tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4952795013415598058.post5093394537108146153..comments2024-02-21T16:07:10.237+10:30Comments on Notes from a Trail Head: Swimming strokes through the scrubJezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04321045130627996084noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4952795013415598058.post-33625578275945047132012-10-25T06:49:38.957+10:302012-10-25T06:49:38.957+10:30In all fairness the new owners at Arkaba (and the ...In all fairness the new owners at Arkaba (and the previous owners in particular,the Rasheed family) money totaling in the millions has been spent, as well as vast amounts of energy, in restoring the station back to the beautiful wilderness Heysen trail devotees can enjoy these days. The place was a wasteland a couple of decades ago, gutted by years of overuse, the destructive aspects of the rabbit infestation that had overtaken the area, as well as the thousands of goats, foxes, and feral cats that had overrun the place - and are still present. Extensive and expensive programs are still in place to keep up the eradication program, and the only way the owners can pay for it all, while cutting the sheep back to the bare minimum in one small area of the lease, is via those well-heeled customers referenced in the blog. It's a bit hard to convince people to part with $2,000 each for a luxury 4 day hike through the area if they keep bumping into people tramping through the area for free! What would you rather do - see the place go back to the devastation of before so you can camp wherever you like on the property (in amongst the rabbit warrens)? I appreciate that it's tough on those who love hiking the Heysen trail, but from my perspective I'd rather take the new limitations if it means the area can be restored to pristine wilderness by removing most of the sheep and using the property for eco-tourism. It's not just about us - the property has become a haven again for species that had long since disappeared from the area, and the yellow-footed rock wallaby in particular is benefiting from the changes in direction by the station owners. <br /><br />An no, I don't have any connection to the station!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com