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195808 [2016/04/07 19:05] – [Three Peaks] kennettj195808 [2016/04/25 20:56] (current) – [All on a Summer's Day] kennettj
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 immediately about were unharmed. After the nightmare journey in the country due for flooding, this was a real haven: there was even a little water in isolated holes in the creek. A dry hot wind was beginning, and clearing away the smoke overcast that had sheltered me so far, so I put a shirt on. Presumably ,I looked like the famous Pelaco advertisement. immediately about were unharmed. After the nightmare journey in the country due for flooding, this was a real haven: there was even a little water in isolated holes in the creek. A dry hot wind was beginning, and clearing away the smoke overcast that had sheltered me so far, so I put a shirt on. Presumably ,I looked like the famous Pelaco advertisement.
  
-Beyond the clearing I could see the hazy ridges where Fritz Creek rises. There seemed to be no obviouS saddle, but perhaps it lay behind a big bluff topped with cliffs - that may even be my Broken Rock.+Beyond the clearing I could see the hazy ridges where Fritz Creek rises. There seemed to be no obvious saddle, but perhaps it lay behind a big bluff topped with cliffs - that may even be my Broken Rock.
 Shortly before nine I started, turning up Fritz Creek. There was a track at first, but perhaps just an animal pad, and in a mile it disappeared in thickets of scorched bushes. I was coming under the shadow of the cliffy bluff, so turned up a spur. After a few hundred feet I could see my ridge was going straight up towards the cliffs, and by ten o'clock I was making a sidle on steep crumbling shale slopes a little way below the cliffs. The heat was increasing, and though the wind was dry from the west, sweat was streaming down and stinging in the cuts from scorched-sharp bushes. Shortly before nine I started, turning up Fritz Creek. There was a track at first, but perhaps just an animal pad, and in a mile it disappeared in thickets of scorched bushes. I was coming under the shadow of the cliffy bluff, so turned up a spur. After a few hundred feet I could see my ridge was going straight up towards the cliffs, and by ten o'clock I was making a sidle on steep crumbling shale slopes a little way below the cliffs. The heat was increasing, and though the wind was dry from the west, sweat was streaming down and stinging in the cuts from scorched-sharp bushes.
  
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 Just as the ancients boasted their deeds in song and story, so the ancients of S.B.W. prepare to blow their own battered trumpets with a repeat performance of that operatic epic "By Jet With Geof", the story of the eighty-five miler, on the free night - 20th August. Just as the ancients boasted their deeds in song and story, so the ancients of S.B.W. prepare to blow their own battered trumpets with a repeat performance of that operatic epic "By Jet With Geof", the story of the eighty-five miler, on the free night - 20th August.
 +
 The following Wednesday should prove to be an evening of exceptional interest as Geoff Broadhead will show movies of Eastern Asia, China and U.S.S.R. The following Wednesday should prove to be an evening of exceptional interest as Geoff Broadhead will show movies of Eastern Asia, China and U.S.S.R.
  
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 Mick Elfick and myself comprised the team, with Mike Peryman and two other Hobnails starting from Picton. Mick Elfick and myself comprised the team, with Mike Peryman and two other Hobnails starting from Picton.
  
-At 8 o'clock:we started along the road, arriving at Coates' farm 9.15 p m. A grand circle was then taken at a very solid pace and we were at the  farm again at 10.00 p m., camping in the old hut (a most elusive hut) by 11 p m.+At 8 o'clock we started along the road, arriving at Coates' farm 9.15 p m. A grand circle was then taken at a very solid pace and we were at the farm again at 10.00 pm, camping in the old hut (a most elusive hut) by 11 p m.
  
