We did get a pretty good view of Uluru off in the distance however.
This is the range of "mountains" (Kata Tjuta) to which we were heading for the morning. When the sky is clear these rock show up as pright orange. Today they were gray.
We did a 7 Km trek on some pretty steep and difficult trails. Karen's training all summer ( she started on the tred mill at Clarice's and progressed to miles of walking 4-5 miles on rough hilly terrain) really came in handy. It was a bit of a struggle a few times (it was really steep and rough footing) but she was really happy to have made the effort. What a trooper!
These rocks look a lot like some of the formations at Uluru which is several miles to the west. As it turns our this area is one end and Uluru is the other end of and up thrusted sub-surface bedrock. Think of a several square mile layer of bed rock 600 or so feet below the surface having the edges ripped loose, pushed up 300-400 feet into the air and then worn with years of rain and wind. That's what we were hiking through.
The weathering of the up-thrusted bed rock has left the valley and canyon floors filled with a bunch of rubble.
Eventually the clouds began to break up and we got some sun and really blue sky.
Just like other places in the outback, when there is a bit of green vegetation there is most likely some source of water, but it may not be on the surface.
The outback is both harsh and beautiful. The little wren above is sitting in a nasty thorn tree. The tree was about the size of a crab apple but has thorns that will rip you to threads if you try to touch it. The wren can fly in, out and through the tree without any problem and will just sit there within a couple of feet of you knowing that you can't get him.
When trees die they tend to remain for long period of time as dry skeletons. there is not a lot of water to cause rotting.
We worked our way into the canyon to a point where we were confronted by several really steep climbs over rough surfaces. Karen made it through reasonably well. It was a really tough climb.
Once we got to the high point of the climb we stopped for a break, had some water and a snack, took in all the beauty of the place and did the mandatory photos.
The hike down the other side was a little easier but still pretty steep.
Once back to grade we were in a huge broad rolling plain surrounded by cliffs and peaks
We eventually got back to the starting point and one last big climb to get out of the canyon area.
Before we started back to the bus we got one last photo of us near the Kata Tjuta range.
We headed back to the camp for lunch and to load up for traveling to the next camp and to do Kings Canyon the next day. We had 250 Km to travel yet that day.
Along the way we made a stop at the edge of a salt lake. There are a whole series of salt lakes in the middle of Australia that interfered with those who were trying to find ways to cross the continent back in the 1800's
The weathering of the up-thrusted bed rock has left the valley and canyon floors filled with a bunch of rubble.
Eventually the clouds began to break up and we got some sun and really blue sky.
Just like other places in the outback, when there is a bit of green vegetation there is most likely some source of water, but it may not be on the surface.
The outback is both harsh and beautiful. The little wren above is sitting in a nasty thorn tree. The tree was about the size of a crab apple but has thorns that will rip you to threads if you try to touch it. The wren can fly in, out and through the tree without any problem and will just sit there within a couple of feet of you knowing that you can't get him.
When trees die they tend to remain for long period of time as dry skeletons. there is not a lot of water to cause rotting.
We worked our way into the canyon to a point where we were confronted by several really steep climbs over rough surfaces. Karen made it through reasonably well. It was a really tough climb.
Once we got to the high point of the climb we stopped for a break, had some water and a snack, took in all the beauty of the place and did the mandatory photos.
The hike down the other side was a little easier but still pretty steep.
Once back to grade we were in a huge broad rolling plain surrounded by cliffs and peaks
We eventually got back to the starting point and one last big climb to get out of the canyon area.
Before we started back to the bus we got one last photo of us near the Kata Tjuta range.
We headed back to the camp for lunch and to load up for traveling to the next camp and to do Kings Canyon the next day. We had 250 Km to travel yet that day.
Along the way we made a stop at the edge of a salt lake. There are a whole series of salt lakes in the middle of Australia that interfered with those who were trying to find ways to cross the continent back in the 1800's
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