Jon puts his new vehicle through its paces in the Helena and Aurora Ranges

RUN

to the RANGES

BY JON LOVE

The adventure kicked off just like any other, shooting down the open road with a boot full of gear and a tank full of diesel. This time however there was a slight change in the convoy line-up; quite recently the Troopy had been moved on with a Hilux taking its place. With it being virtually stock and only carrying the equipment transferred from the Troopy, the Goldfields was a perfect proving ground to get a feel for its off-road handling and capabilities.

So there we were, a Hilux and a Defender rolling into Karalee Rocks at around 11.00pm, navigating the washed out tracks on a moonlit night. It wasn’t long before the campfire crackled and a few tins were cracked open. It had been a long eight months since we had a chance to go camping, so the cold, fresh air accompanied by the smoke of the fire was a welcome sensation. The rising sun allowed us to fully appreciate the undulating rock figure in the background, dotted with limestone walls that guided rain water into a large dam nearby. Walking over its surface revealed more rock pools than I can remember, with the larger bodies of water playing host to a plethora of tadpoles. Needless to say there

would be no shortage of frogs scattering the area in the months to come. Keen to get the show on the road we packed up camp and winded our way to the water catchment zone. Although no longer in use, it served as an integral part of supplying water to miners within the remote community. A water bridge nearby transferred water collected from the rock into the dam, although it certainly looked like it had seen better days, with a considerable amount of rusting and a handful of holes in its belly. Back in the bush we pressed on to investigate a handful of tracks that disappeared into the thick shrubs. Despite the road being solid and with no traction issues we decided to pull over and air down the tyres to cushion the side walls. Being on stock rubber with no side wall protection, in an environment decorated with sharp stakes and serrated rock edges didn’t give me a great feeling driving through it all, and with any luck keeping the pressures low would help prevent an early blowout and a disappointing end to the trip. Pinstripes screeched their way back into fashion as we headed toward what seemed to be a unique rock formation. In a short period of time the scrub cleared and opened up to an abandoned farming shed. Old equipment scattered the tall grass and a faded yellow header sat unaccompanied in the field nearby. Not far from here was the rock we had been chasing, and having climbed out of the cars to investigate the old shed we continued over the field to see what the solitary rock had instore. Much to our amazement, as we crested one of its many steep walls it unveiled a sizeable pool, surrounded by further steep rock ledges and lush green trees on the other side. It was a truly unique sight, having such a large pool elevated onto a rock that was surrounded by grassy fields. After a quick inspection we looped back to the convoy and brought them over to the area. After some slow manoeuvring we managed to slot the two cars near the waters edge. Being quite a warm day and having climbed the rock not long ago, it would have been a crime not to jump in the water to cool off, so that’s exactly what we did! Launching off a raised slope next to the waters edge, one after the other we bombed into the pool and enjoyed the exclusiveness of what felt like our own private remote swimming hole. It didn’t take us long to unanimously come to the same conclusion, that this was without a doubt where we wanted to spend our second night camping. Only issue was we hadn’t actually been on the road that long and the day was still young, so we

decided to circumnavigate the rock and the surrounding areas to do a little more exploring before setting up camp. Heading into new territory our exploration continued, but not for long. The solid ground we were traversing quickly began to go soft, and in no time at all the surface gave way to the soft mud below, halting the Defender in its tracks and almost immediately sinking it to its diff. Having seen what was going on ahead I slowed the Hilux to a stop and headed over to see what we were working with. Sure enough it wasn’t going anywhere without a bit of encouraging. With the Maxtrax making their first appearance this trip and the shovel being displaced from its mounts, we set to work. The mud was thick and an unbelievable amount of ground water filled the holes where the mud once sat, making it sloppy work for sure. It was reassuring to know that there was a fresh pool of water waiting for us back at camp. With the majority of mud cleared and the Maxtrax lodged firmly under the tyres, the Defender hopped up above the mud and inched further forward, only to seconds later go down again. The mud didn’t hesitate to part ways from the tyres and suck the rubber down, but a handful more recoveries and it was on safe ground again. Having watched all this take place and with it being my turn behind the wheel, I strapped on the belt and lined the car up for another route, thinking I was about to cheat the system and get away scot-free; needless to say this didn’t happen. Fortunately for us the Maxtrax were already out and waiting for another go. All up moving through this muddy stretch of land cost us just shy of two hours, all in a bid to cover no more than 200 meters of land. After driving past another large water catchment area and making our way around the rock, we finally made it back to home base for the night, and were able to set up on the rock, and more importantly still, freshen ourselves once more with a dive into the rock pool. Before long we had collected a more than generous portion of firewood to see us through the night, with the swag and tents pitched and a casserole sizzling away in the camp oven. Sunset was something else on its own, crawling our way to the top of the rock, watching the orange and pink light reflect off the water with the smoke of the campfire filling the air above it.

