Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Dear All,
I am interested in forming a group of like minded individuals who would like to return from the PP GTG across the Simpson Desert. Stan, lc120_man , is organising the crossing to the PP GTG and has a tread in this part of the forum.
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=2846&start=60&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
We would like to have four or five units with us for safety reasons but it would be possible to have more although we may have to divide into smaller groups of this number for efficient travel. It is probably time to start to talk about this now as the time will pass quickly.

The steps as I see it are:
Individuals to examine their schedules for after the PP GTG or anyone who wishes to just do this crossing;
Examine the list of necessary equipment - see Stans crossing posts
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=2846&start=60&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Converse with members re routes timing etc
Commit
GO!

Regards
Martin

Stan may still be interested in this idea as he was some time ago when he started the above mentioned tread.

Lets see what we can drum up.

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Has this progressed? Any dates decided or proposed?

Given the GTG 'Tour' ends at Erldunda on July 11th, then I'm assuming a return crossing would continue on from there?

hoping to join in on one of the crossings but dependant on when father-in-law can go, so need likely dates to see if either is possible.

Cheers, Nige

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Nige,
As I understand the dates for the PP GTG it is from the Sat 4th July to Sat 11th July. To get the ball rolling I am prepared to suggest that the return across the Simpson could begin from Monday 13th july. In this way it would be possible for those having completed the PP GTG to stock up for the journey back and rest, deliver back hired campers, etc. It also gives me enough time, just, to come over after finishing school in NSW on Friday. The meeting point could be a place on the highway. Suggestions?

1st suggestion: Monday 13th July beginning but open to Tuesday as well.

We would need to decide on duration and route. I don't want to scream over the desert but to take time to experience it. If there are some that merely wish to get back via that route quickly, then perhaps they could form a travelling group. Time could be four to five days, therefore the route could be other than straight over the Dunes. I am very open to suggestion here, even from those who can not come but have experience of various crossing routes. Perhaps those who have gone over the desert to the PP GTG would like to come back via a different route.

2nd suggestion: Duration Five days,

3rd suggestion: Variety of tracks used.

How about that for some beginning ideas?

Regards
Martin.

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

excellent! I have no experience in the matter so will watch this thread with interest. Guess it will let people start making a commitment as I've seen quite a few 'interested in return crossing' comments.

My plans are like jelly when you pour it into the bowl... nowhere set! I've got to wait for my father-in-laws decision about coming and my wife's to decide if she wants to come, which means the kids will be coming and that means going on the way! Not sure we will actually make it to GTG either... arrggh!

Cheers, Nige

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Here is a suggestion from the web, it is very similar to the journey across only in reverse. There are some differences, eg, some Rig Road. I am looking for views from any experienced desert travelers.

Driving Directions
Time Distance Direction

Dalhousie Springs to Lookout 19.35 km E 86° 21 min
Lookout to Freeth Junction 30.94 km E 73° 32 min
Freeth Junction to Purnie Bore 18.66 km E 70° 21 min
Purnie Bore to French Line & Rig Road 27.68 km E 78° 35 min
French Line & Rig Road to Mokari Oil Well & Airstrip 12.3 km SE 149° 13 min
Mokari Oil Well & Airstrip to WAA Line & Glen Joyce Oil Well Access 8.15 km E 90° 12 min
WAA Line & Glen Joyce Oil Well Access to Georges Corner, WAA Line & Rig Road 27.51 km E 91° 46 min
Georges Corner, WAA Line & Rig Road to WAA Line & Rig Road 0.24 km E 70° 3 min
WAA Line & Rig Road to WAA Line & Colson Track 2.08 km E 90° 3 min
WAA Line & Colson Track to Colson Track & Oolarinna Oil Well Access 10.21 km N 339° 18 min
Colson Track & Oolarinna Oil Well Access to French Line & Colson Tk 9.78 km N 340° 18 min
French Line & Colson Tk to French Line & Erabena Tk 52.37 km E 79° 2 hr 8 min
French Line & Erabena Tk to WAA Line & Erabena Tk 30.43 km S 163° 51 min
WAA Line & Erabena Tk to Rig Road & Erabena Tk 11.98 km S 165° 20 min
Rig Road & Erabena Tk to Lone Gum Tree 7.25 km S 168° 11 min
Lone Gum Tree to Rig Road & Erabena Tk 7.25 km N 348° 11 min
Rig Road & Erabena Tk to WAA Line & Erabena Tk 11.98 km N 345° 20 min
WAA Line & Erabena Tk to WAA Line & Knolls Tk 29.88 km E 90° 1 hr 27 min
WAA Line & Knolls Tk to Approdinna Attora Knolls 30.61 km N 354° 1 hr 15 min
Approdinna Attora Knolls to French Line & Knolls Tk 3.86 km N 346° 10 min
French Line & Knolls Tk to French Line & Thomas Track 14.08 km E 85° 38 min
French Line & Thomas Track to Poeppel Corner 26.02 km E 83° 1 hr 10 min
Poeppel Corner to QAA Line & French Line Access 18.71 km N 340° 29 min
QAA Line & French Line Access to QAA Line & K1 Line 3.32 km E 96° 9 min
QAA Line & K1 Line to Narrow-leafed Hop Bush, QAA Line 9.13 km E 95° 19 min
Narrow-leafed Hop Bush, QAA Line to Gypcrete Interdunes, QAA Line 10.14 km E 97° 22 min
Gypcrete Interdunes, QAA Line to Georgina Gidgee Interdunes, QAA Line 34.86 km E 95° 55 min
Georgina Gidgee Interdunes, QAA Line to Spinifex Dune, QAA Line 17.69 km E 94° 26 min
Spinifex Dune, QAA Line to Simpson Desert NP East Boundary 2.11 km E 94° 3 min
Simpson Desert NP East Boundary to QAA Line & Annandale Ruins Access 16.42 km E 84° 27 min
QAA Line & Annandale Ruins Access to Eyre Creek, QAA Line 0.12 km E 98°
Eyre Creek, QAA Line to Big Red 18.72 km E 84° 28 min
Big Red to Birdsville 43.51 km E 94° 1 hr 1 min

