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 ====Warrumbungle Trust====
-The Federation has written to the Minister for lands requesting consideration be given to appointment on the Trust of walking and geological interests. Mr. F.A. Fallin and Mr. A. McInnes have been submitted as suitable nominees.
+The Federation has written to the Minister for lands requesting consideration be given to appointment on the Trust of walking and geological interests. Mr. F.A. Pallin and Mr. A. McInnes have been submitted as suitable nominees.
 ====Search And Rescue Section====
@@ Line 209: / Line 209: @@
 - "Digby"
-A rather asthmatic loco finally pulled the 6.37 into Katoomba atation-on that Friday night, nearly an hour late. "Look, there's Znow, I yelled to the others, waving to Dave Brown, who had come to meet us. A couple of tourists, misinterpreting my greeting, were visibly moved and full of expectancy at the news, and could probably already picture themselves frolicing in the whiteness. Now all this caused the party a great deal of merriment but I might add we were soon laughing on the other side of our faces, because it came true, oh yes, so very true indeed t But more of that anon.
+A rather asthmatic loco finally pulled the 6.37 into Katoomba Station on that Friday night, nearly an hour late. "Look, there's Snow", I yelled to the others, waving to Dave Brown, who had come to meet us. A couple of tourists, misinterpreting my greeting, were visibly moved and full of expectancy at the news, and could probably already picture themselves frolicing in the whiteness. Now all this caused the party a great deal of merriment but I might add we were soon laughing on the other side of our faces, because it came true, oh yes, so very true indeed! But more of that anon.
-Snow had a really fine bus waiting and an even dozen of us, in various stages of active and prospective membership, piled in. On the active side there were Dot, Garth, snow, leader Beverly and Keith while the Admiral, Bookie and I comprised the Not-Too-Active Bloc. In addition, we had with us prospectives Pat, Kath, Dawn and Brian. All in all, a good mixed bag. The bus moved off and shortly afterwards came the shocker. The hazy lights of Blackheath revealed a
- steady sprinkle from the murkiness above
+Snow had a really fine bus waiting and an even dozen of us, in various stages of active and prospective membership, piled in. On the active side there were Dot, Garth, Snow, leader Beverly and Keith while the Admiral, Bookie and I comprised the Not-Too-Active Bloc. In addition, we had with us prospectives Pat, Kath, Dawn and Brian. All in all, a good mixed bag. The bus moved off and shortly afterwards came the shocker. The hazy lights of Blackheath revealed a  steady sprinkle from the murkiness above...
-"Oh, well, I suppose it just had to rain", says someone. "IS that rain or is it...? Looks a bit like
-"aurely not. No, it can't be
+"Oh, well, I suppose it just __had__ to rain", says someone.
-"Yes, it is. It's snowL It's snow!"
-Sure enough we had been spooned our first taste of the night's snow and we liked it for its novelty. The novelty, however, soon wore off when twelve shivering bods were cast to. the elements in the alpine blizzard that raged at the aummit on the Jenolan Road. The snow was falling quite heavily now and the wind was howling, so all haste was made to put up tents a few hundred yards from the road. The last pegs went in as fingers froze to an unfeeling mass and everyone, including the out-of-doors brigade, quickly sought the warmth and shelter of down and japara. On such a night, its always a pleasant pastime to contemplate the tempest without from the snugness of a sleeping bag - maybe its because you kid yourself about a feeling of sublime security, reckoning that no matter what forces the weather demons may throw into the battle, you are secure and impregnable in the fortress of your tent. After all, there's not much kick to be had in tenting through a fine, warm summer's night.
+"Is that rain or is it...? Looks a bit like...."
-For a White Ant, getting up in the morning under such circumstances requires something more than a conscious effort - usually force; and after this was applied, there was a sight that rarely greets the bushwalking eye in these parts. Fine snowflakes drifted down onto a landscape already completely covered with a blanket of pure white. Every leaf and every stick carried its magic. mantle.  Yes, it was mighty good to be out bushwalking - Once you were up and about.
-.
+"Surely not. No, it can't be...."
