2018 Aussie Anti-clockwise Big Lap

22. Karijini National Park and Tom Price present priceless images and memories.

Karijini was one of the all time surprises, hiding gorges deep below the surrounding hills and plains.
The 627,000 hectare National Park is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and a considerable distance from the Tropic of Cancer. It is WA's 2nd largest National Park.
We toured Karijini with some great Tasmaniacs, Wayne and Andrea, who voyaged across Bass Strait with their van to Australia in April. We first met them in Katherine NT; and into the north of WA two months ago.
Spending time with others is a first as generally when we advise we are heading south, all others head north.

Just a short walk from our Dales campsite, the ground drops away to form Dales Gorge 40+km long x quite a depth and width.

The unsuspecting wanderer would never guess what lies just beyond the two trees.

This suddenly appears!
We wonder how many animals and people have simply walked over the edge when not watching the next step.

And the gorge is multi-directional

Possible recycled rock staircase.
The ore came out of the surrounding hills, shipped off to China, returned as steel and sent back to where it came from, and eventually will break down and go back into the earth.

High grade rocks form a great wall to the suspended path.

An ideal setting, however the chap sitting at the other side of the pool evidently didn't read the sign about the light colours around him. Sign as follows:

A drawback to the area.

We took a couple of treks down Dale Gorge, swimming in 3 different parts of the gorge.

His and her showers in the background of Fern Pool.

It is not known as to how Fern Pool received its name.

Most of the kangaroos, wallabies and birds were reasonably shy and tried to keep a low profile.
Lizards also kept a low profile while trying to blend in with the environment.

Sun-baking on the wrong colour rock to blend in.
The rock almost looks like a lump of steel.

This one has the idea of camouflage.

If he looks out the corner of his eye and doesn't move, he will not be seen.

There were more wildflowers out, with many different flowers starting to bloom.

Sturt's Desert Pea.
The desert pee was a necessary part of life for early explorers due to the immense distances between ablution facilities.

A 40km drive across one of the worst roads any had encountered, took us to another part of the park, for some awe inspiring views and a couple of Class 5 (most challenging) walks through some gorges.

Knox Gorge

Joffre Falls Diving Platform.
A design fault means divers must climb over rail to complete dives.
The dives are rated with a high degree of difficulty due to the lack of water below.
Perfect dives and missing the water altogether both result in very little splash.

Green dye has been added to the water to help divers judge landings during dives.

Weano Gorge was an easy walk down to the bottom, however the Class 5 walk along the Handrail Gorge extension, required some climbing along low cliff edges, or swimming through and eventually a walk down a narrow canyon with water flowing under foot whilst holding onto a handrail allowing the body to hopefully stay upright before climbing down a rock ladder into a large chasm. (Take a breath!) Jolly brilliant!!
We saw one mid range Canon camera get ruined on this walk when the photographer went underwater with his camera during a fall.
Don didn't feel confident about keeping a camera away from the enticing water so left it behind at this stage, however fellow trekker, Wayne, took the gamble and it paid off. Thanks to Wayne for the following photos:

Options are to either climb around the rocks or swim.
Don found it quicker and easier to swim from the start rather than try and climb, fall in, then swim.
He can be seen exiting at the far end.

The gorge continued to narrow!

The hand rail leads to a cavern with a brilliant pool.
The floor was very slippery with water running through at all times.

The handrail can be seen leaving the upper narrow gorge and leading down to the pool below.
Steps have been added to aid climbing down and back up.

Bewilderment as to how to get back out!
Safety is always foremost; hence the safety printed board shorts, cotton cap and plastic sandals.
These are all colour fast materials which will not run when wet.

We wonder how high the flow would be in times of flood.
The dark rock gives an indication.

Our second Class 5 was the Spider Walk at Hancock Gorge.
Here we climbed along the gorge wall, or swam which was the easier approach for Don, then traversed down a narrow gorge with arms and legs on both sides of the gorge. Exciting stuff!!
We also saw a top of the range Canon 5D camera go under on this walk where, similar to sea captains going down with the ship, the photographer went down with the camera.
Before entering there were warnings of accidents and deaths.

Going down!

Power was off to the elevator.

Overtaking lanes are few and far between.

Due to the depth and difference of light and shade, photography was difficult (and very expensive in two instances).

The footpath gets progressively narrower.

A top of the range Canon 5D SLR camera took a dive with its owner just along from here.
Canons as well as many firearms don't always work after immersion despite what the movies show.

At this point, our friend Wayne, who was more confident about not taking his camera for a swim, carried on photographing.

Hanging on!!
Again two options. Either the rocks or the water.

The water was the relaxing/refreshing alternative.

Spider Gorge took the name from the need of being like a spider and having arms and legs on both sides of the gorge.

There are no jagged edges due to the action of water.
The smoothness makes for difficult climbing.

Back up. The power is still out.

Matthew 7: 24-27

The sterling Mount Bruce stood out from the surrounding landscape as we journeyed back to camp via bitumen, being quicker than our morning drive in the dirt at one third the distance.

Lofty and magnificent Mount Bruce.
The 2nd highest mountain in WA

Another day and Hamersley Gorge to be explored.

Phenomenal folds on our way to Hamersley Gorge

Burnt vegetation and matching ground.
Still unbelievable beauty.

Hamersley Gorge

Those rocks have seen some pressure over the years.

Wattle we call that plant?

How is that for distorted folds?

An oasis for early explorers.

Beyond human sculpturing.

Twists, bends, and inclinations galore.

Carrol heard morning tea was about to be served.

This sums it up!
A burnt landscape, great patterned rock formations, four wheel drives and campers.

Mount Nameless is the highest mountain in WA possible to drive to the summit by 4WD.
We enjoyed the drive so much, we tackled it twice, the second time to witness the sunset.

Mount Nameless waiting to be discovered and named.

There's a light upon the mountains, and the day is at the spring.

"I'm the Queen of the world!"

Just can't get enough of those colours!!

Rio Tinto Mine Site and FIFO (Fly in fly out) complex on the left.

Mining in the back hills.

Dust trail home as a driver tries to keep in front of the impending darkness

The sun has set, but the moon is there to light our way down.

About to plunge into darkness and over the edge.

Like a nocturnal animal, the mine comes to life as darkness falls.
Mount Tom Price is now just Tom Price.
The mount has been transported away by train.

This would make a challenging Tour de France night time stage.

The last of the daylight.

Haunting Ghost Gums also come to life at night.

Along with Peter Allen, we've been to Rio too!!
Rio, Rio, Rio Tinto Tom Price Mine!
And are amazed that so much earth could be moved.

Mount Tom Price extended 300m above where the photo was taken, and drops down 200m.

Tonka Truck costing $4.5m and carrying 240t.
Fuel capacity is 4542 ltrs.

Future rice paddies when mining is finished.

Loading five 2.5km trains a day; each train load weighing 28,000 tonnes.
If the world spins out of kilter, this could be the reason; although we are importing it back from China as finished goods to help neutralise the weight difference.

A couple of galahs living in a 100mm pipe next to our van have the final word.