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196110

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The Sydney Bushwalker.

A monthly bulletin-of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, The N.S.W. Nurses' Association Rooms, “Northcote Building”, Reiby Place, Sydney. Box No. 4476 G.P.O., Sydney. 'Phone JW1162.

322 October 1961. Price 1/-

EditorDon Matthews, 33 Pomona Street, Pennant Hills. WJ3514
Business ManagerBrian Harvey
ReproductionDenise Hull
Sales & Subs.Eileen Taylor
Typed byJean Harvey

Contents.

Page
Kanangra“Taro” 1
Social Notes 2
The Long Weekend 2
Special Walks Coming 3
At Our Extraordinary and Half-yearly General MeetingsAlex Colley 4
Letter to the EditorAllen A. Strom 5
Blizzard BoundAlex Theakston 6
A Week in the RockiesFrank Digby 7
Federation's Annual Ball“Social Reporter”10
Charlie PrydeB.G. Harvey12
Day Walks 12
Kowmung Cavalcade - Part I. 14

Advertisements.

Page
Hatswell's Taxi & Tourist Service 9
Paddy's13

Kanangra.

…..“And then the plateau - the cold official title is Kanangra Plateau; really it is a gorgeous table - set for a banquet - decked with a million flowers - the walls covered with pictures - the like may not be seen this side of the line.

We climbed around all its corners and nooks and scrubs and gullies. We were on it by night - by moonlight - to catch the star dust gleam of far away Sydney.

We were up before dawn, heard the first bird calls, matched for the tip of Old Sol's head to creep up and paint the steeples of Thurat in all colours. What a feast of mountains: Colong just across the street, Gangerang just across a ridge or two, saying “come up and see me”, Jellore - away south - yes - and behind it more landscape, for once it is not the sky line, Clear Hill! every twist and turn of it, Debert's Knob, Mouin, all the family here for a party, blue - sky and earth, with drifting fleecy clouds mottling the whole canvas. Ever changing lights and shadows and ever the carpet of flowers for foreground.”

(From 'Hai1 Kanangra', W. Tarr (“Taro”). The S.B.W., 1934.)

Social Notes.

Coming.

Don't miss these two talks!

October 18thMr. Charles Casperson will speak on C.J. Dennis (of The Sentimerrbal Bloke“) fame.
October 25thMr. L.G. Harrison (better known as “Mouldy” to S.B.W's) will give an illustrated talk on a visit to Russia. Mouldy usually sees everything on his trips and this should be a most entertaining evening.

Past.

September 15thFederation Ball. See our Social Reporter's notes on page 10
September 20thB.P. Films - an excellent selection of short films.

Recently received and of interest to all thinking bushwalkers:

The Spring number of The National Parks Journal together with a reprint of “The Future of the Kosciusko Summit area: A report on a Proposed Primitive Area in the Kosciusko State Park”. (A reprint from the Aust. Journal of Science, June 1961.)


The Long Weekend.

Main RangeAlex Theakston led a party of six from Guthega to the Blue Lake, where an ice cave was dug for comfort, and climbed Twvnam on the Sunday. Exploration of Watson's Crags was prevented by fierce winds.
ColoBob Godfrey led 15 starters on a map reading expedition in the Angorawa Creek - Colo area.
EttremaWilf Hilder and party of six explored the Ettrema badlands.
KowmungBen Esgate, Snow Brown and party (6) went down Misery Ridge to the Kowmung, spent Sunday leisurely at the lower end of Morong Deep and returned by Landrigan's ridge.
Carrington - Barren GroundsA dozen or so S.B.W's plus families attended the N.P.A. camp at Carrington Falls.

