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Wednesday

Walk the Dutchman's Stern! Southern Flinders Ranges, SA

'Visit the Crazy Horse – but not on Monday' the log book entry read. Who knows why, with the magnificent panorama from the Dutchman's Stern summit all around them, two German hikers were reminded of an Adelaide nightclub 300-odd kilometres away? (Note to self – what IS the Monday deal at the Crazy Horse, anyway??). However, irrespective of the origin theory to which you subscribe, the Dutchman's Stern has dominated its eponymous Conservation Park only marginally longer than the Crazy Horse has dominated the west end of Adelaide's Hindley Street. And that's the only connection I can find between the two!!

It's almost worth the 10.5 km round trip just to read the log book at the summit. A pot-pourri of demographic information (eg names, dates, weather reports, wildlife sightings, a surprisingly high number of countries of origin) is supplemented by a range of comments – both comical and asinine – and I'll leave you to decide which best describes the one above!

But nothing, NOTHING detracts from the jaw-dropping view – almost a complete 360ยบ taking in Port Augusta and the top of Spencer Gulf to the west; then Devil's Peak, Mt Brown and the Richman Valley further south; then Quorn (the nearest town) and Wilpena Pound and the Elder and Yappala Ranges as you turn to the north. Although apparently we were the lucky ones - according to the log book the view has been blocked by fog more than once! I can't imagine walking all that way to see NOTHING! Especially when if you CAN see something, it's such a spectacular, stupendous something!!

The medium grade hike to the 820m high Dutchman's Stern summit, one of several walks in this former pastoral lease and intersected by the Heysen trail, is less difficult than lengthy. And if I say it's not a hard walk, you can depend upon it, as unlike those who recorded in the log book the exact (short) length of time it took to reach the summit (like anyone cared!!), I'm not a martyr to fitness – or one-upmanship! Just look at my profile picture if in any doubt ...

So I and my mate – apparently known to his siblings as 'Pilchard' – meandered the ever upwardly zig-zagging trail through low grassland, purple with Salvation Jane (Echium plantagineum) and dotted with the endemic Quorn Wattle (Acacia quornensis); and Sugar Gum woodland, before reaching the wildflower extravaganza (still flowering in October 2010) of the heathland, then the more sparsely vegetated rocky outcrops towards the summit. After sighting the summit's resident Peregrine Falcon, we descended along the 10.5 km loop rather than the shorter 8.2km return walk, through Drooping Sheoak and Sugar Gum woodlands into the steep, scree-lined slopes of Stony Creek gorge before returning to the trail head.
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren's (subspecies pedleri) appearance ALMOST made up for the Gilbert's Whistler absence. But … if I had a choice between an un-fogged summit view and a GW sighting, I'd choose the view any day! Just don't tell Pilchard!!

Happy hiking!!

13 comments:

  1. Right.
    I'll visit the Crazy Horse next Tuesday instead :P
    Those photos and views are magnificent!

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  2. That's an incredible view. I'd have to visit in the autumn or spring, summer up there is too hot for me. I grew up in Port Pirie and didn't notice the heat until I moved away and acclimatised to a cooler environment.

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  3. A couple of your photos are seriously good, including the one, presumably you, are in. Err, not because you are in it, but you don't spoil it either. Oh, is that damning with feint praise.

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  4. Wonderful views from your area. I enjoyed seeing them and the history about them.

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  5. @Jayne - Haha!! If I find out what the Monday issue is, you'll be the first to know!
    @River - Summer up there is too hot for ANYONE!! Besides, the flowers are fab in spring!
    @Andrew - And all with a non-digital camera! AND ... the one with me not wrecking it is a Pilchard masterpiece (you never know who's looking over your shoulder!!)
    @LV - Thanx so much!

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  6. Beautiful view - as a born-and-raised South Aussie it's a part of the Flinders I'm ashamed to say I've never been to. Must rectify that one day....

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  7. Hey Kath! Factor in the relative dearth of chocolate before committing yourself to a visit ...!!!

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  8. Wonderful views which are very different from what I have seen over here.

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  9. Welcom, rainfield61 - yes, they ARE amazing views! Thanx for dropping by!

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  10. I yearn to see the Flinders again. Nice to take this walk with you.

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  11. Hi Joan E - the walk is marvellous! Put it on your list of 'must do's' if you've got one!!

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  12. This area looks so beautiful.... I wish I had spent more time on South Australia. But the south west has some pretty amazing places too. Have you been to the Denmark, Augusta and/or the Esperance area? I think that's one of my favourite places on earth. The most amazing beaches and totally unspoiled! I can see why you love exploring Australia. I have visited Australia four times and I still can't get enough of it.
    Keep writing about it as I need ideas for the next trip to Down Under (hopefully soon).

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  13. @Gordana - Haven't really done the West, but it's definitely on the to-do list! Meanwhile, I'll just have to write about my visits to the other states! Hope you can make it here soon!!

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