Tarcoola / Googs Track

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:15

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Member - Roachie (SA)

Pesty has asked me to put this post up...he's too busy with his backside poking out from under the bonnet of that old 60 series of his.......(one of these days I'll manage to get him wised-up and get a decent 4by....a PATROL...hahaha).

Anyway, he's leading us on an Easter trip down Googs Track (heaven bloody help us all!!!!!), but he wants to know what the GPS coordinates are for the start of the track when hitting it from the north?

If anybody has this info, would you be able to let me know please. Apparently the track is not clearly defined at the northern end......I know, I know, we should be approaching from the south, but hey, what can I say, I'm just a follower.....tagging along to assist the Toyotas when they get stuck/break-down etc. Brew will be there to assist me to keep the 60 series + the 2 Prados (if Muddy's makes it that far in the 1st place) on the track. hahaha ;-)))

Thanks in advance.

Roachie

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Reply By: Trevor M (SA) - Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:34

Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:34

30 40.394S 134 10.875E (or therabouts)

There are 2 entrances, This is the Eastward one.

Let me know if you need anything else

Trev

AnswerID: 163982

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:41

Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:41

Thanks Trevor,

I'll note that down for Pesty.......I'm so bloody useless at finding my way, I ended up selling my GPS as it was just a glorified speedo in my Patrol...hahaha.

Cheers mate

Roachie

FollowupID: 418791

Follow Up By: Trevor M (SA) - Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:51

Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:51

I have a oxiexplorer track files I could probably work out how to email you if you want (or give me advice on how to do it).

Have done Googs twice, once from Ceduna heading North for the whole track then around the top of Lake Torrens and once from the North down to Googs Lake and then East into Lake Everard Station (with permission .... almost impossible to get) and down into the Gawler Ranges.

You need a sand flag and keep the UHF on Ch 18. There is nothing overly challenging but it is not a bad trip. I found it much smoother heading North to South because most travel the other way and the South sides of the dunes were very cut up. I imagine this would depend on the time of year and the amount of traffic. We went Northward in May 05 and Southward in Oct 05 and I reckon the South sides were much more cut up on the Oct trip (when we were going the other way .... many comments along the lines of ..."would be rough going the other way on that one"

Have a good trip
Trev

FollowupID: 418795

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 08:30

Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 08:30

Thanks Trevor, but probably no need to go to the trouble....I'm flat out working out how to turn a computer on and, as I said earlier, I sold my GPS cos it was useless in my hands. I'm not sure that Pesty is a helluva lot better than me.....but he does know how to use the bloody thing more than I ever did.

Then again, we'll have Muddy along too and what that bloke doesn't know about puters isn't worth knowing.

I'll let you know if we think it'd be worthwhile..

Cheers mate

Roachie

FollowupID: 418850

Follow Up By: Trevor M (SA) - Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 22:29

Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 22:29

I think I had best come with you to make sure yoiu don't get lost

FollowupID: 419067

Reply By: rolux1983 - Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 21:47

Reply By: geocacher (djcache) - Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 at 23:24

Reply By: Darian (SA) - Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 08:02

Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 08:02

Have good 'un team - we went south too coupla years back - the climb to the top of the southern bump on Mt Finke is good - cairn up there - something to do with Ted Eyre. On out trip, the turn in at Malbooma was clear enough - interpretive sign nearby from Parks SA. Anything could have changed since then. House nearby occupied by the dog fence contractor (I seem to recall).

AnswerID: 164031

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 08:33

Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 08:33

Cheers Darian......

Thanks mate

FollowupID: 418853

Follow Up By: Rick (S.A.) - Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 13:30

Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 13:30

Mt Finke has absolutely NOTHING to do with Edward Eyre.

In European terms/white fella ways, it was discovered by John McDouall Stuart on August 7th, 1858, while on his first journey.

This journey, sponsored by William. Finke, left Oratunga, in the Flinders Ranges, in mid May 1858, and explored the Lake Torrens and Coober Pedy areas before striking the sea near Streaky Bay. Stuart, Foster and the native had taken provisions for only three weeks. It finished at Mt Arden station, north of Spencer’s Gulf, in mid September 1858.

On 3rd April 1875, Ernest Giles became the second European to visit Mt Finke.

More info about Stuart can be found at
www.johnmcdouallstuart.org.au/

Incidentally, I first climbed the mountain/hill in 1969...........it WAS remote then!

Cheers

FollowupID: 418912

Follow Up By: Darian (SA) - Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 13:43

Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 13:43

I stand ever ready, and most pleased, to be corrected at anytime on matters historic (and my hearing isn't all that bad) - indeed, it seems that Stuart was the king of inland explorers - never lost a staff member and carried off amazing feats of endurance while equipped only with a sharp stick and a piece of broken glass (I exaggerate somewhat).........have been to the above website on Stuart - well worth a read... there are some great books too)....re Mt Fink.... the metal plate up there (nailed to a rock I think), may well have mentioned Giles - whatever - I'll have a look for the photo. Did you leave the metal plate there Rick ?

FollowupID: 418916

Follow Up By: Rick (S.A.) - Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 16:26

Friday, Mar 31, 2006 at 16:26

G'Day Darian,

No I ddn't leave the plate. Did you read the entries in the notebook in the PVC pipe, up on the summit ? Love a pic of the plate - could you email me?

There is a possibility that all that gear may not be there much longer as Nat. Parks are attempting to declare the region a Wilderness area. Should be a draft managment plan come out soon for comment, I hope.

Anyway, the park mangers appear very reluctant to have any signage or interpretation of a fixed kind in that region. They say all that could be done in print - I think thay are saying no signs, read about it before you get there.

What do you think of that?

Cheers

FollowupID: 418973