SPECIAL WALKS CONING. OCTOBER. 20-21-22 FEDERATIONSCH & RESCUE DEMONSTRATION weekend on the Colo. The location will be about 3 miles upstream from lower Portland. St. Alban's Military Map Reference 860690 (approx.): This is on private property and easily reached by road. Preferred route: From Windsor take the road to Wilberforce,- then the left hand branch, which is the main road to Singleton via Putty. The turn off is to the right shortly before the descent to the Colo River. Good caning and swimming. Sandy river bank on camp side, high sandstone cliffs on the other side. SEE NOTICE BOARD FOH FURThi-.:8 DETAILS. OCTOB.4-t. 28-29 BLUE aum WCRKING BEE. The purpose of the weekend is to cut through logs which are impeding the proper flow of water in the Grose and causing erosion, and to clean up the area generally. Bring a Shovel to dig rubbish pits. Train: 8.50 a m. to Blackheath. Car to Perry's Lookdown, then steep 2000 descent to the Forest. Good camping. Leader: Jack Gentle. 'Phone xlc6121 IA6041 (B.) NOVEMBER 10-11 NovEEBER 3-4-5 LOVETTS BAY AREA Working Bee. Track clearing from Iovett's Bay to Flagstaff Hill in co-operation with Kuringai Trust Ranger who will provide gear. For further details see Notice Board. Leader: John Ighite. 2W6526. FORME INTREPID. Kanangra Walls Danae Brook - Kanangra Walls. wfWe were now imprisoned in our canyon, our only way out being dawn, as three sides were now Sheer to overhanging and our gendarme loomed immediately behind and about 300' above us. The rock strata is at all times inclined out and away from the canyon floor, so that by sidling to our left to skirt a large waterfall of 90' we were forced higher and biter till a likely ledge with a favourable belay allowed us to descend into the creek. Here -We used our full length of rope to descend vertically 120' to a spot where, After more sidling, along 'narrow' ledges with sparse vegetation, we could reach the creekbed, our quickest way of travel….” If you like this sort of thing and know something of rope wok, this is far you. Starters are requested to bring a carabiner and string. Leader: David Brown. AT OUR =RAORDINAFY AND ITALF-YEARLY GENERAL T,EETINGS. Alex Colley. Again our proceedings opened vith the announcement of an engagement. This time the fortunate ones are Arnold Fleischmann and Gisela Koslowsld. Having expressed our approval of this arrangement, we got domn to the extraordinary business of investing the Era Ftnd, which amounted to just over 628. Our choice was restricted to Trustee securities' - Government and Government guaranteed loans. Fred Kennedy suggested Special bonds, mhidh had the great advantage of being redeemable in fall'at a month's notice.' Frank Ashdown thought we should leave the money -where it vas, in the Savings Bank, because it vould only earn some 2% more in bonds and mould not be readily available if invested. But Frank Barlow pointed out that the additional interest would be about 47 over four years. Ray Eirkby said that although bonds might be the only triniediate investment we could profitably make, it would be foolish to expect the interest to equal the increment in land values. Alex Colley agreed -with this, and explained that the Committee which had considered the investment of Era funds had unanimously agreed that land was the thing to low, but so far no suitable land had been found. It was no use saying that “they” meaning the Era Committee, the General Committee, or somebody else should look for land. It was up to every member to tako an interest and look:out for a suitable piece. A further difficulty which arose was that we could only invest multiples of 10 in 'Special bonds. Pam Baker, however, offered to make up the difference. This making of donations to Club funds is becoming a habit, and a very good one too. Amongst the advertising matter in correspondence was a letter from hrs. Carlon telling us we were welcome to camp “amongst the paper barks and ti-tree” any time - there was no need to vrite, as we had before the walking trial. In his walks report Wilf Hilder told us that poor weather had kept down attendances and the Bank Holiday Weekend Walk had been cancelled because of lack of starters. Most popular walk of the month was Jadk Gentle's along the Georges River, attended by 18 prospectives and 1 tetber. We-were alarmed tolearn that there is an army minefield at Freer's Crossing. Most intriguing walk of the month was Molly Rodgers' Upper Middle Harbour day walk vhidh took place “on the fringes of civilisation!' and was accomplished -with the aid of the Broken Bay Military Map and a map published by Shead's Estate Agency. Meth civilisation advances far enough to embrace even the Bush Walkers in its spread, we may see the estate agents themselves' filling the blanks on the programme. Vince Aitken's walk to St. Helena and Clau Hallstram's walk up Bola Creek'vere well attended. David Ingram's Cattai Creek Walk was curtailed due to rain, but that it went at all, “showed fighting spirit”. The Treasurer's Report, read by John Nhite, proved the success of putting up a list of the unfinancial. Pabscriptions for the month were 30. 5. 0. If next to this list mo displayed an'ilIaminated scroll containing the names of donors, we might do even better. Brian Harvey told us that the letter from the Hornsby Rifle Club, read at - our last meeting and referred to Federation, had been referred here and there since until it completed the circle and came back to him - the original addressee. He was going to visit the range and see what could be dons. Wilf Hilder reported that the gates at Bindook were still locked (illegally) and that dingo traps had been set along that road, the Old Cedar Road, and the 5- Cookem Highway. They were cunningly concealed in sand and were very dangerous to walkersAt the conclusion of the meeting the President thanked Audrey Kenway for deputising as Assistant-Secretary at the Committoe Meeting. Wilf Hilder, Gladys Roberts, David Ingram and Bill Rodgers vere,elected room stewards for the next month. LETTM TO THE EDITOR: - “3 Coopernook Avenue, Gymea Bay. Dear Sir, I read with much misgiving that the proposal to erect a Memorial Shelter to A.W. Dingeldei in the Bouddi Natural Park was opposed at the August Meeting of the Club because “it was a building in a natural park which would require a road and 'would be mainly for the benefit of motorists”. A shelter surely is for those vho would use it,?nd the Bouddi Natural Park, despite its use of the rather reddndant word ” natural” is one