Hanging Rock

[loose cannon]

Great place for a picnic (can't believe I used that line).

This was one of my key destinations and am very happy that I managed to actually get here. The track in is tricky and disappears at times and is extraordinarily remote. It's a 60km side track that runs of the main track through Rudall NP and sees very little traffic, some years maybe five or six vehicles.

Part of the track is a 5 km run along a dry river bed, a hoot to drive, other sections are so overgrown that both mirrors must be pulled in and the vehicle will cop a lot of scratches on both sides. No way around the bush, just straight through it and hope you can keep an eye on the track and hope you don't stake a tyre or three.

Exciting and adrenaline pumping but the reward at the end makes it all worthwhile.

I lost the track at about the 8km mark and spent 20 minutes trying to find it, nearly turned around at this point as I was quite nervous about tackling this track on my own with no GPS to help. My GPS died on the Birdsville track on week five so maps/compass and much finger crossing were my guide for most of the journey. And the maps for this track are pretty much worthless.

So damn glad I kept going.

The rock itself may not appear all that spectacular but context is everything. Such a journey to get here.

[Alan]

Fantastic light on both Mick.

I like the central placement in #2 - not sure about in #1?

That journey sounds a bit scary, esp considering the isolation.

Did you have a stand alone GPS which died and wasn't the iPhone any help? I don't know how it's 'Maps' thing works

[loose cannon]

Cheers Alan.

I was using a Hema7 navigator that shows pretty much all of the inland tracks and of course, my position on them. Cost $700 and lasted five weeks.

When it died I was on paper maps and a compass with the iphone providing gps location. That's all one needs really but the H7 provides a great sense of comfort by confirming ones exact position. I did take a few wrong turns along the way and it can become confusing and a little bit intimidating when travelling solo. The scale of the maps isn't great and knowing your gps location isn't a huge amount of help at times.

I travelled for a couple of hours down one track before I realised I was "lost". No big deal, just turn around and drive out but with the H7 working I'd have picked up my error in a minute or two.

Didn't really come away with great images from this location, the sun never hits the hanging part of the rock and I am a little disappointed with the end results.

Of course that means I need to go back.

[seaslug]

#2 for me.

[loose cannon]

Cheers Greg.

[P Plates]

Glad you got there and thanks for sharing. After your description about the drive in I know I'll never see it - far too much of a wuse. I used to have the sheet music for Picnic at Hanging Rock, written in a time signature I've never seen before or since 16 crotchets per bar.

[loose cannon]

Traveling in convoy is the way to go Gabby, can't get into trouble that way. Hanging rock is extremely isolated but a trip across somewhere like the Simpson desert is a walk in the park if you are traveling with other vehicles, especially during school holidays when the traffic increases by an order of magnitude.

Go for it.

I'd describe my desert journey as a life changing event and a very different Mick arrived home than the one that set out on this journey back in April.

[Isac]

Like your work, as you know Mick. BIG tick.

[loose cannon]

Thank you Isac.