When the Germans closed off the LRDG route that followed the northern rim of the Qattara Depression, the SAS was forced to explore what was considered an "impassable" path through the Depression itself. The Depression, which was shaped something like a cutlet, was 150 miles in length and 75 miles across at the widest point. Before the war it had been mapped, but was considered impassable. This was due to the fact that the bottom consisted of a huge salt bog. It had a cracked crust which was solid enough to take a man's weight, but if a truck went on it the vehicle would slowly sink out of sight.
However, there were one or two narrow tracks across the bog, the best known of which was the "Kaneitra crossing". It had a hard surface formed by rock salt, and had been used for years as a caravan route. Slightly south there was a similar track that would also bear considerable weight.
Although these crossings were well-known they were considered too unreliable and treacherous for vehicles. However, in the past month the Long Range Desert Group had explored both of them. Their crossing was made with six trucks and men from the Jaghbub garrison. The track had not stood up well and the damage incurred simply made the track worse. Although using the southern track was still possible, their main worry now was German air patrols over both the Depression and tracks leading to it. It was therefore important to cross the basin either at night or during the midday heat haze. They reckoned the trip over the quicksands was about 30 miles and would take about 3 to 4 hours.
They left their desert base in mid-afternoon hoping to reach the Qara track by dusk and get to the bottom of the Depression that night. They kept well up to schedule but as they neared the top of the Depression, they were caught by three enemy aircraft and strafed. One truck was set aflame, but the rest got away.
The convoy spent the night at the bottom and in the morning had 25 miles of good going before they hit the bog. In front of them stretched miles of cracked salt. Above them was blue sky and a scorching sun. Behind them, to the north, were great cliffs rising 1,000 feet in height. These cliffs were made of limestone rock, wind worn into fantastic shapes. By high noon every man was wishing they had waited until night. The track was very rough and vehicles could average little more than a few miles an hour. The fumes from the engines mixed with the terrifying heatwaves made the exertion of changing a punctured wheel an agonizing performance. Their Arab head-dresses were repeatedly dipped in water to cool the head, but almost immediately began to steam.
Engine problems were caused by fuel evaporating before it could reach the carburettor, but a Jerry-rig using an Emmet-like feed solved the problem. By four in the afternoon the worst was ove. The worst salt bog was behind them and a flat plain of hard, sandy gravel spread out before them. They moved out at 30 mph, raising a breeze and watched the sun wain. A recon plane had been spotted at a great height, but was unidentifiable. A wonderful desert sunset made the whole horizon appear on fire, and next morning they were on the move again. The color of the ground ahead changed with surface texture, from pebbles to sand, and soon they were approaching water, civilization, and real dirt. That same day a Jeep had managed to navigate the Kaneitra track, so it was possible with the right vehicles.