of our National Parks including amongst it 8 purposes for public recreation“. In other words Bouddi is a public reserve belonging to all the community and tot to a very small group of , people who call themselves “bushvalkers”. I have no indication from the Report on the August Meeting:how the proposed Memorial Shelter came to appear on 'the Club's Agenda - perhaps, because the Club was asked to assist the appeal far funds. I agree that the Club has a perfect right to say that the Shelter will nat benefit bushvalkers even though I may doubt the truth of the statement, but I am certain that it is bad taste, dgmrance and Sheer nonsense to oppose the erection because it would benefit another section of the coptanity -whose use of the Park is as legitimate as bushwalkers. Indeed, as a much larger section of the comaunity, with a much more pressing need for outdoor experience, non-bushwalkars have a greater claim to places like Bouddi. As one who has listened to bushvalkers beating the air about National Parks for more than a quarter of a century, I have gathered the impression that there is a strong and most erroneous belief amongst walkers that National Forks are specially created for the benefit of bushwaners, alone. That is, the walkers hold this opinion whilst they want to “do over one mountain after another. Then When they tire of this behaviour, most leave the rucksack and big boots to rot in the cornor, and they couldn't care less about their “beloved bush”. Let's get it quite straight Yr. Editor, this attitude of “bash for the bushwalker alonp” has done more harm to the cause of Nature Conservation than all the land - developers lupped into one corner. It has antagonised public opinion, it has left administration cold and cynical and it has allowed the years to roll by without achievement. We cannot afford to push the public out of their Pr,rks, in fact, every' person 'who visits a Park must be won to the cause of Nature Conservation not repulsed, chided, ridiculed as a “motorist” and sent away a champion of opposition because he hates the people who love the bush. What kind of publid opinion pressure can the bashihalkerb wield with limited 7 numbers, apathy in their own ranks and rancour in their approaches? In the last few years there has been a remarkable improvement in public attitude and in “opinion 6. pressures”; but most of all, there has been a tremendous change on the administrative level - and tt4y? Because administration now feel that the community as a thole want Nation Parkz and Nature Reserves and they want to be able to use them. The great need of course, is for sound management - careful planning so that the Parks are used without destruction of the essential assets for which thy were set apart. There is no single plan that answers this problem - every Park and every Reserve sets its own problem and to say no roads, no buildings (perhaps no tracks) is absolute nonsense. This is how ynu lose friends and influence people to hate you and what you stand for. Yours sincerely, (Sgd.) Allen A. Strom.” 111.11…1.4. -RLTZZARD BU. - Alex Theakston. The plan was to-ski from the chairlift top at Thredbo to Seaman's or Lake Albina huts on the Kosciusko mein range. Ted Smith and I left Thredbo village at lunch time Saturday and clizlbed with skis and picks up and over the Ram's Head range and down onto the upper reaches of the Snowy River. The weather, perfect up till now, began to close in with light winds and snow closing the visibility to a couple of hundred yards. At this stage we decided to turn tack: to Thredbo far the night, as this type of weather usuallv-heralds several days of unpleasant conditions. Az we slowly climbed back on to the Eam's Head range the visibility dropped progressively as the day ended. It was almost dark as we crested the ridge, and we could barely see the snow poles which were less than one hundred yards apart. We skied and stumbled slowly down into the valley, stutbling stumbling because we could not define the surface on which we were sliding. Folloting the snow poles became very difficult and when they led us into broken rocky country we left them and made our own way down. were tired by now and moving downhill was very uncomfortable, so iive deciddd to hole up under a large leaning slab of rock which we had found just above the tree line. -LSter an hour of work, scraping a hollow beneath the boulder, loaning cur sids against it then covering the skis with branches and lumps of snow, we had a fair windbreak with a small roof affording us protection from the wind-driven snow. A fire was started with Some difficulty ard-te-cboked dinner and when the fire had sunk:too deep to be of any use we climbed into our sleeping bags and lay down on ground sheets to keep off the snow. Mb fell asleep, and then at about 9-o'clock the same night we awoke, something was wrong: the -wind was now much stronger and tust have changed direction far we were covered with snow which was now blowing-into our shelter. Naturally the snow melted as it settled on our warm sleeping bags and now they were very wet and contimed to get, if possible, even wetter. To keep warm we tried to snuggle closer to each other but between us was a solid mass of snow, leaving us shivering alternately in our individual icy tombs. The night grew longer, as we grew wetter, colder. Above us a grey black howling sky leered at us. There mas one consolation, we could not be any worse off. 7. We counted the hours and sometime in the early morning the gale eased. At 645 Sunday morning the black grey above us began to be dark grey so I peeled the sodden white sleeping bag off me, put pok boots on and ran down to a clump of trees and lit a fire over which we thawed out, had breakfast and even dried out a little. Alter-stuffing our frosted sadden belongings into our packs we made our way towards Karella Hut at the top of the chair lift. fie could not ski far about 18 inches of very soft snow had fallen overnight and the skis only sank down leaving us knee deep in snow. Very soon in between snow showers we found the but where we dried our clothes out beside a gase fire whilst rearing our hosts clothing. A WEEK -IN TIE ROCKIES. - Frank Diglv. (Editorial Note: Frank and Joan are at present living in Edmonton, Canada. Address: Suite 9A, 14504 - 108th Avenue, Edmonton, Albortas-Canda. and are seeing a good deal of the lodal countryside. n. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, is about 50 miles west of Jasper,. 280 miles from EdMonton.)

