Simpson in April

JD

Maybe start planning another trek somewhere else. Reckon it will be wet for a while and there may be more rain on the way.

Gday,
Yesterday it was about 38 degrees with 90% humidity in Alice. Today its bloody cold and wet! Top of about 24 degrees!
Dont let that 4mm fool you either, thats all that fell at the airport but we had a lot more rain than that in other areas.
Alice Springs District - West

Coniston 31 Curtin Springs 2 Kulgera 7
Mount Denison 27 Ormiston Gorge 23 Rabbit Flat 14
Tilmouth Well 36 Watarrka 14



Alice Springs District - East

Ali Curung 7 Alice Sps Airport 4 Anzac Oval 7
Arltunga 96 Bond Springs 16 Bond Springs T/Off 8
Charles River 4 Gemtree Park 26 Mount Sir Charles 19
Territory Grape AWS 41 The Garden 72 Undoolya 19
Upper Bond Springs 37 Wigley Gorge 5 Wycliffe Well 37

I personally doubt it will still be raining in 3 weeks but who would have believed we would be wearing jumpers today?
Good luck
Cheers

Willem and I seem to agree on a lot of stuff and this is no exception.

Plan your alternate trip now. Watch the weather www.bom.gov .au is a good place to do that. If there is no more rain and the wind gets up it may dry out, otherwise go with plan B

When we went up the Cape in 99 it was very wet very late. We kept hoping it would dry out, thankfully it did, but not before we had become quite dejected about our prospects.

We sat in the CP in Cairns looking at maps realising we were in the wrong place to go anywhere else. If we had planned an alternate before we left home we could have been much better placed if the Cape had been a no go.

I don't know where you are coming from JD but there are options between the Simpson and most major centres. Some of these are quite close to the Desert so you could easily divert if you get to the area and find it is still wet.

Duncs

JD we are in much the same boat as we planned to leave Birdsville on the 26th of April. The last bulletin on the SA parks website was posted on 13th Mar and says QAA line is closed. Longreach office of Qld Nat Parks was contacted last week and we were told that if no more rain falls in the catchment of Eyre Creek it should be open by the time we want to go. I find the lack of updates on the govermant sites frustrating and it can't be that difficult to do more regularly and before the replies about no changes occur, I still think that an update once a week is fine. Not the least of the problems is folks being tied down to approved leave and the difficulty of changing dates. not a problem for us oldies but some of our group still making a living.
Travel safely and well.

The best outback trips we've had are just after rain. It will be a great time to go whether Eyre Creek is closed or not. A loop through the desert after rain sounds appealing to me! The wildlife are active, the vegetation is fresh, and the sand is firm, so travelling is easier. And the crowds are not there.

If the Eyre Creek bypass track is open by then, then definitely do it. It takes you up to Goonamillera waterhole which was teeming with birdlife when it had water a few years back when we were there.

If roads are closed by further rain, its usually a great time to visit central australia, as theres plenty of water around.

Hi JD,

Spoke with SA rangers this morning. Lastest news from Birdsville side of the desert is that Eyre Creek is passable/fordable at Gooamillera Crossing 30-35 km north of QAA line. The rangers from Birdsville are coming out to Knolls on the QAA line tomorrow and will be crossing Eyre Creek. Having seen the crossing a month ago, I seems that all will be well for the season with an Easter start. Warburton Creek will take longer to clear I suspect, but no hard information.

Regards
Ian@Mt Dare

meant to say earlier, thanks all.

PS Phil, you've enthused the group. As in, 'stuff the conditions let's go anyway' !

PSS Hope to see you up there Beachbum.

JD

Just spoke to the Birdsville info center & they say the simpson is open via the bypass road for Eyre Crk.
Also the only track from Innamincka to Birdsville ATM is via Planet Downs

Allan

Gentleman

I wonder when the official word will be posted ill be leaving on the 26 April to travel out that way with 3 mates just hope it doesn't rain again

Glenn...