Comment: Gunbarrel Highway

Submitted: Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 15:01

ThreadID: 99428 Views:3142 Replies:5 FollowUps:14

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Gunbarrel Highway

The Gunbarrel Hwy is one of Australia's most famous roads being the first of many desert tracks built by surveyor Len Beadell. Today, this track remains isolated and remote - for experienced desert

Gunbarrel Highway

Section: Treks

The Gunbarrel Hwy is one of Australia's most famous roads being the first of many desert tracks built by surveyor Len Beadell. Today, this track remains isolated and remote - for experienced desert

Haydenw

Hi anyone heading across the Gunbarrel Highway around the 28th of December 2012? I would like to go but need to go with another vehicle.
Regards
Hayden

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Reply By: Haydenw - Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 15:03

Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 15:03

Heading from East to West.
Regards
Hayden

AnswerID: 500115

Reply By: LIFE MEMBER-snailbait - Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 19:24

Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 19:24

hi Haydenw
Do you know what the temp will be at that time of the year it could be 50 deg
I would be surprised if you will get any takers
Terry

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AnswerID: 500135

Follow Up By: member - mazcan - Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 21:23

Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 21:23

hi
it could be 50deg on the eyre highway too but at least it will be a smooth rd with a service station every few hundred k's

FollowupID: 776134

Follow Up By: The other Norm C (WA) - Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 23:24

Monday, Dec 10, 2012 at 23:24

Hi
The temp could also be 30 degress and overcast who knows.
You can but ask the question as he has.Just drive to the conditions of the day.
Norm

FollowupID: 776150

Reply By: Member - Paul B (WA) - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 00:37

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 00:37

Please don't do this at that time of year. It can be just so unrelentingly hot, for days and days on end and you are a very long way from help.

I used to have to travel out to the Ngaanyatjarra communities (Warburton, Warakurna etc) and even our purposely set up vehicles invariably developed problems on the Great Central Road in the hot summer months, let alone on the Gunbarrell, with it's washouts and big holes to add to the corrugations.

I well remember an Aboriginal friend of mine coming upon some people one January near Empress Springs who had essentially resigned themselves to dying, having finished the last of their water several hours earlier after 5 days stranded with the most minor of electronic failures in their extremely well equipped 4WD. My friend was only out there on a search party for one of their own people and had a nurse with them who had rehydrating drips which probably saved the lives of the people stranded.

Good risk management these days says "just DON'T do it" to minimise the risk not just to yourselves, but to any rescuers coming to your aid.

April to October is a great time to see that country, December aint.

AnswerID: 500155

Follow Up By: LIFE MEMBER-snailbait - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 07:14

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 07:14

HI Paul B
i agree with 100% the reason they close the Simpson to travelers is the same people have very well equiped 4WD and have all the wright equipement but the heat is relenting
Just dont do it
Terry

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FollowupID: 776162

Reply By: Member - Ups and Downs - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 08:48

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 08:48

We are be coming a nation of sooks. Scared of our own shadows.
That's all I'll say.

Paul

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AnswerID: 500167

Follow Up By: Aussi Traveller - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 09:15

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 09:15

Yeah to many people look at the glass half empty.

I did the desert twice last year once on the way to the east coast in December, once on the way back in January, to honest it wasn't that bad, I was also set up for 21 days of supplies just in case.

If you are well prepared and 1/2 smart and your glass is 1/2 full I say go for it, If your glass is 1/2 empty just stay at home.

FollowupID: 776172

Follow Up By: Member - Paul B (WA) - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 12:15

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 12:15

It's not a question of being a nation of sooks or glass half full or half empty at all.

It's a question of not being stupid and selfish by putting yourself & other people at unnecessary risk, which is about the most selfish thing you can do.

And the Gunbarrell December/January is putting yourself, your vehicle and other people at immense unnecessary risk when there are 7 or 8 other months of the year when it's so much nicer for everyone.

But that said, it's a free country and people are free to do great things just as they're free to do stupid selfish things. I just hope you don't need rescuing or that any of my good friends have to rescue you if you do.

FollowupID: 776197

Follow Up By: Ozrover - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 16:10

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 16:10

A. T. "I did the desert twice last year once on the way to the east coast in December, once on the way back in January, to honest it wasn't that bad, I was also set up for 21 days of supplies just in case."

Just curious, which Desert was that?

