Right to Climb

I have an op ed in the Adelaide Advertiser today. It's subscription only. Indigenous beliefs on Flinders Ranges’ St Mary’s Peak should not override the right of all to enjoy hiking it At 1171m, St Mary’s Peak is the highest point in the Flinders Ranges. It’s the end point for a spectacular scenic 20km bushwalk that rewards with 360 degree views of the rocky ranges, salt lakes and amazing desert plains. This wonderful challenging walk, accessible to most people of moderate fitness with a little planning and a willing spirit, has been under threat for some time by the beliefs of the local Adnyamathanha people, who believe that the peak is the head of an ancient serpent whose petrified body forms the walls of Wilpena Pound. They prefer you don’t visit it or walk it. Read the rest at...this LINK I'll post an image in a few days.

St Mary's Peak is the highest point in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It's the end point for a spectacular scenic 20km bush walk that rewards with 360º views of the ranges, salt lakes and surrounding plains. In 2012 Oliver Pfeil wrote the following on reaching the summit: 360° Perfection The  Lady of the Outback  had been kind to us that beautiful autumn morning and, as I scanned across the moonlit valleys and far-reaching vistas of the Flinders Ranges, I was overcome with a mixture of relief, excitement and a feeling of total freedom that I was able to enjoy an adventure of such calibre in our very own backyard. With a rising sun in the east and a full moon in the west, the 360° panoramic views of Wilpena Pound, Lake Torrens and the jagged backbone of the northern Flinders Ranges would forever be etched into my mind. Other climbing tales for St Mary's include: breathtaking 360-degree views of the Flinders Ranges “Brilliant - St Marys Peak!” The vie...