On the hunt for a buried Maxtrax board.

The following morning kicked off with the traditional smell of bacon and eggs on the hotplate, at the same time pouring over the map to suss out which tracks we would venture down for the day. Ultimately we wanted to end up in the region of the Helena and Aurora Ranges, then see how we were going for time when we got there. With this in mind and a destination sorted, the gear was packed away and the cold engines grumbled to life. The day saw us snake through a number of quiet and remote tracks, with the occasional saltwater lake dotting the landscape. Shortly after however, the scenery went from white sand and pools of clear water to brown and orange pools of mud. Sitting in front of the idling cars was a decently long stretch of chewed up mud and water, while this looked fine for the defender on all-terrains, I did wonder how the city slicking tyres on the Hilux would fare. As expected the Defender sailed through, spewing out and impressive wave of mud that decorated the trees sitting next to it. Next up was the Hilux, and with solid momentum and a firm grip on the wheel, it also managed to cut through without any issue of getting bogged, much to my surprise. Eventually

Parting the seas on our way to the Helena and Aurora Ranges.

Two chuffed blokes celebrating the Hilux’s first muddy challenge!

this made its way to the beginning of the track into the ranges, and little did we know, but a number of larger and even muddier stretches of road lay ahead of us. Once more the Hilux was tested in the sloppy terrain but it never faulted, displacing the mud as it carved through to the other side of it. Momentum played a key role in this but the lowered tyre pressures certainly aided the job. As we approached the ranges the mountainous terrain slowly grew bigger and bigger in our windscreens, until it was almost a vertical jump up above us. Having spent the majority of the day behind the wheel we opted to drive the ranges the following day, and to seek a campsite with enough time to explore the area. Making our way over hill climbs with shaley rocks, a location was spotted and we pulled in to check it out. Dismounting from the cars and curious to see what the area had to offer, the hiking boots were slid on and the journey up the remainder of the hill took place. The area was littered with bright red rocks with dark veins running through them, contrasted by the almost fluorescent green leaves that accompanied the area. The climb was steep with loose rocks making it difficult to get a solid footing in the ground, and eventually it became a vertical climb up a handful of rock faces, adding a fun mixture of rock climbing to the hike. The hard work paid off as we reached the top, standing on the edge of a tall rock face with a vertical drop below us, peering out to see a dense green of woodlands filling the horizon. Sitting on the edge with a slightly cooled stubby in our hands was a fitting way to enjoy the scenery around us, had we walked a bit faster it would have been a cold stubby, but still enjoyable none the less! With the big orange ball in the sky making its final descent toward the horizon, we switched to hill descent mode and trekked our way back to the cars. Finding a flat piece of ground for the roof top tent to level itself out on was no easy find, but with the aid of a few rocks under the tyres everything was sorted. Once more the campfire sparked to life as we all sat by the flames to enjoy the last remnants of the scattered light across the horizon.

The camera seems to be doing justice to the amount of banking going on at this moment, descending the ranges inch by inch.

Making a sharp, near 180 degree turn, being careful not to lose focus from the surrounding views.

With a belly full of food and a solid day of adventuring behind us, we packed It in for the night and called it a day. The final morning was upon us as we swept away the fine coats of water that had settled on the gear; a short period of rain had made its way over us the previous night, making for a cold packup that morning. With the rays of the sun now warming up the day it signalled the start of the end of the journey. The convoy departed for the top of the Helena and Aurora Ranges, and navigating slippery hill climbs we edged our way to the top. The morning air was fresh as the cars cruised over the top of the ranges, with endless views in a 360-degree field. Eventually the track thinned out and began to make a quick descent, with scattered boulders and a few sharp turns thrown into the mix. The Defender edged its way down the slope, making a near 180-degree turn to keep the wheels comfortably on the track and away from the edge. Sensational views scattered the horizon but any stray in attention could place the car in a tricky position. The Hilux followed suit, and despite careful wheel placement the limited clearance resulted in a bottom out here and there. With the final part of the trip now behind us and a short timeframe to return home, with great sorrow we started to head back west to where it all began, but certainly not before spending a tedious hour clearing the muddy tracks and bog holes that waited for us on the way out!

INFORMATION BAY

DISTANCE

450km from Perth.

BEST TIME TO GO

Autumn or spring. RECOMMENDED VEHICLE

Standard 4WD

TERRAIN

Mostly well maintained roads near the ranges, but they can get wet and sloppy in the wetter months. Slippery, shaley rocks on hill climbs.