I honestly thought I was going to die.
When I reached the top, I dropped my backpack unconsciously and mustered all the energy I had left to catch my breath. I was vomiting air, and my chest was starting to tighten. ten minutes and ten gulps of water later, I began feeling alright. That quick climb kept me grounded both figuratively and literally. I remained seated on the rocky ground, wondering how it came down to this.
I loved hiking. I loved it because I could do it well. I’m never the strongest person in the group, but I used to be so nimble and swift. Whenever we would trek to a mountaintop, I would always be the first or second to reach the destination. I could climb trees effortlessly. I could slide down slopes unscathed. and I could run fast. before this, the last time I trekked for hours was at Mt. Melibingoy (Mt. Parker) in South Cotabato in 2013.
What a difference two years make. considering that that climb, I got myself a full-time office job again, gained pounds (lost count), quit regular jogging, and restarted chain smoking. and it all led to this: me, knees shaking, wheezing like a pet dog in labor, but too embarrassed and stubborn to quit.
And why would I? just in between gasps, I could see just how sensational the place was. and if it’s any indication, then I was in for a bombardment of gorgeousness. Assuming, of course, that I make it alive.
View from the top of the cliff.
Three Trails
Situated halfway to Uluru from Alice Springs, the Kings Canyon is part of Watarrka national Park, covering 71,000 hectares of Australia’s Red Center. While it is typically overlooked by tourists for the a lot more popular Uluru, this landform still attracts over 250,000 visitors each year.
The site’s a lot of famous feature is its towering red sandstone cliffs, reaching as tall as 300m. Crumpling the western edge of the George Gill Range, these walls were a result of the erosion of small cracks in the land over millions of years. There are three walking trails that you may take to explore the site, depending on the time you have and how fit you are. Whatever you choose, it is crucial that you do not go off the trail for two reasons. First, some areas are considered sacred to the Aborigines. Second, it can get dangerous. Some hikers have perished at the site because of heart attack and falling off a cliff.
Don’t go off the trail.
Harsh landscape.
Kings Canyon rim Walk. The full canyon experience which begins with the 500-step climb. This 6km path will take you into the gorge itself, over and along what they call “Garden of Eden” (a permanent waterhole), and across the weathered sandstone domes. If the temperature in Yulara breaches the 36-degree mark, you have to take the rim walk before 9am. Otherwise, the heat can become unbearable, pushing the authorities to block access after this time.
South wall Return Walk. This is actually part of the rim walk loop. This will take you to the top of a cliff overlooking the garden of Eden. Takes 1.5 to 2 hours. If the temperature is 36 or higher, you need to take this trail before 11am.
The Kings Creek Walk. This 2-km trail follow the creek that snakes across the site. Takes an hour. The easy choice, it is suitable for anyone, regardless of age and level of fitness. It is also open all the time.
Kings Creek Walk
Rim Walk
We opted with the full rim walk experience, which began with a climb up a 500-stair hill, widely known among locals as “heartbreak hill” or “heart attack hill.” how fitting.
“We’re not even a quarter of the trail,” our excursion guide Nick warned. “But don’t worry, that was the hardest part.”
Waar genoeg. It was a lot much easier from there. We trod on rough grounds of a plateau, etched with what looked like ripples. It was as though the they were frozen in time. before I could ask why, Nick already shared the answer. “This used to be underwater. These ripples are signs of an ancient sea that used to fill this area.” Apparently, these rocks used to be underwater sand, and they bear fossils of marine lifeforms, too. We looked around as we ambled, and in no time, we reached the first viewpoint, overlooking a red, rocky desert, partly patched with thin foliage.
View from the first lookout.
View from the first lookout.
Our guide Nick, describing how the ripples got there.
A closer look at the ripples.
After minutes of walking under the sun and in between rocks, we reached a staircase that descends into the gorge, the bottom of which is covered in dense palm forest, broken by a meandering creek. “This is what lots of call the garden of Eden,” explained Nick. It is a permanent waterhole, a life-saver for the aborigines and lost explorers in Australia’s early days. We walked along the creek and found its end. The waterhole is surrounded by soaring walls, keeping it away from extreme sunlight. It was refreshing to stay under its shade, a good resting place for hikers.
A staircase leads down into de kloof genaamd Garden of Eden
Deze waterput heeft veel levens gered.
Een brug verbindt de twee zijden van de kloof.
Toen we terug naar de andere rand klommen, werden we begroet door een labyrint van honderden verweerde zandstenen koepels. Bomen en schaduw waren niet in overvloed, maar het was een gemakkelijke wandeling terug naar waar we begonnen.
Bekijk bij de laatste uitkijk.
Teruglopen naar het parkeerterrein.
Er staat dat Krestel Falls valt, maar we konden geen cascade vinden. Gewoon een klif.
De 100-m zandstenen klif van Kings Canyon.
Tussen de zandstenen koepels.
1 km te gaan!
Na bijna vier uur bevond ik me aan de basis van de Heartbreak Hill, naar de top keek. Maar met zoveel aantrekkingskracht die me werd gepresenteerd, herinnerde ik me nauwelijks de strijd die ik doorging naar die piek. Dank Heavens die ik heb gelost, want wat bleef hangen toen ik stond, waren er de veel vormen en vormen van aantrekkingskracht die mijn ogen onderweg aan het feestvelden. Het echte hartzeer zou alles missen.
Watarrka National Park
Telefoon: +61 8 8956 7460
Wanneer te bezoeken: het hele jaar door gemakkelijk toegankelijk, maar het beste van april tot september.
We hebben Kings Canyon bekeken als onderdeel van een YHA -excursiepakket. Het wordt geleverd met 2 nachten verblijf in Alice Springs YHA en een 3-daagse kampeertrip naar Uluru met dank aan de rocktournee, die een stop maakt bij Kings Canyon (dag 1), Kata Tjuta (dag 2) en uiteindelijk Uluru (dagen 2- 3).
Bekijk deze site voor veel meer informatie of om de tour te boeken.
Waar te verblijven: Ayer’s Rock Yha Hostel staat ook bekend als de Voyages Outback Pioneer Lodge of Outback Pioneer Hotel. Ze bieden airconditioning en met Wi-Fi uitgeruste kamers in het hart van de gemeente Yulara. Er is een bar, een grill en veel nuttige faciliteiten ter plaatse. Er is ook een check -out dek voor Uluru Sunset in de buurt.
Boek hier uw kamer
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