Outback Adventure 2019
Day 12
Kings Canyon
The campground came alive at 6.30 this morning. Everyone was on the move - some gearing up for the 6.8km Rim Walk of the Canyon, and some moving on.
We had the alarm set for 6.45 and so felt ripped off at the lost 15 mins. Last night was hot! It didn’t get below 24 degrees and even though we had a gusty breeze it was a hot one. We knew that today’s forecast was for 37 so we’re not surprised. We are very lucky with the air conditioning! It’s a godsend!
We prepared last night for today’s early walk and so got out of the van and on the road to drive the 7kms to the Canyon just after 7.30am. On hot days like today (36 or above) they close the walk at 9am - so you’ve got to be on it early or you don’t go.
We started the tough climb at 7.50am. The first part of the Rim walk is the most strenuous. You have to walk straight up the mountainside to reach the top. Some places are 45 degrees angled - it’s not for everyone! One Dad behind us was even piggybacking his young son! Crazy.
The Kings Canyon Rim walk is 6.8ks in length and traverses rusty red sandstone rocks that are over 400 million years old. The layers upon layers of sandstone would each have their own stories to tell and together make up an impressive sight.
The walk takes you dangerously close to sheer cliffs that plunge 100m+ to the Canyon floor below. It’s very impressive.
We hiked to the Garden of Eden which is an oasis in the barren rocky surrounds. It’s a steep decent via stairs to the Canyon floor and a beautiful rock pool. It hasn’t rained here in months and so the water is brackish and stagnant - but still cool. It’s sacred to the local people and so swimming is not allowed. Pity as it would be a lovely spot just after rains.
We marveled at the resilience of the river red gum trees that miraculously survive in these oppressive conditions and have thrived . Some are in the most strangest places. There are cycads here on the Rim walk that are over 400 years old and again thriving and flowering. It’s an impressive tale on survival and adaptation when everything is stacked against you.
We spent 3 hours in total on the walk. We could have done it a lot quicker, however we were lucky to have a lovely cool breeze along the top with us which made the walk that much more bearable - so we took our time and enjoyed it. In the 32 degree heat the breeze was very welcome!
By the time we decended back to the car park, we had lost the breeze and the sun and heat started to really bite.
We all had a swim on our return to the camp - the water temp was very cold which was a fair shock to the system. In and out was the way to go- plus the chlorine level was at extreme!
All of our hiking shoes have fallen apart due to the heat!! It has literally melted the glue and the soles are falling apart! I had to make a shoe cobblers stand outside the caravan and get the Loctite epoxy out to fix the problems. Hopefully it will get us home.
We rested for a few hours in the a/c this afternoon to get out of the heat. We didn’t get a sunset tonight as the cloud cover had come in.
Tonight we had a lamb roast for dinner - yep a leg of lamb and all the trimmings. Plus a plum pudding and ice cream for dessert! Does it get any better than that camping??
After dinner it was a round or 2 of cards whilst the breeze picked back up again......still a bit breeze though!
Tomorrow we pack up and head back to the Stuart Highway before turning left and continuing North to Alice Springs for 4 nights .