Ken Wilson.id.au
Larapinta Trail
The larapinta trail had long attracted me, but a prolonged dry spell had kept me away. Looking at the BOM website and seeing driest 10% of annual or up to 10 years period caused some concern. I had started organising a private trip several times, but rain was not there, the last time I cancelled it then rained for 18 months, So I ended up booking for a year in advance with Trek Larapinta Initially for my partner and I, but Lisa got a job so it ended up just being me joining their group of 8 paying customers, a walking guide and a driving guide. An 18 day end to end trip with only one overnight pack carry. 230kms plus various bits at the start and finish of sections that got us to the drive to campsites that they used that allowed fires and often a fixed camp for a few days. With lesser backup, and without acess to some roads and gates for the backup vehicle, then there would be more times that multiday pack carries would be required. The roads do lend themselves to supply drops but a mouse plague and numerous dingoes mean that good metal boxes would be required. Putting them out and retriving them would create a fair bit of logistical time and expense, so the commercial trip is only expensive if you have a group and spare time, or acess to a local vehicle and driver. Water was available where creeks passed through ridgelines, and on some flat sandy stretches, so at least every day, but in dry times there could be bigger gaps. One would need to apply suitable processing before drinking as all water is animal affected. Trek Larapinta largely used town water, probably as a commercial risk decision. The ground is rocky. The edges of the quartzite strata point upwards, giving rise to the ridges the track follows half the time, and the surface of the tracks that traverse them. I used Volleys and found them fine, but the roughness works your feet harder than anywhere else I have been, and it is more sustained. There is a little sand walking, and a little on flood plains, but most is pointy rock. I had a backup pair of boots but did not use them. Others used boots. There was occassional frost, probably less than in dryer times due to the moderating effect of increased water in the environment, days were walm but not too hot, May was a good time to go, and we were lucky with no rain. Vegetation was green and luxuriant, with numerous wild flowers after 18months of rain, including 2 wet summers. Mice were everywhere, so the snakes and raptors were well fed. Tracks were obvious in most places, with numerous markers, and good signage. The map set and notes from Parks, or the guidebook by Chapman are both good, and either would get you through.
Photos follow in sections as The Larapinta Trail is numbered by National Parks.
