Snow in the mountains

c_c™ said :

A winter wonderland… thanks for locking the gate Nanny TAMS…

The rangers have a real “them and us” mentality (I witnessed it repeatedly when working with them to assess their fire damaged assets in 2003) – they want to enjoy the fresh snow all to themselves and it gives them great satisfaction to be able to exclude the general public.

Ranger: “We have to keep the gates locked to prevent the 4WDers coming up here”
Me: “What’s wrong with 4WDers coming up here?”
Ranger: [silence]

LSWCHP said :

I will never forget watching a couple of blokes in a pitiful little Subaru “4wd” go steaming headlong into a ford across the Eucumbene river at about 9pm one freezing winters night. The water was above the door sills, they were going sideways due to the force of the current and they only just made it across.

Me and my mates in Landcruisers motored across quite easily behind him, and the shaking driver said he’d reconsidered his plan, and was going to go back the other way before the water rose any higher. He got about two thirds of the way back, his engine drank some water and all the lights went out. There they were, in the middle of the river with nothing much happening for them. We went back, got out the snatch straps, got wet, and towed them to dry land.

If ever there was evidence that not all four wheel drives are created equal, that was it.

Oh dear, Subaru. They’ve never inspired much confidence for me. You say their engine got swamped, that’s not surprising since Subaru deliberately mounts them very low, which is the opposite to what you’d want in a more rugged vehicle. Real annoying thing is for all the boasting about having ‘Boxer’ engines, the last Subi I test drove was gutless, the engine was just overwhelmed by the vehicle’s weight.

LSWCHP said :

a pitiful little Subaru “4wd”

Nothing wrong with a Subaru. Just have to know its limits.
I’d never drive mine through waters where I can’t see the bottom. Also wouldn’t even dream of taking it into the serious rugged outback.

If Mt Franklin Rd is closed then you can try going up Stockyard Spur from Corin Dam.
Of course that’s on two stump drive (aka yer legs).

Mr Evil said :

c_c™ said :

A winter wonderland… thanks for locking the gate Nanny TAMS.

Ok, I know I shouldn’t be too hard on them given the trouble people can get into when not thinking and taking care. But it is sad when you look at old B&W photos of people enjoying Mt Franklin in the snow, in classic old cars back in the day, and that opportunity no longer exists.

Back in the day, not everyone had a car – and virtually no one had a four-wheel drive – so those who could drive probably have some idea of what they were doing when they got off bitumin.

Now the attitude seems to be that if you have a four-wheel drive, it’ll do just about do anything and will virtually drive its own way out of trouble.

I will never forget watching a couple of blokes in a pitiful little Subaru “4wd” go steaming headlong into a ford across the Eucumbene river at about 9pm one freezing winters night. The water was above the door sills, they were going sideways due to the force of the current and they only just made it across.

Me and my mates in Landcruisers motored across quite easily behind him, and the shaking driver said he’d reconsidered his plan, and was going to go back the other way before the water rose any higher. He got about two thirds of the way back, his engine drank some water and all the lights went out. There they were, in the middle of the river with nothing much happening for them. We went back, got out the snatch straps, got wet, and towed them to dry land.

If ever there was evidence that not all four wheel drives are created equal, that was it.

p1 said :

Mr Evil said :

Actually – while I am sure TAMS don’t have to rescue people stuck and freezing to death – usually when unsealled roads are closed during winter in Alpine areas it is a financial decision. It costs a lot to maintain dirt roads chewed up from lots of use in the we, and when there is snow cover slowly melting, the road can be wet for a lot longer then simple rain causes.

Yeah I thought about that, but then their decision makes even less sense. They close the gate when the surface is frozen and covered in snow (which should make it quite firm) but open it when the snow is melting and the dirt has turned to slurry and when the most damage should occur.

c_c™ said :

A winter wonderland… thanks for locking the gate Nanny TAMS.

Ok, I know I shouldn’t be too hard on them given the trouble people can get into when not thinking and taking care. But it is sad when you look at old B&W photos of people enjoying Mt Franklin in the snow, in classic old cars back in the day, and that opportunity no longer exists.

WTF? They’ve closed the gate to Mt Frankin?

Damn!

Conan of Cooma said :

p1 said :

That should have said “I am sure TAMS don’t want to have to rescue people stuck and freezing to death“.

TAMS rescue people?

I thought that was left to the Police Rescue, or Fire Rescue? TAMS Rescue… Somehow I don’t want them to attend any emergency I’m involved in.

I assume when the rangers come across a car stuck in the mud/snow, the either tow them out, call a tow truck, or give them a lift back to town and let them get the car later. But maybe they just call the police and leave people stranded in the snow? Could be why there are no cops available for investigating mail theft?

p1 said :

That should have said “I am sure TAMS don’t want to have to rescue people stuck and freezing to death“.

TAMS rescue people?

I thought that was left to the Police Rescue, or Fire Rescue? TAMS Rescue… Somehow I don’t want them to attend any emergency I’m involved in.

That should have said “I am sure TAMS don’t want to have to rescue people stuck and freezing to death“.

Mr Evil said :

c_c™ said :

A winter wonderland… thanks for locking the gate Nanny TAMS.

Ok, I know I shouldn’t be too hard on them given the trouble people can get into when not thinking and taking care. But it is sad when you look at old B&W photos of people enjoying Mt Franklin in the snow, in classic old cars back in the day, and that opportunity no longer exists.

Back in the day, not everyone had a car – and virtually no one had a four-wheel drive – so those who could drive probably have some idea of what they were doing when they got off bitumin.

Now the attitude seems to be that if you have a four-wheel drive, it’ll do just about do anything and will virtually drive its own way out of trouble.

Actually – while I am sure TAMS don’t have to rescue people stuck and freezing to death – usually when unsealled roads are closed during winter in Alpine areas it is a financial decision. It costs a lot to maintain dirt roads chewed up from lots of use in the we, and when there is snow cover slowly melting, the road can be wet for a lot longer then simple rain causes.