We’re back down in the Southern Flinders Ranges (parked at Port Augusta because it is closest to these mountains) where we planned to be because we’re on our way home. There are mountains here we were keeping up our sleeve in case we ran out, and so we are calling on them to complete our 30. Today it was the Hidden Gorge Mountain, (my name for it because I couldn’t find its name). There are [...]
I found a mountain!!! And it’s a beauty. Eight kilometres away across a flat expanse of red earth lies Mount Jarvis. As I walked towards it I could see the rocks on the side and near the top, glisten. There had been some rain and I was putting my poncho on as I noticed it. There was a saddle and the mountain on the other side of it also glistened. Corrie had other things to [...]
Some days ago I got lost because I missed a sign. Below is my third attempt to get it right. I tried the newly opened walk at Leigh Creek this morning because I think I now have a clear idea on where the path goes. The sun was just beginning to shed light at the far end of the earth struggling to be seen behind the white grey mass of clouds. It seemed that yesterday [...]
As I explained earlier, my experience here in SA is that there have been two types of gorges - a long gorge that you admire on a ‘journey’ through it; and a gorge that you arrive at and then admire, that I call a ‘destination’ gorge. This was a ‘journey’ gorge that we travelled along for over six kms. A dry, ‘two semi trailer wide’ at times rocky creek bed narrowing to a car width [...]
We’ve come back down to earth after leaving the relatively pristine environs of Wilpena Pound. As soon as we hit the long, dry, flat plains of what I hear some people call, the real Australia, it seems like another country. As you go further north it becomes dryer, the towns become smaller and the deserts loom large. There are mountains but there is little or no accommodation, so we would have to travel too far [...]
Last dinner was with our new friends from Rozelle. They followed us on the Bridle Path yesterday because they thought their initial lookout hike was not enough and if us two oldies could mess with the rocks and the rain then they could. Sadly she hurt her knees with the rock jumping (I tell you it is a highly specialised art), but gladly they were able to walk the big mountain today. So it was [...]
One article said this was a very difficult climb; another said it was rocky but only difficult for a short way and then flattened out; another said it was straight forward for most hikers. We called its bluff even though it was one for and two against. Just in case there was an issue I covered myself and added a couple of kms to my pre dawn walk. It was a 20km drive to [...]
We met them by the pond while talking to a tree. We looked up at the tree and saw a tiny bird that she was conversing with. We chatted a little and then decided to move on with our chat. They were walkers, he a cyclist as well, and they live in Rozelle, next to Balmain. So we chatted about these and other things. We talked of getting together to talk of more stories [...]
On my morning walk I discovered two tracks that we hadn’t been on so I did a small recce of these and determined after our difficult day yesterday we would stay relatively closer to mother earth, still covering the minimum 20kms. The outside route to St Mary’s looked interesting and should take our focus off our backaches. On the way we met a delightful young couple who had just completed their mountain walk so [...]
It’s the highest Mountain in the Flinders Ranges but walkers can only walk to Tanderra Saddle just below the summit. We acknowledge that the peak of this mountain is sacred and local elders would be pleased if we respected that request. So it was with a little relief that we couldn’t travel to the top - relief from the rain, the slippery rocks and the howling wind were making the climb very dangerous. We [...]
