Simpson Desert West to East (French line) mid May 2015 MEDIUM / HARD

Simpson Desert west to east Fench Line, SA
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I am an experienced 4wdriver with over 10 years of what I would call fairly hardcore offroad experience in Europe with a Defender 90 that we take to the Romanian mountains/forests once or twice a year. I have done a 4wd trip to the Moroccan desert country so have some experience with desert/very remote expeditions. Having grown up in Australia and regularly spending a part of the year here I decided to buy and set-up a 4wd here as well. My lovely wife Gabriela does most of the driving as she just loves it and the other guys in the group just think that I am a pretty lucky guy to have a Mrs that shares my passion for 4wding :)

 

We are doing our first serious 4wd trip/expedition in Australia leaving Sydney April 16, travelling up to Cairns, Savannah Way to Darwin (some Barra fishing along the way :) )Kakadu, Litchfield, probably Uluru and then across the Simpson Desert via French Line to Birdsville and then back to Sydney.

 

We have no problems going alone as we will have a satellite phone if we do strike some problems but are more than happy to bring along a few likeminded people who would not feel comfortable going alone. So if there is someone out there who would like to join us on the most remote part of our trip we are happy to meet and travel with some nice, easygoing people.

Requirement

  • Electric Winch
  • Recovery Gear

Ern
Ern (Ziggy)
I'm interested Ivan. Got a bit of sand experience.

Don't have an electric winch. Not sure why you're specifying one really.
11 Apr 2015
Sue
Sue (SueK)
I agree... there is no need for a winch in the Simpson desert. :)
11 Apr 2015
Ivan Foltman
Trip Leader Ivan Foltman (IvanF)
Hi Sue and all others. Re winch requirement, from all of my reading/research on the Simpson it tends to be rated as a medium/hard trip. Acccording to the rules of this web if the trip organiser (me in this case) rates the trip as medium/hard a winch is Mandatory as per the web site rules.

Being my first trip into a very remote part of Australia I don't think I can say that the trip is "easy". My own personal view is that it is an EASY trip if you have a reliable and well prepared 4wd and shouldn't need a winch. So I have no problem taking along anyone who doesn't have a winch and am happy to help out people if they get stuck once or twice but don't intend "babysitting" people who do not have the recommended equipment and run into trouble because the going gets tough. Hope that answers the questions and clarifies my view. :)
11 Apr 2015
Ern
Ern (Ziggy)
Sounds reasonable to me. /thumbs up/
11 Apr 2015
Jenkin
Jenkin (Boots Ranger.)
Hi all, myself and a few mates already have a trip to the Simmo planned. We've had our crew and dates organised for a while, before 4WD trip started up. But anyway if we see any 4WD trip logos, I'll be sure to say hello. We should be at Mt Dare around the 12th - 13th of May. We already have 5 maybe 6 Veh and 10 maybe 11 people, which I reckon is a big enough group to cater for. Anyway hope to catch up and enjoy your trip.
11 Apr 2015
Ivan Foltman
Trip Leader Ivan Foltman (IvanF)
Jenkin (Boots Ranger.) wrote: Hi all, myself and a few mates already have a trip to the Simmo planned. We've had our crew and dates organised for a while, before 4WD trip started up. But anyway if we see any 4WD trip logos, I'll be sure to say hello. We should be at Mt Dare around the 12th - 13th of May. We already have 5 maybe 6 Veh and 10 maybe 11 people, which I reckon is a big enough group to cater for. Anyway hope to catch up and enjoy your trip.
Hi Jenkin, good to hear from you. We may bump into each other along the way and will look out for you. I also don't want to have too big a group so agree with your view on that :)
11 Apr 2015
Jenkin
Jenkin (Boots Ranger.)
No worries, I will be in my Ranger, Bermuda green. We will also have a Colorado, black, a land cruiser ute, metallic red/ brown and a silver grey 100 series.
12 Apr 2015
Ern
Ern (Ziggy)
Should be pretty clear which group you are ;-)

Ivan, I've signed up now. Looking to meet at Mt Dare as I'll be coming from the Gawler Ranges.

