The following is a direct excerpt from my diary at the end of my Alice Springs travel adventure:
"At last, here I am on a plane home bound. It was no more than 6 weeks ago where I had no idea what I would be doing over my winter holidays. Alice Springs crossed my mind but the $700 return tickets put me off. It wasn't until my girlfriend Kat asked me whether it was the experiences and memories I would remember or the money I had spent. I reflected on my more recent trips, the Bibb track and my cycle across Australia, experiences I will cherish for the rest of my life. Never once have I regretted spending money for these trips, whats $700 at the enf of the day? A gateway to new experiences and hopefully memories that will last me a lifetime. My tickets were booked.
A nervous flight took me to Alice Springs where I had no idea what I had ahead of me A lack of time for preperation led to some quick decision making. After 2 nights and 3 days in Alice, flailing around trying to get everything organised I was finally ready to start my adventure, the Larapinta Trail. My knowledge of this trail was quite limited but as we drove towards Mt Sonder, my mouth gaped open at the surrounding countryside. I knew I was in for one hell of a journey.
I may have been ill-prepared in some regards, but my experience has taught me how to pack light, this enabled me to travel long distances at ease and after 2 days on the trail I knew it was possible to walk the trail twice within my time schedule without having to sacrifice personal comforts and my physical well-being.
Day 5 however showed where my lack of preparation layed. One of the worst sleeps of my life due to the old and poor campsite choice. A simple check of previous winter temperatures would have change all this, however I only assumed that it would only ever get as low as zero degrees celsius when in reality temperatures of minus three to five degrees celsius were not uncommon during the Alice Spring winter.
Fortunately I made it to the end of the trail by day 9, barely making it through the nights wearing all the clothes I packed and picking better camping sites. I did the trail in 9 days, a week faster than I had planned for, but it ost me a lot of sleep, then again I wouldn't have slept any better had I taken my time. I was mentally drained and I could tell it was affecting my emotions. I was not sure whether I wanted to go back onto the trail but I gave myself two nights in Alice Springs to releive me of my sleep debt and refresh my mind.
After the first night of sleep I was immediately sure that I wanted to be back out there. That, and the fact that I had over 3 weeks left before my flight departed back home, I needed something to fill the time! Some warmer sleeping gear, sleeping matt and new shoes later, I was back on the trail.
The return journey took me 12 days, I was not there to break any records and I was happy to `take my time', after walking the trail one way I was able to identify all the `I should camp here next time' spots and did so. I was able to absorb the scenery a little better, make friends along the way and most importantly, sleep a little warmer.
Finishing at Mt Sonder was amazing, reaching the summit, I was with a fellow hiker who took me to the real summit of Mt Sonder before descending in the dark after a spectacular sunset. Hitching back to Alice Springs the next day I was able to reflect on the journey I had been on, seeing a spectacular piece of the Australian outback, it was truly an experience I will never forget. Kat was right, its those memories I will cherish and the $700 plane tickets? TOTALLY WORTH IT!"
"At last, here I am on a plane home bound. It was no more than 6 weeks ago where I had no idea what I would be doing over my winter holidays. Alice Springs crossed my mind but the $700 return tickets put me off. It wasn't until my girlfriend Kat asked me whether it was the experiences and memories I would remember or the money I had spent. I reflected on my more recent trips, the Bibb track and my cycle across Australia, experiences I will cherish for the rest of my life. Never once have I regretted spending money for these trips, whats $700 at the enf of the day? A gateway to new experiences and hopefully memories that will last me a lifetime. My tickets were booked.
A nervous flight took me to Alice Springs where I had no idea what I had ahead of me A lack of time for preperation led to some quick decision making. After 2 nights and 3 days in Alice, flailing around trying to get everything organised I was finally ready to start my adventure, the Larapinta Trail. My knowledge of this trail was quite limited but as we drove towards Mt Sonder, my mouth gaped open at the surrounding countryside. I knew I was in for one hell of a journey.
I may have been ill-prepared in some regards, but my experience has taught me how to pack light, this enabled me to travel long distances at ease and after 2 days on the trail I knew it was possible to walk the trail twice within my time schedule without having to sacrifice personal comforts and my physical well-being.
Day 5 however showed where my lack of preparation layed. One of the worst sleeps of my life due to the old and poor campsite choice. A simple check of previous winter temperatures would have change all this, however I only assumed that it would only ever get as low as zero degrees celsius when in reality temperatures of minus three to five degrees celsius were not uncommon during the Alice Spring winter.
Fortunately I made it to the end of the trail by day 9, barely making it through the nights wearing all the clothes I packed and picking better camping sites. I did the trail in 9 days, a week faster than I had planned for, but it ost me a lot of sleep, then again I wouldn't have slept any better had I taken my time. I was mentally drained and I could tell it was affecting my emotions. I was not sure whether I wanted to go back onto the trail but I gave myself two nights in Alice Springs to releive me of my sleep debt and refresh my mind.
After the first night of sleep I was immediately sure that I wanted to be back out there. That, and the fact that I had over 3 weeks left before my flight departed back home, I needed something to fill the time! Some warmer sleeping gear, sleeping matt and new shoes later, I was back on the trail.
The return journey took me 12 days, I was not there to break any records and I was happy to `take my time', after walking the trail one way I was able to identify all the `I should camp here next time' spots and did so. I was able to absorb the scenery a little better, make friends along the way and most importantly, sleep a little warmer.
Finishing at Mt Sonder was amazing, reaching the summit, I was with a fellow hiker who took me to the real summit of Mt Sonder before descending in the dark after a spectacular sunset. Hitching back to Alice Springs the next day I was able to reflect on the journey I had been on, seeing a spectacular piece of the Australian outback, it was truly an experience I will never forget. Kat was right, its those memories I will cherish and the $700 plane tickets? TOTALLY WORTH IT!"
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