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 First Across the Desert 2012
12-23 March 2012
We are doing this trip again in 2013 from 12-22 March 2013 You can join us on this incredible adventure.
Follow our progress via out SPOT tracker
2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the original crossing of the Simpson Desert by a motor vehicle in 1962 by the late Reg Sprigg and his family. To mark this anniversary Vic Widman from Great Divide Tours, who has crossed the desert more than fifteen times, is going to lead a group of adventurous four wheel drivers across the Desert in an epic journey. The Simpson Desert region is closed to public access from 1 December to 15 March each year due to the dangerously hot conditions that prevail throughout Central Australia during the Summer months. Vic’s plan is to leave Mt Dare on the western fringe of the Desert on 15 March to cross the desert to Birdsville, thus being the first to cross it for 2012.
Conditions are likely to be extremely arduous with high temperatures, hoards of flies and possibly flooded creek beds combined with virtually nonexistent tracks following the summer closure. The thousand dunes that need to be crossed are likely to have sharp windblown crests that will need to have the track virtually bulldozed by the for wheel drives in order to re-open the track across the Desert for the 2012 tourist season.
Now you can follow Vic's progress as he prepares his vehicle and those joining him for this epic journey via this blog, make sure you visit each day as Vic adds more info and photos of both the trip preparations and the journey itself.
While Vic is out of phone range we will just get daily maps. He is making good progress!
Update 20 March 2012
Still partying in the Birdsville Pub!
I'm being interviewed by western Qld ABC tomorrow morning. News about our epic crossing is spreading already.
A cold coke in the Birdsville pub!
We made Big Red! What a trip!
Update 19 March 2012
Update 18 March 2012
Update 17 March 2012
Update 16 March 2012
They have left Mount Dare and have started their way across the desert.
Update 15 March 2012
Hi everyone from hot Mt Dare, 38 degrees here and its 7pm! Thanks to Dave at the Hotel for letting me on Facebook. WoW! what a drive just to get here, the country side looks incredible, so much rain over the past 2 weeks and evrything is soooo green! We were the first through the road from Oodnadatta to Mt Dare if you don't count Tim from Hamilton Stn and Dave from Mt Dare. Thanks to their guiding wheel tracks and advice we found our way around quitea few bogs. I have to say last night was one of my worst camping nights thanks to the heat and millions of mosquitos. Sleeping in the swag with 100 mossies trying to eat you just 2 inches off your face was not pleasant. We are spending tonight in the fantastic Mt Dare Hotel tucking into some great steaks and a few cold drinks before an early start into the Desert tomorrow, looks like we should reach Birdsville (hopefully) in about 5 days.
Update 14 March 2012
Update 13 March 2012
Update 12 March 2012
Last minute shopping in Port Augusta, this is fun
The adventure gets underway in Port Augusta with Vic giving a briefing
We are making a DVD of this adventure
On the road to Hawker, beautiful scenery and it's 30 degrees already
It's 33 degrees so we found a pub, lemon squash for everyone
Vic Widman
Past Reports
11 March 2012
10 March 2012
7 March 2012
2 March 2012
27 February 2012
21 February 2012
15 February 2012
9 February 2012
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