Larapinta Track 2008

28th June

Arrived at Redbank Gorge using a Larapinta Transfer from Alice Springs. Walked up to the gorge then climbed above it for some interesting angles into the gorge from above. Made the decision not to treat the water that we were drinking. Late at night a noisy group from a bushwalking club from Victoria rocked up.

29th June

The noisy group got up at about 3am to be on top of Mt Sonder for the sun rise. I must say they were not quiet about it. AS nice as they were as a group I resolved with Rone to get ahead of them as soon as possible to have more peace and quiet for the rest of the walk. Ascending Mt Sonder was pleasant and geologically interesting as was the rest of the hike. Indiginous culture prevents further exploration of the mountain other than a trip to the south summit of Sonder and return and it is a trip well worht doing. We left at 8am and got back to the tents at 2pm. By dusk and 3 hours of walking later or so we arrived at Rocky Bar Gap. This scenic spot was a beautiful campsite.

30th June

From Rocky Bar Gap which cuts the ridge from Mt Sonder to Ormiston Gorge there is once through the gap the clearest and most spectacular view of Mt Sonder.

The range is crossed again to reach Glen Helen via "Hill Top Lookout" which is the first of these lookouts with the same name. Glen Helen is good for a beer along the way but I would prefer to stay and did stay at Finke River campsite (3 sided shelter + toilet provided).

1st July

Finke River to 17km distance marker from Sepentine Chalet Dam. Ormiston Gorge was reached for an early lunch, quick very cold dip and a laze about in the sun. Another 13km was in order to reach the 17km marker. This is the best place for a camp. The sunset was incredible as was the sunrise the following day but there was plenty of good places for a camp.

2nd July

A sensational colorful morning. The ridgeline is followed for another kilometer or so before descending a steep switchback until finally reaching a creek bed. This was followed upstream past several possible campsites until Waterfall gully was reached on the right. Ascending Waterfall gully leads to the best campsite in the area where the track crosses the gully at the base of the waterfall. Eventually this leads to an awesome spinifex clad valley with beautiful red cliffs. It actually appears like a glacial valley though I am sure it is not. A high pass is reached and then another wonderful valley is descended this time on the north side until the valley opens out and the valley is exited through "Interlarken Gorge" - I am sure I have the wrong name here. This gorge is the first place we saw cycads giving the gorge a rich appearance. On the other side we had 1 - 2 km to walk into Ellery Ck. A big but very nice day.

3rd July

Ellery Ck to Hugh View was a big day and probably the least interesting of the sections. First the range is crossed again and then a large wide open mulga valley is followed for most of the day. At lunch time we reached rocky creek where most people would camp (here or a bit further on at Ghost Gum Flat. At close to dusk we reached Hugh View.

4th July

Hugh View is only a few kilometres from the start of Hugh Gorge. This was a very interesting day where we filled up with tank water at the campsite and then travelled up the gorge. The Gorge was shaded most of the morning and has spectacular red walls.The track makes a turn at a side gorge where we stopped for an early lunch whilst I walked the extra kilometre or two to the waterhole at the end of the gorge. A rotting dead fox put me off any notion of drinking the water but it was a worthwhile side trip. The track crossed a low saddle and then another valley was followed down to Fringe Lilly Creek where we set up camp. This was worth exploring as further downstram there was some great polished rock formations.

5th July

We woke before dawn to the loud calls of nearby dingos. They were quite eerie and I was glad that I wasn't camped solo on this trip. From Fringe Lilly Creek a fantastic scenic ridge is followed aptly named "Razorback Ridge". Some of the best scenery of the trip was captured today. The track descends into Spencer Gorge also quite spectacular. What I wasn't expecting was another saddle to ascend over before dropping down into the catchment leading to Birthday Waterhole. We were there by lunchtime and met up with some fellow walkers we had bumped into at Ellery Creek.

6th July

Birthday Water hole (Birthday Hole)to the ascent of Brinkley Bluff only took an hour or two but the ascent of Brinkley was the steepest and longest ascent I feel of the whole trip. Mt Sonder being a long gentle ascent without a pack doesn't compare. Yet again we reached the top by lunchtime and was this a day well spent drooling over the view especially to the west. The dry creek beds in the distance were a site to see as was the dramatic views of the McDonald Range from here.

7th July

Brinkley Bluff was left sadly and the track descended slowly over about 10km to Standly Chasm. The fast food was awesome after 10 days of camp food. Chips and a burger was the least I could get. The tourist attraction was well attended by the Grey Nomad and other caravan types. A quick visit to the chasm for a photo or two with the hordes before venturing off towards Jays creek and alone again. The amount of up and down here took us by surprise as it combined with our heavy stomachs for a challenging section. We camped at Mallee Flat downstream from a bushwalking club from Victoria who were a large enough group to take every available campsite on the creek.

8th July

Mallee Flat 9th July Mulga Camp 10th July Wallaby Gap 11th July Telegraph Station - almost 12th July Home 1