Dalhousie Springs to Birdsville 567.35 km 16 hr 20 min

Regards
Martin

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Here is a little more detail for each day, however, it is a moveable feast at this point and even when we are crossing although the number of days out will have to be agreed before leaving and kept to. I have mapped out five days with one day at Dalhousie waiting for everyone to arrive but it is possible to combine some days and shorten the crossing to change the route to that effect as well, if that is the desire. I am able to arrive at Dalhousie on the Monday although it would be better if it was the Tuesday as it would take off the pressure to journey 2000 kms in two days! But I am very keen to do the crossing so I will make it if others are on a tighter time frame. Below is the thinking so far. You will see the distance, tracks taken, the direction and gps position. each day i have put a daily total. So it is all over the place but the forum does not take tables. The route is off ExplorerOz for those researching.

Meet at Dalhousie Springs

Day One
Dalhousie Springs to Lookout 19.35 km E 86° 21 min
Lookout to Freeth Junction 30.94 km E 73° 32 min
Freeth Junction to Purnie Bore 18.66 km E 70° 21 min
Purnie Bore to French Line & Rig Road 27.68 km E 78° 35 min
Total 96.63 km

Day Two
French Line & Rig Road to Mokari Oil Well & Airstrip 12.3 km SE 149° 13 min
Mokari Oil Well & Airstrip to WAA Line & Glen Joyce Oil Well Access 8.15 km E 90° 12 min
WAA Line & Glen Joyce Oil Well Access to Georges Corner, WAA Line & Rig Road 27.51 km E 91° 46 min
Georges Corner, WAA Line & Rig Road to WAA Line & Rig Road 0.24 km E 70° 3 min
WAA Line & Rig Road to WAA Line & Colson Track 2.08 km E 90° 3 min
WAA Line & Colson Track to Colson Track & Oolarinna Oil Well Access 10.21 km N 339° 18 min
Colson Track & Oolarinna Oil Well Access to French Line & Colson Tk 9.78 km N 340° 18 min
Daily Total 70.27 km

Day Three
French Line & Colson Tk to French Line & Erabena Tk 52.37 km E 79° 2 hr 8 min
French Line & Erabena Tk to WAA Line & Erabena Tk 30.43 km S 163° 51 min
WAA Line & Erabena Tk to Rig Road & Erabena Tk 11.98 km S 165° 20 min
Rig Road & Erabena Tk to Lone Gum Tree 7.25 km S 168° 11 min
Daily Total 102.03 km

Day Four
Lone Gum Tree to Rig Road & Erabena Tk 7.25 km N 348° 11 min
Rig Road & Erabena Tk to WAA Line & Erabena Tk 11.98 km N 345° 20 min
WAA Line & Erabena Tk to WAA Line & Knolls Tk 29.88 km E 90° 1 hr 27 min
WAA Line & Knolls Tk to Approdinna Attora Knolls 30.61 km N 354° 1 hr 15 min
Approdinna Attora Knolls to French Line & Knolls Tk 3.86 km N 346° 10 min
French Line & Knolls Tk to French Line & Thomas Track 14.08 km E 85° 38 min
French Line & Thomas Track to Poeppel Corner 26.02 km E 83° 1 hr 10 min
Daily Total 123.68 km

Day Five
Poeppel Corner to QAA Line & French Line Access 18.71 km N 340° 29 min
QAA Line & French Line Access to QAA Line & K1 Line 3.32 km E 96° 9 min
QAA Line & K1 Line to Narrow-leafed Hop Bush, QAA Line 9.13 km E 95° 19 min
Narrow-leafed Hop Bush, QAA Line to Gypcrete Interdunes, QAA Line 10.14 km E 97° 22 min
Gypcrete Interdunes, QAA Line to Georgina Gidgee Interdunes, QAA Line 34.86 km E 95° 55 min
Georgina Gidgee Interdunes, QAA Line to Spinifex Dune, QAA Line 17.69 km E 94° 26 min
Spinifex Dune, QAA Line to Simpson Desert NP East Boundary 2.11 km E 94° 3 min
Simpson Desert NP East Boundary to QAA Line & Annandale Ruins Access 16.42 km E 84° 27 min
QAA Line & Annandale Ruins Access to Eyre Creek, QAA Line 0.12 km E 98°
Eyre Creek, QAA Line to Big Red 18.72 km E 84° 28 min
Big Red to Birdsville 43.51 km E 94° 1 hr 1 min
Daily Total 174.73 km

Dalhousie Springs to Birdsville 567.35 km 16 hr 20 min

Cheers,
Martin

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Excellent work Martin!

