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195707 [2016/04/25 15:34] – [May Walks Report] kennettj195707 [2016/04/25 15:39] (current) – [Back to the Thirsty Thirtees] kennettj
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 led by means of short lengths of metal conduit down to a waiting kerosene tin. Very effective. Whaka gave a demonstration of glissading down a snow slope on the seat of his pants - F. Winterbottom Esquire, As we lay in the sun we studied and learned the names of the peaks on the range opposite and selected the one we would climb tomorrow - Phyllis. But when we woke up next day we were startled to find that the beautiful sunny weather had vanished and it was raining and snowing. We kicked ourselves for having wasted a day yesterday. However we had much fun in the hut, reading and singing and stamping around, and Whaka who is a magician of the first order, kept the troops entertained for hours. We studied the barometer from time to time, and were pleased when Whaka announced that tomorrow would be fine. It was. led by means of short lengths of metal conduit down to a waiting kerosene tin. Very effective. Whaka gave a demonstration of glissading down a snow slope on the seat of his pants - F. Winterbottom Esquire, As we lay in the sun we studied and learned the names of the peaks on the range opposite and selected the one we would climb tomorrow - Phyllis. But when we woke up next day we were startled to find that the beautiful sunny weather had vanished and it was raining and snowing. We kicked ourselves for having wasted a day yesterday. However we had much fun in the hut, reading and singing and stamping around, and Whaka who is a magician of the first order, kept the troops entertained for hours. We studied the barometer from time to time, and were pleased when Whaka announced that tomorrow would be fine. It was.
  
-Dawn saw four exceptionaly frisky bodies shooting down the snow slope from the hut, laughing in the early morning light. We crossed the Murcheson Glacier and embarked on the long plod up Phillis through limitless fields of snow. The weather was perfect and almost windless; the snow was in good condition and life was a grand affair. Snow viewed the world through rose-coloured glasses (metaphorically speaking). "Gee Whaka," he cried enthusiastically, "This is the best day we've had!"+Dawn saw four exceptionally frisky bodies shooting down the snow slope from the hut, laughing in the early morning light. We crossed the Murcheson Glacier and embarked on the long plod up Phillis through limitless fields of snow. The weather was perfect and almost windless; the snow was in good condition and life was a grand affair. Snow viewed the world through rose-coloured glasses (metaphorically speaking). "Gee Whaka," he cried enthusiastically, "This is the best day we've had!"
  
-My glasses coloured the landscape in beautiful amber sunshine. Whaka took his off from time so time and closed his eyes down to mere slits as a protection against the light, but none of us seemed to notice that George, finding his a bit awkward over his head bandage perhaps, had taken them off altogether and gazed on the brilliant shining landscape all the afternoon with his big beautiful eyes wide open to catch every glint of glare that was offering, with the result that when we got back to the hut after having achieved our peak and stood on the summit in brilliant sunshine with the world at our feet, George was beginning to suffer the first agonies of snow blindness.  Poor George! As if a bash on the skull with a sharp rock wasn't enough to put up with without this extra affliction. The next couple of days were sheer Hell to George. We closed down the shutters of the hut to keep the light out, and in darkness and pain George sat on his top bunk and suffered without one single whisper of complaint. Snow and I, worried and perturbed, would hover round like a couple of sheep that uneasily gaze at a companion that is down: "Can we do anything for you George?" "Can we read to you George?"But Whaka, knowing that a man must go through his own particular Hell alone, just passed him up his meals, and pads for his eyes, and a few quiet words of encouragement and waited - and two days later George was sufficiently recovered to move on.+My glasses coloured the landscape in beautiful amber sunshine. Whaka took his off from time so time and closed his eyes down to mere slits as a protection against the light, but none of us seemed to notice that George, finding his a bit awkward over his head bandage perhaps, had taken them off altogether and gazed on the brilliant shining landscape all the afternoon with his big beautiful eyes wide open to catch every glint of glare that was offering, with the result that when we got back to the hut after having achieved our peak and stood on the summit in brilliant sunshine with the world at our feet, George was beginning to suffer the first agonies of snow blindness.  Poor George! As if a bash on the skull with a sharp rock wasn't enough to put up with without this extra affliction. The next couple of days were sheer Hell to George. We closed down the shutters of the hut to keep the light out, and in darkness and pain George sat on his top bunk and suffered without one single whisper of complaint. Snow and I, worried and perturbed, would hover round like a couple of sheep that uneasily gaze at a companion that is down: "Can we do anything for you George?" "Can we read to you George?" But Whaka, knowing that a man must go through his own particular Hell alone, just passed him up his meals, and pads for his eyes, and a few quiet words of encouragement and waited - and two days later George was sufficiently recovered to move on.
  
