Just wondering if anyone has any experience in the Kimberly? Any potential for good missions? What time of year? Where to go? Any ideas?
cheers
Crocodiles scare me. It’s a strong factor to think about.
yeah i don’t like them either but i think the big fuckers can be avoided if you stay far enough away from the sea. The drysdale looks like it has potential to me but i am yet to get my hands on a decent map. I imagine there would be many good options as this is clearly Australia’s other great wilderness, its just a matter of sussing out a feasible and safe route which is difficult when you have no knowledge of the landscape, river levels or weather patterns?
Yeah - in review my reply was rather glib ! It is a massive area and wilderness. I think this will be the hard thing (and the good thing) about getting info for there. I know a few folks who have done extended walk in Arnhem, but not in the Kimberly. I imagine that there’d be a few folks in WA who have the info but it’d be a small group.
I guess cyclone season is the time to avoid, for flood, storm and access reasons - the southern winter time would be best - maybe on the late cusp of the wet so there is still water draining off the landscape ?
duke, I asked on another forum for you http://forums.ski.com.au/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=599071&page=0#Post599071
some info.
Latest ‘Wild’ has an article which may be a starter…
Check Willis Walkabouts online – really good infor about top end stuff – not packrafting but other trips. He uses a lilo on his guided trips. He says top end trips are best in the wet.
Peggy and I are headed to Darwin and Eastern Kimberley next…March 1 to be exact.
Excellent Roman, I expect some blog updates ! Hope your antipodean travels are treating you well. Sorry about the weather !
Here’s the Willis’ Walkabouts Home page with stuff about Kakadu, Kimberley and Red Center:
http://www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au/index.htm?page=html/finke08gal.htm
and here’s what he has to say about the Wet up there:
http://www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au/index.htm?page=html/finke08gal.htm
We are going to Kakadu and maybe Bungle-Bungles w/packraft. I wrote him and tried to describe the concept of packrafting but he didn’t get it – or should I say, I couldn’t describe it well enough. Usually, people get it when they get in the boat, but rarely before, unless they have a creative mind or know of high-profile trips that have used them.
Eastern Kimberly trip: Down the Ord River and hiking into the Bungle Bungles in march.
Very Hot: 45 C.
Awesome Roman. I get embarrassed that you are leading the field over here ! I take it just freshwater crocs that far up (aside from your shoes ?)
Love to see any more pics and footage.
Roman,
In your video you are using a 4-piece Werner fiberglass paddle. What model is it? Did you have to get it custom made for the length you use?
Hi Richard,
yes it’s a stock 4 piece 215 cm paddle from Werner, a touring paddle called the Shuna:
Croca Dial Dunde. Wicked!