With light hearts and heavy packs, Joan and I turned our badks on civilisation and headed in towards Nt. Robson: not that We could see our quarry - naturally, we had landed the twat weather of the summer and the only time we saw Robson in all ite magnificent 13,000 feet was the previous evening when we had arrived. Then the snow and ice covered summit had soared unbelieiably into a serene blue slcy but today the huge massif was again up to its old tricks, making its Own dirty weather and hiding in the midst of it. gen, we had been given our glimpse, from here on we could use our imagination. - The trail into Berg Lake is mostly pleasant, but definitely exciting in spots. Who could remain unmoved at the sight of the raging torrent that is Robson River hurling itself in grand disorder over a succession of mighty falls. The very moms might even stir the soul - Valley of a Thousand Falls, Emperor Falls, Falls of the Pool and White Falls - white indeed. As if to balance this grand show of the River, long flimsy curtains of finest lace trail their way down the cliffs on either side of the valley, Wherever the eye should roam, water in the most beautiful forms of motion dominates the scenery.. We had to hasten out of this valley or we would have spent our whole vacation there. Our first camp was near Berg Lakes with a view across to two glaciers tumbling down from high up on the North-west face of Robson - po gentleness in this ice, only the jagged and rugged grandeur born of tremendous nnd unpredictable farces. As re–sipped our bedtime cocoa beside the campfire, the setting sun, suddenly released from the oVercast, turned a. horizontal band of rock and now on the mountain above into a fiery corridor; the famous alpine glow, final act of the dying sun. At Berg Lake re found a Chalet and a base camp for abatat thirty members of the Seattle Mountaineering Club, some of -whom were attemnting both Robson and Whitehorn. 8. But much more important we found Robson Glacier. The snout of this glacier is a little Alpine wonderland in it self. The Robson River, here at its birthplace, gushes forth through a huge ca./von of 'pure ice. Ice caverns, ri th depths of coldest blue and all manner of curious formations,, range about the gl:-.1cier foot. With the aid of cut steps in the first few yards it is quite easy to mbunt the glacier and quite safe to walk up it 's gentle slope when the ice is free of snow. MaW'- crevasses scar the sarface and one can only guess at the awful depths. The ice he is probably some hUndreds of feet thick. -During our short stay in this area the swirling mists-oc:.-;asionally revealed the Uppei' part of Robson, to give us tantalizin2g,lithpses of great 'masses Of rock and -ick, towering thousands of feet above us. ls one famous m-)untPineer has put it, 'Robson is-one of the great mcuntains of the world, in-everz:7- sense of the word”. In this mood, its defences certainly would repel all comers. To the west lofty and. challenging Cone of a mounta in played hide and seek with the clouds - that would be Whitehorn, the sharpest peak I have yet seen in the Rocides. Packing five days food we set off one morning through the low Robson pass to the north. Using the north sheet of Jasper Park, we had Plotted a fifty mile trail trip via MooSe Pass, Moose River, Colonel Pass, Grant Pass, Centre Pass and the Miette Valley, ret-t- to -the Yellowhead road at Yelloitthead Pass. It looked interesting on the map, to say the least; and now we were to-test it in practice. In the late afternoon we reached Moose Pass, a pleasant spot above the tim'oe', but unfortu nately the mosquitoes would not allow us to enjoy it! Passing into the upper Moose Valley on the other side we Seemed to enter a different world. The top' part of this Valley, above the treeline, is the true 4J-pine meadow at its very best. A crystal-clear stream hurries dorn the slope, pausing every now and then to form the most beautiful little lakes. The valley bed and the slopes below the rock-line are a riot of colour for here the wild flowers reign supreme, isolated froiii the competition of the forest. Far,. far down the valley, above the tops of the evergreens, the majestic peak of the Colonel, it h.: slopes: streaked with glaciers, reared up into the slq to complete the Alpine setting.. As we ambled down the trail our thoughtSautothatically turned to malsing camp, far here was a place where a camp ought to be made, out of respect for the sheer beauty of the surroundings. ….Then we saw the bear! How fitting the whole scene was as this big black animal browsed through the me-ado-vir, he -Was idng of the valley and he belonged here, not in some foul cage in a zoo. Howe'Ver, I must admit these philosophies did not exactly occur to us at the time. Our only thoughts-then were just what was going to happen -id-ien bear met humane. By the-time -we had meandered down the trail to where -cur friend had been he had moved further on and it looked as if we could slip by urribtiOed. r-b this point, though, Old Bruin must have got a whiff of us bec,.Tase he abruptly turned in his trachs and charged towards us in a distinctly menading manner. “Get out 3–)ur plate, Joan, rand bang it for all your worth”, I Said; noise was to be our weapon.- What with this terrible racket and n-,y blood-curdling yells the bear just could not tal iB it - he turned tail and disappeared across the grass slopes faster -than a prize pacer. To say -we felt a little easier inside is an understatement. Anyway, bears or no bears, we still made our camp and a better one you could not have found. After episode “Bear” we never grumbled at having to rope our food up in a tree at night and I noticed that Joan always went to bed with the now battered plate and a large spoon in a handy position. 9. FOR A.LL YOUR TRIMPORT FRCE BLACHEMTH CONE= H4TSITIELL2S TAXI 8:: TOURIST SERVICE ,RING1 WRITE, IATIRE OR CALL ARC HOUR - DAY CE NEGHT 'PHONE: Blacitheath 1V.59 or IF151 BOOKING OFFICE: L. doors from Gardners Inn Hotel (LOOK FOR THE NEON SIGN) 8 PASSM RS AcTAELI3LE LARGE OR SWILL PARTIES CAT.dzo FOR FARES: 4A.NA1GRA, MILS 30/:- per head (Minimum PERRY TS LOOKDWN 314,. JENOLANZTATE FOREST 20/L P it CARLOIS'FAW — 10/- ti ti ZEE WILL BE PLEASED TO QJOTE =PS OR SPECIAL PARTIES ON APPLICATION The Moose Valley is o.-neo f those two-faced affair e-one often finds in the mouritain,* ,.above. the tree line, beautiful i4re.