Purnululu National Park, Kimberleys, WA – Day 2

Monday 18th June 2018
Piccaninny Gorge Day 1
Our first overnight hike for this trip, two nights in Piccaninny Gorge, I am really looking forward to this one. We had to hire an Eperb from the Visitors Centre as they said our sat phone wouldn’t cut it. We had planned to get away early but as always packing for an overnight hike always takes longer than we think. I wanted to pack last night but DB wanted to do it in the daylight. Understandable but was never going to help us get away early. One would say we should learn to do less the day before but we are still learning that one. One day maybe!

Anyway, we finally got on to the track at 10.30am. Bugger, the sun was shining and it was hot already. The first part of the walk was quite easy, we even stopped for a chat with a Swedish couple for about 20 mins. If I had known it was going to be so long I would have removed my backpack as it is very very heavy. Anyway, we finally got moving again, we had decided against doing any side tracks today as we had a long way to go to set up camp for the night. So we walked passed The Domes, then Cathedral Gorge, we went to the Window (as it was just off the main track), then we saw some friends who had been to Whip Snake Gorge (who said it was just ok). This stage of the walk was across big rock platforms, a little tricky in parts but reasonably easy. Unfortunately as we progressed along the track, the sun shone hotter, and the track changed to soft sand and little pebbles. This was very tough going with 12-15kg on your back. Anyway, onwards we go. The gorge was pretty but quite the same along the way, not that we looked too much as we spent a lot of time watching where we put our feet.

As the time went on and the kilometres clocked up, our destination was getting nearer but my legs and body were getting weary. I felt like we were trudging along not really appreciating the splendour of the gorge, just sinking one foot in front of the other (and I mean sinking, either in soft sand or loose gravelly round pebbles). I even had a couple of sooky moments when we had to climb over some boulders and up some steep rock ledges, ones that without an overnight pack I would have bounced over. Balance becomes an issue with a really heavy pack which is why I brought out the hiking poles, hopefully to help with my balance and the weight of the pack. Oh well, once I got over those ledges and pulled myself together we continued on our way. We had hoped to get to the first finger junction to camp but by 3.30pm I was shattered and we stopped at the side track to Black Rock Pool. This was a water source for overnight hikers. After finding a flat spot to put up our hiking tent, we realised that we really didn’t know how to do it. We hadn’t put it up since in the shop when we bought it last year. Oh well, we will have to improvise. After a couple of retakes we finally have it up. DB then when for a walk to Black Rock Pool to replenish our water supply. This was supposed to be safe to drink if you treat it, so we put it through our special water filter and then boiled it. Just to be on the safe side. I had a rest and organised dinner. Not real hard, boil water, add to pack, stir and seal. Wait 10 mins then eat. Love hiking cooking. After dinner and a bath, we were both shattered after our 12km tough hike, so we headed to bed. The lights were out at 7.40pm.

David not keen to explore tomorrow but I am, so we will see how we feel in the morning and decide then.

: Getting ready for our three days off the grid. What to take? How to have everything you need, without too much weight. Can we do it.

: Heading in to the carpark of Piccaninny Gorge. The rocks were amazing.

: Almost ready to go. Solar panel out to keep the fridge running while we are gone. Hopefully it is still there when we get back.

: A quick picture together as we head out on our next adventure. Packs are feeling heavy but the excitement at the start helps you forget this.

: As we walk in at the start of the walk the path is well formed although a little sandy.

: Our first sign, will we or won’t we take the side track. With 10km to go to our resting place we decided to soldier on and do them on the way back. Didn’t help us that it is already after 10.30am and getting quite warm.

: The view was amazing as we walked through flat, creviced, sandstone sections…

: ..sometimes you have to climb a little higher to keep on firm ground..

: A casualty of the heat, there were so many that we saw over the next 3 days. We think it was a cane toad. Someone must have turned this one up the right way as most of them were flat on their backs, like that had just keeled over.

: This was the only side track we did on the way as you could see it from the main track. The Window. A hole in the rocks.

: You had to keep watching where you put your feet so you didn’t slip in the little crevices along the way.

: Soft sand, OUCH!!

: This was an amazing piece of geography. Imagine the torrents and force of the water required to form these crevices. Which way to go.

: As I crawl through the gaps and the…

: ..a very tough balance moment. Hands…

: … and knees required.

: The valley was beautiful..

: ..except for the very tough, soft sand. My feet seem to bury so deep. DB said something about foot size to weight ratio. Too much physics for me.

: Packs off at last after about 4.5 hours and 12.5km. I am totally shattered.

: Time to put up our new tent. Maybe we should have looked at a video before we left as there were no instructions in the pack.

: Lucky we have Mr and Mrs McGyver on the job..

: Ready for habitation at last. What a home for the next couple of night.

: The bosses work is never done, he had to do a quick rock hop of about 1km to get some water for tomorrow at Black Rock Pool..

: ..and then as it was stagnant water, we filtered it and in DB style, also boiled it for extra safety.

: As we eat our dinner under the night sky, a tiny sliver of moon appears. The peace and tranquility is unbelievable. Hopefully with my exhaustion and the quiet I will not notice the extra 8cm depthI am missing in my mattress. Wish me luck.