Alice Springs and Ormiston Pound Walk NT – Day 5

Wednesday 22 June 2022
We started out a bit slow this morning as the outside temperature was only 2°. Very chilly.

After some more organisation, we headed for the long drive to retrieve all our boxes.

First stop – Standley Chasm which was totally packed. Not a parking spot to be found.

Second stop – Ormiston Gorge where we enjoyed a lovely focaccia and smoothie lunch and lots of chatting to people we had seen on the trail and others who joined in who were just about to start. We finally started the Pound Walk at 2.30pm. The Pound Walk track climbs around the scenic rocky slopes of the Heavitree Range and a short detour to the lookout provides elevated views of the pound. From here you follow the track down into the relatively flat and exposed expanse of the Pound. Then through the Gorge and passed the main waterhole. There is no defined trail through the gorge and some rock hopping and swimming/wading through water is required. We thought this was only a 4.7km 2-3 hour walk but we were wrong. We enjoyed a lovely 9.5km 2:43 hour walk. It felt really weird and unbalanced without my 12kg pack. I felt very flighty but it was a pleasant walk through beautiful countryside, a huge gorge and finally an icy cold walk up to my armpits across the gorge, about a 30m walk. It was freezing. With calculating steps David managed to cross the gorge only getting wet to his knees. He sure does have a phobia for cold water. We then continued the end of the walk via the Ghost Gum Walk. The Ghost Gum Walk follows the western side the gorge via the main waterhole and involves rock hopping over large boulders, uneven and sandy terrain. It was quite spectacular. We retrieved our box and were amazed to see the storage cupboard was so full, maybe over 100 boxes now. Glad we are finished the walk as it was busy when we were on the trail without the added people.

Apparently there have already been 29 people picked up off the trail by LTTS with injury/feet problems this season, and the season has only just begun.

We then headed to the Ochre Pits for a quick 600m return walk, they were beautiful but unfortunately we just missed the fading light, it could have been amazing. By then it was after 6pm and we still had to retrieve out box from Serpentine Gorge and drive the 100km back to Alice. A big day out yet again. It was so late when we got back we went for Asian Noodles in the town centre as we didn’t want to start clattering around cooking when most campers lights were already out.

: Over 100 boxes are nonbeing stored for End to End hikers at Ormiston Gorge. The numbers have tripled whilst we walked the trail.

: The view as we start the Pound Walk at Ormiston

: Some flowers along the trail.

: Heading up to the lookout that looks over the Pound

: Looking out over the Pound

: Some of he trail was very rocky

: DB doing his favourite thing – standing on a rocky outcrop

: Some very bright yellow flowers that we have seen a lot over the last 19 days

: As we continue down the trail..

: .. and then heading towards the gorge

: The colours of the rocks in the gorge was so varied, from pure to red and all the colours in between.

: As we rock hopped through the gorge it takes lots of concentration. The sheer faces of the cliff look like lego blocks.

: More colourful rocks

: The amazing sheer cliffs of the gorge and the amazing rocks in the sandy bed of the gorge..

: Beautiful reflections in the water

: It was such a varied walk – on sand, boulders, shale, rocks and sandy pathways

: Our little friend ahead of us showed us how deep the water was, he had a slip on the rocks which showed us what not to do. The water was freezing.