Madigan Line...... Yes........ Again

[Grippy]

The punters will be out en masse following the poor example set by a particular ytube influencer who raced across it for the clicks.

No doubt the punters will be there with trailers and all the gear.

When on the WAA and Rig Rd I could hear radio traffic from the French Line, comments like "Hold on, he's reversing back down and going to give it the beans with the trailer"
"I'm trying to get as far as possible in 2WD"
"He will leave the trailer at the bottom and we'll winch it up"
"Get your trailer over the top so I can hook my winch up!"
"Here I Go! Get ready!"
And they went on and on!

 

[Lost1?]

I did French line East West last year in July. QAA and French line were badly chopped up by Muppets. The sand was firm for that part of the world. I did the hardest line on big red at 16 PSI HOT first go. Set the tryes at 18 PSI cold for the rest of the trip and cruised up most dunes at about 1200 rpm. I only needed a bit of momentum on 3 dunes.

One was taking the hard line to get on the other side to winch a Muppet running high pressures that had bellied out. He was blocking the track. Used just under 90 litres from Birdsville to Oodnadatta.

 

[Mini]

Hey Neil,

When are you going??, desert is now closed for summer (as you would know) and also CLC have been advised not to issue any permits at all. The individual communities will advise next 'tourist season' if the Madigan will open next year or not. I was told to check in at the end of March 2021 (read 1st April [Fools Day]). I also learned from "Ron" a ranger in Birdsville at the Wirrarri Information Centre that it is likely that any future opening will be only for one way traffic and unfortunately for you, it will be from West to East only (go figure). Reference fuel figures, I plan on other previous desert consumptions for my Triton 12.97 litres/100 for the CSR and on the Simpson, 13.07 litres/100. Have done several trips both directions and as a percentage, I figure it would be ~ 60% extra THEN add your 'buffer fuel' BTW, I always carry a buffer as last year I was a support vehicle for 3 bikers and one had a major mishap some distance in and I had to go back to Dalhousie Springs so the RFDS could land there and take him out to Adelaide. If I had NOT had my emergency fuel, I would have had to go back as far as Mt. Dare to get more fuel and start again.

I am also doing the SBJR on the same trip (May 2021) as the Madigan Line and have been advised that it is not open as of today or in the foreseeable future. The GCR is open as a through road only from Alice Springs to Perth (via Yulara, Docker River etc.) but roadhouses etc. are either closed or 'out of bounds'. I am trying to resurrect my May 2020 travel plan and have decided on May 2021 if it happens at all. Agree with other posts re condition of French Line, QAA etc. the track is almost as wide as it is long with everyone hell bent on climbing up the sides. I feel the Madigan Line will eventually go the same way. If you want a nicer drive, try the Hay River Track, maybe the cost of permits are deterring people from this beautiful 2 wheel track through the wildflowers. Travel safe

 

[Neil Watts]

Hey Mini, thanks for the info. Were not looking at going until June next year, we use the Finke as an excuse to cross the Simpson each year. I'm afraid that with Covid hanging over our heads there will be no certainty to anything for some time. It is good for the sanity though to plan something though.

Not opposed to doing the Hay River but as you mentioned it would be good to do the Madigan before it ends up like the French.

Good luck with your trip too and stay safe.

 

[Mini]

You also have great trip Neil, I understand you will be wanting to go East to West from Birdsville to Finke, good luck. Pity we wont cross paths. We should arrive Birdsville 31st May if that is close. Permits permitting (fingers crossed) Mini

 

[Neil Watts]

You also have great trip Neil, I understand you will be wanting to go East to West from Birdsville to Finke, good luck. Pity we wont cross paths. We should arrive Birdsville 31st May if that is close. Permits permitting (fingers crossed) Mini

Plan is to be in Birdsville on the 5th.

 

[chips59]

After reading these replies, I do wonder how many people actually look forward to the challenges of the track being dug up or well used.
where is the adventure in driving a smooth sandy or otherwise track where you don’t even spill your coffee while driving the French line or really any outback tracks,
I have done the Simpson that many times I have lost count, I have seen many different vehicles and many towing trailers, caravans and even seen camels in a camel train I think is the correct term walking west to east.
I have been in the first ten 4wheel drives when the Simpson reopened for the next season and what did I see, I seen MotherNature had done what she does best,
the tracks looked like no one had ever cross these dunes. In some places we had to push a new track through.
I always travel in low range and my fuel usage has been the same every time, 90 to100lts Birdsville to Mt Dare or Birdsville to Oodnadatta or vice verses.
just for the record, I don’t condone any deliberate acts of destruction of any tracks or vegetation etc but I also understand that different people need different setups, if this means towing well so be it. I have never felt the need to tow something across the Simpson but with all the checks on weight these days I my have to start thinking along those line in the near future.

cheers DD.

