Hi Julian. I kind of figured that what you have said is what those creeks are but not being 100% sure wasnât going to say. Temple Southerland lived not far from âWaggoners Bendâ back then. He became a modern day waggoner with his truck haulage contracting business. Until the depression & loss of work twisted his arm to go on the government subsidy gold mining scheme. The book is a great read. All his books are.
That camp you speak of could have been any number of menâs. I came across some you tube footage a few years ago of a couple of guys mountain biking up that way. They drove up the Porika Track past I think where you drop down to New Creek & but on the opposite side. They ratted out an old track where they parked up & started their ride. It was pretty rough but they were hard core. I am guessing would take you down towards the upper Louie. They came across an old hut that was quite big. Was a cool ride & when they got down to the creek there were heaps of stacked rocks. I did post it up on here I am pretty sure back when I found it as I thought it would be of interest to some on here as I am a gold tragic & had my days of hard core mountain biking, broken ribs & all more than once. These days I E-bike to gold spots & yes my last broken rib was from one of those missions. You got to hate broken ribs. You canât cough, sneeze or fart without a jab of pain. Sleep isnât easy as you just canât get comfortable. Even crapped of my E-bike the other day on a gold mission but came through unscathed. Even got a bloody skunk. First one in a while.
Yeah I have seen that video there are quite a few of them on youtube its a popular mountain bike track⌠I have traveled that track many times the first hut is Booths hut and is maintained by DOC the second hut is a newer one and still used its at the end of the Louis creek road were people used to park there 4x4s before they closed the road for logging⌠As you say the clearing I found could be any old hut site its an interesting area between Booths hut and Porika track if you head off the main track there are signs of old water races and bits of tin all over the place⌠Ebike is def the way to go and very handy for getting up the top of Louis now the road is closed I take mine up as far as I can then walk I hope to be back there for a poke around next monthâŚ
Here is another couple of videos in the second one they go inside Booths hut for a look
Thanks Julian for those. Will definitely check them out. I never got that far up the Louis. I just camped at the bottom & walked up. Have driven the Porika track right through a few times though. I do use my E-bike a lot on gold missions. Quicker than walking & much quicker coming back down.
Actually, my last broken rib was crapping off my UBCO bike. Front wheel drive as well as rear drive & I lost the front end when it went out on me. They should have a switch so you can kill the front end.
Sounds like the Louis/Howard area gets super hammered going by all the complaints. Must be hard work for slim pickings these days. Same grounds getting turned over again & again.
My bike is a bit more basic I stole one of the kids old mountain bikes and stuck a 750W Bafang mid mount on it but it does the trick and I dont have to worry so much when I throw it in the bushes and hike in further⌠I think all the public spots are being hammered at the moment with the price of gold the way it is⌠I have always been able to find something at Howard tho⌠you gota move a lot of rocks for the good stuffâŚ
Bugger. Iâm guessing there is a locked gate which would make a motorbike or quad a bit more difficult to get in there. But there are ways. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Canât let a gate or fence stop ya.