-6.00 a m. Friday morning we stepped out of the hut and set sail for the Nattai, reaching there about 7.10 a m.After a slight delay we were away at a great rate of knots (14 m p.h.) until the Alum River hove in sight at 9 a m. Five minutes for chunder and we're off again. Martins Creek flitted past at 10.10 and we stepped across Shea's Creek at 12.20, had lunch, and were off by 1 p m. We were now following Mike Peryman's footprints (a theoretical 6 hours ahead). 2.15 found us edging past picnickers at the Nattai Bridge to see Mike's time, which was 5 hours ahead. NO time to rest now, and down the Nattai we+6.00 a m. Friday morning we stepped out of the hut and set sail for the Nattai, reaching there about 7.10 a m. After a slight delay we were away at a great rate of knots (m p.h.) until the Alum River hove in sight at 9 a m. Five minutes for chunder and we're off again. Martins Creek flitted past at 10.10 and we stepped across Shea's Creek at 12.20, had lunch, and were off by 1 p m. We were now following Mike Peryman's footprints (a theoretical 6 hours ahead). 2.15 found us edging past picnickers at the Nattai Bridge to see Mike's time, which was 5 hours ahead. No time to rest now, and down the Nattai we
 staggered to the 'Dilly, which we crossed twice, and eventually regained the road, practically crawling into Bimlow Bridge in the slow time of 3.40 p m. staggered to the 'Dilly, which we crossed twice, and eventually regained the road, practically crawling into Bimlow Bridge in the slow time of 3.40 p m.
  
-(The leader says the party must walk faster.) After a couple of minutes break for a drink, we began to stalk towards Bimlow. Having side-stepped at least two of the Sergeant Major's ambushes we walked into the banked-up Cox at 5.40 p m. My spirits almost sank when I saw the water over the road for it was getting dark and we had to climb several hundred feet and traverse around at that height on a slope of 600 (ahem) back onto the road mile away. It was dark by this and we pushed along the road to Green Wattle Creek, sidled another small mountain and reached the food depot at 1.55 p m. and McMahons at 7.20 p m. We forded the river and climbed over the hill and dropped down to a rather deep Cox River for camp in the open at 8.00.+(The leader says the party must walk faster.) After a couple of minutes break for a drink, we began to stalk towards Bimlow. Having side-stepped at least two of the Sergeant Major's ambushes we walked into the banked-up Cox at 5.40 p m. My spirits almost sank when I saw the water over the road for it was getting dark and we had to climb several hundred feet and traverse around at that height on a slope of 600 (ahem) back onto the road mile away. It was dark by this and we pushed along the road to Green Wattle Creek, sidled another small mountain and reached the food depot at 1.55 p m. and McMahons at 7.20 p m. We forded the river and climbed over the hill and dropped down to a rather deep Cox River for camp in the open at 8.00.
  
 6.00 Saturday morning, three pathetic, shivering figures hobbled across the icy Cox OH THE PAIN - and then turned themselves in the direction of Mecca and shuffled along the Cox to Commodore, where Mick and Freddy must poke around inside a tank. Over the Policeman to Kill's Hut and wonder of wonders Mike is only 1 hours ahead. With fresh incentive we repair our pace and reach the Kowmung at 9.40 a m. Mick and I are both thinking - if only Geoff was here. Kanangra River showed itself at 11.30 am, twenty minutes for chunder, and then off again, reaching Harry's River at 2.15. Forty minutes for lunch and the hours to Gibralter Creek and I'm feeling crook (that large tin of Youngberries). 4.40 p m. and we head for home up the track, losing it and reaching the road just on darkness. We blunder a little and eventually reach Mitchell's Creek for a last quick snack. 7.55 and three almost exhausted, but very contented, bods step onto the cliff drive at the top of Devil's Hole. 6.00 Saturday morning, three pathetic, shivering figures hobbled across the icy Cox OH THE PAIN - and then turned themselves in the direction of Mecca and shuffled along the Cox to Commodore, where Mick and Freddy must poke around inside a tank. Over the Policeman to Kill's Hut and wonder of wonders Mike is only 1 hours ahead. With fresh incentive we repair our pace and reach the Kowmung at 9.40 a m. Mick and I are both thinking - if only Geoff was here. Kanangra River showed itself at 11.30 am, twenty minutes for chunder, and then off again, reaching Harry's River at 2.15. Forty minutes for lunch and the hours to Gibralter Creek and I'm feeling crook (that large tin of Youngberries). 4.40 p m. and we head for home up the track, losing it and reaching the road just on darkness. We blunder a little and eventually reach Mitchell's Creek for a last quick snack. 7.55 and three almost exhausted, but very contented, bods step onto the cliff drive at the top of Devil's Hole.
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 In future if the camp is made at Wilsons Creek the first night (quite a reasonable and simple matter) as it should have been, the hundred miler becomes much more feasible. In future if the camp is made at Wilsons Creek the first night (quite a reasonable and simple matter) as it should have been, the hundred miler becomes much more feasible.
  
