The West MacDonnell Range

Our last planned group activity was a trip to the West MacDonnell Range. The gap in this range is why Alice Springs came to be – the telegraph line could be passed through the range here.

Scott continued to be our guide. He picked us up at 7:30, drove for about 90 minutes and then worked his way back to Alice Springs, stopping here and there for hikes long and short, possible swimming holes, and views we aren’t going to get anywhere else.
Our first stop was at the Finke River. (I think we were at Glen Helen Gorge.) There was some water there still, a permanent water hole. But much of the river bed was dry. The Finke River is an ancient river, which means its course has not changed for millions of years.

At our second stop, the Ormiston Gorge, we had about a 90 minute hike up to a viewing platform and then over to a hilltop. The views above us and below us were beautiful. Scott pointed out a white cypress pine which was sporting mistletoe! In the United States, I think such trees would quickly go extinct because each is a perfect Christmas tree. It turns out the mistletoe addition is not so charming. When a bird eats mistletoe berries, the seed is not digested. The evacuated seed has a sticky coating; the seed is stuck to the pine and grows there. The mistletoe is a parasite, not an epiphyte; it kills the tree and then dies.

We continued the hike down to a permanent waterhole. Some students got their feet wet, but mostly we enjoyed the scenery. The area had some very large ghost gums with enormous dead branches – large as tree trunks – still attached.

Next stop – the ochre pits. Here there was a wall of ochre in shades of yellow, brown, and red. Aborigines use ochre as body paint for ceremonies, to coat and seal spear tips, and for wall paintings. We were asked to leave the ochre mine alone, specifically to not take samples. Scott told us that anytime we see markings using blue or white colors, we know that a very important message is being transmitted. Blue and white ochre are not common, and these colors were not here.

We stopped for a picnic at Ellery Creek Big Hole, hamburgers and sausages grilled by the guys and pre-packaged salads. Afterwards we walked down to that waterhole. The fish kill had started, which spoiled the thought of swimming for some students. The rest declined when they realized how cold the water was – all except Brittanie P, who plunged in. The fish kill is natural. At this time of year, vegetation drops into the water and decays, depriving the water of oxygen.

Still, the towering rock walls were something to see. I watched birds snatching either small fish or worms and then flying high up to a rock. I looked for nests, but the birds went from rock to rock, never staying on a ledge for very long.
Our last stop was at Simpsons Gap to see rock wallabies. There was water here, too, but no wallabies in sight. A large rock beckoned the class, and we all climbed and posed for group photos taken by two strangers, with our cameras, of course.

And so the planned part of the course is over. We did gather for dinner at Scott’s request at the Rock Tour’s eatery that evening. Today is a free day in Alice Springs. We fly to Sydney tomorrow. Wednesday and Thursday will be free days (perhaps the students will work on their reports), and then we fly back to the United States on Friday. This could be my last post; if something intriguing happens, I will write about it. I expect the students will start blogging, and so I’ll spend my time looking those over and posting them. Charlie will probably post photos to the blog and to the Elmira College Australia page on Facebook. Enjoy!