-The murky mud-pool mixture that passes for water in this spot : was soon disguised in porridge and other edibles over a communal firc, Well, not quite communal; the incessant. roar of the latest vogue, the infernal primus, could be heard from the direction of the Admiral's tent. We must concede this rugged individualist yet another record - ten minutes from sleeping bag to moving offl Is bushwalking beaoming a science rather than an art?
-We struck out along the Mini Mini Range, quite carried away by our snowy surroundings. With the weather on the mend, patches of sunshineand falling flakes soon followed each other with amazing  speed. The clearing westerly was so strong that on occasions the snow seemed to befalling from a clear blue sky. The course to Gibraltar Rocks is now rife with misleading timber trails and of course there were moments of indecision. A general parley would be held around the map and finally, by mass hypnotism, we would be convinced of the merits of this or that direction. Then the Admiral would step up and spoil everything, "Now I'll give you az theory", he would assert with that air of knowledge that makes leaders lose confidence in themselves. Fortunately, his shaky logic was quickly vetoed by sheer weight of numbers and harmony was once again restored,
+"Yes, it is. It's snow! It's snow!"
-In this entertaining fashion we at last the Rocks and gazed with longing down into the valley, for the wind on top had increased to gale proportions. Even the photographers had lost their zest. Therefore all haste was Made in the descent to Gibraltar Creek. The warm sunshine poured down on us in our sheltered lunch spot and it was easy to grow lethargic, but our resolute leader would have none of it. a,0 up packs and down to the Cox it was.
+Sure enough we had been spooned our first taste of the night's snow and we liked it for its novelty. The novelty, however, soon wore off when twelve shivering bods were cast to the elements in the alpine blizzard that raged at the Summit on the Jenolan Road. The snow was falling quite heavily now and the wind was howling, so all haste was made to put up tents a few hundred yards from the road. The last pegs went in as fingers froze to an unfeeling mass and everyone, including the out-of-doors brigade, quickly sought the warmth and shelter of down and japara. On such a night, it's always a pleasant pastime to contemplate the tempest without from the snugness of a sleeping bag - maybe it's because you kid yourself about a feeling of sublime security, reckoning that no matter what forces the weather demons may throw into the battle, you are secure and impregnable in the fortress of your tent. After all, there's not much kick to be had in tenting through a fine, warm summer's night.
+For a White Ant, getting up in the morning under such circumstances requires something more than a conscious effort - usually force; and after this was applied, there was a sight that rarely greets the bushwalking eye in these parts. Fine snowflakes drifted down onto a landscape already completely covered with a blanket of pure white. Every leaf and every stick carried its magic mantle.  Yes, it was mighty good to be out bushwalking - once you were up and about.
+The murky mud-pool mixture that passes for water in this spot was soon disguised in porridge and other edibles over a communal fire. Well, not quite communal; the incessant roar of the latest vogue, the infernal primus, could be heard from the direction of the Admiral's tent. We must concede this rugged individualist yet another record - ten minutes from sleeping bag to moving off! Is bushwalking becoming a science rather than an art?
+We struck out along the Mini Mini Range, quite carried away by our snowy surroundings. With the weather on the mend, patches of sunshine and falling flakes soon followed each other with amazing  speed. The clearing westerly was so strong that on occasions the snow seemed to befalling from a clear blue sky. The course to Gibraltar Rocks is now rife with misleading timber trails and of course there were moments of indecision. A general parley would be held around the map and finally, by mass hypnotism, we would be convinced of the merits of this or that direction. Then the Admiral would step up and spoil everything, "Now I'll give you __my__ theory", he would assert with that air of knowledge that makes leaders lose confidence in themselves. Fortunately, his shaky logic was quickly vetoed by sheer weight of numbers and harmony was once again restored.
+In this entertaining fashion we at last the Rocks and gazed with longing down into the valley, for the wind on top had increased to gale proportions. Even the photographers had lost their zest. Therefore all haste was made in the descent to Gibraltar Creek. The warm sunshine poured down on us in our sheltered lunch spot and it was easy to grow lethargic, but our resolute leader would have none of it. So up packs and down to the Cox it was.
