Kings Canyon

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So, 4:30am, very dark, reasonably cold, and very sleepy, we all got up for breakfast. The hand powered lights didn't give off much in the way of illumination, so finding all your belongings in the tent was tricky at such a time. Then we packed up the bus, jumped aboard and set off for kings canyon, about 45 mins away.

When we arrived it was still quite dark, although sunrise was only a few minutes away so we could see enough to walk. We walked up the start of two walks - one would take 3.5 hours and the other about 30 minutes.

The long walk started with a steep climb up to the top of the canyon, whilst the other walk was more gentle. After some discussion we all decided to go on the long walk and set off up the very steep climb to the top. It was about 500m high, and we were all out of puff by the time we reached the top. We were now on the top of kings canyon, which lay next to a gorge. The difference is that a canyon forms from a fracture in the rocks, and a gorge from erosion. Its a subtle point!

We then started our walk around the canyon, looking down into the depths occasionally and Liz pointing out various trees and other bits of information at intervals and gave some of the history of discovery and so on.

We passed the lost city, which is a collection of wind shaped domes that resemble houses a little, in a poor light, with a bit of imagination. At one point we had a little trip to the edge to look down across various small chasms. Another trip was to the Garden of Eden, a little pool in the middle of the canyon which could only be reached down a winding trail.
After this we had morning tea which was a fruit cake that Liz had carried all the way up. By now the sun was quite high and we were all down to t-shirts and our rucksacks full of fleeces and coats. I would not fancy doing the walk in summer when it gets up to 45C in the shade! We all managed to complete the walk, spurred on by the thought of dinner and the toilets that were available at the end!

Then, off for some lunch - it was only 11:00 by the time we arrived at the lunch place where we had cold meats and salads in a shelter out of the sun, but were attacked by various native birds swooping down to try and pinch the sandwiches from our plates. We also saw a dingo trot through the camp.

Now our major sightseeing had come to an end and we headed back towards Alice Springs. However to get there we had to go on the Marini loop road. It isn't a road as such, just a dirt track, and very bumpy. Cath and Simon had stocked up on travel pills before hand, and we rattled along the road for about 3 hours. We had a couple of stops, one when we spotted some wild horses, and another to look at a distant meteor crater. Then, in Hermansburg, we met up with another lorry/bus that was to take us back to Alice, some of the others still had another day of camping to do with Liz, but we were rather glad it was coming to and end by now!


It was just over an hours trip back to Alice Springs but fortunately along paved roads this time! We were dropped back at our hotel, recovered our luggage, managed to stagger to the closest resteraunt (KFC) and then back for an early night, exhausted - in a real bed!

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Comments

[A.Audrey]

Why
why didnt i go with you? I am enjoying it all so much that i feel as tho i am there sometimes. My favorite picture is the one called "erosian does funnny things" isn't it amazing !!!!! Can't wait to hear it all when you get home. Didn't look at my e-mails for 2 days ... Lizzy and David and R,T and E are here and time goes too quickly. I'll do more commenting next time.xxxx A.A