-AND NOW FCR THE THREE PEAKS!+AND NOW FOR THE THREE PEAKS!
  
 ====== Here I Belong ====== ====== Here I Belong ======
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 "We've been here too long" quothe Johnny, bouncing on his toes to flex his calf muscles. "We've been here too long" quothe Johnny, bouncing on his toes to flex his calf muscles.
  
-Psychologically I'd been prepared for an hour-long rest here. I already had the feeling that I'd done a good day's walk and was quite prepared to settle down for a couple of hours, leisurely cook and eat, then possibly choof a few hundred feet up the ridge for the night. Manning, Elfick, Freddy Worral and the Famous Higgins on the other hand were looking forward with keen anticipation to their stock of goodies (no less than a dozen tins) that Freddy had lugged out a few weekends previously and cached near Guauogang trig. As men's aspiration follows closely his food supply, the above mentioned set off for the summit, while Snow and I, trying to make the best of two worlds, ate my tea on the river and his on the top. Mike Peryman and Dough Doughnut, who were also doing a spot of cooking, waited too.+Psychologically I'd been prepared for an hour-long rest here. I already had the feeling that I'd done a good day's walk and was quite prepared to settle down for a couple of hours, leisurely cook and eat, then possibly choof a few hundred feet up the ridge for the night. Manning, Elfick, Freddy Worral and the Famous Higgins on the other hand were looking forward with keen anticipation to their stock of goodies (no less than a dozen tins) that Freddy had lugged out a few weekends previously and cached near Guouogang trig. As men's aspiration follows closely his food supply, the above mentioned set off for the summit, while Snow and I, trying to make the best of two worlds, ate my tea on the river and his on the top. Mike Peryman and Dough Doughnut, who were also doing a spot of cooking, waited too.
  
 By 3.30 we'd eaten everything we felt we reasonably could and began to pick our way between the nettles to the foot of the ridge. The last big climb we told each other, forgetting for the moment all about the climb back to Katoomba. One thing was certain, it was the last climb for the day - our day. She had been beautiful and kept her beauty even now as her life drew to its close. The great white moon already well clear of the earth foretold her end and we toiled upwards on the twisting, spiney ridge that lay like the scaly tail of a dragon, who slept while we St. Georges took him in the rear. By 3.30 we'd eaten everything we felt we reasonably could and began to pick our way between the nettles to the foot of the ridge. The last big climb we told each other, forgetting for the moment all about the climb back to Katoomba. One thing was certain, it was the last climb for the day - our day. She had been beautiful and kept her beauty even now as her life drew to its close. The great white moon already well clear of the earth foretold her end and we toiled upwards on the twisting, spiney ridge that lay like the scaly tail of a dragon, who slept while we St. Georges took him in the rear.
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 ====== Letter to the Editor ====== ====== Letter to the Editor ======
  
