Day 16 – Ormiston Gorge (West Macdonnell Ranges
After doing emails, grocery shopping and petrol fill we headed out to the West Macdonnell Ranges. First stop Simson’s Gap- 24kms west of Alice. We went for a short walk to the gap and the waterhole through the dry river bed. Had lunch, then left for Ormiston Gorge, arriving about 4pm.
The camp area was busy with caravans, tents and campers. And another 2.2 family pulled up beside us. They could be heard from all over the place. The father and the 2 boys were koo-eeing each other between the caravan and the toilets. None of the gas bbq’s were working, so I made up a chicken & vegetable stirfry with cous cous on the gas burner, after which Sandy Inland mice would dart between our feet picking up the tiny scraps. The shower has hot water but there is no drinking water available. That night were woken by a dingo howling at 3am.
Day 17 – Larapinta Trail – section 9
We had decided the night before to tackle a section of the 230km Larapinta Trail. We chose section 9 which is 29kms long, but because we would need to return we would only do 16km before setting up camp. We got up pretty late, got our packs ready and headed. In the first few kilometers there were river red gums along the riverbed, and we had to take our shoes and socks off and wade through the river, which is usually dry. Once we got away from the river we walked over and around many hills.
There were many flowers out already including the paper daisies and the holly grevillia. Most of the ground cover was extremely rocky and covered by spinifex & mulga trees. Along the way we saw native pigeons, thousands of budgerigars and the black and yellow bowerbird whose call sounds like a yelping pup.
After a few hours we ascended Mount Giles and then walked along the ridge. On the way we met a lady who had walked from Alice Springs, and had lost count of how many days she had been out. About 30 minutes on we got to the lookout and decided to make camp.
Despite it being windy on top of the mountain it was an excellent spot where we wouldn’t likely encounter any animals. And there was a fireplace with plenty of firewood. We made a fire and had some tea. Then we saw the lady from before and we had a chat for about ½ hour. She was low on water so I gave her a popper. There is no water along this section of the track. Dinner was rice with Mexican beans. We watched the sun go down. The tent (our 5 (million) star tent) flapped in the wind all night, but besides that it wasn’t cold or uncomfortable.
Day 18 – Back to Ormiston Gorge area
I woke up and made porridge. Tried to take photos of the rising sun. Took down the tent, packed our packs & got going at 8.50am. We made it back to the camp area at Ormiston Gorge just before 1pm. Time for a beer, then a shower, then lunch then a sleep. Dinner was bangers n’mash with onion & eggs. The gas bbq’s near the car park were working so we used those ones instead of trying to do it all on my little burner.
At 7pm there was a ranger slide show presentation at the ampitheatre on desert rivers, woodlands and wildlife. During the presentation was interrupted by the dingo howling again! The rest of the night went well, except for some over-rigged grey nomads running a generator (probably to run their heater) the whole night
Day 19 – Ormiston Gorge – Alice Springs - Yulara
After doing emails, grocery shopping and petrol fill we headed out to the West Macdonnell Ranges. First stop Simson’s Gap- 24kms west of Alice. We went for a short walk to the gap and the waterhole through the dry river bed. Had lunch, then left for Ormiston Gorge, arriving about 4pm.
The camp area was busy with caravans, tents and campers. And another 2.2 family pulled up beside us. They could be heard from all over the place. The father and the 2 boys were koo-eeing each other between the caravan and the toilets. None of the gas bbq’s were working, so I made up a chicken & vegetable stirfry with cous cous on the gas burner, after which Sandy Inland mice would dart between our feet picking up the tiny scraps. The shower has hot water but there is no drinking water available. That night were woken by a dingo howling at 3am.
Day 17 – Larapinta Trail – section 9
We had decided the night before to tackle a section of the 230km Larapinta Trail. We chose section 9 which is 29kms long, but because we would need to return we would only do 16km before setting up camp. We got up pretty late, got our packs ready and headed. In the first few kilometers there were river red gums along the riverbed, and we had to take our shoes and socks off and wade through the river, which is usually dry. Once we got away from the river we walked over and around many hills.
There were many flowers out already including the paper daisies and the holly grevillia. Most of the ground cover was extremely rocky and covered by spinifex & mulga trees. Along the way we saw native pigeons, thousands of budgerigars and the black and yellow bowerbird whose call sounds like a yelping pup.
After a few hours we ascended Mount Giles and then walked along the ridge. On the way we met a lady who had walked from Alice Springs, and had lost count of how many days she had been out. About 30 minutes on we got to the lookout and decided to make camp.
Despite it being windy on top of the mountain it was an excellent spot where we wouldn’t likely encounter any animals. And there was a fireplace with plenty of firewood. We made a fire and had some tea. Then we saw the lady from before and we had a chat for about ½ hour. She was low on water so I gave her a popper. There is no water along this section of the track. Dinner was rice with Mexican beans. We watched the sun go down. The tent (our 5 (million) star tent) flapped in the wind all night, but besides that it wasn’t cold or uncomfortable.
Day 18 – Back to Ormiston Gorge area
I woke up and made porridge. Tried to take photos of the rising sun. Took down the tent, packed our packs & got going at 8.50am. We made it back to the camp area at Ormiston Gorge just before 1pm. Time for a beer, then a shower, then lunch then a sleep. Dinner was bangers n’mash with onion & eggs. The gas bbq’s near the car park were working so we used those ones instead of trying to do it all on my little burner.
At 7pm there was a ranger slide show presentation at the ampitheatre on desert rivers, woodlands and wildlife. During the presentation was interrupted by the dingo howling again! The rest of the night went well, except for some over-rigged grey nomads running a generator (probably to run their heater) the whole night
Day 19 – Ormiston Gorge – Alice Springs - Yulara
You guys look like you're getting really comfy with the vastness of Australia.... :)
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