–etbilarating but be-low that -magical line, terrible in part's… We pentthe best part-of-a day liorifing our Iilay ten miles down t-be Valley, following a rougel trail, (are ver,',–often no trail), through the timber, (both horizontal and vertical varieties), or perhaps slogging it out through the more open swampland. Rest stops were out of the question owing to the hordes of mosquitoes and rnArch flies *which immediately launch a violent offensive if one dares to halt. We saw some enormous. bear., tracks in this region and were tharkful we 'did not meet the owners. Moose 'tracks were–there by the seeming hundreds but no moose ; although frequently we were glad-of their trails through the thick bush, (but, fulay-do moose live bogs and swam;os so much?). Finally, when we reckoned we were about. ' opposite -the Colonel Creek Valley we foUnd ourselves in the 1.1.-tienviable position of having no alternatitre but to swim the Moose River. The river is fairly wide and deep at this stage of its 'life and of course we were on the wrong side. So stripping off, (oudh! the rossies:), and *wrapping the packs in our groUndsheets we lamiched ourselves into the cold wetness, packs floating nicely above our backs. Having found the blazed trail that leads to Colonel 'Pase, we pressed on in the gathering gloom, looldng anxiously for a campsite. However, none were forthcoming – in the thick for est. and into the bargain we lost, the trail somerher or other. After bashing it out for a While up…..the 'creek we settled in desperation for a small pal-Joh of flat shing2e beside the stream, just big.. enough for one tent and a fire. All things considered it was a fine port in a storm bit thank heavens there were no cloudbursts that night for our sleeping bodies rested a mere twelve inches above the water level. All in all it had been quite a day. lO. 'Next mornibg, in soupy weather,r-we….lactated the trail and climbed to Colonel Pass, thence through another wonderfull Alpine:Valley at the tree line to Grant-Pass. The map shows the tiail as croSsinin. a glacier at nigh On 9,000 feet on the side of Salient Mountain, but much to our relief this was a grave error on the part of the map maker. Actually, we sidled the mountain below the cliffs et about 7,000 ft. and then crossed the broad flower-studded meadows leading to Cehtre -Pass on the Dive between B.C. and Alberta. Having completely lost the trail, if any, existed, over this stretch, we camped on a grassy shoulder some hundreds of feet above the Miette River, with fine views looldng down the -T.,111EDY to 'Sky mt W1JL1a1fl'a:L41 -cf, to Mt. Bridgl, This spot, although an ideal -tampsitul pr oved to be a serious rival -to the Tonquin Valley in the of it mosquito 'Population; not ev4 the ratii would lay them 16W.- It -wa&-with relief' that we at last Crawled-into our tent behind that superb invention, mosquito nettincnd gleefully watched the little monsters as they frustrated themselves to death on the oixtside. The following ia y: our -sixth out from-tit- road, the -rain really set in to 12E10 our plight without a 'twail somewhat miserable. In vain we sought the map trail On the Valley's west side it exists on paper only, so we tried bashing it out through the thick_ scrub the Kiette River. Not even the moose trails were of arv- help here and after an hir of this we were thoroughly browned off.' Seeking a po-es-Dile rob.—te above the tree liwe on the east side of the Valley-, we worked upwards and Presently, miracle of mirt-nies,–ree stumbled on a cut trail whereno trail ought to be. God bless the trail -..arasns and to hell with the Cartographers! Several hour s and many we-b boggy miles later, the -welcome sight of the YeLlowhead Road and civii isation was our A brief clea-rk-N.1p in the idiette and we were on the road hitching, sarpr singly with quick results. (I made Joan walk behind me.) As in a dream, (legs had been our only means of transport for a week) , we were .-whiSked back to our starting point near Mount Robson Co1f-9344.T.-To-ase and our patient auto. We had plenty to remember about our week in the wilds since we had -experienced just about everything except good weather. Viihen the powers-that-be reprint the' maps correctly, maybe we'll ,. have another long last' at some of that terrific, out-of– the way mountain terrain ttz Canadians ovn but have seldom trodden.. FEL-MaTION'S ANNUAL au.L. - “Social Reporter”. On the Wednesday before the all 'the Buthies“ contingent numbered 16. An urgent message from Federation as:ed whether the miter cbuld be stepped Up as the largest party booked to date was 2L. The Social Secretary and her helpers, got busy, azr1 1-Jy. 10.30 p m. the 8..B.W. 'party ;Lumbered 23.-!. Not up to Lsst year's. total_ of 4.0 odd, but' the absence of several regular dancers, who were Siding in the Alps, was noticable. The evening pars of the great day, Friday 15th September, announced that deliveries of beer to hotels had been sispended. This caused a minor flurry amongst /Aiose who r_ke ligiid refreshmen at this type of social function. However, anz,r such fear.6 were groundless and. refreshment., -was in moderate's-apply. lie In recent, year, the Club has no participated in tha decorated table competition, but Pam Baker, Molly Rodgers; Edna Stratton ar3 Co. decided that this year would be different. Bill Rodgers arrived with a fine model of a trig. semaphore complete with bullet holes, Arnold Fleischmann struggled in litith two great lumps of rock, Holly Rodgers contributed a bag of river stones from the Grose and Edna Stretton gathered a bunch cf grey Spider Flower and Fuschia Heath from her garden of native plants. The combined ingredients produced a pleasing result, even thouEt not successful in winning a prize. The large hall at Paddington Town Hall was engaged this year and was much more comfcrtable for dancing. Although the attendarne 7ay have been down a little on last, year, an early estimate put the likely profit, vani ch will go to Federation Fn a, at about ao. As usual, the ladies excelled themselves in their “party” dresses. In fact, one lass remarked that it was difficult to recognise familiar faces when their owners were not dressed in their customary bushalld ng garb. During the Barn Dafre, one member of otw party was invited to “Come on, Mum!” , and another was told, “You waltz just like my dear old -Dad!” (Sign of the times?) ilmongst the members of the Club pro minent, on the dance floor were Bill and Molly Rodgers, 'Miriam Steenbohm, Pam-BaliBr, Gisela Koslowsa, Arnold Fleischmann, Irene Pridham, Eileen Taylor, Audrey Ketway, Pat Dalton; Yvonne Renwick, Dick Chil(f,, David Ingram, Reg Mealrans, Jack Wren, Frank Young, Herman K'u'Itc.,,rs and Frank Roscka. Other dancers well known to members of the Club were Gordon Ballard, Ninian Melville (San.), and Dave Roots.-2- Of course the indefatiguable Colin Watson an-3 Paul Driver (M. C.) from Federation were there to look after things. Thanks ore due to them Rnd their Committee for the work put into organising the function and for n ve2.77 enjoyable evening. See you again next Ball, if not sooner. 