The Larapinta Trail, Central Australia – Day 6

The legs were a bit weary after some seriously steep and rocky climbs yesterday, but our enthusiasm was undiminished. We knew we had an easier day today, although that is not how it is portrayed on the official signage.

Today we trade lung-busting climbs for constant undulations across a wide, open valley.

Let’s go…

Date: Friday, 21 July 2023.

From: Hugh Gorge Trailhead

To: Rocky Gully

Section #: 6A

Rating: Moderate-Difficult. Possibly more difficult if you complete both 6A and 6B on the same day.

Official/Map Distance: 15.3km      Planned Distance: 15.3km      Actual Distance: 16.7km

Progress: 111/223km

Ascent: 330m                                  Descent: 302m

Terrain: Easy. Undulating with short, rocky outcrops to climb.

Started Walking: 0901                   Finished: 209pm                       Time/Hrs: 4h58m

Weather: Clear and warm with a refreshing cool breeze/wind.

Stayed At: Rocky Gully Group Campsite

General Comments:

• It was pack-up day today as we had to move camp from the glorious Birthday Waterhole to the group camp at Rocky Gully. You can picture the contrast in outlook and water availability just by reading the names of the different campsites. No bracing swim to end our walk today, but the upside is that the Partner in Crime (PiC) and I could move out tents well away from the Symphony of Snorers. There is always an upside – you just need to look for it.
• Over a leisurely breakfast we compared notes about the raucous noise of the dingos last night. They must have been fighting over something important as it sounded like an all-in brawl. Don’t worry I felt perfectly safe and they were quite a distance away.

• We did the usual battle rolling our swags – a real warm-up exercise even before the walking started. Tents were folded and bags packed and stacked under a large gum tree, ready for loading and transport to Rocky Gully. Imagine my surprise when we arrived at Rocky Gully at the end of the day, when our guide asked, ‘who owns the green canvas duffle bag?’ Me! Apparently in the short time it took for our guide to transport us by troopie to the Hugh Gorge Trailhead and return, a murder of crows had invaded the campsite, unzipped my heavy duty duffle bag and proceeded to wreak havoc!
• You see, I have a sweet tooth and had a small stash of lollies. The crows must have smelled them and made a beeline for my duffle bag. After unzipping it, they pecked through a thick cloth bag, pecked open the sealed bag of lollies and ate every single lolly, except two. They also pecked holes in my dirty clothes bag (what were they thinking??), my shoe bag and carried off my bathroom bag, dropping it in a completely different part of the camp. All I can picture is a large flock of crows on a serious sugar high! At least they saved me the calories! 😊 The things that happen in the Outback!

• Back to the walking…
• In comparison to the last couple of days, today could have been rated as Easy. The official description hedged its bets at Moderate-Difficult and maybe that is to ensure we don’t get too cocky and comfortable.
• The path set out across the Alice Valley and it turned out to be continual undulations and a few short, steep climbs to keep the heartrate up. Every now and then we would enjoy about 20m of actual flat, clear, dirt paths and it was heavenly underfoot…before back to the rocks.

• We left the Chewings Mountain range behind and started heading straight towards the Heavitree Mountains where we would be spending the rest of our time. It was a wonderful sight to have one mountain range at our backs as we headed directly towards another. The contrasting colours of one being in shadow and the other in full sun was quite stark and very beautiful.
• The only slight downside of today’s trail was that it took us through large sections of burned out countryside. Apparently, a bushfire had been through a month or so ago and created a look of pure desolation and barren-ness. The upside was to spot small green shoots struggling up through the rocks and trees/shrubs doing their best to sprout again. The resilience of Nature!

• Today’s Word: Powerful
• Menu: Breakfast: Croissants with fried eggs and avocado
  • Lunch: Red pesto pasta salad with chicken and three cheeses
  • Dinner: Dips and biscuits for entrée, then chicken curry, rice and naan bread.

Top Tips for this Section:

• Beware the cleverness, curiosity and cunningness of crows.
• Pack ear plugs to combat the sound of snorers and/or dingoes.
• Enjoy the flat countryside while it lasts and open your heart to this vast brown (and black) land.

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