DAY 95 - WILPENA SA

WILPENA SA

DAY 95


Wilpena Pound is the central attraction of the Wilpena area although the Flinders offer way too much for it to claim itself completely as star of show.

It is a natural pound, measuring approximately 8 km x 17 km – flat and tree covered throughout the floor and ringed around the outside by spectacular peaks that range from rolling to the jagged.

There are numerous ways to experience the Pound.

Most popular is the system of basing oneself in the Wilpena area and taking one or several designated hikes that range from an hour or so, to overnight treks and beyond.

It is fair to conclude though, that most of the Pound can be covered in a long day.

It is also possible to take scenic flights over the Pound and this is undoubtedly a very impressive way to take it all in.

$100 + buys a half-hour flight or $150 can step it up to 1 hour.

Today I set out early to take on one of the more challenging walks to St Mary’s Peak, which is indeed the Pound’s highest vantage point.

Today however, it was just not meant to be.

Weather once again was not conducive to much human activity other than researching weather forecasts on the internet.

There was some rain this morning, but mostly the fearsome, penetrative wind that has ruined most of the past 4 days persisted again today.

As I fronted at the information office at 8.30 am to further my camping tenure, I seemed to have left my money behind in the tent and I just sensed something was on.

Sure enough on my return trip, Kerry and Graham who I had met in Hawker on Friday evening, spotted me and invited me in for morning refreshments.

When I was still present at 1 pm, St Mary’s Peak was way out of the question, as were most of the other respectable walks on offer.

My final choice however, to the oddly named Mt Ohlssen Bagge, was a good one – a 3-hour return with plenty of super views over the Pound on one side and the entire Central Flinders region on the other.

I was engaged at the top by a 20-strong group of European tourists, all wanting me to take their happy snaps.

No problem for the first half-dozen, but I was ready to start taking some cash for the next…..

As for tomorrow – it is the Hawker connection yet again paving my way.

This time I have met up with Marcel, a Swiss-expat who is in progress on a solo expedition of the famous Heysen Trail.

It has taken him the same amount of time to walk to Wilpena from Hawker as it has taken me to ride and I will join he and another for the St Mary’s Peak trek in the morning.

These fellows know how to hike and to hike hard and between us we will make light of the given 8-hour return time.

6 – 7 hours on the track will be plenty and with an expected ease of crapulent weather, a hearty time should be had.