  
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 Fortunately, mere droughtiness doesn't mean a cessation or even a limitation of walking. If that were so, the numerous walking Clubs that mushroomed in Sydney during the Thirsty Thirties were off the beam somewhere. What it does entail is more cautious planning of trips. Even in the driest spells of the bad years, there was always water to be found in the beds of the main Blue Mountain Rivers. The streams Fortunately, mere droughtiness doesn't mean a cessation or even a limitation of walking. If that were so, the numerous walking Clubs that mushroomed in Sydney during the Thirsty Thirties were off the beam somewhere. What it does entail is more cautious planning of trips. Even in the driest spells of the bad years, there was always water to be found in the beds of the main Blue Mountain Rivers. The streams
-didn't flow, much of their length was bare sand or jambled river rocks, but always there were pools to be found. That didn't apply to some of the tributory creeks, and a camp on a main watercourse was often vital.+didn't flow, much of their length was bare sand or jambled river rocks, but always there were pools to be found. That didn't apply to some of the tributary creeks, and a camp on a main watercourse was often vital.
  
 Ridge walking was (and may be again) quite a hazardous enterprise unless the ridge assuredly ended in a negotiable way down to a major stream. This business of finding a flow, or even pools, in the higher Ridge walking was (and may be again) quite a hazardous enterprise unless the ridge assuredly ended in a negotiable way down to a major stream. This business of finding a flow, or even pools, in the higher
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 Rather inadequately, I must admit, there's no royal road to divining water, unless you have the gift of using the forked stick. Rather inadequately, I must admit, there's no royal road to divining water, unless you have the gift of using the forked stick.
  
-The main thing, I believe, is to adjust our attitude to the possibility that we're in for a spell of dry seasons, to acknowledge and recognise that the presence of water will govern where we go and when. Oh yes, and we should feet it fixed in our skulls that water, like the prosperity of the Thirsty Thirties (also the depressed Thirties) is NOT 'just around the corner".+The main thing, I believe, is to adjust our attitude to the possibility that we're in for a spell of dry seasons, to acknowledge and recognise that the presence of water will govern where we go and when. Oh yes, and we should feet it fixed in our skulls that water, like the prosperity of the Thirsty Thirties (also the depressed Thirties) is NOT "just around the corner".
  
 Finally, when you do find water, don't be too fastidious. There are probably just as many dead mosquitoes, wags and other excrescences in the puddle of pale brown fluid in the next gully. But maybe you'd better boil it quite thoroughly. Finally, when you do find water, don't be too fastidious. There are probably just as many dead mosquitoes, wags and other excrescences in the puddle of pale brown fluid in the next gully. But maybe you'd better boil it quite thoroughly.
  
 **HEAR YE  HEAR YE**\\ **HEAR YE  HEAR YE**\\
-Print in the words ENGLGED and BUSY across the page of Friday, 13th September in your little blue books. No, you don't have to embark on a voyage nn such an ominous date, but surely you ARE going to the FEDERATION BALL at the University Refectory Hall.+Print in the words ENGAGED and BUSY across the page of Friday, 13th September in your little blue books. No, you don't have to embark on a voyage on such an ominous date, but surely you ARE going to the FEDERATION BALL at the University Refectory Hall.
  
-This is the BIG social event of the bushwalking year and even to be just seen there is to have made your mark. And even if you're not seen, you'll still have a ton of fun. Tickets are 1.1.each and Social Sec, Heather Joyce will be only too pleased to oblige. This is YOUR ball.+This is the BIG social event of the bushwalking year and even to be just seen there is to have made your mark. And even if you're not seen, you'll still have a ton of fun. Tickets are £1.1. each and Social Sec, Heather Joyce will be only too pleased to oblige. This is YOUR ball.
  
 **COLOUR SLIDE EXHIBITION** **COLOUR SLIDE EXHIBITION**
195707.txt · Last modified: 2016/04/25 15:39 by kennettj

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