 +Dear Sir,
  
- Dear Sir, +To quote the opening sentence of your July Editorial ALMOST word for word "This tiger country stuff for prospective members is all very well, I suppose, but in my opinion, it is often overdone". 
-To quote the opening sentence of your July Editorial ALMOPT word for word + 
-"This tiger country stuff for prospective members is all very well, I sunnose, but in my opinion, it is often overdone"+Most applicants for prospective membership have, during the past yearhave done so in search of congenial companionship, and to learn how to walk and calm, to enjoy the out-of-doors, and to establish a community of interest with at least one of the various groups which go to make up the total Club membership. 
-Most applicants for prospective membership have, during the Past veRre, + 
-done so ih search of congenial companionship, and to learn how to walk and calm, +These people come to us to learn to walk and camp. It has become recognised of late, that it is the job of executive members, in particular, and club members generally, to ensure that they are afforded every assistance and encouragement. There are some prospective members who take to "tiger walks" like ducks to water, (there are several on the current list) but the majority of them need their initial six months to equip themselves with the "know-how" in bushcraft so that they can look after themselves if the going gets tough. Not all leaders of walks in rough country are considerate to prospective members. I know of several
-to enjoy the out-of-doors, and to establish a communit7r of interest with at least +
-one of the various groups which go to make up the total Club membership. +
-These people come to us to learn to walk and camp. It has become recognised of late, that it is the job of executive members, in particular, and clubmembers generally, to ensure that they are afforded every assistance and encouragement. There are some prospective members who take to "tiger walks" like ducks to water, (there are several on the current list) but the majority of them need their initial six months to equip themselves with the "know-how" in bushcraft so that they can look:after themselves if the going gets tough. Nbt all leaders of walks in rough country are considerate to prospective members. I know of several+
 fairly keen prospectives who, during the past twelve months, have become discouraged through being subjected to "some genuine suffering". fairly keen prospectives who, during the past twelve months, have become discouraged through being subjected to "some genuine suffering".
-Consider the good training for walks to Kanangra and back offered by the "rambles over Mt. Solitary", or to Blue Gum Forest and Lockley's Pylon, or to Carlon's and Clear Hill. What a wealth of experience in map reading can be gained from a lowly trip to St. Helena, or to The Wheel and Woodford Ridge. "There's no doubt that everyone is capable of doing trips into so-called 'tiger country"; yes, + 
-but they usually wish to get out again by 8 p m. on Sunday night. +Consider the good training for walks to Kanangra and back offered by the "rambles over Mt. Solitary", or to Blue Gum Forest and Lockley's Pylon, or to Carlon's and Clear Hill. What a wealth of experience in map reading can be gained from a lowly trip to St. Helena, or to The Wheel and Woodford Ridge. "There's no doubt that everyone is capable of doing trips into so-called 'tiger country"; yes, but they usually wish to get out again by 8 p m. on Sunday night. 
-If certain prospective members wish "to suffer" (or more politely, to try themselves out), let them do so, but why inflict unnecessary suffering and + 
-sometimes loss of working time on unsuspecting prospectives? The Committee has rightly rebuked a couple of thoughtless leaders for so doing. The Club has lost+If certain prospective members wish "to suffer" (or more politely, to try themselves out), let them do so, but why inflict unnecessary suffering and sometimes loss of working time on unsuspecting prospectives? The Committee has rightly rebuked a couple of thoughtless leaders for so doing. The Club has lost
 too many eligible members during their prospective membership over a period of years through indifference to their welfare. too many eligible members during their prospective membership over a period of years through indifference to their welfare.
-However, the new order seems to be well established now, whereby + 
-prospective members are assisted and encouraged by the Hon. Membership Secretary and her active and not so active assistants. The fact that there is normally at least one new member welcomed at each monthly meeting augers well for the Club's future. +However, the new order seems to be well established now, whereby prospective members are assisted and encouraged by the Hon. Membership Secretary and her active and not so active assistants. The fact that there is normally at least one new member welcomed at each monthly meeting augers well for the Club's future. 
-One last point, "me members who aren't particularly gifted with a flow of conversation", (not members of S.B.S.surely,') should make a definite effort to overcome their diffidence and endeavour to make new prospectives feel at home and be sure that they are not "left lonely in a crowd"+ 
-Thank you, Mr. Editor, far a stimulating Editorial, and for drawing +One last point, "we members who aren't particularly gifted with a flow of conversation", (not members of S.B.S. surely,') should make a definite effort to overcome their diffidence and endeavour to make new prospectives feel at home and be sure that they are not "left lonely in a crowd". 
-attention to the forthcoming Prospectives' Night. + 
-Yours faithfully,+Thank you, Mr. Editor, for a stimulating Editorial, and for drawing attention to the forthcoming Prospectives' Night. 
 + 
 +Yours faithfully,\\
 David Ingram. David Ingram.
  
