What an early morning. The wake up call this morning was 1.15AM!!! And the astonishing thing was that most of us were awake before this waiting for the call. Breakfast at 1.30AM and we are supposed to be on holidays??
In the bus at 2am for an hour drive to the base of Mt Sonder. 14 intrepid bushwalkers, 3 litres of water each, head torch, camera and a sense of adventure off we set at 3.15am for the climb. Would like to tell you about the climb but truth is we couldn't see a thing - very dark just the 16 lights (2 guides) in the darkness. Slow pace up and up and up following the footsteps in front of you Funny thing is that time passed very quickly. The guides realised we were a little too slow to reach the summit by sunrise so we broke into two groups - the normal group and the "running" group. And boy did the running group go fast - we were first on the summit and witnessed the red sky breaking thro the darkness lighting up the 360 panoramic view. Amazing. The other group not far behind us arrived just after sunrise.
Cuppa on the summit, standing in the warmth of the sun - no wind - beautiful beautiful morning.
Then the descent - we couldn't believe what we had climbed in the darkness - over ridges, up mountain rocky tracks, huge drops either side. Coming down at least we got to take in the amazing views.
Psychologically it was best to do the summit walk in the darkness - you couldn't see the huge mountain in the distance you had to climb.
8 kms up (4 hours) (16kms in total) and about the same time going down - lots of photo stop and water stops as the heat certainly picked up. Hard to believe we were freezing in the early hours of the morning.
Amazing walk! Arrived back at camp to a huge brekky/lunch/arvo tea of scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon - we were ravenous. Some very tired bushwalkers then lazed about for the remainder of the afternoon (some sleeping) before a very early night!
Kerry
Mount Sonder in daylight, known as the pregnant woman lying on her back in aboriginal legend. We walked from the base to her belly bottom! On the right the head, 2 breasts, her abdomen and her bent knees ( left to your imagination!) Psychologically, we would probably not attempt the day climb as the guide Matilda recommended in our briefings the evening before the climb, as a strong influence for our group decision towards a morning or day climb!
Notes from Larapinta info website:
"Section 12 is a 15.8 km return section of the Larapinta Trail and is only suitable for well-prepared and experienced walkers with a good level of fitness. The arduous climb to the peak is well worth the effort and walkers will be rewarded with breathtaking views in all directions. Ranges, plains, valleys and salt lakes create magnificent vistas. This is a place to experience the grandeur of the desert landscape."
The very early sunrise colours experienced by the most intrepid walkers at the summit: guide Matilda, Kerry, Neil J., Peter, Inge, Ann, ChrisThe whole 14 walkers with the two guides Matilda and Jordie. Sorry cannot recognised every walker in their winter gear..... You know who you are! ( to view Jordie's Walk www.indiegogo.com then search culture is life walk www.facebook.com/cultureislifewalk Jordie's personal effort to raise awareness and money to towards the prevention of youth suicide in aboriginal communities by walking alone in the desert South East of Alice Springs, with his man-made trolley to carry his water, food and gear for 21 days.....
The slower descent led by Dianne, resorting to singing all verses of the ' Wheels of the Bus Go Round and Round, including the washers, the babies, etc,etc, even by Jenny who is not familiar with the songs: Cathie, Janet, Karen, Jenny, Dianne ( the bus driver from summit to base!) Peter's first & only night sleeping out, after experienced Dianne suggested where to place his glasses within reach in his swag so he could admire the starry skies and the Milky Way (when awake)!