FollowupID: 776217

Follow Up By: Aussi Traveller - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 19:19

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 19:19

We were going to cross the Plenty Hwy from west to east but the Qld border to Bullia was closed, so we went around and down the Birdsville via Mt Isa.
We then went to Haddin Corner and down to the dig tree, from there we went to Harvey Bay (mum & dads place).

On the way back we went from Mackay to Winton then across to Bullia and then across the Plenty Hwy to Alice then we went out around the East & West Macdonalds we then headed north to the Plenty again and then up the Sandover Hwy through the Davernport rangers out to Devils Marbles and then home.

We started our trip on the 7th Dec and finnished on the 30 Jan.

Phil

FollowupID: 776226

Follow Up By: CSeaJay - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 21:37

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 21:37

AT

I did all you describe above, and I did the Gunbarrel

I think you just demonstrated the danger of someone half smart making comments as if he actually knows what he is talking about, for someone might just believe you and do the stupid thing

The Plenty at its worst is nothing, nothing like the gunbarrel at its best

Hayden, please listen to those members who are trying to talk sense. Just don't do it this time of year, a very simple problem any other time can become disasterous this time of year.

FollowupID: 776234

Follow Up By: Aussi Traveller - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 23:22

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 23:22

I did all you describe above, and I did the Gunbarrel.

I think you just demonstrated the danger of someone half smart making comments as if he actually knows what he is talking about, for someone might just believe you and do the stupid thing.

The Plenty at its worst is nothing, nothing like the gunbarrel at its best.

So CSeaJay you assume that the worst track I have done is the Pleny Hwy, you also assume I have never done the Gunbarrel, you also assume I don't actually know what I am talking about and you also assume I am stupid.

Ozrover asked me what desert had I crossed as part of my trip last year, so I told him where I had been, That trip was by no means the hardest or the hottest it was just the trip I did last year with my family.

The point of my original post was that if you are well prepared and 1/2 smart, there is no reason you can't achieve your objective nothing more nothing less.

Just so as you know there is a saying regarding those people that ASSUME. :)

FollowupID: 776246

Follow Up By: CSeaJay - Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012 at 21:32

Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012 at 21:32

True AT
I assumed
But the reason I did was that it is impossible to believe people who have done the hard deserts would even contemplate giving advice to others to do it in December.
Half smart, glass half full, call it what you want, it is also infinitely more dangerous and uncomfortable.

FollowupID: 776306

Reply By: Haydenw - Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 22:32

Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 at 22:32

Hi everyone thanks for your comments, created some heat. I truly thank you all.
Have spoken to a number of people and no permits have been issued for the deserted part of the Gunbarrel.
Change of plan and looking to head down the Great Central and take the David Carnegie Rd to Carnegie Station. Spoken to Carnegie Station and was given this direction as the road is in better shape than the Heather Highway. The manager of the station said the last 200 k's are fine as they just graded it.
I have also spoken to Warburton and the weather has been quite mild and humid compared to your normal year.
Well boys what do you think about the revised itinerary? Feel free to give me a bell on 0417053529.
Hayden

AnswerID: 500203

Follow Up By: Member - Paul B (WA) - Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012 at 01:04

Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012 at 01:04

Have you not read any of the above? What I think about the revised itinerary is that it is madness, but you seem determined to take no notice of people who've experienced it at that time of year.

Go to the coast. And leave the desert until March or April, or preferably May.

FollowupID: 776250

Follow Up By: Aussi Traveller - Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012 at 08:24

Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012 at 08:24

Haydenw.

Sounds great, as I said be prepared and have a safe trip.

FollowupID: 776261

Follow Up By: Norm C (WA) - Thursday, Dec 13, 2012 at 00:48

Thursday, Dec 13, 2012 at 00:48

Enjoy your trip Watch the weather conditions and adjust your
time accordingly Remember there are Station people living thru these
conditions each year as well as communities and road house employees
out there all year round,as long as your careful and well equipped you
should be in for a great trip

FollowupID: 776316

Follow Up By: Tjukayirla Roadhouse - Thursday, Dec 13, 2012 at 14:32

Thursday, Dec 13, 2012 at 14:32

Sounds good, and no problem, depending on how much rain we get.
Not much around here at the moment, just the odd drop, but there are storms around, and Laverton had 30mm yesterday.
So, keep a close eye on the weather before you go, AND along the way.

Cheers
Al

FollowupID: 776334