b' Club Spotlight was then used to pull the Patrol up alittle allowing us to retrieve therecovery gear. The winch cable wasrun out to the first tree, which crackedunder load, so out came the winchextension strap to a much larger treefurther away. The Wranglerrepositioned more to the front. Now topull the Patrol out. Back into the driverseat I went, started the enginephew- and using the winch, the Wranglerand driving the Patrol with full lockers,we managed to get it out. After a quick check over, we campedat the first place we found. I discov-ered my spot tracker was missing.Next morning we had to retrieve myspot tracker from the creek along withour supply of apples and lemons thatrolled into the creek. We thenWERRIBEE FWDC travelled on the Licola road over MtSkene, it was cold but not muchsnow. Turned left onto ShillinglawAn after lockdownSpur track to set up camp on MtSkene Creek. The track down to theHigh Country adventure creek was quite challenging, theWrangler did not want to be left out ofbeing recovered so decided to getAs restrictions were to be lifted from backwards out of control, and the stuck on a rather large log, longways,Monday 1st June, I decided to do a Patrol ended up on drivers side.It between the axles. Out came the highquick trip into the High Country before was a slow-motion, weird feeling. My lift jack and 4 max traxs.We jackedthe Queens Birthday weekend window was down and once stopped up the drivers side and created acrowds. Two trucks departed I could kiss the grass outside my platform with the max traxs under theWednesday 3rd June, first stop window. Everything loose in the cab front and back wheels and drove offMansfield where we spent some $$$ ended up on the ground. I made sure the log. in the shops and fueled up. After the diesel engine was turned off. My After a very cold night camping, welunch we headed up the Three Chain passenger got out OK, however for an rose early and made a bee line to atrack only to find it closed due to road old fat fellow to get out of the drivers remarkably busy Mansfield enjoyingworks a few kms in, so now to plan B. seat and climb up and out of the our first pub meal after lockdown. Headed the other way along the passenger window is no easy feat. I Lessons from the recovery: TheHowqua Hills track finding an could see the Patrol hanging on the recovery was a textbook recoveryexcellent camping spot at Tobacco edge of a creek, wondering what was process. However, I made a fewFlat for the first night. Great campfire, holding the truck. A snatch strap was notes to self. Had I been alone could Ibit of fishing (no fish though) and a lowered through the passenger door have recovered? What if I was stucklazy late departure the next day.for me to able to lever myself up. in vehicle not being able to get out.We travelled along very muddy Once out I observed that a few small Both my epirbs where accessibleMitchell track to Jamieson river. trees prevented the truck from sliding from my drivers seat and I wouldLooking for a spot to camp along the into the creek. have been able to activate them,river we travelled Silvermine Spur Now for the recovery. We positioned however the Sat phone was behindroad. Well, it was labelled a road on the Wrangler 90 degrees to the truck the drivers seat and not accessible. Ithe map, but it turned out to be a very securing it with a strap to prevent any could not access my recovery gearmuddy track with a few very steep further slipping. Then I discovered my from the locker as it was on thebits. The mud was very slippery. winch controller is under the drivers ground. I also noted I had too muchGot over a couple of steep bits, then seat, together with the soft shackles, loose stuff unsecured in the cabin. attempted to climb a steeper one plus most of the recover gear is in the Fred Schenckwhere near the top lost complete locker behind the drivers door, whichtraction and slid on all fours is firmly on the ground. The WranglerTRACKWATCH MARCH 2021 23'