Larapinta 8. A barrel full of exhaustion

 

 

One wonders why cricketers stand out in the sun when it is 40 degrees in the shade, and why hikers do so in freezing conditions. It is simply because it is the thing that keeps them alive, vibrant and looking forward to life.

Peter Bowler

 

One of the reasons why you could have a shocker of a sleep is if the toilet is built too close to the hut. The door clanks open and shut and noises from within the toilet echo throughout the night. It was so still out there you could hear toilet paper scrunch or fold from one hundred metres away. It was busy that night around the hut where I was attempting to sleep. I missed the cosy, calming confines of my tent.

Ron and Geoff had warned me they were leaving at three in the morning to train for the World Cup. They explained that the early morning hours of rogaining competitions are the most energy-sapping and concentration levels usually drop. Did I want to come with them? I don’t think so!!

Monday 18 July 2016

Section 7: Serpentine Gorge to Ellery Creek

Section 7 is a 13.8km section. 

 

Uneven, definitely not flat

 

The sharp rocks on the first part of the trail can be hard on tender feet, but the rocks show the long geological history of the West MacDonnell Ranges. 

 





Geological treasures - like walking on an ancient Australian spine



There is an abundance of birds, including the hard to find spinifex bird.

 

Information from the government website

 

The Spinifex Bird or Megaluridae WAS hard to find.
I had to look it up on fatbirder.com



 

 

After a couple of restless hours I just decided to get up before dawn, pack and leave as early as I could. I was excited to have my rest day with Julie at Ellery creek. Sleep some other time. The track, even though only 13 km and according to the map, on flat terrain, went up and down like a yoyo over jaggered diagonal edges of ancient geographic treasures. Frustratingly, the track bounced up every molehill on the plain, ignoring the perfect flat ground only a hundred metres away. My feet did what was prescribed by the government website and turned to mush.


 

Looking back from Trig Point

 

 

My tired eyes dismissed the first sighting of Trig Point as "a mirage". Coming closer there was no denying the fact that there was a barrel hoisted high in the air by a pole and anchored down by wires. 'What does a barrel on a stick do in the middle of the wilderness?' This rusty barrel, according to the information provided, is a trigonomic station used as a reference point to build roads, bridges etc. If you are a surveyor, this bucket on a pole may well be an exciting thingymebob. I liked the aesthetics of it, cutting into the sky like a make-do relic of a past civilisation in an even more ancient landscape.

 

Barrel on a stick?

 

 

Give me any other day of my life to walk that section and my mouth would have been open from amazement. This Monday all I could feel was frustration and anxiety that the end of the day's walk was still so far away. My brain going through some 'what the hell am I doing here' time. As I exhaustedly cantered into the car park of Ellery Creek, Ron and Geoff had long gone, I again resorted to jabbing holes in the sky from happiness. Julie's timing was spot on as the familiar car rocked up at the day use area immediately, trailing a fine cloud of red dust behind her.

I had to sit down for half an hour before I could help set up the roof top tent. I had a memorable shower in the change tent, exquisite lunch and dinner, a lovely afternoon kip and clean clothes. Oh!! how I appreciated those small things after eight days on the track.
 

Reflections in still water at Ellery Creek

 
It was a romantic evening sitting around the fire looking at stars, listening to the wildlife and slept like baby bear after a big bowl of porridge.

Tuesday 19 July 2016

 

 

We chatted to Roz and John over a coffee. It was Rozz's first major hike and she compared her experiences with the expensive retreats she attended in far away places where they practised being silent and looking inward to check in on emotional and mental wellbeing. “You should try it some day Mars” I was told in a bout of banter. This to me is an interesting comparison. I always come away feeling reenergised and full of ideas after a hike like this. The look inward is certainly a factor out here in the vast open wilderness. 

If we allow ourselves to be truly vulnerable we will find out who we are. 

 

The wire that anchors the Trig Point 

I hope everyone, some day, has the opportunity to walk tough.
 

That afternoon I set up my tent in the creek bed. I am now more confident I am no longer going to be swallowed up by a raging torrent of muddy water in the middle of the night. As it happens, there was no rain anywhere in the area and the day temperatures had warmed up to mid-twenties; perfect for hiking.

 

 

We packed up the car and Julie, sadly, left for Alice Springs.

 

Grey Bits

 
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Ellery Creek, the half way mark