American Idiots in the Outback

So the week after our crazy camping trip to Kings Canyon, the Lowes (with a friend) and Jamie and I decide to head to Standley Chasm (Click here to learn more).  This is a relatively quick trip (hour drive plus a 45 min walk into the chasm) or at least it's supposed to be.  This is the group as we are heading out (Joe is behind the camera.)

 Trails is a loose term here in Australia.  They point you in a general direction, but there are rarely any railings, fences or other barriers to keep you straight. Note the "trail" we are on in the picture here.

 This isn't so bad, we'll easily make it to the Chasm by noon to see it lit up by the sun.  That is, of course, until we decided to listen to an 11 year old, who told us the upper trail was the way to go.

 The sign says Larapinta Trail Looped Walk 12km Experienced Walkers Only.  Well, apparently the 12 KILOMETRES did not register with a single one of us.  But that basically says the trail we are embarking on is 7.5 miles long and we all missed it.  We spent a little time remarking on the "experienced walkers" bit, figuring we all had been walking for a while.  What they really meant, though, was experienced hikers only.  We definitely did not qualify.  Idiotic move that set the stage for all that was to follow.

 So, we climb up.

 And up.

 Gorgeous views.

 And up.

 And down for a little bit.

 And, then back up again.

 Enough of that!  We've been walking (hiking, whatever) for an hour and still haven't seen the Chasm.  Oh wait, there's trail that goes down to the right.  I bet that'll take us to the Chasm.

 Everyone is very excited to be going down, even if it means ducking under rocks. (or especially)

It's about at this point (see video below) that Robin and I are both thinking that perhaps this wasn't really a trail or a path or anything more than a rock slide, really. However, we are NOT about to climb up again.  Nor do we want to try and make it down the portion we've already climbed.

 Success!  We've made it back to the bottom and we can follow the water into the Chasm.  That wasn't so bad.

 The obstacle.  Not sure if you can really tell from this picture, but there is no way forward on the rocks. So, now we have a choice, we can either climb back up (NOOOOO!) or we can go thru the water.  We sent one of the boys first (figuring we could pull him out if we had to) to see if we could get thru.  He said we could, so in the water we went.


Little video of our foray into the water:
(Or as I like to call it - Mommy Fail)

 Looking back at the rock we jumped off...

Well, unfortunately, there was another pool around the corner, but we found a ledge to skirt around it.  The others traversed it far more gracefully than I did.

 If you look closely, you'll see a sign on the rock to the left and a pair of Japanese tourists looking askance at us.  The next picture shows what the sign says and why those folks were so shocked to see us come climbing out.  (with 4 kids, no less).

 DANGER:  DO NOT PASS THIS POINT

Risk of serious injury or even death.

There's more about the owners of the land not taking responsibility... yadda yadda yadda.

Perhaps they should've had one of these signs at the TOP!

7 American Idiots grinning like loons.

 Finally enjoying our lunch.

Oh and here's a picture of the chasm.  It really doesn't do it justice, it is spectacular around here.

One worn out little boy, he really is a trooper.