travel the desert

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 18, 2003 at 22:16

ThreadID: 7304 Views:1914 Replies:3 FollowUps:4

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WOMBAT

Hi anyone . Has any one out there traveled from the Eagle highway (Warri site)cross country to the calvert ranges ? would love some trip notes please
wombat

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Reply By: lindsay - Friday, Sep 19, 2003 at 07:58

Reply By: Member - Tim Nivo - Saturday, Sep 20, 2003 at 11:36

Saturday, Sep 20, 2003 at 11:36

G,day Wombat. I too have been looking at doing this trip, since last year when I followed the track east from the calverts last year for a few k's. I presume this track goes to yowyungoo gorge and constance headland. The dunes were huge, and as I was travelling solo, discretion was the better part of valour and I turned back. I remember reading in a magazine that some friends of Neil Cocks on a Desert Discovery group camped at the warri site, and went cross country to constance headland, so it has been done. If you were looking for another vehicle to accompany you, I might be available next year (better half may have other ideas!)
Keep me informed if you like. tim@mirani.org

AnswerID: 31561

Follow Up By: Willie - Saturday, Sep 20, 2003 at 20:53

Saturday, Sep 20, 2003 at 20:53

Hi Tim
Please tell me which part of the country you are talking about as I cannot find references to these places on my Hema road map.
Cheers
WillieNever a dull moment

FollowupID: 22521

Follow Up By: Member - Tim Nivo - Sunday, Sep 21, 2003 at 16:49

Sunday, Sep 21, 2003 at 16:49

G'day Willie. Calvert range is about 38km east of canning stock route. Turnoff is between well 16 and durba springs. On the hema desert tracks north west sheet map a track is shown as "continuing east" from the calvert range. This is the one I followed for about 10km, and appears to head towards yowyungoo gorge etc. These are also marked on the hema deserts maps, and are approximately 45km east south east of the calvert. From there it would be approximately 130km ese cross country to the warri site which is just off the eagle highway (also known as the david carnegie rd). Hope this helps. Tim

FollowupID: 22556

Follow Up By: Willie - Sunday, Sep 21, 2003 at 18:58

Sunday, Sep 21, 2003 at 18:58

G'day Tim,

Thanks for that info and you have stirred my grey matter as I realise I had heard of it before.

I did a solo trip off Well 42 to Helena Spring in 1994 with my wife as passenger. We followed a faint track that Peter Vernon made in 1992 by dragging a grader blade of sorts behind his truck. The distance was about 90km and one dune gave us a lot of trouble on the return journey. We were driving a 1979 FJ55 Landcruiser. We both thought that the scenery was magnificent. Helena Spring was named after David Carnegie's sister and he called it the 'Diamond of the Desert'. Conjuring up magical thoughts of the place in my mind I was a tad disappointed to find a dried up Tea tree swamp. I should have known better. I dug the spring out and the water was a bit brackish. There is a photo of Helena Spring in my Canning Stock Route article on my web site www.kempen.id.au

If anyone is interested in doing a trip out to the Warri Site and need another vehicle I would like to participate.

Cheers,

WillieNever a dull moment

FollowupID: 22561