196601
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revision | ||
196601 [2016/03/18 15:52] – kennettj | 196601 [2016/07/22 10:14] (current) – tyreless | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
- | The Sydney Bushwalker 2. | + | ======The Sydney Bushwalker.====== |
+ | |||
+ | A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bushwalker, The N.S.W. Nurses' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Box. No. 4476, G.P.O. Sydney. 'Phone 843985. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |**Editor**|Bill Gillan, Old Bush Rd, Engadine. 5208423.| | ||
+ | |**Business Manager**|Bill Burke, Coral Tree Rd., Carlingford.| | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===373. January, 1966. Price 1/-=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Contents.===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | | | |Page| | ||
+ | |December General Meeting|J. Brown| | ||
+ | |Social Notes For January| | 4| | ||
+ | |The Kosciusko State Park|M. Dunphy| 5| | ||
+ | |Day Walks| |10| | ||
+ | |Paddy' | ||
+ | |Prospecting the Japanese Alps|M. Byles|12| | ||
+ | |Running Away to Shore|C. Putt|16| | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====The December General Meeting.====== | ||
- | THE DEMMER GENERAL 1 L.MTING. | ||
- | January, 1966 | ||
J. Brown. | J. Brown. | ||
- | | + | |
+ | ... which began with a welcome to six -- yes, six, new members, fruits of the last walking season, and in view of the dearth of test walks during the summer, likely to be the last for a while, started peaceably | ||
No business out of Minutes, and little from correspondence, | No business out of Minutes, and little from correspondence, | ||
- | Financial report showed an excess of expenditure over income of 23, mostly due to purchase of a stock of new badges, and a concluding total of 282 in the 'current funds. | + | |
- | Bob Godfrey reported on November walkabouts, including Ron Knightley' | + | Financial report showed an excess of expenditure over income of £23, mostly due to purchase of a stock of new badges, and a concluding total of £282 in the current funds. |
- | Burning Palms on Nov. 20 had a total attendance of 29 including members of a Churdb | + | |
- | At the close of the Talks Report David Ingram drew attention to activities of the NoisesOff | + | Bob Godfrey reported on November walkabouts, including Ron Knightley' |
- | Federation Report had already boon published, but it may do no harm to repeat the warning of the Department of the Army that increasing use is being made of the Tianjara Proof Range near Sassafras, and any walking party not desirous of unintentional bombardment may be advised to check on dates when it mould be used. | + | |
- | In succession to Bill O' | + | At the close of the Walks Report David Ingram drew attention to activities of the Noises-Off |
- | Now the President announced that prospective members | + | |
- | et | + | Federation Report had already boon published, but it may do no harm to repeat the warning of the Department of the Army that increasing use is being made of the Tianjara Proof Range near Sassafras, and any walking party __not__ |
- | 3. The Sydney Bushwalker January, 1966. | + | |
- | ,111 .1...=!..w.........! | + | In succession to Bill O' |
- | - The Presidont | + | |
- | Ron Knightley pointed to a pair of ice axes and 2 sets of crampons | + | Now the President announced that prospective members |
- | donated by a retired mountaineer, | + | |
- | that gear would be available to members of the Aust. Section of the N.Z.A.C. as well as all Club members, that the maximum period of hire be 8 weeks, and that hiring charges be 10/ for an ice axe or crampons used overseas | + | The President |
- | and 5/ in Australia. A deposit of 10/ should be sought on gear hired, and | + | |
- | S.B.m. members could bock 8 weeks ahead, members of N.Z.A.C. six weeks ahead, The last motion1, that hirers be not required to make good loss or damage in reasonable circumstances, | + | Ron Knightley pointed to a pair of ice axes and 2 sets of crampons donated by a retired mountaineer, |
- | Snow Brown referred to a 1.r: | + | |
- | area surrounding Lake Pedder in Tasmania, which was threatened. by hydroelectric | + | Snow Brown referred to a pamphlet |
- | Kath Brown proposed that wewrite | + | |
- | nature and parkland conservation features of the Bill under dealing in State Pexli ment. John Vhite quoted The Minister as saying that, it was | + | Kath Brown proposed that we write the Minister for Lands commending the nature and parkland conservation features of the Bill under dealing in State Parliament. John White quoted The Minister as saying that, it was a piece of legislation which should be given general approval by conservation minded people, who should not split into different camps over minor aspects of the overall proposal. Ron Knightly supported the spirit of the motion and suggested we might send a copy of our view on bush parklands published previously. Gordon Redmond said that when the Bill was presented we should be in a better position to assess its value for a walker' |
- | a piece of legislation which should be given general approval by conservation | + | |
- | minded people, who should not split into different camps over minor aspects | + | Kath Brown pointed out several conservation items had arisen, and the Secretary would be involved in writing some letters on such questions. It seemed time to revive the position of Conservation Secretary which was still listed in the Constitution, |