This helps to build the picture. I still don't have a great deal of time to look at this, but when I do, your info here will be my first stop.

One question, trying not to sound like a dummy, but sometimes I just can't help myself (insert Goofy chuckle here) :P.

>Dalhousie Springs to Lookout 19.35 km E 86° 21 min

I'm guessing this means we travel 19.35km from Dalhousie Springs on a bearing of E 86° 21 min and will arrive at the lookout? How did you compile that info?

LFaR.

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Great to hear from you LFaR,
Looks impressive doesn't it!!! It comes from the ExplorerOz website ( http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/Deser ... Directions ). Dalhousie to the lookout is 19.35 km along the track in an easterly direction, I am not sure whether it is called the French Line at that point, and it will take 21 minutes to do it. I assumed that the E 86°was a Longitude reading but I have since checked and it is not as the lookout is at Latitude 26.41196º S or 26º 24' 43.06" S, Longitude 135.6665º E or 135º 39' 59.52" E. So buggered if I know. Someone on the forum may know so, if you do, let us know.

A famous yachtsman and explorer, Francis Chitchester, had an ingenious method of navigation when he was crossing the oceans in days without GPS. He deliberately missed his target until he came to the correct longitude line, determined by sextant and then turned south or north according to the deliberate miss, and followed that down towards the target island.

This can be used for our expedition as we will have GPS and maps and single tracks in many cases. We need only to worry about one of Lattitude or Longitude according to the direct we are traveling, as the track determines the direction and we would be just determining position. Both would be used at intersections of tracks. In addition, Dead Reckoning can be used to plot progress. I believe there are even some signs!!! The only trouble with Dead Reckoning is large tyres and inaccurate speedometers. (Mine needs 5% correction).

Looking for some info on the ExplorerOz degree information.

Regards
Martin

[JeffH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JeffH]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

I assumed that the E 86°was a Longitude reading but I have since checked and it is not as the lookout is at Latitude 26.41196º S or 26º 24' 43.06" S, Longitude 135.6665º E or 135º 39' 59.52" E. So buggered if I know. Someone on the forum may know so, if you do, let us know.

Martin,
It certainly looks like they relate to a bearing from the first location to the second. For instance 86° 21' is roughly East, so it's basically saying travel in an easterly direction from Dalhousie Springs on a bearing of 86° 21' to get to Lookout 19k's away.

Same with 345° 20' for instance, it's a northerly bearing, which is indicated in the track log you have.

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

So JeffH,
You think that it is a compass bearing. Sounds reasonable.

Martin

[Lindsay & Linda Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lindsay & Linda]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Martin,

Undoubtedly the directions are being given as a compass bearing 090° is East, 180° is south, 270° is west and 000° or 360° is north, and the 21' is the time taken to travel the specificed distance, which if you think about 21 mins to drive 19km is almost 60km/hr, therefore it must be a fairly reasonable bit of road / track! Some of the other sections where it is going to take 1hr 30mins to drive just 30km would indicate an average speed of just 10km/hr!

Cheers
Lindsay

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

The direction would have to be pretty constant also for this to be useful, not a meandering track. The maps show this to be the case although I have never trusted the larger more general maps.

Martin

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

To all,
I wonder if those that have journeyed to this destination could give some idea of the interesting features that we should not miss. Even those who are going over East to West, what are you expecting to see at particular sites?

Regards
Martin

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Hi all,
It seems to me that the forum has gone very quiet at the moment. I would have thought that this thread would have stimulated a few more comments and contributions than it has. Some more interest in the prospect of the trip would also be reassuring. All we really need is three or so committed bods some of whom have some experience. Not for any other reason other than company in numbers and mutual advice if needed. Any out there interested? We have a couple of people looking at it but they don't have much experience it would seem. Perhaps that can be changed before the middle of the year.

Regards
Martin

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Re: Return from PP GTG via Simpson - West to East

Hi Martin,
I have been looking at this thread and am 90% sure that my wife will get the time off to enable us to attend the GTG and will most definately be keen to do the Simpson Crossing West to East. Like you, I would like to do it in company as I have no experience in desert travel but my rig will be well prepared for the crossing by the time it comes around.
I would imagine that as the time draws closer and we have a firm number of travellers, we could cross check with each other what equipment we will each carry and what we may also need.
I'm hoping that there may be other families with kids thinking of coming along as 4-5 days travelling in the desert with an 11 year daughter and no one to keep her company would drive us nuts. Can you imagine hearing"are we there yet?" 40 times a day for 5 days :x
Will watch with interest.

Dobbo