Simpson crossing

Question!!!
Can the main Simpson tracks still be regarded as "remote" with the amount of traffic crossing during the season these days??

Geez, Chill out mate, sounds like you need another break after going to the simpson.
Aren't these trips suppose to be enjoyed, maybe they were enjoying themselves, chill

regards Seven.

Hi John
I know from where you are coming from. The scenario is you have a head on collision with someone on a dune crest, as the other vehicle did not have a sand flag(I would like a dollar for every vehicle that I have seen like that, no flag or even UHF Radio). Neither parties have HF or Sat phone?

You have to wait for 2 or 3 hours for another vehicle to come along, in the hope that they have communications with the outside world. In the mean time, the person with internal injuries dies.
If you don't call this remote, then what is it.

We all have to be responsible for our own actions and how many times do you hear comments of irresponsible 4X4 drivers.

Cheers

Stephen

Good on ya! Your post was really last straw to break camel back – I cannot find mate with second vehicle to cross Simpson and was a bit hesitated to do it in one vehicle. Your post truly convinces me that if I will not be able to find someone (still preferable option) then I should go just with my wife (subject to proper preparation of course). What do you recon is better time May or June?
Cheers.

Hey mate. I've only done it East to West the once and we did it in September and my only comment is that we did it too late in the year as it was too hot to be comfortable to explore much. I do know that Voxson (EO member in SA) has done the crossing both ways many times and at different times of the year so perhaps drop him a member message..
Not sure if it helps you but I have a 4.2 GU and we did French line, we carried one jerry and we got to Mt Dare with about 10-15L left in the tank and thats without doing many detours etc. (no trailer)Mya dvice re time of the year is to go at the coolest time and ideally just after a bit if rain (not that you can plan ahead for that I guess)
Anyway mate.. Have a great time, on your own or with another it will be awesome..

Thanks for replay. Fuel not an issue – I have 260L capacity. I think we settle on second half of June.
Cheers.

I just did east to west and I reckon thats by far the best way at the moment due to better run-up on the east side. West sides were all VERY scolloped out.

Mate, I think your right.. you've been putting it off for too long. I did it with my wife last year and it was great. The most difficult thing we had to do was reverse and try 1 sandhill a second time becuase I bauked and din't keep my momentum up around a bit of a twiston a sandhill. its 1/2nd gear most of the way but the reason it's 'difficult' is because it's remote. It is easier than driving the sand dunes on Stockton beach or Robe. Sounds like you have the background to do it.. all you need is the gear and know how to get yourself outif you get stuck in the sand, satke a tyre etc. It is really not a hard trip.
i sayit's like walkig along a plank. when it's 1ft off the ground 90% of people can do it with thier eyes closed.. put a bit of risk in t6o it (even though you can mitigate this) and suddenly the same task is so much "harder" I say go for it. Be prepared, but go for it. you will enjoy I am sure.

Shane

You forgot to tell them "the 3 blokes in the troopy " were bloody great blokes and we all had very sharp axes lol

Glenn

Gossy,

You pass my convoy heading to Birdsville with the injured bike rider.

The chatter on ch10 is getting to the stage that it is becoming dangerous.
One convoy had ch10 tired up most of the time. She thought she was doing the right thing.
It was there first crossing and they also had trailers. Just about ever dune a trailer in there convoy would get stuck and would broadcast that fact. They would then use ch10 to assist the driver in backing down the dune.
Another convoy could not contact them as there was no break in the transmission.

I hope the bike rider was OK with the broken arm, it could not have been a good trip into Birdsville for him.

Wayne

Hey Wayne,

I crossed a few weeks ago and stopped on the WAA line about 10 km from AAK track to help a guy dissasemble a motor bike and load it into his truck. He told me that he had stashed the bike in some brush after he broke his arm a couple of months ago and had only just recovered enough to come back and get his bike. He had an older guy (think it was his father in law) and his teen age son with him but the bike was still a bit to heavy for them to lift into his 100 series. The guy's arm has healed ok but he didn't have much strength yet. Bike seemed to be undamaged.

I agree with your comments about chatter on Ch 10. Had one guy giving an almost non stop comentary about every bump in the track to a mate in a following vehicle. Another vehicle wanted to know exactly where I was when I spoke to them on ch 10, they were using a gps and told me that they were 23.xxx km from a certain point and seemed to expect me to immediately relate that to my position comming the other way !

Its a small world. Yes that was the same guy! Arm healing OK to the extent that he is back riding the bike again (wife not happy about it!).
Sorry for the late answer but been on leave for 1 week.

Hi again Gossy, Yes, small world alright. even in the middle of the Simpson someone will see what you are up to and tell the rest of the world :-))

If you are in contact with the guy that broke his arm say hi from me. We were traveling alone but passed more vehicles in the Simpson then we did on many other 'normal' tracks in that part of the world. 4wd hire companies in Alice recomend the Old Andado road to Mt Dare as a great drive for tourists - and it is, but we only saw one other vehicle in two days where as we passed at least 4 vehicles each day in the Simpson.

I agree with you, Craig

Having done 7 treks to date, in, across and around the Simpson, west to east, east to west, north to south and south to the centre, towing and not towing, I only concentrate on what I am doing and not what other people are up to.

This year I only came across two groups and and two solo drivers and thought that the desert tracks were quite quiet. It also helps if you travel outside of school holiday periods.

Channel 10 becomes too noisy with other users seemingly unaware that others have to listen their inane chatter. I keep the radio on scan with the volume down. My 5 metre flag pole usually warns others and I have not had any issues over the years with close calls with other vehicles.

I usually stop and chat to everyone I pass. Some drive past without lowering their window or without acknowledgement but that is their problem...lol

Over the years I have experienced 2 mechanical failures in the Simpson and 1 on the CSR which I have been able to repair myself. As with all bush travel...go prepared and use common sense. The more you travel the better equipped you are.

I have stated in my latest article on my website that this year was my last trek to the popular areas of the Simpson. Some of the tracks are too rough being scalloped out by the sheer volume of traffic.

Still have to do the Hay River trek and the Madigan Line to complete the series. Maybe next year!!!

Cheers

The Madigan is probably at the point now where the French Line was back in the late 70's with traffic numbers. Rarely see many out there & everyone that does stops for a chat. Like you I aim to go slightly off season to miss the crowds.
As for channel 10 we never talk on it, instead leaving a handheld tuned to that frequency in case. Have been bagged on 2 occations for talking on other channels but really the talk on 10 can get pretty trashy just as you get in the city & they dont need another dozen cars of our convoy adding to the chatter. Was a good idea when it was introduced but over the busy periods now so many are talking that you dont know if they are coming or going anyway.
ps: Passing near your place next week Willem on our way to Argadells with lcool.
Cheers Craig............

Well you had better drop in for a cuppa then.

I will email you my addy if you can drop in.

Cheers