- | of the overall proposal. Ron Knightly supported the spirit of the motion and suggested we might send a copy of our view on bush parklands published previously. Gordon Redmond said that when the Bill was presented we should be in P. better position to assess its value for a walker' | + | |
- | After the main motion was carried, Gordon went further and proposed that, during the passage of the Bill, the Club should consider it carefully and submit our view to Federation | + | Alan Rigby referred to schemes |
- | Kath Brown pointed out several conservation items had arisen, and the | + | |
- | Secretary would be involved in writing some letters on such questions. It | + | Bog Godfrey felt such action may persuade some people that we were only fanatics, and a doubt was expressed whether it was in keeping with our compliment to the Lands Department on the projected Bill. Ron Knightly said if the motion were lost, he would put forward a resolution protesting against permission to construct access roads, vents etc, in the Park. New member |
- | seemed time to revive the position of Conservation Secretary which was still listed in the Constitution, | + | |
- | The President said it would be listed for the Annual Meeting in March. | + | Jack Wren supported the motion, adding his agreement that the coal level would tend to cause subsidence of the surface. David Ingram mentioned that the President of the National Park Trust had indicated his disapproval of the mining scheme. After Alan Rigby' |
- | Alan Rigby referred to schemes | + | |
- | sea level and the mining could lead to subsidences, | + | |
- | January, 1965 The Sydney Dushwaiker 4. | + | |
- | and a gradual infiltration. He moved that We protest strongly to the Minister for Lands and Mines, pointing out that there was no shortage of coal and other mineral deposits outside reserves. | + | |
- | Bog Godfrey felt such action may persuade some people that we were only fanatics, and a doubt was expressed whether it was in keeping with our compliment to the Lands Department on the projected Bill. Ron | + | |
- | Knightly said if the motion were lost, he would put forward a resolution protesting against permission to construct access roads, vents etc, in the Park. New member | + | |
- | of commendation and protest | + | |
- | Jack Wren supported the motion, adding his agreement that the coal | + | |
- | level wnuld tend to cause subsidence of the surface, David Ingram mentioned that the President of the National Park Trust had indicated his disapproval of the mining scheme. After Alan Rigby' | + | |
- | to tho vote and we will add our voice to the pretests. | + | |
All this had taken quite a while. In fact by the time the usual announcements had been made and the President had voiced Christmas wishes to all members, it was 9.35 when the meeting closed. | All this had taken quite a while. In fact by the time the usual announcements had been made and the President had voiced Christmas wishes to all members, it was 9.35 when the meeting closed. | ||
- | 01...I. | ||
- | HAPPY NEW YEA RS | ||
- | SOCIAL NOTES FOR JANUARY. | + | ---- |
- | Alai; Rigby' | + | |
- | " | + | ===Happy New Year!=== |
- | Immilmm.... | + | |
+ | =====Social Notes For January.===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Alan Rigby' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
Congratulations to Sandra Bardwell and Phil Butt on their engagement. | Congratulations to Sandra Bardwell and Phil Butt on their engagement. | ||
- | 5. The Sydney Bus hwalkor January, 1966. | ||
- | THE KoscivaKo ST.LTE EARK. | + | ---- |
- | How did it begin? | + | |
- | Myaes J. Dunphy. | + | =====The Kosciusko State Park - ow Did It Begin?===== |
- | The recent | + | |
- | were complicated; | + | Myles J. Dunphy. |
- | In common with all worthwhile achievements the KBP did not just | + | |
- | happen; its establishment was preceded by a great deal of hard work. It | + | The recent |
- | was not unique but merely one of a series of parkland schemes that evolved with the growth of the bushwalking-conservation movement which coMmenced | + | |
- | nearly all these clubs included the preservation of scenic bushland | + | In common with all worthwhile achievements the KSP did not just happen; its establishment was preceded by a great deal of hard work. It was not unique but merely one of a series of parkland schemes that evolved with the growth of the bushwalking-conservation movement which commenced |
- | wildlife and wildlife habitat; because of their regard for these things that constituted their own (4.nvironment. The trailers and bushwalkers | + | |
- | motor tourism and the invasion of bush tracks by " | + | The Blue Mountains National Park Committee, formed in 1933 to prosecute the scheme of that name was changed to the National Parks and Primitive Area Council in 1934 to enable it to conduct a number of park projects. The functions of this self-supporting autonomous coterie of trailers and bushwalkers was to initiate, formulate and to submit to the authorities schemes for parklands; to spearhead the conservation efforts of bushwalkers |
- | The Blue Mountains National Park Committee, formed in 1933 to prosecute the scheme of that name was changed to the National Parks and Primitive Area Council in 1934 to enable it to conduct a number of park projects. The functions of this self-supporting autonomous coterie of trailers and | + | |
- | bushwalkers was to initiate, formulate and to submit to the authorities schemes for parklands; to spearhead the conservation efforts of budhwalkers | + | The NSW Federation |
- | The NSITT F6deration | + | |
