Hiking Details
Season
Winter
Months
June to August
Sights
Arid mountains, gorges, dry creek beds, waterholes
Hazards
Dehydration, Snakes, Hyperthermia, Hypothermia
The trip is being organized for women, those that identify as female and non-binary folk under the banner of She Devil Trekkers (see https://shedeviltrekkers.wordpress.com/). This trip will build your confidence, fitness and mental resilience, prepare you for bigger trails like the AAWT, Bibbulmun trail in Australia or Appalachian trail, Pacific Crest trail, Continental Divide trails in America.
Inviting 4 ANUMC members to participate in this trip along with myself, and 4 other non ANUMC members part of the She Devil trekkers group that promotes female empowerment and diversity on the trail.
The Larapinta Trail is an extended walking track in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its total length covers 223km from east to west, with the eastern end at Alice Springs and the western end at Mount Sonder, one of the territory's highest mountains. It follows the West MacDonnell Ranges, sometimes along the ridge line, other times on the plain below, in the West MacDonnell National Park.
The brief trip plan is as follows:
The Larapinta trail hike will take 18 days plus another 2 days for arrival – the day before, and departure the day after (in total 20 days).
The date breakdown; August 7th – 26th
- 7th August – Arrival and stay at the YHA (Accommodation details below)
- Food drop tubs will be dropped off by the local transport company. We will be packing our food for the hike that night.
- The experienced members of the group will go through each person’s pack to help shakedown gear that may not be required. We must keep weight at 18kg or less!
- 8th August – Hike begins (the Itinerary for the hike itself is below)
- Transport to Section 1 – is still being given consideration– it’s an hour to hike from the YHA to the 1st section, I will need to check what transport is available for such as short trip ( 20 minutes’ drive but for 10 passengers plus their packs).
- Food drop camp sites – Standley, Ellery Creek and Ormiston
- 25th August – Hike ends
- Transport company will pick us up at Redrock Gorge, as well as our tubs on the way back to Alice Springs.
- 26th August – Departure, most people to depart on this date. (Accommodation details below)
- If you want to stay an extra night to explore Alice Springs a bit longer it will need to be organised by you.
Annual Leave – for those that want to know how many annual leave days they need to take – based on the dates it’s approximately 14 Business days.
Trip Leaders Note
You must be experienced in self-sustaining multi-day hiking and camping. You will be carrying a 20kg 50 litre backpack which contains your shelter, sleep and cooking system along with your food. You will be walking the entire end to end distance, averaging 15 – 25km per day on rough terrain in warm dry climate.
I will be arranging hikes on the lead up to this trip increasing in difficulty in terrain and distance.
Equipment
- Tent (one between two) 3 - season
- Sleeping bag (-5 degree)
- Thermal mat (check R value)
- Torch/headlamp
- Stove and cooking gear (recommend sharing), Pick up gas canister at Alice Spring
- Clothes Polypropolene or wool. NO COTTON.
- Rain jacket, pants
- Gaiters
- Thermal sleeping clothes
- Wool socks and beanie
- Wide brim hat
- Hiking poles
- Toiletries (including toilet paper)
- Meals (18 x breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Separated into 4 food drops
- Water (minimum 5L)
- Water Purification (tablets / filters)
- Basic First aid (include emergency blanket)