Bushwalk Australia

I have been able to get out for 2 extended walks in the Flinders Ranges during July.

The first was a 3 day walk along a section of the Heysen Trail from Horrocks Pass to Pichi Richi Pass via Mt Brown - the highest peak in the southern Flinders.
This area is relatively well watered in winter, and the greening of the countryside was impressive.
[I will post some photos from the other walk later - it was a 5 day walk in the far North of the Flinders in the Gammon Ranges - a real desert environment]

The Heysen Trail is a very long distance trail running from the southern tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula - south of Adelaide, through the Adelaide Hills and the mid North and into the Flinders Ranges up to Parachilna. It runs through a mixture of private property and public parks.
This section highlights this by crossing bare sheep station hillsides before crossing into native scrub on Mt Brown and then the typical Flinders creeks and gorges running into Pichi Richi Pass.

This one has a few light effects, but I thought it was still nice

The last one shows virtual right angle folding of sediments along multiple lines.
Logically, this implies the sediments were all laid rapidly at the same time with the folding taking place while the sediments had not yet fully hardened to avoid cracking of the rock along the folds.
It is the kind of simple observation that is often overlooked due to a commitment at believing the rocks were laid and thrust over vast amounts of time.

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Being a former South Australian these photos make me miss my old home. The Flinders Ranges were a short drive away and we'd often go for short hikes. It's only since moving to Tassie that i've really gotten into bush-walking, but i'm already planning to do some hiking next visit back to SA.

I'm an ex-South Aussie as well. I can't believe how green it is!! I don't think I've ever seen the Flinders that lush before.

yeah it's so green! I remember the shapes of those gullies in the hills, but only when they were bone dry in summer..
love that first sunset pic

Great series, some top photos in there looks like good walking.

Thanks all

It is the "southern" Flinders - so can green up quite well in winter. But yes - it was surprising to me as well - as it is more often quite dry and yellow/brown.

We went way up in the northern Flinders to the Gammons on the follow up walk (8 hour drive)
- and there the earth is mostly multi-coloured bare rock. Quite a contrast.
This is a sample - as I am still working through the photos from that trip.

Grindalls Hut? You didn't get out to Bunyip Chasm, by any chance?

Great area, but not one of my favourite memories. I got a bad case of sunstroke that day . . . staggered - almost crawled - back into camp after dusk, dry-retching almost non-stop (there was nothing left in my stomach to come back up), eyes wouldn't focus, brain threatening to explode out of my skull, . . . *shudder* Last time I went bush without carrying a hat.
Terrific place, but.

Oh, and marvellous photos. It's been too long since I was up in the Gammons.

scavenger

yes we did climb the 5 waterfalls into Bunyip.
Spent 5 days all up - Weetootla - Bunyip - John Roberts - Shelf Chasm - Cleft Peak - Rover - Fern/Terraces & out via Grindalls & Weetootla again.
And we did wear hats and use sun block - and carry water for 3/4 days.
Still working through all the photos - but you will see soon.
Weather was kind - sunny, but still quite cool each day - lots of shade in the gorges - and when out on the slopes there were either stiff winds or cool breezes.
Very nice.

Worst aspect was scratches from dead branches and prickly things and staggering over in the creek beds.

So many places. So little time (away from work).