Teens take on the Larapinta Trail
Published Fri 18 Oct 2024
Walking the Larapinta Trail would be a challenge for many people, but five teenagers conquered the first three stages unassisted.
Now, three of the five are set to receive their Australian Scout Award at Baden-Powell Activity Centre on Saturday.
Cobalt Walsh, 14, from 1st Picnic Point Scout Group, and Breanna and Madeleine Ward, both 14, from 1st Oatley Bay Scout Group, have achieved the peak award for the Scout section – recognition of the personal growth that has occurred through leadership, teamwork, initiative, tenacity and dedication. They were accompanied by Callum Clasper, 14, and Austin Tyler, 15, from 1st Picnic Point Scout Group.
The 80km hike across five days and four nights in April counted as Cobalt’s Adventurous Journey for his peak award. As the Journey leader, he was responsible for planning the hike, including an activity plan, risk assessment, contingencies, budget and organising travel and other activities. It was also the Adventurous Journey for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, which all five Scouts in the Patrol are undertaking, and was partially funded by a $10,000 grant from the Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund.
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What’s an Adventurous Journey? Adventurous Journeys are explorations of the outdoors in ways that stretch or test personal limits. They require Scouts to plan and lead an expedition in which they apply the leadership and outdoor skills they have developed throughout their Scouting and Achievement Pathways adventures. The journey can be any type of “adventurous activity” and must be human or nature-powered. Examples include:
For Scouts (aged 11-14), the Adventurous Journey must be at least three days and two nights. |
Cobalt decided he wanted to hike the Larapinta, found in the West MacDonnell Ranges, west of Alice Springs, after visiting Central Australia on holiday with his family when he was 12.
“I saw the amazing landscape of the West MacDonnell Ranges in Alice Springs and some of the chasms and gaps,” he said. “I met some hikers and that is what made me want to come back out one day and hike the Larapinta Trail. I did not expect it to be so soon.”
The Patrol of teens hiked the trail unassisted, except for one food drop, and two supporting Leaders who trailed a couple of kilometres behind and acted as a separate party. Being an isolated hike, the Patrol’s risk assessment required backup at a distance, which was provided by two of the dads – David Walsh and Chris Ward, who are both Leaders in Scouts – as well as Chris’ son Tarn, who at only 12 (and also a Scout) joined them for two days.
Cobalt said there was a lot of planning required before the trip, to ensure the Patrol was safe and ready for any challenge that faced them on the trail, which included two moderate and one hard grade sections.
“The hike went very well, but we had to learn to accommodate speed and stamina differences,” he said. “Some of us were faster or stronger walkers than others and at the end of the first day we had to remind ourselves to walk as a group and stick together, both for safety reasons and also for fun and enjoyment.
“On the last day we had a choice to take a harder route or an easier route. As it was our fifth day straight of walking, we really thought about it, but we also knew we might never be back there. So, we decided to do the harder walk. There was a lot of climbing up and down, but we knew at the end of the day we were finished and would be able to relax. The views were amazing and worth the effort!”
For the group of friends, the hike ended up being more than just challenging themselves and walking the difference. It was also an opportunity to learn more about First Nations culture, experience some of the different activities around Alice Springs, as well as enjoy a chance encounter with a local Scout Group.
They also enjoyed seeing a part of Australia that is different to NSW and dipping their toes in pools and breaks on hot days.
“At the end of the hike we had a really cool talk with the Traditional Owners of Angkerle Atwatye, which most people know to be Standley Chasm,” Cobalt said. “We really enjoyed learning about the kinship structure, as well as bush foods, ochres and tools. The different items we could see and hold were cool.
“There are lots of good memories from before and after the hike. On the day we arrived in Alice Springs it was the last night of the Parrtjima Sound and Light Festival and we got to go to that, which was really fun. We also did a tour of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and a guided walk with a NT Parks Ranger at the sacred site of Emily Gap.
“When we arrived in Alice Springs, we had to pick up our groceries and some local people recognised us as Scouts and came and talked to us. They were from Alice Springs Scout Group, and we ended up having a combined Scout and Venturer Scout night with them after the hike.
“This Larapinta journey was only made possible thanks to the Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund grant and I think we all fulfilled the objectives of the Fund – to set greater challenges, and to increase our self-confidence, resilience and leadership capabilities.”
The five teens are now focusing on completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award this year and planning their Silver DoE journey for 2025. They are also all looking to achieve the King’s Scout Award whilst they are in Venturer Scouts.
Want to go on your own adventure? Applications for the Leadership Through Adventure Fund are open for all ages.
