Simpson Desert Crossing - June 2006

Trip photos

Day 4.

Crossing the Colson track (not exactly the M4).

Geographic centre of the Simpson Desert. A very lonely place apart from the marker post, a few star posts and a few 4WD tyre tracks. Not many people visit!

Navigating was done mostly by compass mounted in front of me as I walked. I used a Garmin GPS Map60CSx (thanks GME/Garmin!) for regular bearing checks and to find landmarks such as the centre of the desert. This new unit is reputed to be streets ahead for satellite lock on under tree cover due to the new SIRF chip but I didn't get to check that on this trip! The interface, waypoint entry and measuring capabilities are outstanding.

On the gibber plains between the dunes in the far east desert. Getting close to Birdsville.

The end of day 16, the last night in the desert and among well spaced but towering 20+ metre dunes. Just 35km from Birdsville and starting to look a bit scruffy.

The welcoming committee, thanks Pete! Well... there was also a couple of tourists wandering around (one we roped in to take this photo). Pete had dropped me off at East Bore 17 days earlier and drove slowly through the southern desert on the Rig Road (a 4WD track) to meet me in Birdsville at the end.

simpson main | background | map | paddy wagon | report | trip pics