23/08/2015 – 30/08/2015   Ellery Creek – Stanley Chasm

                                                West MacDonnell National Park (Tjoritja), NORTHERN TERRITORY                                             

                                                Arrernte country 

Distance: 68km   Total Ascent: 2670m   Total Descent: 2350m   Time: 33 hours

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

Day 1: Sunday 23/8/2015   Ellery Creek Big Waterhole

After a pleasant lunch and coffee in Alice Springs we were picked up by Trek Larapinta at 2:00pm and dropped off at Ellery Creek big waterhole. It was a hot day for August, up to 31 degrees by the afternoon.

We set up camp in an area that looked like a dry creek bed and got ready for a swim in the waterhole. It looked beautiful but we were less enthusiastic when we felt the water. It was 14.8 degrees and felt very cold in contrast to the air temperature. We went for a short dip after which we felt very refreshed!

We decided to have a picnic dinner near the waterhole and enjoyed the change of colour In the gorge as the light faded. Steve set up for star trail photography but unfortunately encountered technical problems. We saw a tawny owl amongst other bird life. The stars were impressive.