Camel Valley - WA

Camel Valley is one of the many narrow, rocky gorges that characterize the rugged Throssell Ranges. It is situated in the remote north west of the park approximately 6.5 km south west of the Yandagooge Gap, 6.6 km NNE of the 3 Sisters Hills or 12 km north west of the Tjinkulatatjarra (Jarra) Pool and Watrara Creek. It is situated at a point where a wide sandy basin between two rocky plateaus finally constricts into a narrow gorge. On the floor of the valley winds a narrow rocky creek bed. The broader, northern section of the valley is a mass or gullies and rills. At this point the many camel trails from the main basin converged on this narrow pinch and merge to form a single track. So well worn is this path that it seems to have been made for the express purpose of hikers. Rather, it is a migratory path through this narrow, winding gorge allowing access from one valley to the next. It was even more incredible when considering that the camel has always been a beast of the open plains and desert. You never imagine them making a precarious climb along narrow rocky valleys and passes.

The path follows the course of the creek south until the gorge becomes to steep and narrow. Here the path leaves the rocky creek bed and makes it’s way up the high western walls whilst the creek bed itself continues on a more easterly path cutting through a high sided chasm and spilling out into the next valley. There are numerous ephemeral rock holes along its course. The camel path meanwhile continues on a more southerly track and after a kilometer reaches a high saddle where you can look downwards along the course of the trail in both directions.

Here you can climb the steep eastern walls of the valley be rewarded with a magnificent view of the broad valley to the east. This valley extends to the south where it opens out onto the vast plains that would eventually reach the Watrara Creek and its semi-ephemeral pools. To the north it tapered and led off into many narrow gorges and chasms all of which would lead to other such valleys, one of which holds the Darlsen Pinnacle.

The trail continues a further 2 kilometers south down the valley proper, over scalloped ridges before emerging into the next broad valley.

There are currently no roads or tracks into this area other than those you make yourself. Our exploration of the area was carried out on Arctic Cat ATV's (as per photo's). Vehicle access to both here and the Darlsen pinnacle are something we intend to explore on a later visit to the area possibly in 09/10. Further information on our route and conditons to this amazing place can be found on my exploroz blog site (mick O) under Yandagooge gap expedition blogs July 17-20, 2008.