Simpson Desert
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 19:26
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Wilko (Parkes NSW)
Hi all,
I'm planning on another desert sojourn. If it doesnt get anymore rain between now and August, will the simpson
rig road be open for business?
Cheers Wilko
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 19:39
Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 19:39
Hi Wilko
If that is the case, it should be a great trip. That is a long time off and all you would need is a month of fine weather before your trip and there should be no problems. Keep a close eye on desert conditions during June and July and that will give you some indications on what it could be like out there..
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 20:17
Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 20:17
Thanks Stephen,
Cheers Wilko
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Reply By: Crackles - Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 19:50
Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 19:50
Wilko it's very likely the Rig Rd will be open from the Mokari
airstrip to the Lone Gum in August. The remaining section to the
Birdsville Track via the
Warburton crossing is highly unlikely to have dried sufficiently by then and much more water is yet to arrive. Going on previous years the Eastern half probably wont open at all this season again.
Cheers Craig..........
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Follow Up By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 20:18
Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 20:18
Thanks Craig,
Cheers Wilko
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Reply By: Teraa - Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 21:25
Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 21:25
Watch that cyclone come low in WA we get alot of rain from over that way.
But this year it's been coming from everywhere so you just don't know.
The desert will be ,
well worth a trip this year. No
wildflowers yet but some pigface but little more rain and the cold that we have now should be the makings of some lovely
wildflowers.
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Follow Up By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 07:24
Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 07:24
Thanks Teraa,
I'll have to watch the skies closely, The desert will certainly be a lot different from my other trips Will be good to see if the
wildflowers come out to play.
Cheers Wilko
FollowupID:
722746
Reply By: vk1dx - Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 09:39
Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 09:39
Wilko
I read somewhere either on this
forum or the 4wdaction one that the
Warburton Crossing will not be opened this year. I only mention this because you referred to the
Rig Road. The crossing is a way in or out of the desert if you want to use the
Rig Road.
Unfortunately I cannot locate the statement.
We also wanted to do the Simpson drive but on two parts into the Simpson via
Birdsville and out on K1 south to
home via the eastern side of Lake Eyre. Then a second trip in to the Simpson on the
Rig Road and
home via a loop through
Chambers Pillar and the western side of Lake Eyre. But that is impossible now with the crossing closed.
Sorry I cannot point you at the closed all year post.
Phil
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 13:23
Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 13:23
This will be the third year in a row that the
Warburton crossing is closed & will not open again this year.
You can go from the
rig road up the K1 line, or the Knolls or Erebena tracks.
Have a look at the roads report section on this site, it is updated as soon as we have any information.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 13:43
Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 13:43
I am aware of that Jeff.
We were trying to do two loop drives.
Trip one.
Canberra, Cameron's Corner, Innaminka,
Birdsville and all between, then to the eastern half of the Simpson and south out of the Simpson through
Warburton Crossing, across to the Strzelecki and
home to
Canberra via part of the Flinders and
Broken Hill.
Trip two.
Canberra to
Menindee,
Broken Hill, Flinders up the
Birdsville Track to
Warburton Crossing and into the Simpson and out via Dalhousie, Mount dare (if you let us) to Chamber Pillar and the
home via
Oodnadatta Track,
Oodnadatta and down to
Adelaide (see son) and
home via the coast.
It also was not important which tracks we used in the Simpson. I have a bucket list item to see the Simpson. Not enough time to worry about driving ALL the tracks. Unfortunately the docs cannot give me a time frame.
But with
Warburton Crossing closed those two trips are shot to pieces. Oh
well we shall see what happens in July.
Thanks
Phil
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 15:38
Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 15:38
vk1dx,
Can't help out with the
Warburton crossing, but if there is anything else you need just sing out eh!
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 18:31
Monday, Apr 04, 2011 at 18:31
Billiant!!!!
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