Bright + Blue Rag

[erad]

Just spent 4 days in Bright. Towed my 16 ft Jayco Poptop van over from Cooma. Went both ways via Cabramurra and Tumut Pond dam. Road is unchanged from the last 50 years - winding and steep in places, but driven sensibly is OK for a caravan. Fuel consumption for the trip over was 12.3 L/100, and 13.3 L/100 on the return. At times the bar graph on the fuel display was way off scale.

No 1 Priority was Blue Rag. Awesome. I was in my NW Pajero with just my wife and myself, no other vehicles with us. I was on standard highway tyres, so it was no place for heroics. 1st gear low range (and diff lock, although not really needed) and walk the vehicle up and down the steeper sections of the track. There were some loose shale sections. The scenery was awesome. Alltold, it was an easy drive for the Pajero. My wife complained about the bumpy trip though...

The next day we went to Mt Porpunkah. A 2WD track, but the views are superb. After that we went round the back of Mt Buffalo. That was really a 2WD track as well, and the views are stunning.

Bright is a delightful place - so relaxing and so beautiful. Can really recommend it.

[Rovingman]

Photos?

[erad]

Sorry - we were trying out a video, and I have trouble getting stuff off the camera onto my computer. Suffice to say it was awesome.

[mr gus]

Thanks for posting that Erad, might have to head there in the coming days.
Wasnt sure how my Pajero would go (lifted and muddies) and was a bit reluctant without any other vehicles to convoy but sounds like no problems!

Cant wait for pictures

Cheers

Gus

[mk2grimace]

Thanks for the update, I'm heading up to Blue Rag next weekend. Been up there a couple of times, never seen it in the wet- I'd imagine it gets a bit more interesting after a downpour. Always been in driveable condition although the last pinch up to the trig point gets a bit sketchy if the steps have formed again and you carry some momentum..

[DT6061]

Just back from 4 days at Bright ourselves as part of a rapid 2500 km holiday incl via NSW South Coast. May have seen you at the Bright Big4, think we're having a tyre issue the day before you left? We were opposite the camp kitchen/a entities with Jayco Swift. Sadly we didn't hit the dirt. No recent 4wd experience (had fun years ago in a Suzuki Sierra), really didn't research before we went there and the cheese and kisses is a bit of a worrier. Would have, could have, should have spoken with you as it seems you could have given us some ideas. We did have a great time though, even via the black stuff there are plenty of beautiful places with no one around.

[TC.Barky]

Thanks for the update, I'm heading up to Blue Rag next weekend. Been up there a couple of times, never seen it in the wet- I'd imagine it gets a bit more interesting after a downpour. Always been in driveable condition although the last pinch up to the trig point gets a bit sketchy if the steps have formed again and you carry some momentum..

They're starting to come back but still absolutely nothing like it was pre grading a couple years ago. Still steep but very smooth in comparison. Would have no worries in the wet I wouldn't think.

[erad]

DT6101: Yes - it was me with the tyre issues. I had rotated the tyres just before I left home and forgot to put a valve cap on the L Rear tyre when I reset the pressures. Couldn't find any punctures, only the whole thing was nearly dead flat. There was a large chunk of tread chopped out in one part of the tyre. I pumped it up to 40 psi and put it on as a spare, and it is still up.

TCBarky:
There weren't any notable "steps" on the run. There were some erosion control jumpups, and there was one puddle on one of the saddles, but that was the worst of the whole trip. Really, the trip was a doddle. My Pajero - bog standard except for a bullbar & towbar - took it all in its stride. I cannot see any problems even if it was wet. Some of the steeper slopes are covered in shale and that was the worst part.

Would I do it again? If you asked me last week, I would say no, but my feet are getting itchy already. I will try to get some photos off the video camera & post them. If anyone can upload, I may be able to email some video to them and they may be able to post it here?

[TC.Barky]

DT6101:
There weren't any notable "steps" on the run. There were some erosion control jumpups, and there was one puddle on one of the saddles, but that was the worst of the whole trip. Really, the trip was a doddle. My Pajero - bog standard except for a bullbar & towbar - took it all in its stride. I cannot see any problems even if it was wet. Some of the steeper slopes are covered in shale and that was the worst part.

Just the last pinch is starting to show signs of the rocks poking through again, as you say there are no steps yet though. I've done it a couple of times a year for the last four or five and it's interesting watching it transition back slowly. They did a very good job of grading it.