While taking in the views quite a few 4x4 vehicles passed through the looking area at a slowed speed, but one
Landcruiser towing a trailer did not slow at all and while speeding through the parking area threw up a rock
which broke the rear window of the Y62 Patrol which at the time we only heard the loud noise of the rock
hitting the vehicle.
After the photos were taken we headed up to the Chalet to check in and claim out sleeping are and fridge
space. Talked to the caretaker for the weekend Dean, That being achieved we had lunch, and most people
wanted to go and find some snow. Jim & Liza and their children were out at their vehicle with the rear door
up and were tapping up the window which as earlier mentioned had been hit by a rock at the lookout. Jim and
Liza decided that as the window was very loose even after being tapped up with gaffer tape that they would not
be staying for the weekend, and after lunch they headed off home.
It was a shame that there weekend was spoiled but one thoughtless 4x4 driver not having enough courtesy to
slow down when going past a lookout with people parked and walking around.
We all headed off up the mountain looking for some snow, a small amount of snow just before the junction,
but we wanted more!! so continued past the junction up to the airport and a little further and yes we found
enough snow for everyone to have a walk around in it and to through snow balls around. We spent a while
there until all the hands were to cold to hold the snow balls, continued up to Brice’s Lookout, parked in the
carpark, not many people there, some went on the walk to the HUT and the others went to the Pieman falls, I
stayed back at the carpark with a couple of others, we have to keep an eye on the vehicles, that’s my story and
I am sticking to it.
After a while everyone returned, yes the Hut is still there and the water fall was running and looked great, well
worth the walk to either one.
We all returned back to the Chalet for happy hour, a night drive was mentioned and after a quick show of
hands there were 7 vehicles that wanted to have a go at Dingo Hill and use there light bars. At about 6-00pm
we set off on the night drive heading to Dingo Hill Track.
We all continued along the track past the campers at the bridge (Very cold night for camping out ) arriving
at the start of the downhill section we all grouped up, the word was that you could have as many lights ON as
you wished, vehicles in front would alter the mirrors as there will be no one passing you. I arrive at the bottom
and looked back up the mountain what a great sight to see all the vehicles with the lights blazing coming
slowly down the track. Everyone made it OK we continued along the track completing 3 river crossings before
finding a place to turn around, we had a short break to stretch our legs before the return trip. Once everyone
was ready and the order had been sorted out we headed off to climb Dingo Hill track in the dark, well not
really dark as the amount of lights that were operating vision was great, everyone made it to the top without
problems.
There were lots of happy faces at the top and as we were all getting hungry we headed back to the Chalet for
dinner arriving about 9-00pm. Naturally everyone that stayed behind had eaten and we all had a free go at the
stoves etc so our tea was prepared and eaten in no time at all. A long day but a very rewarding day was had by
all.
Day 2.
It was decided over breakfast that we would as a group do a large loop, going down Billy Goats track then to
Eagle Vale for lunch and then back up Billy Goats Tk and then the option of the Fire Lookout and back to the
Chalet. We headed off at about 9-15am and found the entrance to Billy Goats Tk, it has all been altered and
bulldozed, anyway we continued on, it wasn’t long till we met 4x4s coming up so we all went into passing mode
and as it turn out we would need to be doing that mode many times on the way down and on the way back. I
have never seen so many 4x4’s on the track, I did not count them but I feel that we must have passed at least
50 4x4’s on the track a very busy day. The weather was again fantastic and really clear. Lunch at Eagle Vale was
great and we had to try the river crossing just to check the water flow etc, generally speaking the water levels
were low in all the creeks we crossed. We arrive back at the top of Billy Goats Tk some went to the left up to the
Fire lookout and the rest of us continued back to the Chalet, at the junction a couple of vehicles headed back
up to the snow for one more look.
Back at the C