 A warm evening, dry wood, good water, beautiful grassy swards and bracken to sleep on - the night before seemed but a hazy dream. To make a good day better, a social campfire was burned into the night and ably led by Dot, we intermingled snatches from the Operas with a mixed bag of laughable sketches.
-The next morning it was soon clear that Dot and Garth were in no mood for taking things easy, Sunday or no Sunday. They srurned the graded Six Foot Track for the sake of sinking their teeth into the more challenging Black Jerry's Ridge, and so were soon away.
-They left none of their spirit behind them, though, for it was something after ten before the main party broke its moorings. This sad (blit pleasant) state of affairs was largely due to the insidious activities of the White Ant Bloc; shame and a form of bribery preveat me from even hinging at their identies.
+The next morning it was soon clear that Dot and Garth were in no mood for taking things easy, Sunday or no Sunday. They spurned the graded Six Foot Track for the sake of sinking their teeth into the more challenging Black Jerry's Ridge, and so were soon away. They left none of their spirit behind them, though, for it was something after ten before the main party broke its moorings. This sad (but pleasant) state of affairs was largely due to the insidious activities of the White Ant Bloc; shame and a form of bribery prevent me from even hinging at their identities.
-We might mention the infamous coffee episode, which shclUld go down in the annals of bushwalking cookery. With the pains of a prize chef, the Long One had prepared his billy of breakfast coffee and was about to savour it. Arriving on the scene, Snow mistook the brew for some greasy dishwater and for some reqson best known only to himself, promptly tossed the lot on to the meadow, to the
-accompanying wrath of the gourmet. SID much for the Admiral's coffee.
+We might mention the infamous coffee episode, which should go down in the annals of bushwalking cookery. With the pains of a prize chef, the Long One had prepared his billy of breakfast coffee and was about to savour it. Arriving on the scene, Snow mistook the brew for some greasy dishwater and for some reason best known only to himself, promptly tossed the lot on to the meadow, to the accompanying wrath of the gourmet. So much for the Admiral's coffee.
-.
-The climb out of the Cox was taken leisurely in glorious walking weather. Stops and excuses for stops there were aplenty, but it was a sound idea. Time was plentiful and it was good to drink in the balmy air and start another chin-wag. And so we found ourselves at Mitchell's Creek for lunch, which was highlighted by the billy boiling contest staged by the Primus Brigade. However, Snow's pint- sized miniature was hardly a match for the Admiral's roaring blast furnace. Whereupon, our leader delivered a very worthy lecture contrasting the evils of these artifial, turbulent and foul-smelling contraptions with the natural tranquility of a wood fire.
+The climb out of the Cox was taken leisurely in glorious walking weather. Stops and excuses for stops there were aplenty, but it was a sound idea. Time was plentiful and it was good to drink in the balmy air and start another chin-wag. And so we found ourselves at Mitchell's Creek for lunch, which was highlighted by the billy boiling contest staged by the Primus Brigade. However, Snow's pint-sized miniature was hardly a match for the Admiral's roaring blast furnace. Whereupon, our leader delivered a very worthy lecture contrasting the evils of these artificial, turbulent and foul-smelling contraptions with the natural tranquility of a wood fire.
-After lunch we joined up with Dot and Garth, and with renewed energy, plugged on up the valley and into the Devil's Hole in fine atyle to make Katoomba with lots of daylight still left over. The strange case of the Missing Ticket provoked much nirth. After a
-fruitless search for the offending butt, the Adn:Iral paid up again for the homeward journey. Of course, the original was found in Dawn's purse somewhere down the line. Well, Dawn, we certainly cannot believe that you are all those nasty things l We know it's just the ingratitude of Man. This episode was certainly a fitting finale to a weekend made so enjoyable by an abundance of unexpected events, good humour and harmless fun.
