Each year at Lone Dingo we receive countless enquiries about walking the Larapinta Trail, mostly gear related but also about all other aspects of walking the trail. Below we address some of the common queries as they relate to our business as a gear & information provider for Larapinta Trail walkers.
CAN YOU DELIVER MY GEAR
We can deliver any purchases you make via our online store to your accommodation house in Alice Springs for $10. We also offer instore collection and delivery to Larapinta Express. Find out more HERE
FUEL – do I need it / do you sell it / do I need to order it in advance?
You will need to use a stove, fires are not permitted along the Larapinta Trail. We stock plenty of stove options plus fuel including: butane canisters (screw on style; 100g, 220g, 440g), shellite (1L bottles) & methylated spirits (1L bottles). We keep plenty of fuel in stock, however if you require a significant quantity (12+ units) it can be worth making your purchase online so that we can set them aside for you. You may also like to check our business hours to ensure we will be open when you arrive for collection. There are companies that can assist with fuel and food drops – see our notes below on food drops and transfers.
FUEL – how much will I need?
We have dedicated a separate post dealing with this question. View it HERE
FOOD – can I get it in Alice Springs to save transporting it there?
We stock 1 serve, 2 serve and 5 serve meals, desserts & condiments. We also sell a large range of energy gels and bars & more. Freeze dried meals are a simple & convenient means to keep pack weight down without sacrificing nutritional and energy intake & also save many hours in the kitchen slaving over the dehydrater. We also sell individually packaged freeze dried vegetables so you can enhance and create your own meals. If you would like to put in a large food order (15+ meals) it can be worth making your purchase online so that we can set them aside for you. You may also like to check our business hours to ensure we will be open when you arrive for collection. There are companies that can assist with fuel and food drops – see our notes below on food drops and transfers.
In terms of regular, non-hiking specific food products there are two large supermarkets in town; Coles and Woolworths as well as a very good organic and specialty foods supermarket; Afghan Traders.
FOOD DROPS – Does Lone Dingo organise them?
Lone Dingo does not perform food drops or transfers but we can deliver purchases to Larapinta Express for inclusion in their drop boxes. Find out more about Larapinta Express.
With regard to transfers some of the vehicle access points are easily accessed by a conventional vehicle while some of the more remote trailheads are accessed by rough 4WD track, the company you use will provide advice. Regarding food drops, secured facilities are available at several points along the trail, if you use a company to do your transfers and/or food drops they will help you out with instructions and a key, or if you do your own you can collect a key for the secured food drops from the Tourist Information office in Todd Mall not far from Lone Dingo.
WATER – how much and does it need treating?
We suggest that you have capacity to carry up to 6 litres of water per person if you are doing an extended trip along the trail. It is easy to configure your walk such that you will have access to water everyday and sometimes at a couple of points through the day so you may not need to carry 6L very often, or at all, but it is good to be able to if circumstances make it necessary and to keep your options open. A practical arrangement is a 1 litre bottle for around the camp & cooking, a 2 or 3 litre hydration bladder for drinking throughout the day and another flexible container for any extra water that may need to be carried from time to time. Treatment of drinking water collected along the trail is recommended.
By the way, never rely on there being water between water tanks. The only reliable water sources on the trail are the water tanks managed by NT Parks that are marked on the maps. The larger permanent waterholes are all located in places with water tanks. Most other waterholes are usually dry and cannot be relied on. On the rare occasion water is available the quality of the surface water in these waterholes is often poor and isn’t recommended for drinking.
SAFETY – do I need a PLB / GPS tracker / Satellite phone?
You should be independent in terms of first aid and safety equipment & Parks NT strongly recommended that you carry a PLB. There is very limited mobile phone service on the Trail. A GPS is not necessary, the track is pretty well marked but ensure you have the latest set of maps.
SHELTER – do I need a tent, or a tarp, or nothing at all?
Most times you will enjoy the fine clear winter days the centre is renowned for, however cold drizzly rain and overcast conditions are not unknown during winter & usually come when you least expect it, it’s rare but it happens. By all means check the long range forecast before making a decision, but if you are doing an extended walk we suggest it is best to be prepared for inclement weather; protection from rain should be taken. Even without rain you may like to have the capacity to take shelter from the cold south easterly wind which can set in in winter. We recommend a tarp for ultralight enthusiasts and a lightweight tent for “normal people”, modern tents weigh little more than a tarp and groundsheet.
SLEEPING BAG – how warm?
