Simpson French line crossing April 2025

Well I'm not sure we can predict the weather that far out yet! But yeh, right now it is hot!
But I crossed back in 2007 in mid-April, and that was not the case, daytime was mid to late 20's

If it was mid 20’s then you must have been extremely lucky, as usually the weather does not take a change until around mid May

Hmm maybe we just got lucky then, I do know it is early in the season to be crossing, we are looking at other options too coming from cameron corner along the Oonadatta uto Dalhousie, also a good trip

Average temps for Moomba in April is 30 daytime and 16 night

Average temperatures don’t really mean a thing Ivan.

The earliest we have ever been in the Simpson was early May and our daytime temperatures were 42, 40 and 39 and only getting down 19 at night.

We prefer a east west crossing and there was one dune that we hit around 3 pm with 14 psi was not able to get over, the sand was like talcum powers, dropping 4 psi made no difference.

Set up can and at 8.30 am the next morning after the dunes had cooled overnight, it was bead easy for the rest of the day.

It's seems from the data that yes May is better than April for sure, but the means max is 35.6, so maybe not always as hot as you suggest, in fact the daily record in April is 40.9.
I'm sure there can always be variation to this going across the desert as this is one data point at Birdsville. This does correlate to my last experience back in mid April 2007.
Of course it varies all the time.
Anyhow, my question was is there anyone else planning a East to West crossing around that time?

High temperatures may or may not be a serious problem, but 50mm of rain certainly will be.
You can always revert to "Plan B" (whatever that is) at the last minute.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Thanks Peter, yes we do have a plan B for sure and we'll be keeping a close eye on the weather leading up to our departure date on 9th April that's for sure!

There is nothing better than being out there with as few others around as possible.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

.
From what I hear and read Pete, those days are gone . It's never "few" anymore.
There was a time once where we crossed and encountered only one vehicle coming the opposite way. Admittedly, it was the first week of November and 42 degrees.

Early in the season will help, just avoid school holidays and major local events.
Getting off the French Line and onto some of the other tracks helps too.

In 2017 (not soooo long ago) we camped for 3 nights on top of a dune on the Rig Road and NEVER SAW another vehicle.
It is amasing how many critters that were frightened away when we arrived came back. Critters that most people NEVER see. Complemented by long walks both during the day and at night.

We actually set up our dinner table in the middle of the main track and were never disturbed :)

Cheers,
Peter
OKA 196 motorhome

Peter: That was Seven years ago. The Simpson now is a highway. I have a photo from 10 years ago of a traffic jam at the west entrance to the Simpson not the school holidays

That's why it is worth getting off the main drags and treating it like a place to explore rather than a track to be conquered.
If people go to a great spot any where else, they stay a few days or a week, but not in the Simpson. It is belt through the shortest, quickest route you can find and leave in 3 or 4 days?
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Yeh, we're thinking of we don't do it this time, we'd like to comeback (no trailer) and do the Colsan of possible. ??

We drove some of the Colson southern end in 2019.
The part we saw was generally a very easy drive because it runs parallel to the dunes and carries very little traffic.

60 second video clip
Some of it was very unpleasant though. The wind had left small ridges across the track and the lack of traffic leaves them quite prominent.
20 second video clip.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Just out of curiosity what vehicle and trailers were you traversing with?

See rigs in pix in link below. Mine was a 2001 Pathfinder towing a Campomatic, same as what we used on the Canning to do wells 5 to 21 in 2013. Other was an MUX towing some rubbish Mars trailer. His springs had no clamps to stop them sliding out. Spent a pm at MT dare for the first fix and again before Alice.
Rigs

WAA

Whoops, looks like it was the WAA we tried. Perhaps same conditions as French i.e. no clay capping like the rig.

Honestly, I'm not too worried about my Trailer Being robust enough, it's was originally designed for this sort of work if you know anything about the RAAF Track Trailers. And no I'm not expecting complete strangers to continually rescue us, we are very light, sub 3 t including the trailer, twin locked, maxtrax and a sand ground anchor we have used a few times to great success.
It was more a case travelling with another is always safer, but we will happily go solo if the weather and track conditions are ok

Nikjt : I see your thinking of changing your travel plans which is probably a good thing! dropping the trailer idea.. I have seen people doing this with "super light" trailer ( half the size of yours )and having all sorts of trouble, its just not worth the aggravation to all travellers IMO .
It's a completely different game these days with traffic. Not to mention that parks department Do not want people towing for what it does to the track..
Happy travels

Lol, half the size of my trailer would just be an axle, mine is only a 1.8m x 1.2 m box! ??

Yeh we very much have a plan B, which is 50/50 with Plan A anyway, rather than head north from Merty Merty to Birdsville via Walkers Crossing, head south and to Dalhousi Springs via Oodnadatta, also a fantastic track which I have done before :)
Loving the original Track Trailer, they are pretty much the only trailer type I would tow off road or on any tracks due to the superior suspension, mine has been many surprising places, including Blue Raag, Billy Goats and other equally difficult tracks in the Vic High Country, lightweight is the key!

Take care with Walkers Crossing. It has been closed for a year or more (???) but is scheduled to re-open 15/3/25. Here's hoping.....
Special Notices and PARs
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

I did see these notices of opening, included in there is Googs track, which is another we are planning to travel along on 23rd/24th April, as is Halligan Bay PAR which is on our Plan B

If it is open and if you are forced further south, call into Level Post Bay on Muloorina Station.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA 196 motorhome

Peter_n_Margaret We did Walkers October last year