Day 3 - Gammon Ranges: Weetootla Gorge
Our final day comprises heading east via Weetootla Gorge to Weetootla Campground, before heading southwest cross-country on the plain beside the southeastern flank of the Balcanoona Range (Wirtiurdla Yurru) to reach our starting point of Italowie Gorge Campsite. The walk has little climbing but the open plain is very hot. Route finding isn’t complex but ridiculously I’m always a little anxious offtrack, even when there is a bloody great big mountain range handrail on our right to follow!
Distance 17.9 km (11.2 miles) ; Gain 240 m (780 ft) ; Descent 280 m (920 ft)
Off to Weetootla through the bullock bush
Yes, it’s spinifex!
I spotted 3 tiny green things in 3 days. Every bit of herbaceous stuff is chewed down to nothing, mainly by goats: it’s not often you see spinifex looking like this. We saw a few goats, 4 rock wallabies, but no roos or emus for 3 days. Hardly any birds, just two parrots near Weetootla Springs. There's pretty much nothing left to eat.
But the ranges still stand proud and we walk towards yet more beautiful red cliffs.
Weetootla Springs - water at last!
We follow the water east …
… and out of the gorge into the orange and red of Australia.
We top up our water at Weetootla Campground.
Then head southwest on the gibber plain.
Until, hot and sweat-caked, we reach the car, which has cold water and a beer for Geoff.
The end of a uniquely memorable walk through a harsh country that nevertheless retains a spectacular beauty. In any normal winter or spring, this walk would have wildlife and wildflowers to enhance the red landscape. What a truly stunning country we live in.