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 +On my last day in Interlaken I decided to do the three passes tour whilst the weather held. The passes had only just been opened for the Summer and in some places they had only cleared for one way traffic through walls of snow. However when vehicles meet head-on, only the bus passengers panicked and the drivers seemed to know who should reverse to a safe place. There had been recent snow and the glaciers and mountain tops were wonderful - Sassen, Furks and Gletsch. I will never cease to marvel at the way the Swiss maintain their roads. In many places the roads are built up over space and the tunnels and bridges have to be seen to be believed.
  
-On my last day in Interlaken I decided to do the three nasses tour whilst the weather held. The passes had only just been opened for the Summer +Brig has lived up to all my expectations. The first morning seemed hopeful so in company with a German lady I set off for Zermatt and Gornergret. It was a grand trip with lots of field flowers and then alpine flowers and as usual in this country, rushing streams and waterfalls in all directions. Zermatt is a tourist village on a plateau and from here you get wonderful glimpses of the Matterhorn. There are no cars in Zermatt - you travel by a cog railway - and the so-called taxis are horse drawn carriages. The principal hotel still has an enclosed mid-Victorian type carriage with steps un the back and glass walls and a porter stands on the back steps. It is drawn by two horses, and has to be seen to be believed. There are tunnels, but you go most of the way to Gornergaat in the open and the views are glorious. It was a perfect day and the view of the surrounding alps and especially the Matterhorn were magnificent. I really felt this was the climax to all the wonderful things I had seen. We were told by some Swiss folk that they had friends who had been to Zermatt a dozen times and the Matterhorn had always been hidden in cloud. Matterhorn is such a lovely isolated peak exactly as we have always seen it in pictures. Gornergrat is 10,203 feet above sea level. Not only the cows but the horses also wear bells in Zermatt, but little tinkling ones. 
-and in some places they had only cleared for one way traffic through walls of snow. However when vehicles meet head-on, only the bus passengers nRnicked And the drivers seemed to know who Should reverse to a safe nlace. There had been recent' snow and the glaciers and mountain tops were wonderful - Sassen, Furks and Gletsch. I will never cease to marvel at the way the Swiss maintain their roads. In maw places the roads are built up over space and the tunnels and bridges have to be seen to be believed. + 
-Brig has lived up to all my expectations. The first morning seemed hopeful so in company with a German lady I set off for Zermatt and Gornergret. +Yesterday I took the postal bus to Simplon Pass. It was a doubtful day but I had quite good views of the surrounding peaks and went un to the large eagle which was built by the Swiss Army during the war. This is the Italian border and the eagle has his eyes towards Italy: I walked down for some miles and thoroughly 
-It was a grand trip with lots of field flowers and then alpine flowers hnd as +enjoyed it. Talked to a car-load of English folk - the second lot I have met who shipped their cars to Italy and were driving across the continent home. However, they all seem to have a short time and stick to the main highways so that they miss a tremendous lot of interesting places. 
-usual in this country, rushing streams and waterfalls in all directions. Zermatt is a tourist village on a plateau and from here you get wonderful glimpses of the Matterhorn. There are no cars in Zermatt - you travel by a cog railway - and the so-called taxis are horse drawn carriages. The principal hotel still has an enclosed mid-Victorian type carriage with steps un the back and glass walls and + 
-a porter stands on the back steps. It is drawn by two horses, and has to be seen to be believed. There are tunnels, but you go most of the way U10 Gornergaat in the open and the views are glorious. It was a nerfect day and the view of the surrounding alps and especially the Matterhorn were magnificent. I really felt this was the climax to all the wonderful things I had seen. We were told by some Swiss folk that they had friends who had been to Zermatt a dozen times and the Matterhorn had always been hidden in cloud. Matterhorn is such a lovely isolated peak exactly as we have always seen it in pictures. Gornergrat is 10,203 feet above sea level. Not only the cows but the horses also wear bells in Zermatt, but little tinkling ones. +Today I went to Mberel and took the zeilbahn to Riedernln which is a little tiny village at 6,392 feet and apparently popular for skiing. You do the cable car trip in 15 minutes. I came back on my own this afternoon and felt slightly "windy", especially when the thing came to a stop for some minutes. It 
-Yesterday I took the postal bus to Simplon Pass. It was a doubtful day but I had quite good views of the surrounding peaks and went un to the large eagle which was built by the Swiss Army during the war. This is the Italian border and the eagle has his eyes towards Italy: I walked down for some miles And thoroughly +is most intriguing however. What I had thought from above to be broad river flats over the way turned out to be a plateau about 2,000 feet up: From Riederalp I had a lovely walk through the Aletsch Natural Park flora and fauna reserve. Had good views of the Lletsch glacier, said to be the largest ice-sea in Europe. I strolled through pine woods with snow drifts here and there and tiny tarns and always lovely flowers - buttercups, violas, gentions, mauve and white snow bells (these are lovely little fringed bells) mountain roses and lots of others. Most of the mountain tops are hidden in clouds and it was not good weather for photography, but excellent for walking. However, on my way back it started to rain and continued quite heavily. With lovely patches of brilliant gold buttercups and hundreds of deep blue gentians, I found the world a good place - rain or shine.
-enjoyed it. Talked to a car-load of English folk - the second lot I have met whO shipped their cars to Italy and were driving across the continent home. However, they all seem to have a Short time and stick to the main highways so that they miss a tremendous lot of interesting places. +
-Today I went to Mberel and took the zeilbahn to Riedernln which is a little tiny village at 6,392 feet and apparently nonular for skiing. You do the cable car trip in 15 minutes. I came back on my own this afternoon and felt slightly "windy", especially when the thing came to a stop for some minutes. It +
-is most intriguing however. What I had thought from above to be broad river +
-flats over the way turned out to be a plateau about 2,000 feet up: From Riederalp I had a lovely walk through the Aletsch Natural Park flora and fauna reserve. Had +
-good views of the Lletsch glacier, said to be the largest ice-sea in Eurone. I strolled through pine woods with snow drifts here and there and tiny tarns and +
-always lovely flowers - buttercups, violas, gentions, mauve and white snow bells +
-(these are lovely little fringed bells) mountain roses and lots of others. Most +
-of the mountain tops are hidden in clouds and it was not good weather for photography, but excellent for walking. However, on my way back it started to rain and continued quite heavily. With lovely patches of brilliant gold buttercups and hundreds of deep blue gentians, I found the world a good place - rain or shine. +
-44. +
--lirviss,-014101` +
-Are, itok, aelom +
-_44 +
-1,11i Eig +
-+
-orsisamtvi, +
-ior :+
  