- | consolidate and regulate bushwalking formed its own Conservation Bureau in 1938. Thereafter it pursued a parallel path with the BPPA council and | + | In the period 1933-1946 the NPPA Council worked with all speed most of the time in touch with Surveyor General H.B. Mathews |
- | ,added weight to the conservation drive. The requirements of practical users of the scenic bushland were recognised by the authorities and several new park: | + | |
- | In the period 1933-1946 the IIPPA Council worked with all speed most of | + | When the situation eased the bushwalking |
- | the time in touch with Surveyor General H.B. Mathaws | + | |
- | the war years and the following period of rehabilitation the Department was | + | Included in the several projects of the NPPA Council |
- | unable to assist or entertain parkland projects as surveyors could not be spared to investigate them. The Snowy Indi scheme was an exception as it had important aspects for government. | + | |
- | January, 1966 The Sydney Bushwalkor 6. | + | NPPA Council men and other bushwalkers continued to carry out numerous pack carrying expeditions of upwards of two weeks duration |
- | Mien the situation eased the bushwoaking | + | |
- | Included in thc several projects of the NPP A Cnuncil | + | In 1944 NPPA Council decided it was time to straighten out Snowy Indi Scheme in preparation |
- | EPPA Council men and other bushwalkers continued to carry out numerous pack carrying expeditions of upwards of two weeks durtion | + | |
- | In 1944 NPPII. | + | On 8.4.43 officers of the Department of Lands verbally advised the NPPA to submit its Snow Indi Scheme in June. Intensive work was carried |
- | 7. Th(. Syqney Dushiker January, 3,)66. | + | |
- | underfoot. It was felt tho t.the time IT:s opportune to show there existed a strong body ;,f opinion in favour of reserving a large area of the Snowy Mountains in its wilderness state, Investigations continued. | + | The Department arranged |
- | 011'8.4.43 officers of the Department of Lr., | + | |
- | walking and parks bodies. The Government | + | |
- | The Departlint arranir5-ed | + | |
- | a. The commit-b03 said at once they wore not interested in the proposed | + | - Water conservation. |
- | parkland across the border in Victoria, | + | |
- | out without further comment. As a mattor | + | |
- | b. Legislation would be brought down to crargfizetliC.; | + | - The development of a large national park was assured and would be established very soon. |
- | c. 77ater | + | |
- | d. Forestry.- | + | Following representations made at those meetings by M.J. Dunphy it was conceded that the park when approved could not be a " |
- | e. Soil erosion, pests etc. | + | |
- | f. the development of a large national park was assured and would be | + | Early in 1943 the Surveyor General sent a large party of surveyors into the field and the large two-sheet |
- | 'established very soon. | + | |
- | Following representations made at those meetings by H.J. Dunphy it was conceded that the park when approved could not be a " | + | On 8.9.43 the Premier, |
- | Early in 1943 the Surveyor General sent a large party of surveyors | + | |
- | into the fielq and the large twoshoot | + | Signs of a coming conflict of interests were plain. Following on Press articles " |
- | On 8.9.43 the Premier, | + | |
- | governments decision to set aside 1,400,000 acres of the Snowy Mountains | + | The scientific societies objected to aspects of the proposals. The Royal Zoological |
- | as a national park. He noted the Councils | + | |
- | January, 1966. The Sydney Dushwalker 8. | + | On 5.1.44 members of the various societies met at the Premiers office to discuss matters with the Select |
- | of a separate State Parkland Authority | + | |
- | Signs of a coming conflict of interests were plain. | + | Section 13 stated. Subject to the regulations, |
- | Press articles " | + | |
- | would be limited in order to prevent exposure | + | There were other activities affecting the beginning of the State Park. The operation of the Murray Waters Act from 1915, the use of controlling locks and weirs, the level of the Hume Reservoir and expansion |
- | The scientific societies objected to aspects of the proposals. The | + | |
- | Royal Zoolo ical Society suggested that an area one tenth of the proposed park should be marked as " | + | In the repatriation period |
- | from tenures of any kind. They selected the Snowy Indi area as the best place for such a sanctuary. (At a later date they changed their mina and | + | |
- | selected the problem "surnmit" area for desired treatment. The R.Z. said that any area designated park should be reserved from any sort of tenure. | + | The next most important phase in the beginnings of the Park was the emergence of the Snowy Mountains Scheme in 1948; a vast project which involved the full development of the Snowy Highlands as a planned catchment. The SMA lost no time in getting |
- | On 5.1.44 members of the various societies met at the Premiers office to discuss matters with the W.ect Committee appointed to meet them. The Committee' | + | |
- | Section 13 stated. Subject to the regulations, | + | The early improved road access |
- | There wore other activities affecting the beginning of the State Park. The operation of the Murray Waters Act from 19152 the use of controlling locks and weirs, the level of the Hume Reservoir and =Tension | + | |