+After lunch we joined up with Dot and Garth, and with renewed energy, plugged on up the valley and into the Devil's Hole in fine style to make Katoomba with lots of daylight still left over. The strange case of the Missing Ticket provoked much mirth. After a fruitless search for the offending butt, the Admiral paid up again for the homeward journey. Of course, the original was found in Dawn's purse somewhere down the line. Well, Dawn, we certainly cannot believe that you are all those nasty things! We know it's just the ingratitude of Man. This episode was certainly a fitting finale to a weekend made so enjoyable by an abundance of unexpected events, good humour and harmless fun.
-WHEN PURCHAaING GOODS FROM OUR iiDVERTISERS,
-please let it be known that you are BUSHWAIKERS, and thus let them know that their messages to us are bearing fruit.
+----
-OUR ADVTERS ARE OUT TO PLE:ISE US,
-AND WILL HELP TJ ALL THEY CAN.
+When purchasing goods from our advertisers, please let it be known that you are BUSHWAIKERS, and thus let them know that their messages to us are bearing fruit.
-PERSONAL: Gentleman clean, moral (non-smoker, moderate drinker) 6 ft. 3 ins, tall, possessor of a standard-size sleeping bag, would like to meet young lady, 5 ft. or under, with similar means, view yw acquiring her surplus 18 inches.
-. S,HOTGU'N B 0 0 G I E.
+Our advertisers are out to please us, and will help us all they can.
+----
+====Personal:====
+Gentleman clean, moral (non-smoker, moderate drinker) 6 ft. 3 ins, tall, possessor of a standard-size sleeping bag, would like to meet young lady, 5 ft. or under, with similar means, view acquiring her surplus 18 inches.
+----
+=====Shotgun Boogie.=====
 - Keith Renwick.
-Joadja over a Period of years has developed quite a sinister meaning to Bushwalkers pduo to the residence there of a farmer aginl all walkers and possessor of a trigger-happy shotgun. When I saw it on the programme I was immediately attracted, despite the abovementioned gentleman, because it opened up some rarely visited country which sounded very promising. There were five starters: Brian Milne, Howard Ireland, two prospectives - Jim Nash and
-Dot Barr, and Keith Renwick. The trip was from Mittagong out along the road to the junction of the Wingecarribee and Joadja Creek,
+Joadja over a Period of years has developed quite a sinister meaning to Bushwalkers due to the residence there of a farmer agin' all walkers and possessor of a trigger-happy shotgun. When I saw it on the programme I was immediately attracted, despite the abovementioned gentleman, because it opened up some rarely visited country which sounded very promising. There were five starters: Brian Milne, Howard Ireland, two prospectives - Jim Nash and Dot Barr, and Keith Renwick. The trip was from Mittagong out along the road to the junction of the Wingecarribee and Joadja Creek, then back up the Wingecarribee to Medway, along the road to Berrima, and hitch then to Mittagong to pick up the train to Sydney.
-then back up the Wingecarribee to Medway, along the road to Berrima, and hitch then to Mittagong to pick up the train to Sydney.
-Mittagong was cold and clear and there was no trouble getting a taxi - actually he got us - and soon we were on our way out to
+Mittagong was cold and clear and there was no trouble getting a taxi - actually he got us - and soon we were on our way out to the farm, directing the taxi driver as we went. We stopped when the road deteriorated, soon after passing the turn-off to the coal mine on Jackey Jackey's Creek. This bad patch doesn't last long and the road is quite good right down to the junction of Wingecarribee and Joadja Creeks, but the non-perennial stream had water in it, and as it's just outside Joadja's property we camped. But did we have a frost that night or did we what! The ground was absolutely white, the creek froze over, there were individual frost crystals a quarter of an inch long and frost on all the trees to about ten feet above the ground. It's the first time I've really shivered inside my superdown bag.
- the farm, directing the taxi driver as we went. We stopped when the road deteriorated, soon after passing the turn-off to the coal mine on Jackey Jackey's Creek. This bad patch doesn't last long and the road is quite good right down to the junction of Wingeoarribee and Joadja Creeks, but the non-perennial stream had water in it, and as it's just outside Joadja's property we camped. But did we have a frost that night or did we what! The ground was absolutely white, the creek froze over, there were individual frost crystals a quarter of an inch long and frost on all the trees to about ten feet above the ground. It's the first time I've really shivered inside my superdown bag.
