Australian 4WD Action – August 2019

(Kiana) #1
MY HIGHLIGHTS
On this trip, having never been out this way before, it was the
simple and I think often overlooked thrill of checking out a new
area. As I’ve mentioned, this place had a lot in common with the
High Country (a location that I bloody love) plus despite its
relative proximity to a city, was for the most part, fairly
untouched. It did feel to me like wheeling in a far more remote
location than we actually were. Oddly, having returned home
and been messaged by locals, this is the very same thing they
were keen to tell me about the region and why they too, love it
so much.

Little Mouse (^) Trap (^) is a serious hill
undriveable in that^ is^ almost^
the wet
P
O
R
T^
M
A
C
Q
U
A
R
IE
N
SW
R
E
A
L
4
W
D
I
N
G
GRAHAM’S^ D
RIVING^ TIP
When^ tracks^ get^ to^ the^ so
rt of^ steep^ where^ just^ holdi
ng still^
and^ not^ skidding^ backwar
ds when^ you^ stop^ is^ an^ issu
e,
anything^ that^ gives^ you^ a^ l
eg up^ is^ an^ absolute^ bonus.
Locations^ such^ as^ Bunyip^ a
nd its^ big^ brother^ close^ by,
the^ Vic^
High^ Country^ are^ examples
of such^ locations.^ Now^ wh
ile I^
struggle^ to^ understand^ the
black^ magic^ behind^ techno
logical^
advances^ these^ days,^ I’m^ no
t shy^ in^ using^ them^ to^ my^ b
enefit.^
One^ such^ bit^ of^ mystical
gadgetry^ is^ Hill^ Start^ Assis
t found^ on^
the^ D-MAX.^ Basically,^ w
hen^ you^ come^ to^ a^ stop^ on^ a
ny hill^ of^
consequence,^ the^ vehicl
e will^ hold^ the^ brakes^ on^ wi
thout^ you^
touching^ the^ pedals^ for^ l
ong enough^ for^ you^ to^ enga
ge the^
throttle,^ whereby^ the^4 W
D senses^ this^ has^ happened
,
releases^ the^ brake^ and^ al
lows^ you^ to^ move^ forward^ w
ithout^
that^ sickening^ backward^ l
unge^ that^ is^ so^ common^ on
steep^
starts.^ It^ might^ only^ be^ a^ s
mall^ factor^ but^ trust^ me,^ w
hen^ all^
you^ can^ see^ is^ the^ tops^ of^ t
rees^ and^ blue^ sky,^ every^ bi
t of help^
is gladly^ appreciated.
Nothing^ better^ than
a cold^ one^ at^ camp^
after^ an^ insane^ day^
on the^ tracks

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