Simpson Desert Feedback

Submitted: Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 18:12

ThreadID: 80478 Views:6081 Replies:6 FollowUps:19

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Simpson Desert

The Simpson Desert can be crossed via the French Line, WAA line or Rig Road. This trek provides a route using a combination of all 3 routes.

Simpson Desert

Section: Treks

The Simpson Desert can be crossed via the French Line, WAA line or Rig Road. This trek provides a route using a combination of all 3 routes.

Member - Paul P (NSW)

Has anyone come back from the Simpson in the last week or bit? Interested in the conditions since Scrubbly's return.

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Reply By: Member - Scrubby (VIC) - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 18:46

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 18:46

G`day Paul,
Have a look at post 80455, Jeff O`s 200 series is on a truck that is bogged towards Innaminka from Birdsville somewhere.
I seen somewhere that the area has had another 75mm of rain since my return.

Regards,

Scrubby.

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Follow Up By: Member - Paul P (NSW) - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 19:03

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 19:03

Thanks Scrubby...I'll have a look. I'll see what I can get from Bom.gov's numbers as well but nothing beats someone who has just returned.

Over the last few weeks there were quite few coming back but haven't seen any posts recently.

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Follow Up By: Member - Paul P (NSW) - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 19:18

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 19:18

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Follow Up By: oztours - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 08:51

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 08:51

Hi Paul,

Where abouts on BOM do you get that information?

:) Thanks

Sarah

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Follow Up By: Member - Paul P (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 20:23

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 20:23

Hi Sarah,

go here Bom weather as an example, just click on a location like Marree and you can get the last 72 hours.

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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 19:02

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 19:02

Hi Paul

We had planned on leaving on Wednesday, but the desert has had around 6" of rain in the last 3 weeks and it is very boggy out there. The tracks were closed for two days last week, but all advise from both Mt Dare and Birdsville is not travel at the very moment, even though people are still heading out and getting bogged.

We are ducking over to WA instead and doing the Anne Beadell and when we get to Coober Pedy in just over 2 weeks time, will see what the desert is like. Any further rain and we have no intentions of crossing, as mud driving for that distance and solo is no fun.

Cheers

Stephen

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 20:49

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 20:49

The Simpson is still wet in places & boggy in some claypans.

Dave just got back with no real problems.

An American gent just went out in a rather large Unimog camper, he's tagging along with a group that's crossing, hope he doesn't get that thing bogged!!

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 20:54

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 20:54

Also had a group in Chaimberlan tractors just go out to cross tha Simpson!

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Follow Up By: Member - Paul P (NSW) - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 20:56

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 20:56

Thanks Jeff. So sounds like the Simpson may still be doable but the top half of the Birdsville sounds like a mess at the momemt.

May change my route and cross the Simpson from west to east if it's passable and not too wet. Don't care a great deal for mud and bogs.

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 21:08

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 21:08

I'm pretty much over mud, just had to pull two vehicles out of a bog hole that was passable until the tractors went through!!

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 21:24

Monday, Aug 02, 2010 at 21:24

Hi Jeff
I spoke with you in person last week. When I rang today, I spoke to another chap and was told that it had not rained for 2 day, was still very sticky out there and to delay any trips for as long as possible, providing that it does not rain in the near future again.

Cheers

Stephen

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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 01:51

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 01:51

Thanks for the feed back guys, it is less than three weeks before we leave, it is increasingly looking more like we might miss the Simpson. Hope it dries out enough for us in that time. Not overly keen on bogging in mud myself, had enough of that when I was a kid on the farm. LOL

Cheers

Deanna

Simba, our much missed baby.

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 08:16

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 08:16

Hi Deanna
Providing that they do not get any more rain, you should be able to hit the desert in what will only be described as one of the best seasons on record. When I spoke with Mt Dare yesterday, they had fine skies and nice warm weather, perfect for drying the desert out and bringing out the wild flowers.

