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Leg 7: Walkers Crossing / Birdsville Track

Details -
Distance: 350km
Conditions: combined soft sand, gibber plains, hard-pack 4WD roads
Difficulty: 3.5/5
Est'd Time: 4 days

Shortly after leaving Innamincka, I'm returning to the northern end of the Strzelecki desert. Walkers crossing is a very low lying and often flooded area where it crosses Cooper Creek. Eventually, the gibbers of the Sturt Stony desert become more prominent as I approach the Birdsville track. These gibbers are quite tortuous on 4WD tyres. They're normally quite rounded due to the local "sand-blasting" action, but sharp edges can easily be rotated upward due to fast-moving 4WD tyres. I hope they will be gentle on me. This leg potentially has no water en-route. I will need confirmation of local conditions closer to the time. I'll very much be looking forward to a beer at the renowned Birdsville pub following this leg:D

Permalink 15/03/09 03:01:49 pm, by admin Email , 139 words, Categories: Welcome, Route , Leave a comment »

Leg 8: Simpson Desert

Details -
Distance: 475km
Conditions: No water, soft unconsolidated sand, 1100 sand dunes, sharp spinifex, gibber plains, wild dingoes and camels, snakes and scorpions
Difficulty: 5 / 5
Est'd Time: 8 days

The Simpson desert is the worlds largest parallel dune desert. My chosen route across this desert will be largely removed from existing 4WD tracks. I propose to pass through the geographic centre, and between two Aboriginal lands over in the west before finishing this leg at East Bore, a little north of Old Andado. I'll be following a route slightly north and opposite direction to that traversed by Lucas Trihey in 2006 when he completed the first unsupported crossing by foot, an amazing feat.

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Permalink 15/03/09 03:00:00 pm, by admin Email , 283 words, Categories: Welcome, Route , Leave a comment »