1,1,01. Don't overlook the Club's. Christmas Party on 8th December at the North Sydney Council Chambers,, come comfortably dressed - no formality. See Pam Baker for tickets and please let her know early how many will be in your party so that the caterers may be notified. Two things were out about Molly Rodgers' recent stroll from St. Ives to Lindfield via Middle Harbour Creek. The fir at was the large area r-f attractive bushland, complete -with idldflowers, so close to the City. Second was the number of Club officials who attended - namely, the President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and the Assistant Social Secretary. It/ all there were 12 members and 3 pr,nepective members. ammi.11 A menlo.,-_tto_mcLsp_es-t,ive mar b era. We know you're keen to do test walks, but -,,sity not have a really relaxing dRy in the bush,. sometime? Watch the Walks Programmer seek advice from those “in the islow”. (Club officials) as to when these delightful excursions are to taliB CHLILLTEI PRYDE. B.G. Harvey. Old hands will be sorry to hear that Charlie Pryde, -whose happy 80th birthday we reported incur August issae, passed away on 20th September, after a very short Charlie joined the Club about 1930 and did many trips when there were few or no maps, and none of the gear as we know it today. A quiet arid unassuming peisonality, he was for many years the offic ial Club Historian, an office Tkiic h lapsed when he relinquished it. His daughter Betty (now in U.S.A.) later joined the 5.1-3.W. and nothing gave them both greater pleasure than to have crowds of busbies at their home for social evenings. No doubt Charlie often looled back on those drys with Teleasant memories, as he did on the evenings in the more recent years when we entortedned him withKodachrazie transparencies of the country in c thich he used to roam in his younger days. lathough he loved the ,':Lustralian bush, I thinl: hie ho rt often strayed back to his native Ireland. He is a loss to both countries; :=Ind we extend our sympathy to his son and two daughters who suovive him. DAY WALKS. OCTOBER 22 Glenfield Georges River Long Point, Minto. 12 Miles. This -walk will -visit some attractive reacheS of the Georges River to the north of Bushwallmrs'? Basin. The country is mainly unspoilt. 8.25 a m. Goulburn train from Cenbral Steam Station to GaNFIELD. Ticlots: :ant() Return at 6/9d. Map: Camden Leader: David Ingram. OCTODZR 29. -11\TaterfP.1J Dloola Falls Audley. 8 Miles. An ideal gallop for new members: ;passes through the Western portion of the Royal National Park. There are to groups of aboriginal rock carvings adjacent to the track. 8.50 a m. Cronulla train from Cenbral Electric Station to SU-MR:LAND. CHIME THERE for rail motor to Waterfall. Tickets: Waterfall Return at 5/9d. Map: Pert Hacking Tourist or Military. Leader: Dick Child. NOMDELR 5 Glenbrook Glen'orook Gorge Nepean Lookout Evaelm Clearing Glenbrook. 12 Miles. A rock hop dam the Gorge followed 'cfey a scramble up to I\Tepean Lookout, then some scrubby sections to Euroka, an excellent camping spot. 8.20 a m. Lithgow train from Central Steam Station to CLENBROOK. C-lenbrook Return at 13/9d. Map: Liverpool Military. Leader: Ern French. .VVI-111.T WOULD TIE aSSI-fitf.ALK.ER OWDE1- T.0 SCIEHCE ? Aluminium Billies from 7/9d. t(- Aluminium Screw Top Containers: 1/4d., 1/11d., 2/1-, 2/6d. Unbreakable Plastic Torches: 17/-. Unbreakable Plastic Food Containers: 2/8d., 2/lid 3/3d., 5/6d. Plastic Bags: 5d. and 6d. Plastic Water Bottles: 2/9d., 4/9d. Baby Tin Opemr ',.rmy Style: 1/2d. Cycle Torches: 12/3d. Conovis Lemon and Lime Powder: 3/9d. per tin. PADDY PAWN IPZ: Lightweight Camp Gear 201 CASILEREAGP St SYDNEY BM2685 14. Kokuum caimciDE - PAR.T I., .Since 1933 a good deal-has been -written abnat the Ko-w-m..4: River Gaige between Tuglow Falls- and Church Creek. The main attractions in this stretch of river are Tuglow Falls, Liorong Falls, Morong Deep and Rudder's Rift. The lore sent day technique of Kowmunging is to leep to the river all the way: that is, to talk or rock hop when possible and swira with waterprciof pack on back when necessary.. This is pleasant, in good weather when the water is not too high, but can be difficult (and hazardous) with a strong flow during or shortly after rainG (e g. _The 1960 Christmas Kowmung trip was slowed considerably by high water and had to sidle in parts of the Deep, but me dz) er s of the same party found the same stretches quite easy in Februaz7 on Colin Putt's weekend Cowmando trip when the water was a foot or so lower.) It To. follow the development of Kowmunging, we present a selection of impressions during 30 years, all p-eviously recorded in The S.B.W. To introduce the serie s, excerpt s from THE IrCANIZEC - Ken 'Meadows& Neil Schafer. The S.B.W. April 1953). . “The first Upper Kowmung trip recorded in the magazine shows the walkers to be hardened b-uShmen (and women). Unprepared for s7,7imminE, thc almeet impenetrable bush, blackthorn and sheer rock faces made their dy a torture. Ni7-ht brought little relief because the inhospitable rocky campsites coaDelled1_1…near:for-table sleep -without the shelter of tents. Later parties were more suit ably equipped to cope with the conditions encounteree - Many stretches of the river required to be swum. 'This they did, f loatiit their packs in-their groundsheets in the orthodox manner, but, where it was possible, the 'parties preferred to climb round the rocky pools, Christmas 1952 saw us doing the Upper lbw-Li:lung the easy way. From “infortstion received” we knew the -type of courxtry and were able to prepare rear that would minimise the 'difficulties and male the trip one that any average walkers, provided they can swim, can undertake -without undue difficulty. The Kowmung has inich to offer in the way of variety from the walking point of view: The types of country 'which have to be traversed may be broadly classified under three heading-a, viz., walking, rock hopping and swimming. Let us tow consider each of these in turn. Parts of the Upper Kowmung are very pleasant from the straight walldng angle-.