Woodroffe and state8 2024

[louphi]

Hi, LouPhi here (Louis-Philippe Loncka aka The Mad Belgian).
I'm slowly preparing for an expedition this winter in the outback. (I'm still home in Brussels) Not even sure I'll come this year (from July 2024) but I'll try.
After the expedition, around mid September if all goes well, I'd like to finish the State8.
I've done Ossa 3 times (TAS), QLD, NSW and NT (Zeil on my very first expedition in 2006, film to come directly on YouTube as I could recently use AI to upscale the size of the video, yeah, old tape at 768*576pix)

So I'd like to climb Woodroffe, which needs a permit. I found this company does a tour each year apparently in May: https://seittours.com/ (I'll email them right now)
But of course, I have no idea when I'll be there and most likely in September but it could be October 2024.
Anyone wants to join? (I think we might get a permit if 3-4 people? so not 15 or so)

Of course I wanna do the summits of WA (easy, but need a car, might fly/hitch hike) and then VIC and ACT are straightforward.

[Bill P]

Yes Louphi, I am interested in a private trip to Mt Woodroffe.

Cheers Bill.

[louphi]

Reply from SEIT this morning (I copy paste the important bits, I asked if they could help with tips on how to apply for a permit):
Unfortunately, SEIT do no longer do any touring at Mt Woodroffe.
We haven’t been back for a few years now.

I am unable to assist with the information on how to proceed with your application to go.
Im afraid I wasn’t around when SEIT used to visit Mt Woodroffe, but I do believe they were granted special access which we no longer have.
Your best bet would be the South Australian government, perhaps they could help.
--
Links and contacts I'm emailing now to explain the idea of climbing Woodroffe and process for the permit+warn the landowners.
So I guest this post will help anyone who wants to climb Woodroffe from 2024 and beyond.

https://anangu.com.au/apy-programs/permits
https://anangu.com.au/contact-us
https://anangu.com.au/about-us
https://apy.snapforms.com.au/form/apy-p ... individual
PMB 227 Umuwa via Alice Springs, NT 0872 / (08) 8954 8111 / [email protected]

PS: Why do I put many links to different pages of the same website? Because the internet archive will probably keep them and in case the site has problems, we will be able to access resources or older "rules" for the permit.

[louphi]

Hi, now the reply of diversetravel.com.au
Their tour page about Woodroffe: https://www.diversetravel.com.au/aborig ... offe-climb
Clearly mentioning:
We have been advised by the APY Executive that the 2024 Climb access has not been approved as all Tourism, Business & Commercial activities on the APY Lands are suspended until further notice.
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They replied (I cut the polite forms):
We have had an application for tourist visitor permits with the APY Lands council for almost 2 years now (since the pandemic) – they advise they have more important things to do than consider tourism visitor permits. This means we have not been able to run the Mt Woodroffe climbs for quite some time.

I did recently have success getting permits for ******* Aboriginal Art buyers to visit and art centre in the APY lands. A lot of support letters and assistance from the Art Centre was required. You have to have a current police check as part of any permit application.

I am not able to assist with any kind of permit application – you would need to go to the web site and lodge a permit application – I have no idea if you would be successful.
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In short: it is very hard but not impossible. Of course, we deal with humans and the culture and views. So it's a bit of "seduction" and convincing. They have to "like" me I guess because I'm not a benefit for the APY land owners. I'm just a tourist.