Day 5 – Wednesday 21 August
Sandy Camp to Sweetwater Pool
https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/200590/jatbula-trail-maps-booklet.pdf
https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/200594/jatbula-trail-information-sheet.pdf
https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/sandy-camp
https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/sweetwater-pool
On this trip we have not hung any of our food, but
last night we should have. We were camped
beside a pandanus and next to the water and a possum ate through a dry bag and
a silicone pouch to get to my jelly beans – these were apparently much better
than nuts or dried apricots.
We got up at 5:45am but had been awake for about an
hour prior to this as many of our fellow hikers were doing a double day and
headed off very early. We left about
6:45am, collecting a complete set of tent poles that had been left behind!
The hiking today and yesterday would have been quite scratchy without long pants. The first part from camp was on uneven rock and soft sand. The remainder of the walk was a mix of surfaces – sandy, rocky and boggy (but now dry this late in the season). There was one section which was still wet at this time of year that a raised metal walkway had been installed in to protect the ground and plants. The vegetation and associated birdlife also varied greatly throughout today’s walk. The last 700m into camp was very hot, rocky and exposed. We saw more evidence of buffalos today; this has been increasing since we started walking near Edith River. Some of what we saw today was quite fresh. Thankfully we have not seen any actual buffalo. I did give Drew a fright though when I was out of his sight and screamed after startling a large group of birds into flight.
We arrived about 10:15, had a swim and then set up camp and had lunch. I have developed a blister on my right big toe from walking around so much in Crocs – I had thought if I got a blister, it would be from hiking in my boots, not walking and swimming in my crocs.
After an afternoon nap we went for a swim and
explore upstream. It was approximately a
200-250m swim up to the first waterfall, then we got out and explored the many
small rapids. Sweetwater Pool campsite had a lovely breeze this afternoon. Unfortunately, it also had more flies than
any other campsite on this walk. There are also many many birds today, both on
the walk and around the campsite – a beautiful sound.
Distance 11.16km
Time 3h5m
Ascent 19m
Descent 53m
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