Simpson Desert going solo

Birdsville Tk and the other dirt highways get a deal of traffic but you should be prepared to wait for over an hour in daytime and overnight in the dark. If you have a health crisis or a crash, that might be enough to see you dead.

Depending on the time of year you may face heatstroke.

Depending on the Simpson route you may need to be ready to wait for days.

If you're ill-prepared your request for help won't of course be welcomed. You'll be messing up someone else's trip.

Why not just hire a satphone or PLB?

I have done the Simpson solo. A well prepared reliable vehicle is essential. Don't flog it. Tyres @ 16 ish or less. Extra fuel. I took an EPIRP. There would not have been many hours each day when the CB wasn't busy. I don't have a lift or big fat wheels. The better you are prepared the easier the crossing becomes.

Bob, You can hire a sat-phone at either side of the simpson,a sand flag is a must, uhf is very handy as is an epirb. Don't hurry and don't worry too much about trouble as long as you are well set up,and not overloaded, we went from mt dare on the french line in 2013 in an 80s cruiser no troubles at all, we went alone and enjoyed every K. Air down when you hit the dirt.Don't forget a parks pass.Keith.

Thanks to everyone who has replied, all good advice, i will defenetly be properly prepared and take my time.
Cheers guys

We(2 vehicles) went across the Rig Road last October, Bob, and only saw 2 vehicles, both travelling together. From Oodnadatta on, I travelled by myself down through William Ck, Marree, Lyndhurst, up Strezlecki Track to Moomba, Innamincka and up the Arrabury Road and onto Diamantina River Road, back to Winton.

Plenty of traffic on the Strezlecki, road trains, mining & road works gangs. Didn't see too many on the Oodanadatta track, ute & 'van, couple of graders, and a bloke foot walking south.......think he might have been on a push bike? :-)

Did meet a couple at Innamincka, late 60's-early 70's, in a small Jeep towing a pop top van, that were heading up the Cordillo Downs road, from Innamincka. Intrepid souls, I thought, 'cause it was bloody hot, mid 40's, so hope they got home alright. They did say the road across from Cameron's Corner was very good, that is up the Old Strezlecki, to Innamincka.

I carry a sat phone, plenty of fuel/water, and plan well ahead as to when I'll need fuel again. Also had lots more tucker than I needed, but it was too hot to eat. Might define my comments here, I had a new Landcruiser ute, only 4 weeks old, and was only moderately loaded.

You haven't said what month you'll be doing it Bob? Keep away from hot months and I'd reckon you'll see heaps of people..........maybe even too many! :-)

Bob

You should be fine Bob. I do recommend a sat phone. You can hire at both ends of the Simpson. I read your response about the car being well prepared so you appear to have the right approach.

We crossed the Madigan Line last year and as usual went solo. We didn't see another vehicle between Old Andando and the Hay River track. Five days!! Loved it.

Take care and enjoy the solitude. Go where you wish, stop where and when you wish and even sleep in as long as you want. All the benefits of solo travel. You are your own boss and not ruled by the mob. Ha

Catchya

Phil

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Hi Bob

If you are an experienced Outback Traveller and know your limitations, then you will have no problems at all.

We have travelled the Simpson many times with friends, and three times Solo.

The other tracks that you mention are main roads, with lots of passing traffic, so you will not be alone out there. Keep your tyre pressures down and if the sand is soft out in the Simpson, I always go straight to 14psi and you will be able to crawl over all the sand dunes without having a second attempt.

Being solo, you need to have every base covered, extra tyre repair gear, good first aid kit, extra fuel, food and water, as well as good reliable communications in the event of trouble. For long range communications, I have a Satellite phone and HF Radio, and a UHF for closer communications. For added safety we carry a PLB. When in the Simpson, the recommended UHF channel is 10, but you will always find other groups and individuals that insist on being different and use other channels. For this reason, we always run our UHF on scan. Also make sure that you have a good sand flag. You want to be seen, and again, you will see other vehicles, including solo vehicles with no sand flag at all.

Do your homework, fully prepare your vehicle with a pre trip inspection by a qualified auto technical and you will have a great time.


Cheers



Stephen

Becareful of those thorn bush's between White Cliffs and Willcania on the Cameron's Corner part of the run....

I got 6 flats in that area...
First flat was from the road...
3 more flats pulling off the road to fix the first flat...
Yep, you guessed it, got 2 more getting back onto the road....
Ended up using a liquorish stick as a bung

Then I ran out of fuel 12K's short of Willcania due to a hole in my jerry.. Patched it with some 'instant metal" and started the hike in.

About an half-hour into my walk the local motel owner came by but was only interested in helping with a lift if I was going to book a room. I offered him a cold 6pack instead, but nope, he wanted the full $90 for the 10K lift to which I politely declined.

Got most of the way into town when an Amercian woman that runs a station pulled over and got me the rest of the way in.

In town I got banged $10 for 4 efttos transactions plus the $2/ Litre fuel... no wonder people are angry out there...

Got out of town, settled into my stride and was offered a lift by a couple heading to White-Cliffs....

For the fours days I was out there, there where only 5 vehicles that went past and for Sigmonds sake, I wasn't hitching

I was traveling solo-solo, ie one-out, just me, It was one of the best trips I did, Adventure, drama, a beautiful 15K hike and a new understanding of the bigotry in Australia...

There's some sound advice on outback travel and preparation on the Mt Dare Hotel website Bob:

http://www.mtdare.com.au/the-australian-outback

In a word - Preparation!

With that anything is possible.

It is about sitting down, thinking through the risks, how you will manage them and whether the potential outcomes are acceptable to you and your level of experience.

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

Not a problem Bob.
We travel alone all the time.
Maintenance ..tyre pressures low on sand..Don't drive fast on dirt/ stone!.80 kms is too fast on most roads out there...averaged 50 kph on Strez track..towing
plenty of people out there now.
The Simpson is busy as...you would be lucky to get stuck there for 1/2 a day!.
Just don't watch Wolf Creek before you go though LOL