-Up at 7 to be away by 9 a.m. to a fine clear day - after l,
+Up at 7 to be away by 9 a.m. to a fine clear day - after all, it may be our last! During breakfast we were pestered by exceptionally tame birds which not only pinched our bread when we weren't looking, but which eventually were eating out of Jim's hand on pieces of crust. This only goes to prove how comparatively undisturbed the area must be, as we found many more examples of this later on.
-it may be our last! During breakfast we were pestered by exception-
-ally tame birds which not only pinched our bread when we weren't looking, but which eventually were eating out of Jim's hand on
+We had been going about twenty minutes when all of a sudden we rounded a corner and there at the end of a short straight stretch of road was a wire gate and trees plastered with notices, and as we strode five abreast down towards the gate we felt for all the world like Gary Cooper in "High Noon" striding down the deserted main street not knowing from which direction the first shot would come. At last we came within reading distance of the notices which generally carried this friendly greeting:
- pieces of crust. This only goes to prove how comparatively undisturbed the area must be, as we found many more examples of this later on.
-We had been going about twenty minutes when all of a sudden we rounded a corner and there at the end of a short straight stretch of road was a wire gate and trees plastered with notices,
+Trespassers will be Prosecuted; No Camping; No Shooting; No one Allowed; Private Property; Keep Out, and such like.
-and as we strode five abreast down towards the gate we felt for
-all the world like Gary Cooper in "High Noon" striding down the deserted main street not knowing from which direction the first shot would come. At last we came within reading distance of the notices which generally carried this friendly greeting:
+Gingerly we opened the gate and crept in. It's moments like these that a leader gets most comfort leading his party from the rear! On our right was the road down to Joadja mine. This we carefully avoided and took the one on our left. The country on the tops here has been gum forest in which the undergrowth has been burnt off, and new scrub and trees have grown up. The road, which is in pretty good condition, winds down a small valley and out on the side of the ridge towards a clearing at the end of which were situated the farm buildings.
-Trespassers will be Prosecuted; No Camping; No Shooting;
-No one ;Mowed; ,Private Property; Keep Out, and such like.
+We walked brazenly on and were admiring the snow drifts on the shady side of the valley, which we later discovered to be frost, when we were staggered to see a car suddenly round the corner in front and come on up the hill towards us. This was it! We were trapped! However, we spread out (they could only get us one at a time this way), and were ready to dive for cover. On came the machine, loaded with bods who stared at us intently. We decided to call their bluff, so we smiled sweetly and half waved. Then came the cruelling blow - they did the same as they passed. Not very friendly, but at least they didn't mow us down on the spot. Perhaps they were just friends visiting the farm, but then again, they could have been trying to put us off guard ready for ambush further down, the road. We weren't to be easily turned aside, so press on regardless we did. Then we came to a very large notice in artistic yellow letters on a black background:
-Gingerly we opened the gate and crept in. It's moments like these. that a leader gets most comfort leading his party from
-the rear! On our right was the road down to Joadja mine. This we
+"Enter at own risk. Alsation dogs running loose. No responsibility taken for damage to persons or property."
-.
-carefully avoided and took the one on our left. The country on the tops here has been gum forest in which the undergrowth has been 'burnt off, and new scrub and trees have grown up. The road, which is in pretty good condition, winds down a small valley and out on the side of the ridge towards a clearing at the end of which were situated the farm buildings.
+Ugh! Soon after we came to a gate. We went through and cut across open grass country on the end of the ridge, keeping in gullies to be out of sight and range of the farmhouses, and we struck the Wingecarribee a little upstream of these dwellings.
-We walked brazenly on and were adming the snow drifts on the shady side of the valley, which we ihLrer dicovered to be frost, when we were staggered to see a oar sudLoly round the corner in front and come on up the hill towards us. This was it! We were trapped! However, we spread out (they could only get us one at a time this way), and were ready to uLve for cover.
-On came the machine, loaded with bods who itared bb ,,),s intently.