You’ll be surprised at how cold it actually gets in the ranges at night and in the early hours of the morning so a sleeping bag that will comfortably accommodate temperatures down to negative 5 degrees Celsius is recommended. Overnight minimums in the nearest township – Alice Springs – are often recorded in the 0 to plus 5 range but in the valleys of the ranges and at ground level it can go well below this temperature.
To keep packed size and weight under control you are probably going to have to go for a down filled sleeping bag for your Larapinta trip, and don’t forget a good insulating mattress too. We have more detail in a separate post, you can view it HERE.
CLOTHING – shorts or pants, down jacket or fleece, raincoat?
Clear sunny days are the mainstay of the walking season so lightweight longs or shorts and a lightweight wicking top for walking is ideal. Look for good sun protection as you will be exposed pretty much all day everyday which leads us to hats; make sure you bring one.
Then as evening approaches the temperature plummets and you will be reaching for thermals, a quality fleece or two or maybe your down jacket if you brought one, & of course your beanie. A down jacket can be very handy, in fact if you feel the cold we would recommend bringing one, but it will have little application throughout most of the day so some prefer synthetic fleece &/or wool insulating layers along with their thermals because it offers more flexibility throughout the day. Do you need a raincoat? On an extended walk yes; as mentioned above it is best to be prepared for inclement weather; protection from rain should be taken, you can also use it as for wind protection if that cold south easterly sets in. Overpants are not normally necessary.
If you intend to summit Mt. Sonder pre dawn in winter (well worth the effort), take all the clothing you have brought along for that leg – it’s usually arctic cold up there at dawn!
FOOTWEAR – what’s the best type of footwear for the trail?
Footwear is a highly personal piece of equipment and there is no perfect choice for everyone. You will be experiencing rough rocky terrain pretty much every step of the way so give good consideration to your footwear. Some people prefer low cuts but if you are walking over several days you will generally be carrying a pretty heavy pack so we would suggest a fairly supportive boot either leather or fabric/leather construction. Good medium thickness wool blend or synthetic wicking socks are recommended; good quality socks are worth every penny out on the trail.
The trail is very tough on footwear and even robust and reliable footwear can be overwhelmed so it’s worth taking a tube of shoe repair glue, enough tape to wrap around your shoe a few times and some spare laces or cord that can double as laces for on track repairs. Also ensure your first aid kit is up to date with blister treatment products; we sell the very popular Equip Blister Kit which has everything required for preventative and post blister treatment.
By the way, if you have heard of soles randomly coming off of what appeared to be footwear in good condition it is very often related to footwear that has been stored, and not worn, for a long period of time. The best way to look after your outdoor footwear is to use it.
OTHER COMMON GEAR QUERIES – Do I need…….?
Gaiters – not essential, but can be handy particularly if you are considering doing some side walks away from the trail, then you may like them for the spinifex (canvas best against spinifex). Many walkers are using the short sock protectors these days which helps to keep burs out of your socks and sand out of your boots.
Trekking Poles – very handy and commonly used on the trail, be sure to remove the snow/mud baskets and best to use the metal tip without a rubber stopper as they just get trashed.
Pack liner/cover – dependent on recent rain there can be some wading through waterholes in Hugh Gorge (section 5) and potentially other crossings – pack liner more useful here than a pack cover.
Fly net – not essential in winter, but then some people have a low fly tolerance so maybe. Outside of May-August; just take one, if you don’t need to use it your’e lucky. Use it as a stuff sack if you are an ultralight freak.
Compass – you probably won’t need to use it but always good to have for any contingencies.
Insect Repellent – yes, might be mossies, might not, best to be prepared. Not too bad during the very cold months (May-July)
Sunscreen – yes.
INFORMATION – Where can I find out more about the trail?
The Northern Territory Parks & Wildlife manage the Larapinta Trail and the West MacDonnell National Park through which the trail runs. They have a lot of useful information on their website about trip planning, trail conditions and closures if there is any; go to the Northern Territory Parks & Wildlife website & navigate to the Larapinta Trail section.
There is an active Facebook Group: Larapinta Trail. Join their discussion for tips and information.
If you intend walking the trail, the Larapinta Trail Map Package is essential. The package provides logistical and factual information required to plan the best (and safest!) walking experience. By using the package you will gain an understanding of Trail conditions, water availability, camping areas and facilities for the entire trail.
There is a comprehensive guide book available: ‘Larapinta Trail’ (Chapman, 2015) . It has full track notes for both directions along the trail. The book also includes: colour topographic maps and notes, gradient profiles and a large background section on the history of the area and notes on geology, climate, vegetation and wildlife. A comprehensive section on Safety and Trip Planning are provided.
