Route times

The CSR is probably the greatest 4wd adventure in Aus. April to September is the season when people go there.

From memory (others with better knowledge may correct me), November is just before the cyclone season on the north west coast. It is possible for some that early but not likely. Rain from a cyclone could flood the top of the canning for more than 6 months - the water doesn't soak through the clay in many places.

Sometimes when there is water still about from cyclones the previous year, you need to drive along the dunes to skirt around it.

There are many places where a single vehicle can get into serious trouble. Long after rain (a year or more), there are some bad crossings, Savory Creek for one, where you could be bogged until the following year. Unmarked diversions are made at Savory Creek as each crossing becomes impassable - if you pick the wrong one, it could be your last mistake.

Two people perished 2 or 3 years ago when their Land Rover broke down on the way to well 23. I understand the Land Rover is still there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

The idea with the CSR was to travel with 2 in the vehicle (Leeds and I) and hopefully (actually more of a condition of setting off than hopefully) coerce some nice forum people into tagging along...

Problem is, November is the only time I can get out there, although Leeds is probably free from May through to December with a few exceptions within that window...

Reading everyones comments about doing the CSR in November it would seem that its NOT a good idea and is generally not advisable. Can we discuss this a bit more please?

I know it will be HOT, uncomfortably hot perhaps?? Anyone know how hot relative to say middle Africa (I can relate to that).

Its also been suggested that the sand will be softer, presumably because its so hot and dry??? This I can see will have a knock on effect on fuel usage. Does this mere fact alone significantly contribute to the "do not do it in November" or is it more to do with the heat / sand?

Will the rains be a problem on the northern section of the CSR in November? Is that a reason why not to do it?

Dont get me wrong, despite the British mentality, I am / we are more than sensible enough to listen to those with more knowledge about these sorts of things than I/we. I would just like to know a bit more about the why's and therefore's...

Problems with the CSR in November:-

1. It will be hot - probably as hot as anywhere in Africa, although my experience there is nil.

2. The distances are probably longer than practically anywhere in Africa, and almost the entire track runs through completely uninhabited country.

3. It will be pretty much deserted, as nobody else will be travelling it - unlikely to be any help if there are problems.

4. This is at the end of the "season" and the "road" can be expected to be in the worst possible condition.

5. The real danger is one of becoming broken down/out of fuel/delayed/accident, and running out of water, followed by death within a few hours in those conditions. This is not an exaggeration, it has happened, and not in the distant past either.

6. And it could rain that early at the northern end, which could strand you just as certainly, and while you may have enough water to survive, it could still turn the trip into a disaster albeit perhaps not as permanent a one.

John

Thanks guys, this is the type of constructive reasoning that I was after...