madigan line

Only a handful of groups do the Madigan Line each year.

Andado to Birdsville is about 700 km. Fuel consumption of a diesel 4wd is about 2.5 times normal consumption. I'd expect that you'd need a fuel drop as well.

You'd need a backside of steel - its a very bumpy trip.

Supplies could be delivered at either the Colson Track, or at Camp 15 on the Hay River.

If you break down or injure yourself, it may take many days for help to get to you. Thats if you can get anyone to come and help.

Funny thing last year, with the guy who walked the Madigan Line, was that the support vehicles had problems keeping up with him as they had a few mechanical mishaps.

Best of luck.

Cheers
Phil

Phil, we're actually doing the Madigan this year. Contact Frank or David Stoffels on 02 6681 5300 (BH), they might run a vehicle trip on the Madigan next year. Cheers, Tom

thanks Tom, would really like to hear how you went when you get back, good luck and have a good trip

I did the Madigan Line in July. I would not recommend it for motorcycles unless you have extensive support vehicles. I can say this because I originally planned to do it on a motorcycle and I'm glad I didn't.

The km varies accoring to the route. If you do the full route (camps 1+ with permits or 'taking a chance') then you are facing 900+ km, I recorded 924km on the trip meter.

The alternative route, up the Colson to camp six, down to the French line then, add 100km.

The slippage (difference from straight line to actual wheel travel) is about 30%.

It is rough, very rough. One day we went off track and did 24km!!!

Basically there is a bit of track building up. When we did it, a group went through in March and 2 others were a day ahead of us.

The conditions were prefect, rain a month before, plus rain a week before we arrived. Therefore the sand was very firm. Despite this (and I repeat) we went off track for 1.75 day and did 24km on the first day, 44 on the next, with 20km in the last 2 hours of the day when we went back on track.

A friend asked how it was and I replied: take the worst track in the Victorian high country (Short Cut or the Steps say). Dive up and down it for 8 hours a day for 8 days .. that's what it was like. The Spinaphex was murder.

It is hard on vehicles and hard on yourself. I was in a group where every other vehicle had 2 drivers. It was hard for them changing divers over, but I was completely stuffed driving 8+ hours a day from morning to dusk.

If you decide to do it then it must be as an expedition. Several support vehicles, plenty of time (e.g 4 weeks), fall backs , etc.

Good luck.

thanks for the info tom, how difficult were the permits to get hold of?