Frome Creek Water Crossing

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 23:13
ThreadID: 80159 Views:3882 Replies:4 FollowUps:15
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What a great crossing of Frome Creek just outside of Marree i did today.
Of all the creek crossings i have done all around the country i must admit that this measured up.
It was pretty cool of all the locals coming out to lend their support.
Anyone else have an opinion that has crossed it lately?
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Reply By: WillyWish - Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 08:25

Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 08:25
So where are the photos??
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 09:05

Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 09:05
Hi Voxson
When I was speaking with Etadunna Station on Friday morning, Patsy had left and was heading south. They said that she will try and get through, but what they were hearing was that is was rising very quickly. I have not heard if she made it or not.

Cheers

Stephen
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Follow Up By: Fab72 - Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 12:56

Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 12:56
Stephen where abouts is the Frome Creek crossing? Is it on the main Birdsville Track?

The other week when I was up there, the only crossing that had water in it (other than the Cooper) was near Clayton Homestead and that was just a puddle.

Have I missed something?

Fab.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 14:20

Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 14:20
Hi Fab
Last week many southern areas of the Birdsville Track received lots of rain. On the 13th July the actual rain measured in Marree was 37mm with many stations recording more than that. All that local rain has made a real mess of the Birdsville Track and all local water courses were flowing quite well.

When you went up the Track when you did, you would have passed through a very small such water course with a 2 metre water depth gauge in the creek as you drive through, around 10 kilometres north of Marree. This is the River Frome and from reports that I was hearing it was resembling a mini Cooper Crossing. When Patsy left to head south on Friday there were some doubts if she would get through as it was still rising and getting quite deep.

Cheers

Stephen
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Follow Up By: Teraa - Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 20:22

Monday, Jul 19, 2010 at 20:22
I wonder if it will finally make it to the Lake it has tried 1/2 doz. times this year and just missed out if it does it will mean every creek and river has run into the Lake this year. Can we keep this updated I gotta drive through soon but not on my quad. lol
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Follow Up By: Fab72 - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 09:37

Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 09:37
Thanks Stephen. I didn't realise they had had so much rain up there.
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Follow Up By: Teraa - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 11:02

Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 11:02
There was further isolated showers last night and it's looking cranky again today I am not sure how widespread it was but getting a little wary of my trip back.
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Follow Up By: Fab72 - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 12:41

Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 12:41
I hear ya Teraa. I was a bit disappointed a couple of weeks back to see the area up north so green. Good for the pastorlists but not so good for those who like the arid zones like myself.

Have a safe trip back.

Fab.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 13:54

Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 13:54
Hi Teraa
Elders site has Marree as 3mm Yesterday. What about where you (I know where you are) how much rain did you measure. It sounds like the track will be sticky for a few more days. Has the Cooper risen like they expected at the ferry site or is it still the same.

Cheers

Stephen
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Follow Up By: Teraa - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 17:00

Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 17:00
Got about the same but more in the outer very isolated but variable in how much. I won't know about the ferry until Friday lunchtime. Not looking forward to the roads on what I have heard. But it's great to see the country so revitalised, looking forward to the wildflowers. Give you a cooee Sat. send u some photos if you like. It's overcast again today but the cloud is high and nothing predicted, hopefully it will stave off until I make it back.
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Follow Up By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:12

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:12
Stephen, we nearly made a visit to your town the other day, but another little job to be done, made a necessity to call to Adelaide, so we went to the Coonawarra instead. I would have phoned.

I made a comment elsewhere abut our Frome River crossing.

We actually talked with Scrubcat in Marree for a while earlier in the day.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:36

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:36
Hi John and Heather
It would have been a real sight to see all that water. You should put a few pictures up. We are up that way again in a few weeks, so we hope that the water has gone by then. We are taking the kayak again, so I might have to use that instead. LOL

Take care and best Regards

Stephen and Fiona
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Follow Up By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:56

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:56
Stephen and Fiona, Nick and family took our gear up North but believe me, I would loved to have taken my Kayak. The Finke would have been a fantastic river run in my white water kayak, but then helmet, buoyancy vest, spray deck and paddle would have been extra to carry. Even the Todd was flowing over the causeways. Fun, fun, fun it would have been.
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Reply By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:07

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:07
Voxson, we went through on Sunday when the gauge was reading 0.6m and the road we believe was lower with the traffic wear and the water close on 0.75m along the side of the car and up to the top of the solid part of the bullbar. Heather took pictures on the way back and we thought a little higher again. No pictures of cars in the flow though. Did the motorbike and side car go through? I took a photo of them too

The guy who went through without a snorkel must have regretted it, I think with the green Rodeo. Bit of a digestion problem I understand.

We actually went through the Hale River, East of The Alice the week before and although not quite as deep was flowing faster, the next day, barely a trickle
AnswerID: 424818

Follow Up By: Voxson - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:46

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:46
I was there when that Jackaroo got swamped....
I couldnt believe how inacurate that depth gauge was.

They dont have to rely on it very often so we can forgive them for the ill advice cant we ??? hahaha...
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Reply By: Voxson - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:40

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:40
The Frome is about 6kms on the Northern side of Marree..
Because of the depth of this creek/river and also the shear surprise of this crossing even being there in an un-normal fashion it has made me change my view on snorkels.....
My opinion is to prepared for almost anything and i would have told someone to not reallly worry about a snorkel for any outback travel away from the coast.........
But now i would say if you are a traveller then go get one....
I know you can tarp up also but a well fitted snorkel is also good piece of mind,,,,,,actually i generally tarp up for most crossings which are above bumper height because of the fan versus radiator syndrome....
Two 100 series suffered that fate this year in Elizabeth Creek on the road to Kingfisher Camp because of no tarp and too fast...

Here are some photos of Frome Creek last Sunday.........Image Could Not Be Found
Image Could Not Be Found
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AnswerID: 424822

Follow Up By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:51

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 21:51
That looks scarier than I remember and I didn't have it tarped. We didn't see a front view of anything. Were you beside the road when the Kimberley Karavan went along?
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Follow Up By: Voxson - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 22:08

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 22:08
John,

There were so many people lining up to have a crack i cant remember anything about the cars.

I was probably there when you were because i saw that Jack get drowned.

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Follow Up By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 22:24

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 at 22:24
We just saw the Jack afterwards with a long lineup of cars. You may have gone by then.
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