Movie stage VIII

The mountain ranges of the Red Center of Australia always look rugged, wild, majestic and of course reddish. Near Alice Springs, West MacDonnell National Park authorities have set up a well-marked trail known as Larapinta.

It is a long and varied trail divided into 12 sections. It leads from one beautiful view to another, from mountain passes to gorges, from waterholes to dry spinifex. You probably won't be bored here.

 

I started at the west end of the route at Redbank Gorge. I waited politely in the parking lot where Emu Run picked up my bike, so I was logistics free, and the arrival of Piotrek and Teresa relaxed me completely - the first live conversation in Polish from the beginning of the journey. Of course, I was not only happy to see my friends, but also to what they brought with them - a ton of food! From then on, I stopped starving.

It was great to chat, laugh, joke, admire the views. Apart from the second and second last day, when I walked from morning to evening, the remaining days were a rest from the adventure - we often ended the day only after a few hours of hiking. In addition carefree navigation, because the path is streight forward and it is difficult to get lost. Mental and physical relax.

I recommend the trail to everyone, because you can adjust the difficulties and distances to your own abilities, it is safe, there aren't too many people but you will see them every hour or so, drinking water is available regularly, plenty of camping places.

I missed section 12, the one going up to Mt Sonder, because a moment earlier I was on the nearby Mt Zeil, I just wanted a day of laziness (I just went to see the newrby gorge). Then for five days I was walking with Teresa and Piotrek among great views, and on the sixth day we split up. It was fun together, but for me, a few hours later, another meeting took place, for which I had been waiting for almost 4 months.

 

At Ellery Creek, I was sitting on a bench watching every car entrring the parking lot. In the end, I saw the one I was waiting for - he honked, reverse, the first door opened, then the second one - from the latter my son ran straight into my arms. A wonderful moment. Of course, then it was time to hug my wife too - finally the family reunion.

The problem was funny, because when I was ordering fresh food supplies from Ewelina, I wrote a list while long-term starving. So it turned out that I got more food than I could eat - and I had to carry it. Well, the backpack was not in the ultralight category, but it was on my own request.
The uncertain matter concerned our 7-year-old son, as the previous whole week the poor boy was sick with high temperature and only now had the second day of well-being - children recover quickly, but whether he can make the trek and if that will be a pleasure for him, or will we have to stay stationary?

I did not meet any children of primary school age on the trail. In two weeks, I only saw four older teenagers. After all, daily hikes of about 8-16km with elevations, grade 5 walking paths, vertical drops, winds, crossing icy waters, nights in freezing temperatures (some record of the length of negative temperatures has been broken since the 70s) should scare Natan and discourage him. What a miracle that he not only moved forward, but also looked for the right track and carried his backpack, studied maps and was open to people and adventure. He was not even scared off by a large-sized snake which he spotted when I was already crossing a branch with my foot with a hidden reptile in the middle. We both froze as he shouted "snake", so everything ended without incident.

Crossing the Hugh Gorge with the water in the middle was also quite an adventure. I managed to lift Natan on a rock ledge, but me and Ewelina had to swim in deep ice water - fortunately just a short distance.
Another unforgettable experience was staying overnight on the crests - I experienced this twice, once with a couple of friends and once with my family. Of course the wind was blowing and it was cold, but the sunsets and sunrise and the full moon made up for any inconvenience.

I am proud of my wife and son who covered 70 km on a difficult route in six days, with over 2,000 meters of gained elevation. My entire itinerary with all side excursions was just over 250km, but this time I did it at a truly relaxed 14 day pace. The trail ends in the town of Alice Springs, where for a few days I prepared my further journey and enjoyed my time with Ewelina and Natan.

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