 ====== The Humble Tent Peg ====== ====== The Humble Tent Peg ======
  
 It isn't often that Paddy is moved to publish the unsolicited testimonial type of letter but It isn't often that Paddy is moved to publish the unsolicited testimonial type of letter but
-here is portion of one he received that was simply signed - "Newly Weds"+here is portion of one he received that was simply signed - "Newly Weds".\\ 
-Dear. 11k.. Pallin, +Dear. Mr Pallin,\\ 
-We have just undertaken that expensive operation of setting up house and would like to express our gratitude at the economy and the quality of what is possibly the most useful +We have just undertaken that expensive operation of setting up house and would like to express our gratitude at the economy and the quality of what is possibly the most useful article you produce - the tent peg. In the kitchen, not only as a skewer and cake tester, but when we have guests they look 
-article you produce - the tent peg. +most attractive holding our kebabs. As well as this, Ethel finds them very useful for a stitch holder. 
-In the kitchen, not only as a skewer and + 
-cake tester, but when we have guests they look +Paddy mould like to point out that they will also keep a tent firm in any weather as though they had been made for the job, and to mention that he has innumerable other little items for the walking bod of equal quality & adaptability. 
-most attractive holding our kabobs. As well + 
-as this, Ethel finds them very useful for a +PADDY PALLIN
-stitch holder. +
-Paddy mould like to point out that they mill +
-also keep a tent firm in any weather as though they had been made for the job, and to mention that he has innumerable other little 'items for the walking bod of equal quality & adaptability. +
-Pit"1041041 +
--114*- arez +
-PADDY PAWN+
 Lightweight Camp Gear Lightweight Camp Gear
 201 CASTLE REACH St SYDNEY 201 CASTLE REACH St SYDNEY
  
  
195808.1460019936.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/04/07 19:05 by kennettj

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