+For the first mile or so the country is open grasslands, but on the river and later on the whole hillsides are well wooded. The going is fairly straight-forward for this first bit, but is over sand. Right up to Black Bobs Creek there are sand dunes upon sand dunes alongside the river, while the river itself is just one beautiful long swimming hole with trees hanging out over both banks. Unfortunately there are lots of snags. Right from Bowen's Creek down, the river is very quiet flowing with few rapids and some beautiful spots for reunions and swimming carnivals (bring your own shotguns). Further up the river banks are steep in parts and heavily scrubbed which makes going slow between flats, and the last really good campsites occur between Jackey Jackey's Creek and Long Flat, after which the valley narrows and steepens. Howard, a prospector at heart, started panning for gold as soon as we hit the Wingecarribee, but no luck. The further upstream we got, the more wildlife we noticed. There were innumerable and varied tracks in the sand, wombat holes aplenty, and even some rabbits which seem to be pretty well cleaned out in most other places. We even saw two quite large kangaroos bounding with enviable ease up the side of the ridge. Birds there were aplenty - wrens, finches, kookaburras, rozellas and grey butcher birds. The river, I would say, would be an ideal spot for platypus too, and I saw one burrow just above river level which could have belonged to one.
-We decided to call their bluff, so we naled.Eectly f-ad waved. Then came the crueling blow - Jiine they passed. Not very friendly, but at least Ler dCi.n",.: mow us down on the spot. l'erhaps they were jot frIends v71.3itiag the farm, but then again, they could have ceen :;-ying to put
-us off guard ready for ambush further dorl, the road. We werenft to be easily turned aside, so press on regardless we did. Then we came to a very large notice in artistic yellow letters on a black background:
+But from Long Flat upstream the river really becomes interesting as it narrows down and eventually becomes quite a gorge. We had kept to the eastern and northern hank so far, and indeed hardly saw one crossing place short of swimming, but about a mile up from Long Flat, before you get to Bowens Creek Junction, the river passes between some large boulders and it is possible to scramble across here with dry feet. From there on it is just sidling through scrub, with occasional flats. But the cliff line closes in and the going becomes increasingly more difficult and interesting as the gorge proper is entered. Here is a continuous unbroken line of cliffs, without any normally possible way out (Ha! A challenge to all Rock Climbers! Ed.), about 200 or 300 yards apart and 400 to 600 ft. high, with enormous sandstone boulders choking the valley; necessitating a lot of scrambling. Two enormous avalanches choked the valley, one five to ten years old, judging from the small trees on it. The other had us a bit worried as it was by far the larger and seemed as though the dust had barely settled, as a tree which had come down with it was fairly green! This was just prior to reaching No.2 Colliery on the map, which has not been working for years. The coal seam appeared to be quite extensive, and was 8 to 10 ft. thick at one place. We were beginning to wonder how to get out of here in time for trains, etc., when we found attached to the cliff face an iron ladder which used to be part of the mine workings, so we lunched here then climbed out. But the Gorge goes on and looks extremely interesting.
-"Enter at own risk. iJ_sation dogs running loose. No responsibility taken for damage to persons or property."
-Ugh t Soon after we came to a gate. We went through and cut across open grass country on the end of the ridge, keeping in gullies to be out of sight and range of the farmhouses, and we struck the Wingecarribee a little upstream of these dwellings.
+We road-bashed to Berrima where we split up, intending to hitch back to Mittagong for the train, but we walked the 8 miles in some two and a half hours with plenty of cars and trucks going by but none sympathetic enough to offer a lift till within a mile of Mittagong. Transport for this part would definitely be an asset.
