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| at the beginning of the hike, only the top part of the domes were lit up |
We actually made it this morning and was able to leave at 5:30. You must realize that we needed to make and eat breakfast, clean up, and put everything back onto the trailer. We got to Kings Canyon and started the Rim Walk shortly after 6. It was still dark when I went to the toilet at the trail head. It was a good thing that I had my cell phone flashlight on ... I saw a frog in the toilet bowl! I cannot imagine what would happen if I did not see it.
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cross-bedding is very common in rocks that
originated as desert sand dunes |
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| a dead sea's ripples |
Kings Canyon was absolutely beautiful! The rock formations were very interesting and impressive. The guide showed us some fossils - a shell, sea bed ripples and a centipede track. The centipede track was around 2" wide and 2 feet long - can you imagine running into something like that on a hike.
We also went to a permanent water hole - the pretty rock face and the still water form a very tranquil environment. And there was a spot where we could see the smooth cliff face up close, it quite impressive. We also learned about which bush tomatoes are edible and which one is poisonous - in general the tall ones with smooth branches are poisonous, whereas the short ones with spiky stalks are edible. This makes a lot of sense as the edible plants need more protection for themselves. We also saw some Australian wild figs - they are similar in size to grapes and are not very tasty at all. The (relatively) cool morning air, the slight breeze, the clear blue sky and the superb landscapes make this 3 hours hike the best on the camping trip. The trail closes whenever the temperature is over 36 degrees because there is little shade and no water on the trail.
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| tall, poisonous bush tomatoes |
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| thorny, but edible bush tomatoes |
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| sheer cliff |
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| ghost eucalyptus - dancing lady? |
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| beehive-like domes make the plateau look like a 'lost city' - result of erosion of vertical cracks in the sandstone |
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| dingo |
Lunch was hamburger at the resort pool and we saw our first dingo wandering around the parking lot. It does not look that mean, but it is very lean. After lunch, we began the 5 hours boring drive to Alice Springs. The bus we were on was a little old, and the air conditioning broke down half way to Alice Springs. I was sweating all the way even with the windows opened. The worst part was the hot sun was on our side most of the time and I actually had to cover any exposed skin so I do not get burned. The guide booked a table for dinner in a pub and all but the three Koreans showed up. With the exception of a German mom and her son who turned 19 today, we were pretty much one generation older. Everybody was easy going and friendly, and it was good to socialize with these young people, who are full of energy and ideas. The $10 meals were surprisingly good, we were so glad to be back in civilization!
We also went to a permanent water hole - the pretty rock face and the still water form a very tranquil environment. And there was a spot where we could see the smooth cliff face up close, it quite impressive. We also learned about which bush tomatoes are edible and which one is poisonous - in general the tall ones with smooth branches are poisonous, whereas the short ones with spiky stalks are edible. This makes a lot of sense as the edible plants need more protection for themselves. We also saw some Australian wild figs - they are similar in size to grapes and are not very tasty at all. The (relatively) cool morning air, the slight breeze, the clear blue sky and the superb landscapes make this 3 hours hike the best on the camping trip. The trail closes whenever the temperature is over 36 degrees because there is little shade and no water on the trail.
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