Thank you Matt for the work you have put into these videos. They have been really useful and informative. I am doing the Larapinta in April/May 2024 over 17 days, and having seem your videos, I think I will broadly follow this itinerary with a few shorter days thrown in, or a rest day. I’ll be filmng as well, so you will see how I got on once I have pulled it all together.
I hiked the Larapinta in late August, early September 2017 with a mate. We did a 13 day hike from West to East. For the record, this was our itinerary: Day 1, driven out to Redbank Gorge and did the Mt Sonder round trip that sfternoon (15.8ks). Day 2, Redbank George to Rocky Bar Gap (12ks). Day 3, Rocky Bar Gap to Finke River Camp (14.4ks) Day 4, Finke River Camp to Ormiston Gorge (9.1ks). First food pick-up. Day 5, Ormiston Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam (28.6ks). Day 6, Serpentine Chalet Dam to Ellery Creek (27.2ks) Second food pick-up. Day 7, Ellery Creek to Rocky Gully (15.3ks). Day 8, Rocky Gully to Hugh Gorge (15.9ks). Day 9, Hugh Gorge to Birthday Water Hole (16.1ks). Day 10, Birthday Water Hole to Standley Chasm (17.8ks) Third food pick-up. Day 11, Standley Chasm to Mulga Camp (24.9ks). Day 12, Mulga Camp to Wallaby Gap (24ks). Day 13, Wallaby Gap to Telegraph Station then on to Alice Springs (17ks). That itinerary is quite do-able as long as you have done some training before hand and have a good pair of boots. We also picked those camp sites each day because of the availability of water. We did not want to carry the extra weight of water for a nights camp that did not have a water source.
I like the way you have mostly avoided staying at the shelters. It seems to me that your days 3 to 5 are three long, hard consecutive days in one of the nicest areas of the trail. I would be inclined to take four days to get from Bond Gap to Hugh Junction, to really enjoy this area, then if necessary to make up time by combining your days 11 and 12 by doing the Pound Walk in the afternoon after walking from Giles Lookout to Ormiston Gorge.
Thanks Roger! Yes, the shelters are in locations convenient for _them_ to bring in water, not necessarily where it's scenic. Your alterations are certainly worth considering. Bond Gap -> Lorettas -> Standley -> Brinkley -> Bday -> Hugh Junction would give you more time in this amazing area for sure. Personally I've spent 22 days on the trail but I think that's a bit excessive.
if carrying lightweight foods (dehydrated meals, rice, oats, trail mix etc) would it be possible/realistic to carry 12-14 days worth of food on yourself (my pack is around 60l or so)
Yes but that will add 4-7 kg to your pack. That doesn't sound like a lot but the difference between 20 and 27 kg is massive. Depends how tight your budget is and how much you're willing to spend on comfort. If you can do the food drops yourself then the key to the sheds was only $10. Because I enjoy sleeping in scenic and quiet locations I often carried another 5kg of water for 1-2 hours.
Thank you Matt for the work you have put into these videos. They have been really useful and informative. I am doing the Larapinta in April/May 2024 over 17 days, and having seem your videos, I think I will broadly follow this itinerary with a few shorter days thrown in, or a rest day. I’ll be filmng as well, so you will see how I got on once I have pulled it all together.
Awesome Alex! I look forward to seeing your footage. And thank you for the kind words!
Best run down of the trail I’ve seen, rather than just photos
Great overview, thank you!
Thank you!
I hiked the Larapinta in late August, early September 2017 with a mate. We did a 13 day hike from West to East. For the record, this was our itinerary:
Day 1, driven out to Redbank Gorge and did the Mt Sonder round trip that sfternoon (15.8ks).
Day 2, Redbank George to Rocky Bar Gap (12ks).
Day 3, Rocky Bar Gap to Finke River Camp (14.4ks)
Day 4, Finke River Camp to Ormiston Gorge (9.1ks). First food pick-up.
Day 5, Ormiston Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam (28.6ks).
Day 6, Serpentine Chalet Dam to Ellery Creek (27.2ks) Second food pick-up.
Day 7, Ellery Creek to Rocky Gully (15.3ks).
Day 8, Rocky Gully to Hugh Gorge (15.9ks).
Day 9, Hugh Gorge to Birthday Water Hole (16.1ks).
Day 10, Birthday Water Hole to Standley Chasm (17.8ks) Third food pick-up.
Day 11, Standley Chasm to Mulga Camp (24.9ks).
Day 12, Mulga Camp to Wallaby Gap (24ks).
Day 13, Wallaby Gap to Telegraph Station then on to Alice Springs (17ks).
That itinerary is quite do-able as long as you have done some training before hand and have a good pair of boots. We also picked those camp sites each day because of the availability of water. We did not want to carry the extra weight of water for a nights camp that did not have a water source.
great video, i plan to do it in October. very informative, thankyou.
I like the way you have mostly avoided staying at the shelters. It seems to me that your days 3 to 5 are three long, hard consecutive days in one of the nicest areas of the trail. I would be inclined to take four days to get from Bond Gap to Hugh Junction, to really enjoy this area, then if necessary to make up time by combining your days 11 and 12 by doing the Pound Walk in the afternoon after walking from Giles Lookout to Ormiston Gorge.
Thanks Roger! Yes, the shelters are in locations convenient for _them_ to bring in water, not necessarily where it's scenic. Your alterations are certainly worth considering. Bond Gap -> Lorettas -> Standley -> Brinkley -> Bday -> Hugh Junction would give you more time in this amazing area for sure. Personally I've spent 22 days on the trail but I think that's a bit excessive.
if carrying lightweight foods (dehydrated meals, rice, oats, trail mix etc) would it be possible/realistic to carry 12-14 days worth of food on yourself (my pack is around 60l or so)
Yes but that will add 4-7 kg to your pack. That doesn't sound like a lot but the difference between 20 and 27 kg is massive. Depends how tight your budget is and how much you're willing to spend on comfort. If you can do the food drops yourself then the key to the sheds was only $10. Because I enjoy sleeping in scenic and quiet locations I often carried another 5kg of water for 1-2 hours.