- | Timber Bureau did the first erosion survey of the highland catchments of the two states. | + | Before long it appeared that only the members of the natural science bodies and those who value scenic wilderness scenery for their holidays had anything to grieve over. However there is no room for complacency on the score of the ultimate utilisation of scenic wilderness. Realisation of its real value has increased to a marked extent due to the past efforts of the conservators. And more than any other parkland the KSP, by reason of the nature of the region and the many overlapping activities connected with it has had a most educational value. |
- | In the repatriation period | + | |
- | 9. The Sydney Dushwalker Januaryt, | + | What has been recorded here deals with facts and circumstances bearing on the beginnings of a great State Park which, because of inherent |
- | tour of the N617 highlands. | + | |
- | The next most important phase in the beginnings of the Park was the emergence of the Snowy Mountains Scheme in 1948; a vast project which involved the full development of the Snowy Highlands as a planned catchment. The SMA lost no time in getting | + | In conclusion, as some acknowledgement |
- | genuine interest in the great national works averted a lot of criticism | + | |
- | The early improved road access | + | |
- | for winter sport facilities, and there was a great boost in the construction of snow sport villages. | + | |
- | Before long it appeared that only the members of the natural science bodies and those who value scenic wilderness scenery for their holidays had anything to grieve over. However there is no' | + | |
- | of the nature of. the region and the many overlapping activities connected with it has had a most educational value. | + | |
- | Vhat has been recorded here deals with facts and circumstances bearing on the beginnings of a groat State Park which, because of inherent | + | |
- | - ' | + | |
- | In conclusion, as some adknowledgement | + | |
22nd December, 1965. | 22nd December, 1965. | ||
- | 10. The Sydney Dushwalker January, 1966' | ||
- | DAY MUM. | + | ---- |
- | JANUARY | + | |
- | A visit to the Northern portion of the Heathcote Primitive Area. This section of the 7oronora | + | =====Day Walks.===== |
- | Train: Ring leader at D0961 Extension 3077 for departure time. | + | |
- | Tickets: Heathcote return @ 5/6. | + | |January |
- | Map: Heathcote Primitive Area or Port Hacking Tourist. Leader: Jim Calloway. | + | |February |
- | FEBRUARY | + | |February |
- | Train: 8.50 a m. Cronulla train Central Electric Station to Sutherland | + | |
- | Tickets: | + | ---- |
- | Map: Heathcote Primitive Area or Port Hacking Tourist. | + | |
- | FEBRUARY | + | Congratulations to the organisers of the Christmas |
- | After a short sharp descent to Era Beach, there should be -ample time for surfing. Then right through the Garrawarra Primitive Area to the panorama at Bald Hill. Suitable for new members. | + | |
- | Train: 8.20 a m. Cronulla Train Central Electric Station | + | ---- |
- | to Sutherland. | + | |
- | Tickets: Otford return @ slaus 2/ bus fare Waterfall | + | =====Paddy Made.===== |
- | Map: Port Hacking Tourist. Leader: David Ingram. | + | |
- | IMM.1 | + | We are amazed at just where Paddy Made Equipment |
- | Congratulations to the organisers of theChristmas | + | |
- | 70 are amazed at ' | + | From skin divers camping by their chosen spot to alpinists at their mountain |
- | Equip- | + | |
- | ment was mountaincerIng | + | Perhaps someone told them Paddy Made gear is best, it has been used by more people |
- | out of doors people during the past twelve months.' | + | |
- | From skin divers camping by their chosen spot | + | Take a good tip from people who know. |
- | to alpinists at their mruntain | + | |
- | Perhaps someone told the -Paddy Made gear is best, it has been used\by more ponrle | + | For all your specialised camping gear call on |
- | Paddy Pallin Pty.Ltd., | + | |
- | 1st Floor, | + | Paddy Pallin Pty. Ltd., |
- | Cnr. George and Bathurst Sts., -Sydney. | + | |
- | 262685. | + | 1st Floor, Cnr. George and Bathurst Sts., Sydney. 262685. |
- | 13M2685 | + | |
- | anuary, 1966 | + | ---- |
- | PilOSPECTING THE ,3A.P.LNESE ALPS Marie.Dylos. | + | |
- | (INTRODUCTION' | + | =====Prospecting |
- | Dark, the " | + | |
- | , Rock Climbing groups.. (Surely a Mother' | + | By Marie Byles. |
- | an expeditiOn into 7' | + | |
- | . that part of China was literally the end. of the -world. | + | (Introduction by Dot Butler; - "Once a climber, always |
- | Dr. bark, accepting that there comes a tiriae | + | |
- | r. | + | |
- | "I think he ;should not have charged | + | |
- | I rudely interrupted,. the Japanese friend who accompanied. me. " | + | "I think he should not have charged |
- | of the bus got two feet closer to the edge, what a glorious-death amid all this grandeur!" | + | |
- | " | + | I rudely interrupted the Japanese friend who accompanied me. " |
- | "Ahrbut | + | |
- | his eyes off the narrow rutted road, a road. only wide enough for one way traffic but on which cars often met each other and. one waited very courteously as near to the edge as possible while the ether squeezed past with about two inches between them. | + | " |
- | As twilight fell we passed the Imperial Hotel, the only inn which takes' | + | |
- | all claimed | + | "Ah, but not as good as these at Kamikochi. These are 12,000 ft.!" As __he__ |
- | able to find was the Godenjaku | + | |
- | bed and breakfast for two and a half:dollars a day and a bunk in, a six-bunk cabin. The proprietor | + | As twilight fell we passed the Imperial Hotel, the only inn which takes non-Japanese guests and which closes |
- | 13. -Thr5 Syaney Bushwelker | + | |
