A few weeks ago, I walked the 223km Larapinta trail which snakes along the backbone of the Western MacDonald ranges. Reaching west from Alice Springs to Mt Sonder, the Larapinta was a journey of immersion in a spectacular, remote, and alive part of Central Australia.
A 16 day journey of the heart ... and feet...
Ahhhh that feeling when you finally drop out of mobile service and disappear into the rhythm of a long distance journey.
Following a mountain range in a consistent direction, the Larapinta is unique in that you can see both a long way into the future and past directions of your journey. A distant quartzite ridge, red with iron oxide staining shimmering in the far, far west which grows larger and larger with the walking. Three days later, and I am standing under a lone silvery cypress pine on its jagged back. Three more days and it is disappearing into the east becoming a reminder of the time and distance that has passed underfoot.
Wonderful friends who made me laugh till I couldn't stand up and because of their unique experiences, gave mine so much more.
High mountain camps with views that went on and on and sitting taking it in while we drank another chai and listened to the dingoes howl while another amazing meal was prepared.
Spinifex, ruby red gorges, ancient cycads, glittery rocks, Euros, Dingos, Peregrine falcons and a landscape that went on and on and on as far as you can see.
And the silence.
But mostly the skies. Sunrises that touched ridges and valleys and ranges with a burning orange. Soft sunrises which painted the world alive. The full moon over Mt Sonder as we climbed through the clouds and into the clear night sky above and further up into the blazing dawn. Sleeping under the stars each night and trying to find a wish to match every shooting star I saw.
A few meandering words for my meandering journey. More stories to come.
1 comment:
It sound like an amazing place Kat!
Happy trails in the snow, and good luck in your assessment!
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