MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW

Escape. I’m acutely aware of a sharp pain in my lower back. It’s spreading, aching. My chest tightens, as if it’s being squashed, forcing all the air out of my lungs. Can’t breathe. Uncontrollable shakes set in, like convulsions from electric shock. Feet, hands, legs. All numb. There’s no sound. All I can hear is the panicked voice in my head. Yelling. Sun. Heat. NOW!!

My entire consciousness fixates on that one objective: finding warmth.

First swim, done. One more. Second swim, four metres. Done. Quick. Get out of the water! But I can’t. Feet fumble around, desperately searching for purchase. Smooth rock, no holds. There! Up. You’re out.

I drop everything and run. Too hasty, I trip and fall. I try to scream for help, but no words come out. Dry throat.

It’s just me.

Where is the sun?

THE APPROACH

It’s July, and that can only mean one thing—it’s time for another epic adventure in the Northern Territory. In what’s fast becoming an annual pilgrimage, we’ve returned to our winter playground: West MacDonnell National Park. Home to the spectacular Larapinta Trail, one of Australia’s most popular long-distance tracks, the West Macs is a diverse realm of mountains, waterholes, and gorges. But we’re not here for the ‘Pinta. Oh, no. We’re here in search of the hidden gem: the Chewings Range.

Last year we had 12 incredible days in the