Skytrek / Willow Springs March 2012

[Les PK Ranger]

Will have to get this done in 3 parts, or it won’t get done . . .
Skytrek trip report Pt 1

Skytrek.
Located on the Willow Springs property north east of the well known Wilpena Pound resort area, it’s something I’ve wanted to do one day, since the 4WD bug bit.

Having stayed at Willow Springs in the late 90’s on bushwalking trips, I was aware of the Skytrek name, some 4WD track up a ridge on the property, seemed well known.
But at that time I had no interest in 4WDn, just trekking around the various areas up there, and beyond.

So now I’m into 4WDn as well, and I hear that Skytrek is closing !
That’s enough to get me planning quickly to be up there for the weekend before it was to change.
Well on investigation, it’s not actually closing, but access to Mt Caernarvon is out after 24th March. (More on that later too.)

The background of changes to Skytrek are complex and I won’t go into that here, there is info on their website and other forum threads about that.

So I had to choose a weekend that fell after a long weekend 4x4 trip to Bushies, and just a few weekends before we were to head away for an Easter 4x4 trip.
Sooner rather than later, so 17th and 18th March it is then.
Just me and the missus on this trip.

We left Adelaides southern suburbs on Friday 16th (after work) getting away at 1520, and as planned had the cabin booked for an overnight stay at Mambray Creek, a great spot on the western side of Mt Remarkable National Park, arriving at 1850.
Just had time for a bit of a walk and dinner with a few drinks before dark, and sleep came easily.

Not much around in the way of wildlife, a few Western Greys were grazing near the walking track, very quiet otherwise.
One huge old gum ‘grave’ is just near the cabin, we sat in what must have been 15’ dia base of a long dead River Redgum.

The cabin is pretty basic but comfortable, solar lights, gas stove, washing up sink, and a double / single bunk with trundle, sleeps 4, $65 a night.
The idea of having the accommodation was to make for a quick getaway next morning for the drive further north.

Only a few pics today, not much time or light.

 

[80lover96gxl]

Will have to get this done in 3 parts, or it won’t get done . . .
Skytrek trip report Pt 1

Skytrek.
Located on the Willow Springs property north east of the well known Wilpena Pound resort area, it’s something I’ve wanted to do one day, since the 4WD bug bit.

Having stayed at Willow Springs in the late 90’s on bushwalking trips, I was aware of the Skytrek name, some 4WD track up a ridge on the property, seemed well known.
But at that time I had no interest in 4WDn, just trekking around the various areas up there, and beyond.

So now I’m into 4WDn as well, and I hear that Skytrek is closing !
That’s enough to get me planning quickly to be up there for the weekend before it was to change.
Well on investigation, it’s not actually closing, but access to Mt Caernarvon is out after 24th March. (More on that later too.)

The background of changes to Skytrek are complex and I won’t go into that here, there is info on their website and other forum threads about that.

So I had to choose a weekend that fell after a long weekend 4x4 trip to Bushies, and just a few weekends before we were to head away for an Easter 4x4 trip.
Sooner rather than later, so 17th and 18th March it is then.
Just me and the missus on this trip.

We left Adelaides southern suburbs on Friday 16th (after work) getting away at 1520, and as planned had the cabin booked for an overnight stay at Mambray Creek, a great spot on the western side of Mt Remarkable National Park, arriving at 1850.
Just had time for a bit of a walk and dinner with a few drinks before dark, and sleep came easily.

Not much around in the way of wildlife, a few Western Greys were grazing near the walking track, very quiet otherwise.
One huge old gum ‘grave’ is just near the cabin, we sat in what must have been 15’ dia base of a long dead River Redgum.

The cabin is pretty basic but comfortable, solar lights, gas stove, washing up sink, and a double / single bunk with trundle, sleeps 4, $65 a night.
The idea of having the accommodation was to make for a quick getaway next morning for the drive further north.

Only a few pics today, not much time or light.

Coupla nice pic's so far Les,cant wait for the rest of your report.

cheers,
Brian.

 

[Chard]

Like it Les

 

[Les PK Ranger]

Cheers Brian and Chard.

Well, it’s 0430 and I’m off to the Border Track / Wyperfeld in a few hours, woke at my usual hour, and thought "let’s try for part 2" : ) so . . .

Skytrek trip report Pt 2

We woke early, and after a nice cup of tea and some bacon & eggs, we got away from Mambray Ck at 0715.

On the way, we passed many of my bushwalking grounds from over the years, Mt Brown cloaked in cloud, many sections of road where the Heysen Trail passes by, the Elder Range where 3 of us walked the entire length north to south some years ago in 3 days, with the ramparts of the Wilpena Pound in the distance north.

Not far past Wilpena we came to Willow Springs entry gate with a creative sculpture by George Aldridge.

After checking in with Carmel at the main homestead, we set off up the creek behind to set up camp.
We liked camp site 2 just in a few hundred metres, but already taken, so ended up at site 4, nice spot too. Hell, they’re all nice.

Back past the homestead and workshop, we headed straight to the Skytrek gate to start our days driving. It’s 1050 now.

Won’t bore you too much with descriptions, but lots of little things to see on the way, so beaut creeklines, Aboriginal Petro-glyths carved in stone, lots of wildlife, and I haven’t mentioned this yet, but the Flinders is as green as I can ever recall !
See a few of the pics.

