Camping and Teamwork

If you are going off the beaten track on your own, there may always be something in the back of your mind about getting bogged or breaking down. Any seasoned camper will make sure they have taken more than adequate precautions for the existing conditions and environment where they intend to set up camp. Trouble is, conditions can change overnight with disastrous results sometimes. Fortunately, the camping ‘clan’ tend to look after each other pretty well.

A recent camping trip took us into the heart of Queensland Australia, and one of the planned stops was a beautiful place called Carnarvon Gorge. The bush camp nearby the gorge was off the beaten track somewhat – you know, dirt road, creek crossings, hidden dips in the road. Given all this though, the weather was fine and sunny and the road passable to all manner of vehicles and caravans. We stayed for three nights, enjoyed the camp and the gorge walks, lots of wildlife, and good weather. Good that is until the last night! It didn’t rain really heavily, but it did rain consistently all night. so packing up our pop-top camper in the morning was a bit of a chore.

On the way out of the bush camp I remarked that the consistent rain had made the road very slick with a uniform mud surface, so even in a 4WD there was a bit of a slippin’ and a slidin’ going on. Just then, approaching a bend in the road, we saw before us a shallow creek at the bottom of a deep gully. No problems really I thought, just take it easy climbing the exit from the stream, which was a steep slope that then took a sharp bend to the right. As we approached the creek we were halted by someone waving from the other side who informed us that their caravan had lost control at the top of the exit from the creek and was blocking the road. I told the lady that I would cross the creek and stop just the other side to discourage other vehicles from going further. I then got out and attempted to climb the slope up to their stranded vehicle and caravan. Well, the road had been really churned up making it almost impossible to stand up, but when I did reach the top of the slope it looked like an impossible situation. The two wheel drive car towing the caravan was bogged in the mud right against a low bank with the caravan jackknifed across the road.

At this time there were just four people including the driver and his wife trying to do something to correct the situation. We were all sliding all over the place in the thick wet mud – it was quite comical really.

The first attempt was to disconnect the caravan and tow it out with a 4WD. But guess what, the 4WDs had Treg couplings, not the normal ball couplings – Fail. Next we decided to try and push the car out of the way and then tackle the caravan. Well the more we pushed the more it tried to climb the bank or just swish around in the mud – Fail.

By this time there were several more who had joined the rescue party, making around ten of us; some just onlookers, but to be fair – too many cooks …

Anyway, after one of the many others that arrived on the scene wanting either to enter or exit Carnarvon Gorge, declared he had a snatch strap, things improved.  We were able to push and shove the car and the caravan, along with the snatch strap attached to another four wheel drive until we had them both extricated from the quagmire and hooked back up and on the road again.

It was then time for the rest of us to cross the creek and get clear.  Everyone watched each other just in case more help was needed.  The 4WDs did it OK by staying in low range, taking it easy, and also picking out the firmer spots to drive on.  I must mention though the family who had been camping in a catamaran towed by a rear wheel drive car. We never thought he would make it to the top of the slope, but we didn’t bank on him going for broke by really gunning it across the creek, practically flying up the slope to make it without a problem!

Then it was time for us all to say our goodbyes and head of on our merry outback ways again.  It just goes to show what can be achieved by a group of like-minded individuals – strangers no less, all pulling together to help another of their kind.

Note:  When we reached the first populated spot after this event we were told by the service station that the road to Carnarvon Gorge had been closed since 8:30 that morning!  Well no one told us ….

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Related posts:

1. Camping Carnarvon Gorge – Queensland Australia
2. Caravan Movers
3. With Camping It’s the Little Things
4. Towing Tips
5. Boondocking, Free Camping, Dry Camping

Filed under: General Tips, Towing/Reversing