You definitely needed your ‘woolies’ this ‘winter’ as a late cold snap turned the Desert Defenders’ annual ‘spring’ safari white. Ashley Lucas reports from the (cold) front!
The wind was coming straight off Mt Ruapehu and the chill factor was high as we were continually buffeted by the wind and occasional rain showers and even the odd brief snow flurry.
We stopped in a bush area for lunch in the hope that the bush would give us some relief from that cold wind and depending on where you parked you got a brief chance to get a hot drink and something to eat but either way I was very pleased that I had my thermals under my usual thick woollen bush shirt.
Most didn’t mind the cold too much, however, knowing that as we progressed higher up the slopes of Mt Ruapehu the more chances we had of snow on the ground, especially since the Desert Road had been closed the night before due to snow and ice. Lunch was cut short when another rain shower came through and everyone climbed back into their vehicles and the convoy moved on.
It was day 2 of the annual Desert Defenders Off-Road Club’s Achilles Radial Winter Woolies and we were making our way across the Rangipo desert on the Defence Force’s military training grounds and up to the Bluffs now often referred to as the Gates of Mordor from the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I have been up to this area many times before but never have I experienced snow down to this level.
Winter wonderland
As we approached the slopes below the bluffs the scattering of snow on the ground grew to a full on blanket coverage hiding the rocks and hollows beside the track ensuring everyone stayed on the track and closely followed the lead vehicles.
At the bluffs, the wind blew down through the valley and the bluffs ensuring many were soon back sheltering in their vehicles. We had to wait for the other group who were doing the same tracks, but in a clockwise direction to arrive before we could depart and head off over their tracks.
The Achilles Radial Winter Woolies event is organised by the local Ohakune, Karioi-based Desert Defenders Off Road Club and it raises funds for children’s charities through the Trillian Trek. Once again the home base for the event was the Karioi Hall where brave souls could camp and there were more than just a few campers
although the wise ones had caravans.
Inside the hall a wood fire was going warming you while you completed final registration and got your event bag from major sponsor YHI and Achilles Radial. They had even had a number of special bags printed just for the event such was the level of their continued support.
For those that booked there was a full cooked country-style breakfast with sausages, scrambled eggs, spuds and more, before briefing. All vehicles were put into groups of around 10 vehicles with a group leader who was responsible for checking his group in and out of the event.
After briefing it was down across SH49 and into Karioi Forest to the army training grounds where the Waiouru Range Controller, Adam “Hoff” Hoffman in his usual dry humorous way, would give the all-important military safety briefing and details of unexploded ammunitions. It seems that the signs have a picture of ammunition for soldiers who supposedly can’t read plus the words ‘Unexploded Ammunitions’ for the civilians like us who can; or did he mean it the other way around?
Around the clock
Four of the groups would then head off in a clockwise direction to traverse along the lower slopes of Mt Ruapehu while the rest would go anticlockwise heading across the desert to the Whangaehu River and the mud tracks along the river flats. The groups would de-conflict around lunch time depending how each group progressed during the day.
The tracks were very slippery in places from all the rain leading up to the weekend which made it a little bit more interesting and challenging. There were always options around most of the challenges, if required, but most wanted to give everything a go as that was what they were here for. Certainly not the scenery since the mountain was hidden behind low cloud all weekend and the occasional rain showers would bring in even lower cloud for brief periods.
I chose to go with the group going clockwise on Saturday and it wasn’t long before several vehicles were having problems in the ruts with lack of ground clearance or grip. We even had a hold up with a punctured tyre that needed to be changed.
At the ‘play bowl’ with its large sand-based hill those who wanted to could play while a few preferred to watch. These hills are tricky to drive due to the soft moving sand and uneven surface that had many lifting wheels in their attempts to get to the top. Mathew Pennefather in his LWB Nissan slowly worked on a route up the steepest section and eventually managed to get there but not before he did some impression wheel waving and digging of sand. Brendan Thompson in his XJ Jeep Cherokee also did some wheel waving but had the misfortune to break a front axle UJ. The offending axle was removed during the lunch stop with help from fellow Jeep owner Warrik Skulve and he was able to continue the rest of the day in 2WD.
High point
Lunch was up near the highest point of the army training grounds and unfortunately offered absolutely no shelter from the prevailing winds. A couple of the children didn’t seem to mind though as they played in the occasional snow drifts.
From there we passed the other group at the play area and made our way to the bluffs and then down the slopes to the river and a
play in the black mud. It didn’t take long for many of the vehicles to be completely camouflaged in true military fashion.
The two major groups met up again on the edge of the Karioi forest for the trip out and back to the hall where the fire had been burning all day to warm those staying over and having dinner that evening. The catering staff had been very busy and there was a huge spread for everyone. They either over catered or many who booked dinner didn’t turn up.
Sunday was a repeat of the first day for a new group of people and vehicles, but there were quite a few, like myself that did both days. From experience, any 4WD trip on the ATG invariably has one day of better weather conditions, especially for photos.
Against the clock
The Desert Road had been closed overnight with snow fall so chances were high for snow higher up the mountain but the morning rain meant briefing had to be held indoors before setting off again. After the Range control briefing the groups headed off again. This time I chose to go anticlockwise for the difference perspective and meant we played in the mud first before heading up the mountain. Overnight rain had added to the mud holes and soon there were vehicles stuck that had been driving them late the day before. Maybe the army came and dug out the holes a lot more!
Back across the Whangaehu River it was a cold drive as we climbed higher on the mountain. There were patches of snow around until we hit the snow level and the ground was a great big white blanket. The cloud hung low and the wind refused to ease so after a few quick photos we were off again.
The play area and wall managed to bust more vehicles, with Mathew Pennefather breaking a rear diff in the big Nissan Patrol and had to be escorted directly out to SH1 along with Maikel Frederiks whose engine suddenly ‘ran away’ on his Prado until they managed to block the air flow. That was possibly a blown oil seal on the turbo.
The tracks back out had by now cut up badly in places and some vehicles struggled in the muddy conditions with several recoveries required and the finding of alternative tracks to avoid the worst places. The day wouldn’t have been complete without another tyre problem either.
That said, I thought the Sunday was the better of the two days. The snow was a real bonus and is what many came for while the rain showers during day made the tracks more interesting and challenging.