- | . . Jemuary, 1566.. | + | "Su mi ma sen!" washes away your sins better |
- | week._ But after he and his assistants had looked at me very dubietisly | + | |
- | out for the day with the key of the cabin in my pocket. It needed no common language to make known to me the awfulness of my offence. | + | Of course we removed our shoes at the entrance, as in all inns, but they provided lockers in which to place your outdoor shoes, and you could put that key in your pocket! It also provided |
- | t!Su rrel rma son:" washes away Trur sins -hotter | + | |
- | Of course we removed our shoes at the entrance, as in all inns, but they provided lockers in which to place your outdoor shoes, and you could put that key in your pocket: It also provided | + | Each bus brought |
- | boards. You might think this avoided all sweeping and susting, but every day every board was WiT2Ga | + | |
- | Each bus brougrIt | + | A few enthusiasts sported ice-axes, but for what purpose I did not discover, for though in the same latitude as Auckland, New Zealand, these mountains carry neither snow nor ice. This was said to be due to the low winter rain-and-snow-fall. By the time summer arrives there is no water on the tops except |
- | A few enthusiasts sported ice-axes, but for what purpose I did not - discpVer, for though in the same latitude as Auckland, New Zealand, these mountains carry neither snow nor ice. This was said to be due to the low winterrai-and-snow-fall. By the time'summer arrives there is no water on the tots eXcept | + | |
- | ropes except on the souvenir ice-axe brooches. But the mountains would provide magnificent rock-climbing, | + | The first day I walked further than I had walked for twenty years. The track through the lovely forest was covered |
- | The first day I walked further than I had walked for twenty years. The track-through the lovely forest was ccvered | + | |
- | tracks are scarcely | + | All the young men and women climbers and walkers were friendly. Occasionally I would meet one studying English at the University, glad of the opportunity of ' |
- | All the i oung men and women climbers and walkers were friendly. Occasionally I would meet one studying English at the University, glad of the | + | |
- | 4 opportunity of ' | + | Twice I climbed up about two thousand feet until I could look out over the bare rocky tops which rose perhaps five thousand feet higher. One of the climbers lent me his walking stick or I should not have managed it. |
- | Twice I climbed up about two thousand feet until I could look out over the bare rocky tops Which rose perhaps five thousand feet higher. One of the climbers lent me his walking stick or I should not have managed it. | + | |
- | January, 1966 The Sy lney Lushwe,Ther 14. | + | It was good to breathe the high mountain air once again. I sat for a long while looking over the long white scree slopes and dreamed of what I would have done twenty, thirty, forty years ago. The climb up was exhilarating but the climb down was rather exhausting. One kind young man came back to keep an eye on me until I reached the bottom again. I wonder did he belong to the Search and Rescue Section! Most of the walkers and climbers wore heavy, rubber-soled canvas boots, which probably slipped less on the rolling pebbles than my own stout rubber-soled sandals. |
+ | |||
+ | Over the forest of deciduous trees and conifers rose not only the rocky mountains, but also an active volcano which smoked realistically from time to time reminding one of when it had erupted, formed a large lake and left the trees to drown in it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It is hard to compare the beauties of mountains I have seen in so many countries. The Japanese Alps rise seven thousand feet above the inns and hostels along the rivers and would provide strenuous enough scrambles to suit the toughest, while the camera can find pictures wherever it looks, whether in the creeper-entwined forests or on the open white stony banks of the rivers. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Japanese Alps are not for the young Australian who thirsts for snow and ice for there is neither in summer, and in winter they are inaccessible for skiing. But they do call to the middle-aged Bushwalker whose search is mainly for beauty. And they are a superb example of how an over-populated country can none the less afford to have wilderness areas untouched by the axe. The forests are of mixed evergreen and deciduous trees, and among the latter is the lovely silver birch which loses its bark in rings so that you think some vandal must have tried to ring-bark it. The floor of the lower forest consists predominantly of a dwarf bamboo which would make impossibly slow-going without a track. But tracks abound, and likewise excellent maps (in Japanese, of course). At least I suppose they were excellent if one judged by the seriousness with which the trampers would pour over them - just as __we__ used to do. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you are thinking of going to Kamikochi I should recommend October when the trees flame with orange red and gold. You could avoid the language difficulty if you took your tent and camped beside the rushing river, either taking food with you or buying it at the shops attached to the rest houses and inns. But it would be a little cold to bathe in the river in October, and you would miss the joy of the Japanese communal bath, always steaming hot, which is a delight all on its own. On the whole I should recommend Gosenjaku Lodge. I think they were as sorry as I when the time came to say goodbye, and I don't think they would be so afraid of the next foreigner especially if I lent you my little two-way dictionary which I bought just before I left Japan! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Later on I visited the mountain resort of Koya San, the headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist Sect. It abounds in lovely temples around which always grow the tall dark crytpameria and cyprus trees. It was exactly the right time to see the deciduous trees in all their autumn glory, and it was exactly the right day to see them at their best, for it was very dull and rainy. The tall dark trees rose above the sombre grey-roofed temples, and from the ground beneath leapt up the silent flames of orange gold and red. It was uncanny. The little Olympus Pen F Japanese camera (for which I willingly give a free advertisement) took the best pictures I have ever taken, but even it could not portray that weird fantastic fairyland. You must see it to believe it possible. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The mountains of Japan have left behind the memory of people with hearts of gold to match their golden gingko trees. I should like to visit them again but I should prefer to wait for another life so that I could scramble among their rocky peaks. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Running Away To Shore - Reminiscences of a Climber.===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | By Colin Putt | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | I never intended, for a start, to go in for climbing as a sport, and that's why, perhaps, I'm still not very good at it. I was brought up in a family atmosphere of boats and sailing; sea chanties were sung over my cradle and my earliest clear memory is of my father steeping planks and timbers in a steambox. Before I went to school I had learned about the vast superiority of gaff rig, fiddle bows and tarred hemp standing rigging. This theoretical grounding was followed by a solid course in knots, bends and splices, rowing steering, and so on. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Later I acquired and rigged by own sailing dinghy and spent all my spare time at sea, taking special care to be out in the middle of winter and in particularly violent storms, which were always more interesting and could offer faster sailing. By this time I had learned that one of my uncles, although a good sailor, used to go to snowy places and indulge in a mysterious sport called " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The dinghy, with her rigging and on a wheeled cradle, weighed about 250 lbs. and had to be pulled home up a mile of extremely steep hill from the water after each day's sailing. At the age of 16 I got a job as a truck driver with a survey team who were mapping some unmapped bits of New Zealand; the job involved little driving and a lot of carrying heavy loads, on foot, through rough country. Heavy packing was dead easy after years of practice dragging the boat up hill and I began to enjoy the bush at once. At the University I naturally joined the tramping clubs and began to go to the ice mountains for climbing. Shiften points out that mountaineering and sailing are very similar while his climbing companion, Tilman, although saying little, currently spends about half of every year sailing the Arctic seas. The transfer from one of these sports to the other is easy and barely noticeable. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the 1940's much of New Zealand' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our first virgin summit was reached after a week's travel on snow and ice, with 90 lb. packs, in country where only two parties had ever been before, camping in the new-fangled snow-caves. We were stopped half way up our peak by a horrific bergschrund with a narrow shaky bridge and a 15 ft. overhanging ice-wall above it. Self-levitation with two axes got us up this and soon afterwards we were faced with some 300 ft. of rock. Our technique on rock, at this stage, was to scramble up as best we could winding the rope around outcrops where available; fortunately on this occasion we were able to cut steps up a steep couloir of rotten ice, bombarded by stones, and avoid the 300 ft. of mod. diff. grade rock interspersed by broad ledges. On the way down, we cut an ice-bollard at the bergschrund and roped down it. I was last man down and on arriving at the lower lip gave the rope a tug to free it on the bollard. The bollard flew off and hit me square on the head! We were involved in a small harmless avalanche on the way down - in those days there seemed to be more avalanches than now and the summer climbing season was colder, snowier and later. Or could it be that our equipment and techniques have improved? | ||
+ | |||
+ | By 1949 I had joined one of the small groups which had acquired pre-war English books on rock-climbing and were trying to use the techniques described in them. The next year I came to Australia and found that climbing was looked on in the bushwalking clubs as a criminal activity. Although the local sandstone frightened me, and still does, I naturally got involved in the early efforts to popularise the sport among bushwalkers, | ||
+ | |||