-For the first mile or so the country is open grasslands, but on the river and later on the whole hillsides are well wooded. The going is fairly straight-forward for this first bit, but is over sand. Right up to Black Bobs Creek there are sand dunes upon sand dunes alongside the river, while the river itself is just one beautiful long swimming hole with trees hanging out over both banks. Unfortunately there are lots of snags. Right from Bowen's Creek down, the river is very quiet flowing with few rapids and some beautiful spots for reunions and swimming carnivals (bring your own shotguns). Further up the river banks arc steep in parts and heavily scrubbed which makes going slow between flats, and the last really good campsites occur between Jackey Jockey's Creek and Long Flat,
-after which the valley narrows and steepens. Howard, a prospector at heart, started panning for gold as soon as we hit the Wingecarribee, but no lucks The further upstream we got, the more wildlife we noticed. There were innumerable and varied tracks in the sand, wombat holes aplenty, and even some rabbits which seem to be pretty well cleaned out in most other places. We even saw two quite large kangaroos bounding with enviable ease up the side of the ridge. Birds there were aplenty - wrens, finches, kookaburras, rozellas and grey butcher birds. The river,
+An improvement on this trip would be to come out towards Joadja, turn south along the road to the Coal and Shale mine on Jackey Jackey's Creek, go out along the ridge to Joadja Hill, and drop down from here to the Wingecarribee. Then go right up the river past Medway to Berrima, camping, perhaps, near where the perennial stream comes in from south of Lock Catherine Colliery. This would take in all the interesting part of the river and leave out the shotgun owner's bit as you don't enter his property then.
-.
-I would say, would be an ideal spot for platypus too, and I
+=====Paddy Made=====
-saw one burrow just above river level which could have belonged to one.
-But from Long Flat upstream the river really becomes interesting as it narrows down and eventually becomes quite a gorge. We had kept to the eastern and northern hank so far, and indeed hardly saw one crossing place short of swimming, but about a mile up from Long Flat, before you get to Bowens Creek Junction, the river passes between some large boulders and it is possible to scramble across here with dry feet. From there on it is just &idling through scrub, with occasional flats. But the cliff line closes in and the going becomes increasingly more difficult and interesting as the gorge proper is entered. Here is a continuous unbroken line of cliffs, without any normally possible way out (Hal A challenge to all Rock Climbers! Ed.), about 200 or 300 yards apart and 400 to 600 ft. high, with enormous sandstone boulders choking the valley; necessitating a lot of scrambling. Two enormous avalanches choked the valley, one five to ten years old, judging from the small trees on it. The other had us a bit worried as it was by far the larger and seemed as though the dust had barely settled, as a tree which had come down with it was fairly green L This was just prior to reaching No.2 Colliery on the map, which has not been working for years. The coal seam appeared to be quite extensive, and was 8 to 10 ft. thick at one place. We were beginning to wonder how to get out of here in time for trains, etc., when WO found attached tb the cliff face an iron ladder which used to be part of the mine workings, so we lunched here then climbed out. But the Gorge goes on and looks extremely interesting.
+Well folks Paddy's back on the job again at the old stand. He'll be pleased to see any of his old cobbers.
-We road-bashed to Lerrima where we split up, intending to hitch back to Mittagong for the train, but we walked the 8 miles in some two and a half hours with plenty of cars and trucks going by but none sympathetic enough to offer a lift till within a mile
-of Mittagong. Transport for this part would definitely be an asset.
-An improvement on this trip would be to come out towards Joadja., turn south along the road to the Coal and shale mine on Jackey Jackey!s Creek, go out along the ridge to Joadja Hill, and drop dpwn from here to the Wingecarribee. Then go right up the river past -
-.Medway to Berrima, camping, perhaps, near where the perennial .' stream comes in from south of Lock Catherine Colliery. This woul take in all the interesting part of the river and leave oUt.the shotgun Ownerfs bit as you dontt enter his property then.
-Well folks Paddy's back on the job again at the old stand. He'll 'co pleased to see any of his old cobbers.
 Paddy had a look at camping gear everywhere he went, seeking new ideas and gadgets. Results of this experience should show up in the next few months.
-But what Paddy really wants to say now is how good it is to get back home.
-Be seeing your
-P D ALL1
-Lightweight Comp Gear
-CASTLEREAGH Sir SYDNEY
-. 5
+But what Paddy really wants to say now is how good it is to get back home. Be seeing you!
+Paddy Pallin, Lightweight Camp Gear, 201 Castlereagh St, Sydney