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The Great Victoria Desert

Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 15:12

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)

Article Overview - Western Deserts
The most rugged and remote area in Australia, the Western Deserts region covers a vast area of Western Australia. The last frontier where the challenges to the 4WDer are many but the rewards gained are even greater. View Full Article...
Hi All
I am back from nearly 3 great weeks in the Great Victoria Desert. I would like to personally thank members from here on EO that provided information that helped make the trip even better. Like all trips into remote areas, all vehicles came home with bush scares. We travelled a few tracks that had not seen vehicles for a good number of years,the Sydney Yeo Ranges Track and Minnie Creek Road to name just a few, perfect for punctures and destroying one tyre. Now comes the job of writing reports, some new Trek Files for Damian and getting back to work. Here are a few pictures that you can expect from the new to be written Trek files.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380152   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 15:14

Krakka replied:

Nice looking area, will have to get out that way myself some day!

Cheers

Krakka
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Reply 1 of 15
FollowupID: 647443   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 15:18

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Krakka
This is why we just love the WA Deserts. What I can tell you is that there is so much to see and no one trip can do that area justice.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380153   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 15:18

Dave B ( BHQ NSW) replied:

Pleased to see you had a good trip Stephen, look forward to reading your trip report.

Dave
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Reply 2 of 15
FollowupID: 647444   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 15:21

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Dave
It was a perfect trip, but the big job is now writing the new Trek reports.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380155   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 15:35

Sir Kev & Darkie replied:

Stephen,

I am sure if you narrated all the trip notes, Mick O would love to type them out for you LOL


Good to see that you had a good trip, looking forward to those Blogs about them.

Cheers Kev
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Reply 3 of 15
FollowupID: 647448   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 16:14

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Kev
If I was able to get hold of a certain book that I was tying to get for Mick, I could have something to negotiate with. I tried everywhere, but all sold out.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380158   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 15:52

Member - Phil B (WA) replied:

Hi Stephen,

It sure is wonderful country out there isn't it, I look forward to seeing the trek notes.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Phil
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Reply 4 of 15
FollowupID: 647449   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 16:15

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Phil
Thanks for your help, it was greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380163   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 16:02

Member - Mick O (VIC) replied:

Welcome back Stephen. Coming back to a Monday morning reality check is always the hardest thing? Your photos offer a tantalising glimps into your travels and I will look forward to reading all about it in the coming weeks. Trust you had a great time.

Cheers Mick.
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Reply 5 of 15
FollowupID: 647450   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 16:18

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Mick
Once again, thanks for your input. Doing my first spare only 3 days into the trip made very interesting from there on. I still had one spare left, but if I did that in, well I would have been up the creek.

Thanks Again.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380164   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 16:11

equinox replied:

Welcome back Stephen.

There's some nice pictures there; each with its own story I'm sure.

I look forward to your report.

Cheers
Alan

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Reply 6 of 15
FollowupID: 647453   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 16:27

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Alan
We had a ball. Found Forrest's name scratched on the Wall in Emperes Springs, not far from the Aboriginal ladders. Have you spoken to Andrew at Tjukayirla. He is a wealth on knowledge about that country out there. He may be of some assistance for your next trip. The picture below is what Forrest scratched in the stone, a little hard to read.

Cheers

Stephen
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FollowupID: 647459   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 17:31

equinox posted:

You're just teasing me now :)

Glad you had a ball.

I spoke to Andrew last year; he is a knowlegable man for sure, and makes a mean hot dog as well. He's made the right business move there, leasing the site from the Blackstone Natives. That place is a gold mine in waiting.

Without meaning to pre-empt your report did you happen to notice if there were any inscriptions on the mulga poles in the cave (such as the illustration below).

Both times I have been there I have been in such awe of the significance of the place that I have failed to check.

Empress Inscriptions
Empress Inscriptions


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FollowupID: 647471   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 19:14

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Alan
We all looked very hard, but we could not find any inscription of any kind on the mulga ladders. There were other inscriptions alongside Forrest's, in the stone but we could not make them out Andrew said that he will only be out there another couple of years before he retires to Streaky Bay, here in SA.

Cheers

Stephen
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FollowupID: 647474   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 19:30

equinox posted:

Thanks for the info Stephen.

Cheers
Alan
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AnswerID: 380172   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 18:00

Member - Michael J (SA) replied:

Hi Stephen,

Nice to see you back safe n sound. It only seems like yesterday you said that you had two days before leaving..

By all accounts you had a great trip. Must catch up for an in depth report.

-and yes, the desert is a truly magnificent place.


Cheers
Michael
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Reply 7 of 15
FollowupID: 647472   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 19:17

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Michael
Time does fly and back to work tomorrow - yuk. The wild flowers were starting to bloom, but within the next couple of week, they should be at their peak.