- Long stretches of grassy river banks broken with areas of bracken and the familiar casuarinas are met between the lower end of the Morong Deep and the upper and of the last granite gorge, and also from this last, gc r ge until the junction of the Kowniung 15. with the ColeS River. Rate of progress on this type of terrain is generally good and can be improved by crossing - the river When necessary, far easier going on the opposite bank. In contrast with these grassy banks are those sections of the river -Which, although almost a gorge, do not exhibit the really steep sides of a true gorge. Here we have banks consisting of river worn boulders and long shelves of eranite rocks. These shelves vary from river level to heights of up to twenty or more feet e:'Dove the river itself. On this type of terrain it is possible to proceed at a fairly good. rate,:as-there is very little obstruction from plant growth, etc. When on these sections 'of the river it is better te d'7) a little elementary rock climbi perhaps necessitating the lowering of packs, rather than go to higher level and encoanter dense undergrowth which will impede Dr7ress. Finally, we come to thoselr.,arts where grassy links and even rock shelves cease to exist. Here we have the true gorge. These g-pites are typified by sffInr-th granite rock faces, rising almost perpendicularly from water level to varying heights where they degenerate into very steep slopes, generally well covered in vegetation and nostly of the prickly variety. The river itself in these sections is generally a series of fairly long, deep pools, connected by rapids or smal waterfalls. On encountering gorges of this type the walker has the alternative of two courses of action. He can Climb to a high level, on to the steeply sloping sides and battle with the undergrowth of small trees, bushes etc. until he is able to drop back to the river level, or, he can take to the river and swim through these pools until he is able to return to dry land once nore. Ekparience has shown us, and some of our predeceassars that t1is latter course of action is the better in the long run. If the swimming is gone about in the right way it can be such less timeconsuming and far lsss arduous than eltaitalg to heights of several humdreds of feet above river level. … One of the most essential requirements for a Kowmung trip is suitable footwear. Hobnail boots may be quite adequate for the section where grassy river banks predominate, but then the smooth granite rock:is encountered and when swimming is necessary, they are mnrse than useless. e found that the most suitable type of footwear was either sandShges with a good tread or sneck:ers with e Kromhyde Both of these grip well on smooth rock surfaces even when the latter have a slopeof up to 40 degrees. Furthermore, they both stand up well to long immersion in water and dry out fairly quickly. When swimminE is necessary it is advisable not to remove your shoes as you may have to walk for some distance before again entering the wieter: hence once more s'andhoes or sneakers being much lighter than boots metke swimming auch easier. TA point of regarding sandShoes is to have a size larger than normally worn as the constant immersion in water tends to cause some Shrinkage. Another important aspect is the means of water proofing the pack for the swimming sections, qe foand that an inner bag made from oiled japara or other suitable waterproof material into mhich most of one's gear is placed and securely tied -is the most satisfactory. Plastic tends to tear or be readily punctured and it is not advisable to make use of this. A frameless pack is better than a framed one, being much lighter. The inner waterproof bag saves the walker the trouble of wrapping a groundsheet around his pack in the conventional manner, alSo he need not remove the pack from his back:but is ready to swim whenever necessary, the pack acting as a buoy 16. supporting the swimmer. One of the most important considerations of all is keeping the pack weight down. This is best done by carefully selected food iter-ts. -Wherever 'possible light, but nourishing and sustaining, meals would be in order. ….During the whole trip we never found ourselves at loss for a good camp site, wood and, of course, water, being plentiful. ,7hen the general nature of the terrain was rocky, isolated flat grassy patches present themselves as potential camping spots. Even in these rocky sections it is possible to find adequate sleeping room with the tent acting as a fly if it cannot be properly pitched. Anol now with the Pioneer's 71-ROUGH TIE GRN1rE GORGES. - Farr7 Savage. (The S.B.W., February 1933).. Jenolan Caves to Yerranderie via Cr'uncil Chambers Ck., the Hollaffiers, Tuglow and Upper Kowmung Rivers. Three o'clock on the last day of October found us toiling up the road on the Oberon side of Jenolan Caves. On our backs were sixty pound packs containing food, home and home comforts for what we anticipated would be a ten days' walk. At siX o'clock we were sit-bing by our fire at the old saw mill about three miles out from Jen olan. A typical mountain mist had clothed the gully in a blanket of -white, and although but a few hundred yards off the road to civilisation one could almost imagine oneself alone in a world apart. As the rays of the setting sun struggled to reach us through the enveloping mist a score of Koolct burras took -up residence in the trees above and took it in turns to laugh - presumably at us. A daybreak start had been decided on, but day did not break in the normal sense of the word, it cam in the shape of a waterfall and the rain held us up. Just before nira we se-b off hoping that the rain had not been enough to register a rise in the rivers. Our objective and the main feature of the trip was to reach the foot of ilorong Falls which fall a distance of fifteen hundred feet from the Boyd Plateau into the Kowmung River, and a rise would be fatal to our purpose if not to ourselves. liany have tried to reach the foot of these falls, which, owing to their inaccessibility, have become almost a legend among those viho leave the beaten track, but owing to flood waters and the impassable state of the granite gorge into which they fell, the attempt has always been given up and a detour made. .:Ifter following the Kanangra Walls road along the Boyd Plateau for a distance of about half a mile, a cat was made off to the right into the head of Council Chambers Creek, and we were at the fronE door of the trackless country. The going at the start had been more or less easy; but gradually the undulating slopes merged into steep and almost precipitous sides, and lurch time found us in the H6llan1er8 River which is formed by numerous creeks like the one we came down, all draining off 17. the Boyd Plateau. it ten past thr-ee w came to the junction of Budthingeroo Creek with the Hollanders; A little farther domt a party of trout fishermen was met but they appeared to be having most indtCferent luck. At the next bend the last of the open spaces was Ieft behind and the Follanders canyon, a dismal, dank, precipitous place extending for about six miles was entered, the malls in most places sloping right down into the water