I'll get a separate trip planning thread for Sat coming.

LFaR.

[stewy Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close stewy]

Re: TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

LFAR,...looks like you had a ball, I almost joined you, but ran out of time.
I've heard the tracks around Ormeau vary abit. Reading your report,...my rear end scrapes a bit too.
Its the only thing that I've seen as a real problem when I went from from my 05 Hilux to the Prado.
Maybe next time i can join you.

[Bidla Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bidla]

Re: TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

Looks like a great trip LFaR!! Excellent write up and pics. It certainly would have been a good test for the vehicles and probably my marriage!!

[reddog Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close reddog]

Re: TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

Hi Guys,

Nice work Matt, great trip report and awsome pics, i will be on the next Ormeau trip for sure.
I also see you are getting your suspension done at Nundah. Good choice :mrgreen:. I am really happy with the OMEs that they fitted to mine. They did a good job i am sure you will be over the moon with the lift when you get it done. You wont know yourself.

Just a little tip, when you get the suspension done on the rear it will be the lowest point on the vehical then. I think from memory mine is 80mm from the bottom of the tire to the bottom of the stone guard around the front of the rear shocks. So when at rocky places like Ormeau extra carful with wheel placement.

Cheers

Brett

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: TRIP REPORT: Upper Ormeau, Sat 16th May

Great pics and write up Matt Pity I couldn't make it