+ | In 1956 I visited Zermatt with three English climbers and found that the famous Swiss Alps were no more difficult or fearsome that New Zealand after all. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our best climb was a frontier traverse, from Monte Rosa over the Lyskamm, Castor and Pollux. We would have gone on over the Breithorn but a sudden electrical storm forced us to retreat down the North Face of Pollux, so that my only Face Nor has been done downwards, not up. This was the sort of climbing I like - long distances covered fast at high altitudes, on ice, a bit of exposure, and not much rock; a kind of climbing that would be barely possible without crampons, and in which you are likely to spend the next night in a bivouac, or a hut on the wrong side of the range. Here I reached the high point of my climbing career when a Swiss guide who saw me cutting steps took me for an Austrian guide! | ||
+ | |||
+ | On my return to Australia I found that Australians had been getting into trouble in New Zealand. Numbers of them had gone over to climb, some had been killed, the locals felt they were unsafe and wouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | In 1960 I was cornered at Mascot Airport by Norman Hardie, who was on his way to Nepal, and asked, "Would you like to lead an expedition?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, where to?" (Never miss an opportunity, | ||
+ | |||
+ | It turned out to be to the Carstensz mountains of Dutch New Guinea. It was a hard, uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous trip, with very little climbing, but at least I got my party all back alive, and we completed a useful reconnaissance to some good scientific work. I learned, the hard way, that planning and organisation are of prime importance; morale is next on the list, and that given these the ascent of the peak will probably follow unasked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Two years later, in England, at the end of a good day s rockclimbing, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "We are going to Heard Island to climb Big Ben next year, will you come?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | (Marginal note from my wife: "O.K., you can go." | ||
+ | |||
+ | 18 months later I stood at the wheel of the schooner Patanela, steering by a star as she thrashed through the grey seas of the Southern Ocean under close-reefed canvas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This, I think, is about where I came in to this story. | ||
- | It was good to breathe the hie h mountain air once again. I sat for a long wbile looking Over the long white scree slopes and dreamed of what I would --- have done twenty, thirty, forty years ago. The climb up was exhilarating but the climb down was rather exhausting. One kind young man came back to keep an eye on me until I reached the bottom again. I wonder did he belong to the Search and Rescue Sectieni Most of the walkers and climbers wore | + | ---- |
- | heavy, rubber-soled canvas bects which probably slipped less on the rolling__ pebbles than my own steut rubleer-soled sandals.. | + | |
- | Over the forest of aecidueuo trees and conifers rose net only the rockyjaountains, | + | |
- | It is hard to compare the beauties of mountains I have seen in so many countries. The Jaranese AIes rise Seven thousand feet above the inns and hostels along the rivers and would provide strenuous enough scrambles to suit the toughest, | + | |
- | The Japanese 'Alps are not for the young.Australianwho-thirsts for: snow - and ice for there is neither in summer, and in minter they are inaccessible for Skiing. But they do call to the middle-aged Dushwalker whose search is mainly for beauty.. Anf.L they are a ouperb example of how an over-.populated country can none the. less afford to have wilderness areas untouched by,:the. - | + | |
- | axe. 'The fOrests' | + | |
- | forest CensiSts predominantly of a dwarf bamboo which would make impossibly, | + | |
- | slow-going without 'a track. But tracks abound, and likewise excellent maps | + | |
- | (in ' | + | |
- | If you are thinking of going to Kamikochi I should recommend Ootober when the trees flame with orange red and gold. You could avoid the language difficulty if you took your tont and camped bide the rushing river, either taking food with you or buying it at the shopsattadhed to the rest houses and inns. But it would be a. little cold to bathe in the river in October, | + | |
- | and you mould miss the joy of the Japanese communal bath, steaming ' | + | |
- | which is '' | + | |
- | Later on I visited the mountain resort of Koya San, the headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist Sect, It abounds in lovely temples around which alw ays grow the tall dark crytpameria and cyprus trees. It was exactly the right time to see the deciduous -Groes in all their autumn glory, and it was | + | |
- | i5 Th; Syaney 13usirralk er January, 19(76., | + | |
- | exactly thc right ,lay to see them at their best, for it was very dull and rainy. The tall dark trees rose above the sombre grey-rnofed temples, and from the ground beneath leapt up the silent flames of orange gold and red:' It was uncanny. The little Olympus Pon F Japaness camera (for which rIciilingly rive a free advertisement) took the best pictures I have over taken,but even it could not portray that weird fantastic fairyland. You must see it to believe it possible. | + | |
- | The mountains of Japan have left bohincl the memory of people with - | + | |
- | , | + | |
- | .hearts of cold to match their golden gingko trees. I should like to visit them again but I should prefer to wait for another life so that I could | + | |
- | scramble among their rocky peaks. | + | |
- | 4 | + | |
- | " | + | |
- | )1 ttk,( | + | |
- | -" | + | |
- | ) | + | |
- | "*- | + | ====Early Climbers.==== |
- | ...ow"- | + | from N.Z.A.C. |
