Big Red , a fizzogg

Hi Lizard,

Did you have a go at it from the West, that is the true way to tackle it.

I saw some mighty, mighty high sandunes in the far distance, south west of Wilson Cliffs in the Sandy, but as far as I know Big Red is the biggest confirmed dune in Oz.

What is a "fizzogg"????? please explain for all the Pauline's out there.

Lizard, I don't recall any dunes on the CSR being as tall as big red. Big red is about 40 metres high, whereas the average on the CSR was about 12-16 metres.
I have traversed the big dunes down south of WA, and big red seems a bit of a pimple, but nonetheless it is iconic and if you have the wrong tyre pressures it can be a daunting climb.
Sounds like you had a good trip.

Brett....

Shame you did like Big Red. We loved it and had a nice glass of wine on the top while watching the sun set. Like someone has said, you did not get confused with the other hill? A lot of people do. But you are right, it is not that difficult to drive up, as long you have the right vehicle and conditions. Kevin

Not a bad view from Deons Lookout ??

The very first time we visited the Simpson we just "popped" in to see Big Red. Piece of cake and then straight back to dinner at Birdsville. Or what we thought was Big Red.

On the next visit it was from the west. Now that was bigger than before. Strange I am thinking. But we didn't bother going up. No need and it was packed by tourists. We then head down south to go to Birdsville via the "detour" which was the way that we "popped" in to Big Red the last time from the east and Birdsville.

What do we find but a much smaller Big Red???????? Just the same size as the one we "popped" in to see last time. Strange!!

Guess who made a big error. Me.

And I am thinking that you may have done the same thing mate (lizard or whatever you name is) I bet that you didn't even get to see Big Red. Just "Little Red".

Phil

Lizard,
Firstly, I'm assuming it was Big Red and not little Red (same dune but the crossing is about 1km closer to Birdsville). I made the mistake of going over Little Red and high fiving myself thinking it was a walk in the park only to get back to Adelaide to find I was 1km short. So a few months later, I went back to make sure I got the right one.

Anyway, since then, I've crossed and played on Big Red a few times. What I've found is that the load in the car, the time of day (sand temperature) and the chosen track play a huge part in how easy or hard it can be. That's excluding the obvious tyre pressure factor.

Early in the morning, I've crossed in a Captiva with no dramas. My mate got up easily in his Suzuki SX4 too. Later in the day, I've crossed in my Pajero io unloaded on the hardest track with no difficulty what so ever. However, with a full load of gear after crossing the Simpson, the same Pajero wouldn't even look at the difficult track and instead I had to settle for the intermediate track with some degree of difficulty still.

Either way....you made it! And I bet it felt good too. Glad you had fun.

Fab.

Just to clear up any confusion, at the bottom of this blog is a photo (taken in 2006, a dry year) of Big Red from taken from the western side.

[url=http://www.exploroz.com/Members/61493.375/3/2011/Hay_River_Run__June_2006__Part_1__Canberra_to_Birdsville.aspx]

Cheers,

Val

Big Red is what it is - Big Red. It doesn't matter if there are bigger dunes anywhere in Australia - you have driven up BIG RED. If you have driven up it - claim it.

After watching the above video and countless others, I'd say without a doubt that Calcup Hill in the D'Entrecasteaux Nat Pk near the Warren River mouth is by far higher and much longer. It's about 500-600m from bottom to top and about 150m high. 8psi and lower isn't uncommon to get to the top. Advantage though over Big Red is that the approach is about 100m wide so you're not stuck in somebody else's ruts or moguls on the approach.

Another doozy is the one below Yeagarup Dunes that you get to from the track used to get off the beach just West of the Warren River.

Just got back from a 12 day "quick tip" through the corner country and across the French Line East to West. Done it a few times over the years, and yes Big Red is easy enough from east to west or west to east with the right tyre pressures, gear and revs. Encountered some "tougher" dunes on the western half of the track.

A bit off thread, but please, if you are going through dune country use a sand flag and UHF radio. Just missed a head on with a nong who had no radio, no sand flag (and I suspect no idea). Came across another couple who where in the same boat, but traveling alone, no radio, no flag and really no idea (he had trouble getting over lots of dunes, he said, but didn't think lowering his tyre pressures would be of any help). Rolled my eyes and continued on our way.