As the light faded, time to set up camp and enjoy a well-earned drink.
PERfect evening. Mild, no wind or cloud. Glorious solitude and tranquility.
Next morning, back on the Track. Taller trees in parts. Early thin cloud soon burnt off. Not far north of where I camped were a couple of the longest and roughest areas to pick across. No real drama; just slow going.
It then became very narrow and winding with poor visibility ahead. I pretty much gave up taking more pics until I was nearly clear of the Track when the vegetation had opened up to larger, spaced trees.
The Track exits onto Victoria Rocks Rd, a well-maintained dirt road, about 50km from Coolgardie. I dropped into Victoria Rocks briefly before bee-lining to Coolgardie to refuel and air-up and then to bee-line home.
And that was it for a good trip. It satisfied my curiosity and I’m glad I did it. However, I don’t think that I would encourage anyone to do it, although nor would I dissuade anyone. It is terribly chopped up, wantonly in many instances it seemed, so that I found a bit depressing.
I now realise why the tag-along leader that I travelled the Canning Stock Route with in 2017 (
Way into the WA wilderness) says he never takes groups on the Holland Track any more.
I certainly would dissuade anyone of the non-mud-bashing type from doing it any time much after the winter rains start. A solo run during winter would not be sensible. I could avoid the mud but that would become impossible after more rain, so recovery gear and travelling in a group would be crucial.
As mentioned, the most nerve-wracking aspect was the fear of head-on collision on the very narrow, winding sections, mostly in the mid-northern part.
Now to think about where next?