We came to the gate into the Bunkers area, that is now cut off from this Skytrek route.
The new route goes right, through the valley and around to the east of the Little Bunkers.
Then south on that side, into the great ranges south of Willow Springs . . . more on that in part 3.

A short while after lunch in a nice creek, and the start of some low range climbing, we came to a lookout.
To the north is an interesting mine.
They mine Barytes here, 4 or 5 blokes work 10 days on and 4 off.
I’d never heard of this mineral before, used in paint manufacture, brake linings, glass, paper, lino and as an oil drilling mud . . . the ore is taken to the northern outskirts of Quorn where it is crushed.

Ok, we go by Murrays Gully, the usual recommended lunch spot, then lots of great rolling hills as you are climb steadily on the northern flanks of Mt Caernarvon.

The repeater comes into view with its solar panels, then there’s the summit cairn and finally the log book structure just nearby.

Stunning views, not much more can be said, more on the access to Mt Caernarvon in part 3.

Travelling north downwards via more hills and gullies, we came to Skull Rock turn off at 1650.
Well worth the 1hr detour, and just a short walk from a small carpark area.
Precisely 1750 we are back to the Skytrek junction, and finish into Willow Springs at 1815.

Past the water pump station, then the concrete block shearers quarters, we stop to look around the shearing shed.
Almost obligatory to stop and look at the great infrastructure on these properties.

A big day after a later start than usual, and lots of pic stops.

Dinner is done, a few drinks, and we take off to Stokes Lookout just south of WS to take in the sunset.

Awesome views back to Mt Caernarvon, and of course the Wilpena Pound with the sun setting behind.
I took a few pics of Mt Caernarvon with 0, 3, and 30x zoom, you can just make out the repeater and cairn on the summit.

A great nights sleep, ready for the morning drive of some of the new Skytrek.

Will be onto that after Easter (Border Track and Wyperfeld, here we come.)

 

[Les PK Ranger]

Skytrek trip report Pt 3

Day 3, Sunday 18th March . . . this day we are heading home, but not before we get to try out a section of the new Skytrek route.
With only a few hours available, Carmel and Brendan had already done a mudmap for us that would do the job.
Would have loved to do the whole thing, but time was just too tight.

So at 0925, we headed off through the original Skytrek access gate, and down to point #9, the Green Well windmill and tank 0955.
Taking the track south from there, we came to a gate on the new bulldozed track, about 2k’s in.
From here the freshly cut track was a great drive, had low range all the way.
Lots of great creeks to drive along and across, some deep spots to test approach and departure angles, and lots of sticks still sticking up at various angles plus boulders ripped part way out.

Highlights were the creek around the actual Willow Springs, tracks around Prominent Hill, the climb up Upalinna Lookout, followed by some great ridgelines and then flanking Stokes Hill.
The view down on Willow Springs station was pretty good at the end too.
There were also lots of Wedge Tailed Eagles about, one flew out of nowhere only metres above our vehicle, but too slow to get the camera ready for that one. Got a few on zoom.

We finished back at Willow Springs homestead at 1200, aired up, and we both had a shower to freshen up for the long haul home.
Departed the property at 1250.

One more little side trip on the way home . . . Yourambulla Caves !
Every time I’ve been going up to the Flinders or coming home, I’ve always wanted to drop in and check out these caves and the Aboriginal cave art.
Usually with bushwalking trips and others in our group, time issues meant we would drive straight past . . . not this time !

Well worth the effort to take a ¾ hour to walk to all 3 caves.

Arrived home in the southern subs of Adelaide at 1945.
All up we covered 1100km.

Would highly recommend going up to do the Skytrek drive still, it’s all good.
New cost is $65 per vehicle.

Some feedback of interest about Mt Caerarvon access on another forum . . . View topic - skytreck...no drive it.. | Australian 4WD Action
So maybe Mt Caerarvon will soon be available again to do through YFRWPA / SASSA.
. . .

 

[80lover96gxl]

Nice read Les,and some great pic's aswell.
Sounds like it might be worth another look.

cheers,
Brian.

 

[Les PK Ranger]

Thanks Brian,

I'd say of you haven't done it in a while, it would be good to do the new track.
Tack on Skull Rock at the end and you will have a full on day.

I still want to plan a week up in the Flinders, and plan out a number of self drives and PARs.
Would be a good trip for next year, late Autumn, Winter, or Spring.

 

[Kermit]

Sounds like a good area to do some hopping from tracks to tracks
Might have to check out the new tracks myself.
Might also have to clone myself to do everything I'd like to.
Shall take one trip at a time.
Gotta remember to add in a extra day or 2 to smell the flowers.
I always seem to rush trips too much and not have down time to relax.

 

[80lover96gxl]

Another great report Les,
Atleast Slarti managed to get home,as Des said,he may need to get the head checked.

Sounds like a great trip was had by all.

You may need another 4wd soon by the sounds of it,for your daughter,watch out she'll be out driving you soon,haha.

Great pic's to mate,nice weather to by the looks of it,great stuff.

cheers,
Brian.

 

[Les PK Ranger]

Oh yeah Brian, that was Wyperfeld report . . . yes Slartis Jeep is apparently running good, back from full check over / repair . service today.

 

[80lover96gxl]

Oh yeah Brian, that was Wyperfeld report . . . yes Slartis Jeep is apparently running good, back from full check over / repair . service today.

oooooopps,
,posted that on the wrong report,
sorry mate.

 

[Les PK Ranger]

Ha, too many trip reports = : )