Day 61: Umberutna Ruins to Wilpena Pound Resort

Daily distance: 23.2km
Total distance: 1102.2km

Perfect night and perfect nights sleep but freezing cold morning. The weather had cleared and the sun coming up on the Elder Ranges was just magnificent. After packing up and looking for spare body parts that had frozen off we started north up Beatrice Creek to get round the northern section of the Red Ranges.

Our feet were frozen, having had to put on wet boots this morning and they got even colder as we went through the wet vegetation. However once we came out of the pine woodlands and the scenery opened up in front of us all cold and frozen body parts were forgotten. It was unbelievably beautiful!  The Wilpena Mountains were to our right/east and the Elder ranges to the west with space as far as the eye could see in front. The trail turned east towards Wilpena, but we decided before heading that way, we would have breaky simply to enjoy and soak up the veiw.

After warm oats and coffee we headed east towards the hulking Wilpena mountains and the Bridle Gap, skirting Mount Ide to the south. We followed the Moralana Creek across the fields and valleys before leaving the Arkaba Station grounds. We popped onto Moralana Scenic Drive for a kilometer, turned onto Black Gap road for a few hundreds meters then into Bunbinyunna Creek. This creek took us through Black Gap, past the parking area for walkers wanting to walk Black Gap, and then on up into the Wilpena Mountains.

The climb was hectic with a few very steep sections over rocks and up waterfalls, but the veiw back just got better and better. The climb did not stop as every time we got to the top of a ridge there was another ahead. Eventually after four hours of uphill we topped the final ridge to find the Flinders National Park sign and a "good effort mate" waiting for us at the top.

The vie was incredible! The whole of the Elder Ranges was on display before us, with Lake Eyre off in the distance and the Flinders Ranges running south as far as the eye could see. After a long chat with the folks at the top we had some grub, and a free banana we found behind the Flinders National Park sign before wandering down the mountain towards the Wilpena Resort. Once down the mountain and in the pound,  the going was as flat as a pancake which was wonderful. Wilpena ia a lot greener than the last time I saw it six years ago and seemed a lot smaller this time. Maybe because the vegetation is thicker?

We arrived at the resort, too late for happy hour, booked a camp site, put up our tent, unrolled our sleeping bags and headed back to the pub for a drink. The intention was to have a drink then go back to the tent and cook dinner. It was a good intention but like all good intentions it had a flaw.....beer...... and a group of Aussies who would not stop buying them for us. Made the walk back to the tent interesting!

We now have three days off, spending time with family in Hawker before we start the final 80km......