Day 62: Wilpena Pound to Yanyanna Hut

Daily distance: 24.7km
Total distance: 1126.9km

Our back-up team dropped us off back at Wilpena Pound early this morning to start the final stage to Parachilna Gorge. We spent a great 2 days R&R at a little guest house just outside Hawker, and for 2 days watched the rain come down in buckets outside. It was fantastic! All thanks to Nick, Belinda and Jeff for coming up to spend time with us.

After saying bye to the guys I managed to squeeze in a quick Happy Birthday to my brother Rob on facebook before we packed everything,  paid our park fee and headed off into the mist. We spent a long time trying to find our way out of the camping area and onto the trail as Dee and I were both convinced it was in different directions. In the end we walked through the camp grounds and back onto the trail, only for the trail to bring us back round the camp grounds past where we started onto the trail. We did 1.2km in and around before getting on, however I might point out , that neither Dee or I were wrong! Could've ended badly for me I think.......

The trail went north on the Wilcolo Track which followed the creek of the same name. The Wilcolo Creek runs between the Heysen and the ABC Ranges for about 10 kilometers before we turned east, traversed through the ABC Range into the Bunyeroo Valley. The mist lifted and the clouds started clearing up so we did get to see the ragged, jagged peaks of the Wilpena Pound to our left. St Mary Peak, the Sawtooth and Mount Abrupt were all visible along the range and became even more so as we climbed out the valley onto the ridges. This was not a particularly pleasant part of the walk as we were tired, 22km tired, with sore....  everything from the soles of my boots up.... and it was very steep. However, once we crested the ridges we felt a lot better as we could see the Yanyanna Hut about a kilometer ahead. The peaks around us were on display in the late afternoon sun which was truly spectacular. We did not hang around too long as the sun was heading below and the wind was getting up.

The Yanyanna Hut is small, compact but very neat and clean. Does not have bunk beds but has a smooth cement floor with a few carpets. Luxury! We have used some items, like inflatable mattresses and sleeping bags, that previous walkers have left behind, as a soft base to our beds.  "Almost heaven the Heysen Trail, Flinders Ranges, Bunyaroo Creek........" Ok Ok I'll stick to guiding!