Cheers
Stephen
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AnswerID: 380178   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 18:53

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Gday Stephen,

We're back today too after 3 weeks away - the first two in Yellabinna on the eastern side of the GVD. Had 11 days on Googs track and around the area with FOGVD - flowers were out and the reptiles and birds were active - learnt a lot.

Can we guess where you're photos are taken??
I'm guess thing the third and 4th are in Plumridge Lakes - the third one is the sandalwood pile at one of the cutters camps and the fourth photo is the only sign in the whole of the park. The last one is marble gums on the Anne Beadell Hwy.
The cave photo is just south of empress springs???

Look forward to your reports, and thank you for taking the time to share this with us! Cheers
Phil
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Reply 8 of 15
FollowupID: 647491   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 20:45

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Phil
You too would have had a great trip by the sounds of things. You are right on most of them, except as follows:

The Marble Gums were on the Connie Sue and the caves were south of Lake Rason.

I will still give you full marks for the rest of the correct answers.

The Aboriginal Paintings were only discovered 16 months ago, and are now classified as the most significant find in Western Australia, previously, the Kimberly Paintings held that honour, and have been dated at over 40,000 years old.

Again this will be a first for EO with I have finished that trek File.


Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380204   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 21:50

Member- Tony C replied:

Hi Stephen.
Good to hear you had a great trip and am certainly looking forward to reading your trek notes.
I sure am looking forward to my trip into that magnificent country again next year.
I was hoping to travel out to Sydney Yeo Range when I do my trip down the Connie Sue Hwy next year, so am interested to hear the conditions of this track and what the range and chasam are like. I have just read Frank Hann's diary of his discovering this range and it sure sounds like an interesting place. Do you know if the trees they blazed still exist?
Regards,
Tony
Reply 9 of 15
FollowupID: 647506   Submitted: Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 at 22:23

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Tony
The Sydney Range section was the longest section to wait for approval for permits, 7 weeks, firstly through Perth, then Alice Springs, and finally had to be sent to Warburton. The track had not had any vehicles over it for a few years and was very overgrown. In some sections, the vegitation had grown almost over and even if you had taken a quad bike through there, your arms would have scraped on the branches. It was on this track that we all had tyre trouble, I had one front puncture and steaked and ruined one rear tyre, with the rest of the group receiving 3 more punctures. When you get to the end of the track, follow the creek south and you come to Sydney Yeo Chasm.
There was no water in it, aboriginal cut marks, as if they uded the area to sharpen tools, but no blaze tree. The only blaze we found was at Woods Pass.

Cheers

Stephen
A section of overgrown track out to Sydney Yeo Range
A section of overgrown track out to Sydney Yeo Range
Marble Gum and Sand Dunes on the way out to SYR
Marble Gum and Sand Dunes on the way out to SYR
Sydney Yeo Chasm
Sydney Yeo Chasm
Moon Rise on the Sydney Yeo Track
Moon Rise on the Sydney Yeo Track
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AnswerID: 380223   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 06:12

Krakka replied:

I am sitting at work and these last pics are really turning me a shade of greeeeen! lol. One day.

Krakka
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Reply 10 of 15
FollowupID: 647530   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 07:54

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Krakka
Yes indeed, the deserts of WA are so unreal and are top on our list. If you have not been that way, start planning and you will be well and truely rewarded - Four Wheel Driving At its very Best.

Start Planning Now, it is never Too Late.

Cheers

Stephen
Large Wash Aways out to Sydney Yeo Range
Large Wash Aways out to Sydney Yeo Range
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AnswerID: 380286   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 14:53

Member - Duncan W (WA) replied:

Hi Stephen, did you manage to find Lily Rockhole in the end? The top photo with the plates attached to the tree is that Hann's camp in Laverton?

You've just got to love the colours in the GVD.

Look forward to reading your blogged report if and when you get around to it.
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Reply 11 of 15
FollowupID: 647624   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 19:17

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Duncan
Once again, thanks for your help. Time was against us and we did not come that way after Neale Junction. We headed further down the Connie Sue, and came in through Plumridge Lakes and then followed the Lake Rason Road to Laverton.
The picture with the plates attached to the Tree was taken at Salt Creek, in the Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve. The best art site by far would have to be Point Lillian, when compared to other sites that we looked at in the Great Victoria Desert. Here is the Picture of the Plate attached to the tree at Hann's Camp.

