Flitting about the West Macdonnells - or the sample bag appr
Posted: Wed 11 Sep, 2013 9:44 pm
I had a week up there mid August and it appears that the Larapinta is popular for walkers.
However, with only a week to spare and relying on a hire vehicle for transport, I planned a trip to pick the eyes out of few spots.
I was sad to miss the Hugh Gorge section, but I suspect a serious 4 wheel drive needs to be used for quick access, and I would prefer not to do it solo.
So this is a photo report of some of what I managed to fit in.
Note that there are a number of great photo reports from those doing the whole track
- see http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=14733 and http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=14504 and http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=14605
So I will be posting some less "usual" shots with a few touristy ones thrown in.
Day 1 was a warm up on Mt Gillen - the 950m mountain that looks out over Alice Springs.
It appears that it is a regular exercise track for some of the locals. There are great views from the top and it is a 350m climb in 5.7km return distance.
The only "interesting" bit is a vertical scramble near the top - but nothing technical.
However I had read about a rescue off this route when a girl broke a bone. The track is rough underfoot and getting her down was a tough exercise.
Day 2 was a quiet day around Alice before heading up to Stanley Chasm for the night.
I was there in good time to explore a bit and watch the sun setting from the nearby lookout hill.
At the Chasm, there is a chain and warning sign at the top end. It had not been there in 2007 when we had explored up to the upper chasm.
I believe the Larapinta Trail used to work its way all the way up this section, but it now bypasses the chasms with a very steep track up and down and up and down the side.
Day 3 was a morning trip to Gastrolobium Saddle. I took the opportunity near Ankgale Junction to descend down towards Stanley Chasm and it was well worth it.
Its only a short distance down the creek bed to a constricted canyon that you can negotiate until it ends looking into the upper chasm.
This is on top of a chock stone about 4m above the chasm floor. There is a gap next to the chockstone where you can descend with care,
but I had been in this chasm in 2007 and I was happy to have a stop at the constrictions above it this time round.
Still, if I am right - negotiating this was once part of the Larapinta Trail.
However, with only a week to spare and relying on a hire vehicle for transport, I planned a trip to pick the eyes out of few spots.
I was sad to miss the Hugh Gorge section, but I suspect a serious 4 wheel drive needs to be used for quick access, and I would prefer not to do it solo.
So this is a photo report of some of what I managed to fit in.
Note that there are a number of great photo reports from those doing the whole track
- see http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=14733 and http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=14504 and http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=14605
So I will be posting some less "usual" shots with a few touristy ones thrown in.
Day 1 was a warm up on Mt Gillen - the 950m mountain that looks out over Alice Springs.
It appears that it is a regular exercise track for some of the locals. There are great views from the top and it is a 350m climb in 5.7km return distance.
The only "interesting" bit is a vertical scramble near the top - but nothing technical.
However I had read about a rescue off this route when a girl broke a bone. The track is rough underfoot and getting her down was a tough exercise.
Day 2 was a quiet day around Alice before heading up to Stanley Chasm for the night.
I was there in good time to explore a bit and watch the sun setting from the nearby lookout hill.
At the Chasm, there is a chain and warning sign at the top end. It had not been there in 2007 when we had explored up to the upper chasm.
I believe the Larapinta Trail used to work its way all the way up this section, but it now bypasses the chasms with a very steep track up and down and up and down the side.
Day 3 was a morning trip to Gastrolobium Saddle. I took the opportunity near Ankgale Junction to descend down towards Stanley Chasm and it was well worth it.
Its only a short distance down the creek bed to a constricted canyon that you can negotiate until it ends looking into the upper chasm.
This is on top of a chock stone about 4m above the chasm floor. There is a gap next to the chockstone where you can descend with care,
but I had been in this chasm in 2007 and I was happy to have a stop at the constrictions above it this time round.
Still, if I am right - negotiating this was once part of the Larapinta Trail.