Warburton Crossing

Hi George, a recent post below on K1 Line touches on Warburton X.

https://www.exploroz.com/forum/141996/k1-line-simpson-desert

It's usually tough getting good recent info, as not many go in that way (mostly for fuel reasons), or take time to explore those waterholes.
I reckon you can readily find out / confirm the X being open, but will probably just have to go take a look at other aspects like the waterholes when going through.

When are you heading there ?
Must consider the water there isn't usually local rain, but can come from the north of the Lake Eyre basin, some 400 km south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, can take months to come down too.

Enjoy the drive whenever you go.

Saw a video recently, George, of a group travelling towards K1, and crossing one of the channels at the Warburton. Water wouldn’t have been anymore than 300mm, perhaps even less. That crossing looked like it had been sheeted with gravel, and the vehicle rolled through it easily. I’d imagine that if this channel was running, within last 2-3 weeks, then there’d be ample water in any waterholes near the crossing.

Bob

The problem with the Warburton isn't so much the crossing as it has a gravelled hard bottom but the country on either side. It is all that grey fine alluvial which when dry is hard but the slightest shower of rain turns into a skating rink and any further rain or floods creates bottomless bogs that don't dry out for weeks or months.
As the track gets further north it skirts lots of little saltpans and lakes and it isn't until you get right up towards the yellow sand that it is into the desert proper.
Parks won't say it is open unless the whole route up to K1 is trafficable as the bottom end travels through station country and they don't want tourists bogged or on the track cutting it up when wet.