Trip report: by Harald Ahlfeld
 
Organized by the Canterbury Jeep Club on the renowned off road tracks on the West Coast of the South Island we were looking forward to this JUST JEEP event. We that is my best mate Lex (because he owns a truck and I did't at that stage) and yours truly. Based in Reefton, there would be a choice of different graded tracks on Saturday and Sunday. Lex had booked our accommodation early enough to make sure we were nice and comfy, and not in a drafty tent at 'Camp Jeep' set up on site at the Reefton Racecourse. Well, we are 'wusses'.
Friday after lunch Lex picked me up at my place, and together with Darren, who went with his family to a Nelson 4WD club outing at Hokitika, we drove down to Reefton. After picking up the keys to our motel and filling up the Jeep we ventured down to the Racecourse for scrutineering and to mingle with the folks. After we signed in and got our information pack plus caps and T-shirts we went to to have a look at different Jeep accessories, tyres and clothing. In that aerea we found the sign-up sheets with full information on each of the available trips as well. The decision was quite easy: Lex's truck misses a winch, so the grade 3 options were out, plus Lex hadn't done the 2 grade 2 trips on offer; we signed up for them. After having a beer or two at the 'Party Hoppers', a well set up mobile bar with good music, we went to have our tea together with some more guys from the Nelson 4WD Club on their way to Hokitika.
I won't mention the repair on a certain V8 Wrangler which was finished close to midnight, after the needed axle arrived by 'Jeep-Courier' (Joe) from Nelson.
 
Saturday, 24th Oct. - Trip to Chinaman and Montgomerie Huts
 
After having a coffee and picking up our lunch boxes we all assembled at around 9am at the grandstand to get our instructions for the day. The different trip leaders collected their 'trucks' and off we went: 7 Cherokees & 3 Wranglers.
The Chinaman Track starts 16 kms from Reefton off the Big River Road. The track is very scenic and runs down into the Chinaman Creek. Some found the first section quite steep and therefore exciting but soon the track flattend out in the lower valley. There we found some small muddy pools and had two little creeks to cross. No trouble for anybody! Shortly before the hut we stopped for morning tea, admired the bush, and walked the short track up to the hut. After a quick look-see, closely watched by a robin, we made our way back to the trucks and drove the same way back to Reefton.
We then passed Gannon's Bridge on to a 4WD track. Again an easy going, scenic bush drive with views of the Waitahu River. After a while we stopped for lunch and got into our delicious lunch boxes. (To get everybody to bring their lunch boxes back to camp the organizers had a neat trick: they put a number on each box and everybody who registered his box in the evening back at camp went into a draw of some Jeep goodies = no littering in the bush! Clever, isn't it?) Of course we also had to feed the million sandflies or two. So we didn't last long in this place! On we went on the more and more deteriorating track. At some tight corners the one or other vehicle needed a tow. Then came the announcement over the radio, that we had to turn around, because a huge tree was blocking the track and there was no way around it.
On the way out we found an interesting bog hole which we had to try out. Several tried and failed miserably. Then Ashley puts his brain to work and simply stradled the ruts. That was easy enough, of course some called it cheating. Back to camp to have the lunch boxes registered and going to have a go at the ramp test. The travel on Lex's truck was quite impressive, but we never found out with which place he ended up with. (Maybe someone can enlighten us). After that another short visit to the 'Party Hoppers'. Then following a shower at the motel we met up with our fellow jeepers for a well prepared evening meal at the Racecourse. After some more cold ones and heaps of lies we went back to the motel for a well deserved sleep.
 
Sunday, 25th Oct. - Trip to the upper Grey River
 
Same procedure as on Saturday: coffee, lunch boxes, assembly of the hordes and letting them loose. This time in our group: 17 Jeeps of all types - more or less set-up for the wild.
After travelling around 50 kms on tar seal we turned left up the Grey Valley following a gravel road alongside the Snowy River, then made it up a private farm track, crossed a couple of small streams, up into the upper Grey Valley. Again beautiful scenery: river flats with mountain views, and nice beech forest. From here it got more challenging with muddy water filled ruts, big puddles and some interesting bog holes. Being one of the first vehicles we have no trouble at all reaching the designated lunch place. After having another delicious lunch out of the famous boxes, we had a walk down to the river and explored the scenery. Some of the others must have had a few difficulties to get through the bog holes, because we could have had easily another lunch and a nana-nap. This would make it interesting on the way out!
And believe me, it was interesting. Of course the same who drove it on the way in drove it on the way out, too. But some were opting for the winch cable. It always make nice photos, doesn't it? After that we went down to the river for a group photo. A few crossed the river, the water quite high in places (which made it interesting for the spectators), not talking about some big boulders which made a couple of trucks taking in some water. On the way out we stopped again at the farm gate, because the owner insisted of having a photo of all the Jeeps on his property. We happily obliged. After that an uneventful drive back to Reefton.
In the evening we all had another good meal at the Racecourse, followed by all sorts of raffles, speeches etc. Drinks and lies as usual.
 
On Monday morning we went down to the Racecourse again for more coffee, more yarns, and eventually to clean the truck a wee bit before the ride home.
 
We really enjoyed being part of this very well organized event. Well done Canterbury Jeep Club! This was the real thing for people who are keen on jeeping. Saying that, I sincerely hope that 'Just Jeep' wasn't a 'one-off' and will become a regular feature. Thanks again - see you on the trail (me in my new Wrangler which I'm itching to set up).

Photos here