So I am currently writing this blog on the afternoon before we begin the Larapinta Trail. The last three days have been spent in Alice Springs getting the last few bits and bobs sorted out.
In a nutshell we are going to get dropped off by car tomorrow about 220km west of Alice Springs and then we will take 20 days to walk back. Easy.
We have spent a bit of time researching what needs to be done and while we have done a few overnights and 3 or 5 day hikes we have never done one this long. Our theory is that it is pretty much the same we are just joining them together. So in this respect we are getting 3 food drops along the way so we don’t have to carry too much although I think we would be pushed to carry too much more!
Our food is all going to be reconstituted dried food which actually can taste pretty good and is filled with all the nutrients we will need to keep our energy up. We have each picked our own flavours but have both decided to have breakfast and dinner and then snack on muesli bars and nuts through the day.
Our trip involves camping in campsites where we will have access to drinking water and drop toilets (apart from 3 nights where we will be digging pits and carrying water). There have also been rumours of showers and kiosks at a couple of places but we are not holding our breath.
Our biggest challenge is coping with the range in temperatures as it could be as hot as 30 and as cold as zero. We can’t get an accurate forecast for the whole 3 weeks but even this week our lowest is looking like 2 and the highest will be 27!! So basically we are taking lots of layers and as we are carrying it all we are just taking one of each so I have a feeling we might be smelling a little ripe by the end!
We have maps and torches and compasses and just about everything we need as well as our Kindles and playing cards. Our luxury items come in the form of Helinox chairs which weigh only 480g and are super comfortable (and I am sure they will be even more comfortable after a days hike!). Other than that we don’t have much but I guess most of the experience is enjoying being present in the hike and not being subjected to too many distractions.
There have been a whole host of other things we have had to organise but I don’t really want to write a “how to hike the Larapinta” there are thousands of people who have already done that online. So it’s really just to try and record the range of feelings from total calm and a sense of being completely ready to panic as to what crucial item we have forgotten or what we haven’t organised.
I think now that everything has been done I feel good and ready for it while slightly nervous as to how long we are hiking for but the overwhelming feeling is one of excitement!!! Time for us to head off for a couple of beers and a pizza and then wake up early tomorrow and get on with it. T
This is everything we are carrying (actually I think I ended up removing 3 t-shirts and a pair of shorts and Sarah took out a pair of 2 t-shirts and a pair of shorts)