Do you have ideas at this stage about which route?

This one takes in a bit of each: http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/Deserts/Simpson_Desert.aspx

I'm not fussed except I prefer being out there rather than head-down tail-up covering distance.
12 Apr 2015
Ivan Foltman
Trip Leader Ivan Foltman (IvanF)
Ern (Ziggy) wrote: Should be pretty clear which group you are ;-)

Ivan, I've signed up now. Looking to meet at Mt Dare as I'll be coming from the Gawler Ranges.

Do you have ideas at this stage about which route?

This one takes in a bit of each: http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/Deserts/Simpson_Desert.aspx

I'm not fussed except I prefer being out there rather than head-down tail-up covering distance.
Happy to discuss route and very flexible. A mate who went through a couple of years ago regrets whizzing through in some 3 days and not spending more time relaxing in the desert. Lets see how many people if any join up with us and we can discuss when we all meet up an itinerary that suits all/most.
12 Apr 2015
Dave
Dave (disco)
Hey all,
Have a great trip and let us know how you go. I an running the same trip in late June/July (http://www.4wdtrip.com.au/trip.aspx?tripid=116) to tie up with the Big Red Bash at the end. Would be good to get your input on a few things on how you went, Have a great trip

Regards
Dave
12 Apr 2015
Ivan Foltman
Trip Leader Ivan Foltman (IvanF)
Updated dates of trip, 13 May 10,00 am is preliminary meet time in Alice Springs and 15 May 2,00 pm preliminary meet time at Mt Dare. Will confirm both these dates closer to the departure date.
15 Apr 2015
Tex
Tex (texacola)
I'm interested and have quite a bit of sand experience as I've done Fraser Island QLD, Googs Track SA and Steep Point WA. I'll be towing the same 1 tonne Pod Camper across that the owners of the business used last year to drag across with no issues and my turbo and newly turbo rebuilt engine at 17psi is more powerful than what they used. I don't get it for another 8 days or so and will do lots of capabilities testing beforehand to make sure it's do-able by dragging it through Wombat, Lerderderg and the Vic High Country.
23 Apr 2015
Ern
Ern (Ziggy)
<div style='border:1px solid #cccccc; margin:20px; padding:10px; background-color:#eeeeee;'><i><strong>Dave (disco) </strong> wrote: Hey all,
Have a great trip and let us know how you go. I an running the same trip in late June/July (http://www.4wdtrip.com.au/trip.aspx?tripid=116) to tie up with the Big Red Bash at the end. Would be good to get your input on a few things on how you went, Have a great trip

Regards
Dave</i></div>No worries Dave.

Thanks.

An acquaintance is coming out just before we go in so we'll get an update on conditions before the launch. I'd expect by July the tracks will be a bit more chopped up.

Just as an aside, the SA Parks site for Witjira NP (includes Dalhousie) says fires are OK in braziers and fireplaces, but the Desert Parks Pass material says only at Mt Dare is it OK and I guess that'll be the rule now.
25 Apr 2015
Ern
Ern (Ziggy)
Trip's done. Wagon not yet dusted!
It was very enjoyable. Thanks for organising it Ivan.
The French & QAA Line tracks were in good shape and there were no dramas. Dalhousie to Purni Bore was rough but a grader was working on some of those tracks.
Purni to Big Red I averaged 20 kmh. A bit slower than I'd normally drive cos the front suspension rebound damping wasn't up to scratch.
I ran 14-16 psi in the tyres.
Not all oncoming traffic joined in the radio alerting. I had one close shave.
25 May 2015
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TRIP COMPLETED

2 GOING
3 adults
Trip Date
13-May-2015 (Wed) to 19-May-2015 (Tue)

Meeting Point
Alice Springs 10am 13 May or Mt Dare 15 May 2pm
10:00 AM (Wed, 13-May-2015)

Organiser
Ivan Foltman

Ivan Foltman (IvanF)

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