Have a safe trip.

Cheers

Stephen

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 10:53

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 10:53

Hi guys,

The desert is passable with no rain in the immediate future, we've got a couple of new guys working at the moment so if you need more info' then ask for Dave, Karen or myself.

or go to www.mtdare.com.au

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Follow Up By: Member - Paul P (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 20:35

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 20:35

Jeff, hope to see you in about week :-) Keep the rain away until after I pass through will you!

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Follow Up By: Luke2 - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 21:10

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 21:10

it's also worth ringing Bronwyn and Peter at Birdsville Roadhouse. Peter's in and out of the Simpson every few days. I was in the Simpson on two trips in June and July and it was quite okay but lots of people were getting scared away by media reports of closures when in fact lots of tracks were open. get it from the horse's mouth and call either Mt Dare and/or Birdsville Roadhouse and base your decision on facts and not second or third hand rumour.

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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 21:41

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 21:41

Hi Jeff
I tried to give you a call today but something happened to the call. When I rang back I got Dave, so that was great. I will give you a call before we leave Laverton to check on the current conditions out in the Simpson. Like Dave said, fine and warm weather and a couple of weeks and the conditions should have dried things out a little.

Cheers

Stephen

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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 21:54

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 21:54

Thanks so much for the feedback Stephen and others. Well that built my hopes back up, I am so looking forward to the Simpson and the ferry ride. I am getting the video camera out of moth balls and hope I can take some video out there.

Cheers

getting very excited Deanna

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Follow Up By: Mog Heaven - Thursday, Aug 19, 2010 at 06:03

Thursday, Aug 19, 2010 at 06:03

Image Could Not Be FoundJeff,
The Unimog made it across with flying colors. I took the French line and traveled with the tractor group. Big Red was no problem from either direction. Some of the clay pans were a little wet, but not a big drama.
Cheers
Ron

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Thursday, Aug 19, 2010 at 22:39

Thursday, Aug 19, 2010 at 22:39

Geeze i'm glad you didn't get that thing bogged, good to hear that you had a good trip!!

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Reply By: Flynnie - Friday, Aug 06, 2010 at 22:27

Friday, Aug 06, 2010 at 22:27

Just back

Was wet muddy and difficult. Bogged 3 times. Maxtrax worked twice the other required a winch. It was drying up and unless there has been more rain it should be OK soon if it is not already.

Conditions can change suddenly with rain so I would check with Mt Dare for the latest.

Flynnie

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Follow Up By: Member - Paul P (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 07, 2010 at 18:50

Saturday, Aug 07, 2010 at 18:50

Thanks Flynnie

Heading that way Monday morning so hope it comes good

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Reply By: Barra-2 - Tuesday, Aug 10, 2010 at 13:39

Tuesday, Aug 10, 2010 at 13:39

We were there July 27 to Aug 1, 4 nights of pouring rain, but made it through. 2 Cars got bogged on the Lake Thomas & Poeppel

It's not a desert at the moment.

Big Red

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Reply By: Member - Prickle (SA) - Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010 at 21:26

Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010 at 21:26

Well we are back from our 18 month planning for crossing the Simpson. Due to heavy rain etc, the feedback that we were getting of tracks, tractor and camper crossings, sounded like a lot of damage, we decided not to cross and went to Alice S instead, BUT not happy "Jan".

Oh the tractors (and they were towing substantial trailers) took off from Oodnadatta (I have pics) when the signs said that the track was closed. One driver was heard to say, "well who is going to stop us".

This same gentleman was heard on the ABC to say that they had to take more than 1 or 2 tries to get over more than one sandhill. Inconsiderate??

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Tractors, trailers ???

Russ

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Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Thursday, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:00

Thursday, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:00

Well a friend of mine is out there ATM he is backup for his son who is walking across for "fun"
Apparently they are on the French line and he walked 60km yesterday so it must be reasonable going.

His wife was telling me this last night after his sked call.

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