Rudall River / Karlamilyi

Thanks Bob. I'm thinking that from Christie Crossing you headed NW to Nullagine. I'm particularly interested in the track sth from Christie Crossing down to Balfour Downs

Correct, Drew. Followed Skull Springs Road, fuelled up at Nullagine & camped on way to Newman.

Can’t help with that road south to Balfour, but we encountered a newish road that crossed the old road a couple of times, north from Christie’s, roughly paralleling it. Wondered if it was a newer alignment back to Balfour?

Bob

Cant help with the specific question, but jus comment that the track in from the north (through the Telfer mine) is far more interesting than the southern access via the Talawana west Track.

In 2018 the southern access track via White Gums Bore had the most horrendous corrugations I've ever seen for its full length from the bore north, caused, IIRC, by traffic off the CSR diverted because of floods between Well 24 and 33.

I don't know if it ever gets graded. If it doesn't it won't be any better.

Yes they were a tad rough then Frank.
We had camped alongside an elderly couple at Jarra Pool, who had an immaculately restored 40 series troopy with the skinniest leaf springs I can recall ever seeing . When we left to take that southern track we took it very slow but neverthless caught up with the couple just as they arrived at White Gums bore even though they had left at least two hours ahead of us. They had had enough for the day & were going to overnight at the bore. We did at least have a close encounter with a dingo as we we were crossing the river.

Thanks for that info Maurice. Yes the routeNewman to Balfours Downs - Christie - Hanging Rock etc would be my preferred route but coming in from the NW is one alternative. I will check with Balfour Downs closer to the time.
Strange but not many folks seem to have been through Karlamilyi in 2019

G'day Adventurers

As Maurice B ~ says the track he and his crew exited on in 2018 was not shown on current maps, most of the new or newer tracks throughout the western desert region in the East Pilbara are there due to the exploration/resources sector many of these tracks end up at an abandoned work camp area and even more end up at a drill site, so it is very prudent to manage fuel usage estimates as there can be a fair deal of retracing your already traveled tracks.

Hopefully this does not come across as being boastful ~ but I was into and through the Rudall River N/P three times during 2019 and I was back there again in April of this year, I usually don't bother to highlight my journeys simply because, there's no point really, but if someone want's to know, I've just today returned to Newman after a 3150 kilometre round trip mixing it with the lunatic fringe who wander the major highway systems in Western Australia ~ I am possibly a loony too because I had my caravan in tow for the most part.

Safe travels : Joe F

Thanks Joe, that's good info. Impressed that your caravan has held together on some of those corrugated tracks!!

Perhaps closer to my departure I could pm you with any final questions I have.
Cheers .. Drew

G'day Drew T

Sorry mate, I may have unwittingly lead you up a corrugated bush track by posting my images which have absolutely nothing to do with my Rudall River N/P wanderings, all of my R R n/p trips were solo vehicle trips and to places well away from the heavily flogged waterholes that are targeted by most people who venture into the region, though I have towed my trailer into many of the waterholes in the park, back when I was doing tag along tours for a living.

My posted images are of my most recent long haul road trip, mostly on tar seal but with plenty of off road side trips.

No worries with any final question pm's ~ if I can help I will.

Safe travels : Joe F

Actually JoeF .. one initial question per my original post .. do you have the coordinates of Trotmans cave (which I'm assuming is Jinawanura Cave nr Christmas Pool?).
I can't see how to personal message (pm) you via this forum, so perhaps you could reply via email to me & then I'll have your email for any further questions.

drew323241@gmail.com

Cheers .. Drew

G'day Drew
I will have to dig through my journals to get the position fix for Trotmans Cave as my first visit there was back in the late 1990's, I did take the Long/Lat fix then and only then.

If you prefer I will email you and open a dialog if you don't wish to have a Forum exposure regarding travel plans etc, I don't particularly mind the open Forum as very knowledgeable blokes like Maurice B and Bob Y are then able to offer their genuine advice which I consider to be expert because I know they have actually been there and I know both these genuine desert adventurers personally.

I having said that, all the very best MB and BY ~ safe travels and a safe and peaceful 2021

Safe travels : Joe F

Hey Joe. More than happy to communicate via the forum .. I was only thinking that no one had answered my original question re Trotmans Cave etc because there was a reluctance to make the info public!
Cheers .. Drew

G'day Drew

An interesting point about not making the location of Trotmans Cave public ~ are people worried a mob like Rio Tinto might just blow it of the face of the earth ~ as if something like that could ever happen and in the Pilbara of all places ~ just saying!

Safe travels : Joe F