 

[boobook]

Plan is to be in Birdsville on the 5th.

You also have great trip Neil, I understand you will be wanting to go East to West from Birdsville to Finke, good luck. Pity we wont cross paths. We should arrive Birdsville 31st May if that is close. Permits permitting (fingers crossed) Mini

How did you bot go with Permits. I suspect it would be almost impossible to get a permit lately.

 

[Mini]

Hi Neil, boobook and others, Today is March 30th and stilll no permits. Everything I read and hear says "end of March", lets see what happens, bugger all is what I reckon. I am too scared to ring as don't want to be too pushy and give myself a bad name. Is there anybody out there had a positive response yet ??. It is easy (automatic) to get CLC permits from Uluru west on the GCR and also from Papunya west on the Gary Junction Road. You can get fuel at Warakurna (Giles) but pretty sure you can't visit Giles met. station (go figure). Also no word on SBJR even though one bypasses Tjukurla by 18 kilometres. By departure time I will have had both my Covid jabs but obviously I must be a risk somewhere in the system. As regards to the Madigan, one does not go through or near any community so another "go figure" exercise, Finke is fine and open (go figure again).

Getting back to fuel consumptions, I am amazed at the enormous amounts of fuel some are using on desert crossings, I don't have roof racks, don't tow anything and drive a dual cab similar to the picture at left except it is a MQ not the older ML. I keep immacculate fuel records and use the "Gas Manager" app on my iPad. Did Wiluna to Halls Creek including Wolfe Creek crater a toatal of 2050 kilometres with a standard 75 litre tank and 10 gerries without buying any fuel at either Kunawaritji or Bililuna, Similarly with the Simpson on 4 trips, Birdsville to Dalhousie on the one tank and just managed to squeeze in 3 jerries of 20 litres exactly in each. I try for constant rpm and the right gear and low tyre pressures about 14 psi cold. Steady driving always gives me the best economy. I do carry buffer fuel as I said above in 2019 I had to do a big trip back to Dalhousue to take an injured biker back to the airstrip then turned around and headed back out again. Minimum fuel would have meant to go back as far as Mt. Dare to re-fuel and start again.

Now, re the Madigan Line again, mate has converted his 200 into a trayback by adding 600 mm and thus his wheelbase has gone from 2850 to 3450mm, how much of a problem would that be over the dunes do you figure, also he reckons he would be close to 4 tonnes (legal).

 

[boobook]

Hi Neil, boobook and others, Today is March 30th and stilll no permits. Everything I read and hear says "end of March", lets see what happens, bugger all is what I reckon. I am too scared to ring as don't want to be too pushy and give myself a bad name. Is there anybody out there had a positive response yet ??. It is easy (automatic) to get CLC permits from Uluru west on the GCR and also from Papunya west on the Gary Junction Road. You can get fuel at Warakurna (Giles) but pretty sure you can't visit Giles met. station (go figure). Also no word on SBJR even though one bypasses Tjukurla by 18 kilometres. By departure time I will have had both my Covid jabs but obviously I must be a risk somewhere in the system. As regards to the Madigan, one does not go through or near any community so another "go figure" exercise, Finke is fine and open (go figure again).

Getting back to fuel consumptions, I am amazed at the enormous amounts of fuel some are using on desert crossings, I don't have roof racks, don't tow anything and drive a dual cab similar to the picture at left except it is a MQ not the older ML. I keep immacculate fuel records and use the "Gas Manager" app on my iPad. Did Wiluna to Halls Creek including Wolfe Creek crater a toatal of 2050 kilometres with a standard 75 litre tank and 10 gerries without buying any fuel at either Kunawaritji or Bililuna, Similarly with the Simpson on 4 trips, Birdsville to Dalhousie on the one tank and just managed to squeeze in 3 jerries of 20 litres exactly in each. I try for constant rpm and the right gear and low tyre pressures about 14 psi cold. Steady driving always gives me the best economy. I do carry buffer fuel as I said above in 2019 I had to do a big trip back to Dalhousue to take an injured biker back to the airstrip then turned around and headed back out again. Minimum fuel would have meant to go back as far as Mt. Dare to re-fuel and start again.