Cheers

Stephen
Hanns Camp near Laverton
Hann's Camp near Laverton
Some of the Old remains at Hanns Camp
Some of the Old remains at Hann's Camp
Old Remains at Hanns Camp
Old Remains at Hann's Camp
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FollowupID: 647728   Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 09:18

Member - Duncan W (WA) posted:

Yep that's his camp got just the same photo. The art sites you went to look good though as the paintings are quite distinctive. Pt Lilian is very good though and a magic spot to camp.
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AnswerID: 380334   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 20:38

Tony MD replied:

Hi Stephen.
We were out at Sydney Yeo Chasm July last year. Didn't look like anyone else had been through for quite a while prior to our visit. Weather was very cold and windy. Water oly in the pool at the first drop. Our permits took about 3 weeks, would need to look up where they came from.
What a fantastic area!
Cheers, Tony.
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Reply 12 of 15
FollowupID: 647660   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 20:52

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Tony
Our permits took over 7 week to do Sydney Yeo Range. Joan hade them for two weeks in Perth, they were then sent to Alice Springs for approval, but then had to be sent to Warburton. Can I ask you one question please, was this old Chef Gas stove out on the Sydney Yeo Track
Old Chef Gas Srove on The Sydney Yeo Track
Old Chef Gas Srove on The Sydney Yeo Track
there then??

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380341   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 21:08

Tony MD replied:

No, definitely not. The only sign of anything was an old boiler(?) near the track junction at which you head SE into the Sydney Yeo Range. Where was it?
A few pics of our trip here TLCV GVD trip
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Reply 13 of 15
FollowupID: 647667   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 21:23

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Tony
The stove was about mid way out on the Sydney Yeo Track. How did you find the Anne Beadell?

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 380357   Submitted: Monday, Aug 24, 2009 at 23:00

Tony MD replied:

The Anne Beadell was absolutely fantastic. I had first read about it 25 years ago & finally did it. Headed East to West.
We had a Club member Takeshi Namba with us who took some photos as part of the 50 years anniversary of the Landcruiser. The cover page of the DVD is us at Tallaringa well.
On entering the Tallaringa Conservation Park the Hwy became very corrugated so just took it slow with numerous stops. Slow going to near Vokes Hill corner where there had been some recent grading. Excellent driving through Mamungar, great scenery & some dune crossings. Saw our fiirst camels here. Sunrise over the Serpentine Lakes was surely something. On crossing into WA, the road conditions were markedly better although some Sandy Sections after Ikurkla Road House. More camels at Bishop Riley's Pulpit & went looking for sandalwood out of Old Yeo Homestead.
From laverton went up to Warburton via Empress Springs then down the Connie Sue via Sydey Yeo Chasm to Rawlinna & Cocklebiddy & home.
Corrugations on the Connie Sue were as heavy if not worse than those on the Anne Beadell. One of the highlights of Being at Sydney Yeo Chasm was being so isolated. makes you respect Frank Hann. His diaries "Do Not Yield To Despair" are heavy going but give an inkling into what made him. His travels make mine look extremely insignificant.
Met a few other travelers heading East on the Anne Beadell who said the road was bad in the West. little did they know! Only one other group on the Connie Sue who passed us near Pt. Sandercock.
All up - 3 weeks Coober Pedy to Rawlinna. Eight vehicles. One puncture just out of Neale Junction on the CSH. My AGM battery died, its weight punched the ARB battery cradle through the point mount of the wheel arch. Now fixed with extra steel to spread the load & just a conventional wet deep cycle battery. I think two broken side mirrors.
Cheers again, Tony.
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Reply 14 of 15
FollowupID: 647717   Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 08:31

Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) posted:

Hi Tony,
The only bad corrugations that we struck on the Connie Sue were north of Mackenzie Breakaways, to down past Parallel No 2 Road. The Rest of the trip had no problems at all. Was the Solar Bore at Cooper Hills operational when you did the trip? The water was great and we all topped up our water supplies. Did you also get to see the Point Lillian Rock art site. These were unreal and were the highlight of the Connie Sue, 4 separate galleries, a very unreal site indeed. Our side mirrors were continually folding in on the Sydney Yeo Track, we were very lucky that they did not break.

Cheers

Stephen

Cooper Hills Bore - Great Water
Cooper Hills Bore - Great Water
Point Lillian Art site - unreal
Point Lillian Art site - unreal
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AnswerID: 380473   Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 20:46

Tony MD replied:

This is getting to be a long thread Stephen.
The Cooper hills bore was only a pipe in the ground. I hope fellow travelers respect the new solar panels & pump.
As for the art at Point Lilian, I wasn't aware of its existence. Looks like a return visit is in order. We didn't go into Point Lilian as the another large group were already there (probably camped over night).
Thanks for the picturs your information Stephen. look out for us on the tracks.
Cheers, Tony.
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Reply 15 of 15

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