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Lessons from the Larapinta
At TSA, we’ve always believed the great outdoors is the best classroom for teaching life lessons and how to overcome adversity. If you’ve ever come on one of our adventures, you know that nature has a funny way of presenting challenges and changes that force us to adapt and evolve. And for those of you who have joined us on the Larapinta, you know that nature can present some pretty big challenges. So when we found out the difficult news that Glen Helen Resort is temporarily closing, we knew that there were valuable lessons to be learned about adaptability and resilience.
Okay, you might be thinking, “What the heck are you talking about?!”, so let us explain.
The Larapinta is a beautiful (but difficult) trail in the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park, outside Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. We’ve run some awesome trips to the Larapinta that have allowed our adventurers to achieve an absolutely massive goal while allowing us to take care of the annoying bits like food, itinerary and, most notably, accommodation. We’ve previously stayed in two locations, one in Alice Springs and one in Glen Helen, which has long been a pillar for the hiking community who have adventured out there.
The closure of the Glen Helen resort is something that will affect every adventure company that travels out to the Larapinta Trail, but we wanted to make sure you heard it from us first. You can rest assured that our tour is running strong as ever, with only one day changing in the itinerary.
So what does this mean for TSA?
A minor difference! Instead of transferring our accommodation from Alice Springs to Glen Helen, we will stay in Alice Springs for the length of the tour, and one day of our itinerary has changed. Instead of ascending Mount Sonder, we will be reaching the summit of Counts Point to appreciate the stunning 360-degree views of a magical Central Australia sunrise.
So although it may seem disappointing, we can also appreciate the benefits of not having to repack our luggage and transferring accommodation before an early morning hike, which would normally start at 2:30 am to reach Mt Sonder by sunrise (!!!). Instead, we have a slightly more leisurely start to the day, being able to leave our luggage in Alice Springs and be on the trail around 5 am. Okay, so maybe it’s still pretty early.
Problem-solving
Change is the force that propels us toward growth as it forces us to solve problems and discover new solutions we may not have thought of before. As we embark on future adventures along the Larapinta Trail, we’ll find new ways to rest, rejuvenate, and connect with nature.
Transparency and authenticity
As we’ve been reshuffling our Larapinta tour around this new information, we’ve been so eager to tell you about the updated itinerary and the new opportunities it provides. As much as this affects every adventure company that visits the Larapinta, we haven’t seen much news about this closure, and so wanted our community to be aware of the latest hiking and adventure information. We appreciate this chance to give you a little insight into how we plan and adapt our tours, and we hope you do too!
Next question: why did Glen Helen close?
Being 133km from Alice Springs, Glen Helen relies on water trucked from a government-owned bore that is 18km west of the site. Unfortunately, this is no longer economically viable for them at the moment due to the sheer amount of water needed and the trucking costs. If you’ve ever been up to Alice Springs, you’ll know how much water you can go through just being exposed to the heat and sun. In good news, however, there are talks of building a pipeline from the bore to Glen Helen, so we can keep our fingers crossed for a reopening in the future! We encourage you to read further on the topic to find out some more info:
What can we learn from this?
While it’s easy to be disheartened or panicked by change, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the dynamic nature of life and the trails we tread. Here are some of the lessons we learnt from this; hopefully you can take time to see how challenges in your life can teach you these things too!
Adaptability
Glen Helen’s closure serves as a reminder that change is inevitable and often beyond our control. Just like we adjust our hiking strategies to tackle unexpected weather conditions or challenging terrains, we must adapt to unexpected changes in our plans. We have been challenged to be open to new possibilities, shift gears, and find innovative solutions when the path ahead isn’t clear. It’s in these moments of change that we learn to improvise, take detours, and emerge stronger from unexpected challenges.
Resilience
Resilience is the cornerstone of outdoor adventure. It’s the capacity to bounce back from setbacks, weather the storms, and continue our journey with renewed determination. Resilience is not about avoiding adversity, but rather about embracing it as a chance to grow. The closure of a previously integral spot on the Larapinta Trail teaches us that even in the face of disappointment, we can gather our strength, reassess our plans, and find new sources of inspiration to carry us forward.
Glen Helen’s closure is an important reminder of something we all know: change is the only constant in life. Through the lessons of adaptability and resilience, we can turn setbacks into stepping stones, adversity into growth, and change into a source of strength. Although challenging, we’ve loved the chance to truly practice what we preach on the trail and embrace change as an opportunity to learn, evolve, and adapt.
If you’ve ever wanted to conquer the challenge of the Larapinta Trail, check out our website to see our new itinerary for the trip heading there in July 2024. That means plenty of time to train and prepare, and something amazing to look forward to!