Now, re the Madigan Line again, mate has converted his 200 into a trayback by adding 600 mm and thus his wheelbase has gone from 2850 to 3450mm, how much of a problem would that be over the dunes do you figure, also he reckons he would be close to 4 tonnes (legal).

I've found that bugging for permits is best. You tend to find that applications sit on someone's desk and get lost, or people are not on for all shifts, or someone goes on leave for 3 months or some are notorious for doing nothing. Most times I bug, I get a response like "OH you should have it by now . I can't find your application anywhere. Can you send it in again.... " For the APY lands I think I gugged them 10 - 15 times over 6 months then got the permit as a desperate last plea when we were only a week away and given up, deciding to go with plan B

Your fuel consumption is exceptional. I'd plan for 25 lph with 2 jerries to spare but hope for 20. Or maybe a bit more in the chopped 200 depending on it's weight.

As to your mate with the longer wheelbase, it will be fine. It may drag a bit more sand over the crest but that generally won't stop it. I think his biggest issue may be getting over the dunes, I hear a chopped 200 has a big turning circle which may be an issue of there are tight turns at the top of the dunes. Worse cones to worst, then snatch him over the top and have a good laugh at him over drinks that night.

 

[Mini]

Hey boobook, never gave the turning circle a thought, thanks for the tip(s) there and also bugging them. One mate is driving up from Victoria to start the trip with the rest of us from Cairns so feeling a bit responsible being the Trip Leader. Another snag has now happened, Qld has gone from very low risk to low risk and now medium risk all in the space of 2 days. Funny you know, I live ~1,750 kilometres north from BNE where the hotspot is but if I lived just 100 kilometres south at Tweed Heads, no problem as it is NSW, winds must be blowing the wrong way.

 

[boobook]

Are you doing the whole line inc camps 17 to 24 or coming down the Hay River track at 15?

I have a track in GPX format which will show you speeds and stops if you have a capable GPX track reader. But it stops at camp 17 and heads south.

I would plan for 8kmph while actually driving on average from camps 1 to 17.

 

[Mini]

Hi boobook, yes, at 16, turning east for 17 etc. and via Adria Downs and Eyre Creek. Have done the Hay River all the way, a G R E A T track I reckon and lots of flowers. I use Hema HN7 and ExploreOz on my iPad for navigation plus eyeball Mk. 1. I have other plans as back-up that do not require entry to W.A. and that do NOT require any aboriginal permits so there may be some late changes en route

 

[Mini]

Yep, just checked a few sample spots where I thought I might camp and with the distances, will be pretty damn close to your 8 Kph. I don't set hard targets, desert driving does not respect or cater for schedules, we will be there for the pleasure, the faster you go, the sooner you finish, who wants to do that ?, not me.

 

[boobook]

Nice Mini. I like to plan 2 - 3 days on the move, 1 day rest. It really takes any pressure off and allows you to stop and relax.

It never quite works out that way. For some reason, things tend to get behind and but rushed.

 

[Mini]

Am hoping to do some night photography this time of stars etc. and listening to the night as well as dawn walks to see the tracks of night movers in the sand. A lay day is an amazing experience if the weather is O.K. and you have the time. Thing is, I like to drive and the drivers seat is my 'happy place'.

 

[boobook]

If you have an android, get AR satellite or ISS tracker. They have added the starlink sats. and will give you the exact time and location of satellites. They are bright as hell just before dusk ad dawn. Make sure you download the tables just before you leave phone coverage too.

 

[Mini]

Yes, am going with a mate who is all over this (fortunately). Coming from the West (like Kulgera) on the Stuart Highway might be the last point

 

[Neil Watts]

How did you bot go with Permits. I suspect it would be almost impossible to get a permit lately.

I had an email response, just said the same as the CLC website. Decission to be made at the March meeting.

 

[Mini]

Hey Neil and boobook, 1 day left but don't hold your breath. I have decided to wait a little longer, like April Fools Day. Neil, let me go how you get on. Neil, did you intend to start at Camp 22 on Adria Downs or go north up the Hay from Poepells corner to 16 and 15 then turn left (West ) to 14 etc. ??