Hiking @ Hancock Gorge*****
Next day @ Karijini, we took a big challenge, big challenge for koala because we need to drive 43.5km unsealed road to get into Weano gorge. People say it is so beautiful, so we have to take the risk. The lady at the visitor center say it's alright for 2wd to drive in, just have to take it slow.
Yeah, real SLOW... We go on 20-30kph, sometimes even lower, the road is so bumpy. All the 4wd just pass us by, giving us a good 'sand blasting' all the time. Finally we reach there after 2.5 hours!!
We went to the Hancock Gorge walk which is a level 4 & 5. The track is not long, about 1.5 kms to reach Kermits Pool but takes about 2 hours because there are rough sections.
The vertical ladder.... part of the track..
After climbing the ladder down, we have to get our shoes wet! Hiking through this river..
Might as well get our legs even wetter!! Hiking down on these rapids and waterfalls. But the water level ain't that high, above the knee level. So we can still carry our backpacks and camera gear in. Just have to be careful not to slip and get everything wet!
This is by far the most extraordinary hike we have done, in the water =) It is really adventurous and the views is just magnificent! Buried deep inside the gorges, travelling through the waters like we're in another world....
The last stop of the track is the Kermits Pool, where we can't go any further unless being authorized. It is way too slippery and steep beyond Kermits Pool.
Kermits Pool.. Peter happily playing water in the pool, in fact he is actually freezing cold... Hahaha...
Like a frog in the well, we look up to see the narrow gorge, while the real world is actually on the other side..
Peter even had a dip...
And meditation? Pretentious-nyer...
If you see really closely, you will see a rope from the right side of this pic, follow the rope to the left you will see that tiny guy trying to abseil this gorge! It is not possible to walk on foot after Kermits Pool, so people who are professionals can abseil through this with a permit. There is a tour running from Karijini Eco Retreat that brings tourists around the gorges doing adventurous stuff like kayaking, abseiling and hiking these gorges at a rather deary price for the whole day. Sounds fun for the adventurous seeker! Something that ordinary tourists wouldn't do!
So ordinary tourists like us, likes to spend time taking photos of this beautiful surroundings..
This area is called the 'amphitheater'. It really resembles a theater, with layers of rocks forming the seats (where Peter seats), and there is a big rock at the center like a stage (you can't see on this pic though).
Making our way back to the real world...
........
On our hike back, Mr Peter had missed a foot while climbing these rocks (like what the guy is doing in this pic) and down he fell into the river! He actually dip the whole 'him' and his bag as well!! Luckily he was fast enough that the backpack is still dry inside. Camera safe.. =P
A good lookout is at Oxers Lookout where we can see the junction of Weano, Red, Hancock and Joffre Gorge.
The way out from Weano Gorge is just as crazy, another
39 km of corrugated road to get out of the west park exit. Gosh, Koala please survive
this drive.... Then we realize the crack on our front mirror had got
bigger and LONGER, oh NO....
The whole journey out, it was scary.
Peter had try to drive faster (up to 70kph) so it won't be that bumpy,
it went alright for about 5mins then the road gets bumpier that we have to slow down. It feels like ages when we have to drive 10kph. Angie's so afraid that
she couldn't look at the road. Koala seems to befalling apart... God
bless that we can reach the other end, to the bitumen road!!
Why can't the national park make a
better road for us!!! Please develop it sooner for the sake of the tourists dollars! =P Karijini is really amazing, and we thought we might be better off hitching a ride from someone else than driving in our 2wd because it takes such a long time and damaged the car a little (or more, the windscreen has got a big crack now, it would cost about $300 to replace a new one)... =.=
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