Things learnt on the Larapinta Trail
Despite doing a lot of online research before walking the Larapinta Trail there is no substitute for the real experience. Here are my learnings and thoughts to share with anyone…
Tag: Larapinta blog
Highlights of the Larapinta Trail
The Larapinta Trail is a classic Australian long distance (223km) walk along the West MacDonnell Range from or to Alice Springs. It’s by far the longest walk I’ve done (both…
Larapinta Trail Days 11 & 12 – Mulga Camp to Alice Springs Telegraph Station (Sections 2 and 1)
The finale to a near 260km twelve day adventure walking the West MacDonnell Range on the Larapinta Trail. Finally arrived back into Alice Springs after what seemed a much longer…
Larapinta Trail Day 10 – Standley Chasm to Mulga Camp (Sections 3 and 2)
Headed into the home stretch on the Larapinta Trail, back in Alice Springs in a few days. Today was the last of the big days and big hills, hard work…
Larapinta Trail Day 9 – Section 4/5 Junction to Standley Chasm (Section 4)
Three quarters of the way through the Larapinta Trail I walked one of the most spectacular sections crossing the Chewings Range, with epic vistas in all directions, before ending the…
Larapinta Trail Day 8 – Hugh Gorge to Section 4/5 Junction (Section 5)
After a tough day yesterday I regained my hiking mojo on section 5 of the Larapinta Trail, the most technically challenging part of the track so far. It involved lots…
Larapinta Trail Day 7 – Ellery Creek to Hugh Gorge (Section 6)
Crossed the half way mark of the Larapinta Trail with the longest day distance wise, nearly 32km, and second longest time wise, about seven and a half hours walking. It…
Larapinta Trail Day 6 – Serpentine Gorge to Ellery Creek (Section 7)
The shortest day of walking so far, had been tempted to combine with yesterday’s section 8 but was keen on spending some time at Ellery Creek. With views like this…
Larapinta Trail Day 5 – Serpentine Chalet Dam to Serpentine Gorge (Section 8)
Thankfully a much easier day than yesterday, though more because it was half the distance, not because it was any flatter, with a steep ascent and descent up to a…
Larapinta Trail Day 4 – Ormiston Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam (Section 9)
A very long and exhausting day, walking literally from dawn to dusk (though with an hour and a half lunch break) nearly 29km, with few flat parts. I’d originally planned…
Larapinta Trail Day 3 – Finke River to Ormiston Gorge (Section 10)
One of the shorter days on the trail but walking any distance up hills in 30C heat is hard work, particularly when the air is so dry that your sweat…
Larapinta Trail Day 2 – Redbank Gorge to Finke River (Section 11)
Another hot day, 32C, though in the summer 45C is common, and somehow people still walk the trail then! Mainly at night I think. Today was a more typical day…
Larapinta Trail Day 1 – Mt Sonder and Redbank Gorge (Section 12)
A 223km walk along the West MacDonnell Range between Alice Springs and Mt Sonder, the Larapinta Trail is one of the great Australian hikes. It is quintessentially Australian, traversing a rocky…