leaving just a footway - sometimes. That night the tent was pitched on a sloping shelf just above the river. amoke about 2 a m., feeling rather cold and upon a thorough investigation discovered that ln.,y head alone was in the tent and my feet just out of the river. We clipbed out of the tent at 'six as the sun climbing over the steep ridge called the buShland to life and another day. It was a bematiful morning, not a cloud in the sky. Setting off again the canyon wasfound to become steeper and rougher still, necessitating a great number of crossings, quite a few of them being extremely difficult. In all, twenty-three crossings were made on the Hollanders, and at eleven ofdlock: when we reached the granite gorge we were tired and worn. This gorge, -which is virtually a rift through a granite mountain, made river walking absolutely Impossible and a detour over Bull Lilt Ridge was necessary, coming down on to the TUglaw about half a mile above the Falls. Lunch was eaten on the Tuglaw Rive'. and then two rather weary -walkers made their way downstream till one of the masterpieces of Nature -.Tuglaw Falls - was reached. The river bends in an S curve through reddish granite, straightens out again and then plunges over the triple falls throh a grey and white granite chasm, which appears to be carved from a solid block of stone by some mighty hand. Looking down through these wonderful falls, the Kowmum. Valley could be seen for below, laid out like a distaht green carpet. The next point was to jet domb into the valley of the Kowmung River which is formed by the merginE cf the two streams, the Hollanders and the Tuglow. - After a terribly hard climb we reached the floor of the valley and made camp for the night. Just after tea we were treated to one of the most picturesque sunsets I have ever seen. The dying sun worked around the hillside into the chasm that makes the Tuglow Falls, using this spot as if an outlet from the valley. There were just enough clouds to tinge the walls of the falls a rosy pink as the sun slowly sank in its granite picture frame, lighting the clouds higher and higher till it sank, leaving nothing but the roar of the falls, the murmur of the streams and the cool evening breeze. Early morning found us out of bed and inspecting the falls of Tuglow and the lower end of the granite gorge of the Hollanders River. At ten o'clock our backs were turned to the campsite and a course set downthe kowmung River. The going was particularly hard owing to the young wattle and kanuka scrub vhich continually rebuffed, tore and beat us. Just before lunch we reached the Tuglomljmestone outcrop situated on the second bend of the gridiron - splendid sight; a mighty lump of stone presenting a Sheer face to the river. This outcrop is reliuted to be honeycombed to the extreme and most dangerous. As WO were most intent on the completion of our trip we admired this marvellous sight from a eistance. The beginning of the granite gorge into which the river Hbrong falls was reached an hour or so after lunch. The river was absolutely impassable and we were forced high up on to a ridge on the right overlooking the river. lg. Abend in the river brought us down and me came off the ridge at a point vhioh marks a wonderful example of the beauty of Nature's work. The river after boiling and bubbling through a myriad of amall cascades, splits snoothly round an immense granite island in the middle of the river. Crossing, it was again necessary to take to the hillsides, but with no appreciable success as we were forced dovn a most sudden slide ankle deep in granite gravel to miss a sheer bluff. From the divide between Horse Gully and Tuglaw Hole Creeks our first view 6T Yorong Falls was gained, the late sun making the big fall look like a silver thrad on a brown tapestry. The walls of the Kownung gorge, particularly on the eastern side are tharvellous. One could net under any pretext call them beautiful, but they. are grand, inspiring and immense, dropping in places for easily a thousand feet into the river and but a degree or two out of the perpendicular. Tuglow Hole Creek is practically as much a gorge as the Kaumung and i8 like a Dore's illustration of “Demte's Inferno”. The wells are ')are and barren, the creek small and moving with but -a faint murmur. Th?, frogs sr47: their discordant song, keeping time with the crickets and locusts, and the fire, thidh was of necessity small, threw only enough aight to give the whole business a grotesque air. The early morning sun found us up and at work again. While we agreed that it mould be impossible to make the falls fully laden, there was just a chance that the way might be possible if one vent empt:Thanded and was prepared to take a ehance. Immediately after breakfast we began the journey,, carrying only the camera, axe and scaling rope. The camera vas 'wrapped in oiled silk as we were intent on reaching the falls even if it entailed a swim. When only a few hundred yards damn the Kowmuhe the walls closed right in and a sheer rock climb of several hundred feet was neoessar to get over the pinch. The rope was extremely useful and practically essential. With steep granite cliffs above and below we started off around the hillside. The going was horribly tough and rougheto say nothing of being dangerous. The hillside, covered with loose Stones and gravel, pitted with slide holes and watercourses, was almost perpendicular. At a quarter to eleven a descent was made into the river down a steep, treacherous slide of loose gravel. This brought us out on to a stretch of shell pink granite several huAldred feet long, over which the water played as it vent ever onward to the sea. Continuing on downstream for a little -way our eyes were suddenly confronted with the most welcome sight of the trip the tail end of Moronc Ftlla. The upper fall is not visible from the river and a climb of about four hundred feet had to be undertaken. It was hard work but well rewarded. Falling sheer f.#' hundreds of feet in an immense bridal veil the water gathers again in a big granite basin;- then down a series of steep deep cascades to halt, momentarily, in a long pink groove before continuing its course down the last twisted fell of about two hundred feet to swell the waters of the KawmunE River. We diamond blazed a tree td the left of the 'Dig fall and felt mighty proud 'while doing so, for we believe ourselves to be the first to ever reach the foot of these marvellous Falls. (To be continued) GONGRATULLTIONP to Richard and Judy. Redfern (7agg) on the birth of a daughter.

196110.1456723655.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/02/29 16:27 by tyreless

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