- | January, 1966 The Sylney | + | |
- | miammwwwl, | + | |
- | Reminiscences of a Climberg - Colin Putt | + | |
- | RUNNING AWAY TO SHORE | + | |
- | Myer intended., for a start, to ga in for climbing as a sport, and that' | + | |
- | up in a family atmosphere of boats and sailing; sea chanties were sung | + | |
- | over my cradle and thy earliest clear memory is of my father steeping planks and timbers in a steambax. Before I went to school I had learned about the vast superiority of gaff rig, fiddle bows and tarred hemp standing rigging. , This theoretical grounding was followed by a solid course in Umnts, bends and splices, rowing steering and so on. | + | Apparently |
- | Later I acquired and rigged by own sailing dinghy and spent all my spare time at sea, taking special care to be out in the middle of winter | + | |
- | and in particularly violent storms, which were alw ays more interesting and could offer faster sailing. By this time I had learned that one of my | + | |
- | uncles, although a good sailor, used to go to snowy places and indulge in | + | |
- | a mysterious sport called " | + | |
- | when the general use of crampons had not yet been adopted in New Zealand): but this was not much talked of in the family. | + | |
- | The dinghy, with her rigging and on a wheeled cradle, weighed about 250 lbs. and had to be pulled home up a mile of extremely steep hill from the water after each day's sailing. A* the age of 16 I got a job as a | + | |
- | truck driver with a survey team *c were mapping some unmapped bits of | + | |
- | New Zealand; the job involved little driving and a lot of carrying heavy | + | |
- | loads, of foot, through row3L country. HeaVy packing was dead easy after. years of practice dragging -che boat up bill and I began to enjoy the bush | + | |
- | at once. At the University I naturally joined the tramping clubs and. began | + | |
- | to go to the ice mountains for climbing. Shifton points out that mountain,. eering and sailing are very similar while his climbing companion, Tilman, although saying little, currently spends about half of every year sailing the Arctic seas. The transfer from one of these sports tn the other is easy and barely noticeable. | + | |
- | In the 1940's much of New Zealand' | + | |
- | Our first virgin summit was reached afto-.. a week's travel on snow and ice, with 90 lb. packs, in country where only two parties had ever been before, camping in the new6-fangled snow6-caves0 TTe were stopped half way up our peak by a horrific bergs chrund. with a narrow shaky bridge and a | + | |
- | 15 ft. overhanging ice-wall above it. Self-levitation with two axes got us up this and soon afterwards we were faced. with some 300 ft. of rock. Our technique on rock, at this stage, was to scramble up as best we could' winding the rope around outcrops whore available; fortunately on this occasion we | + | |
- | ' 17 | + | |
- | The Syaney :ustrp aker | + | |
- | Jnnunry, 1966 | + | |
- | were able to cut fstops up a steep cnuloir of rotten ice, bombarded by stones, and avoid the 300 ft. of mod diff grade rock interspersed by broad ledges. On the way down, we cut an ice-bollard at the bergscbrund and roped down it. I was last man down an-1. on arriving at the lower lip gave the rope a tug to free it on the bollard. The bollard flew off and hit me square on the head! TO were involved in a small harmless avalanche on the way down - in those days there seamed to be more avalanches than now and the summer climbing season was colder, snowier and later. Or could it be that our equipment and techniques have improved? | + | |
- | By 1949 I had joined one of the small groups which had acquired pre-war English books on rock-climbing and were trying to use the techniques described in them. The next year I came to Australia and found that climbing was | + | |
- | looked on in the 1-ushwaiking clubs as a criminal activity. Although the local sandstone frightened me, and utill does, I naturally got involved in-the early efforts to popularise the sport among bushwalkers, | + | |
- | use simple belaying techniques and to abseil. Some memorable early climbs followed - the first rock-climbing Instructional of the Sydney Bushwalkers, | + | |
- | In 1956 I visited Zermatt with three English climbers and found-that the famous Swiss Alps were no more difficult or fearsome that Yew Zealand after all. | + | |
- | Our best climb was a frontier traverse, from Monte Rosa over the Lyskamm, Castor and. Pollux. We mulci have gone on over the Breithorn but a sudden electrical storm forced us to reti eat-aown-th6 Nbrth Face of Pollux, so that | + | |
- | my only Face Nor has been done downwards, not.-up. This was the sort of | + | |
- | climbiOg I like - long distances covered fa'st a:t high altitudes, | + | |
- | a bit of exposurevand not much rock; a kind. of climbing that would be barely ,Ilossible. without crampons, and. in Which you are likely to spend the next night in a bivouac, or a but on the wrong side of the range. Here T reAchea the high point ofmy-cliMbing carear. When a Swiss guide who saw me cutting steps took me for an Austrian guide! | + | |
- | On my retbrn to Australia I found that Australians had. been getting into trouble in New Zealand. Numb ors of them-had-gone over to climb, sathe had. been killed, thellocals felt they-mere unsafeand, | + | |
- | .6 | + | |
- | Jr nur try, 1966. The Sydney - Dush7.7.lker | + | |
- | own novices. All this of course, involves a lot of organising, and I was soon to find that while climbers are dead easy to get for expeditions, | + | |
- | In 1960 I was cornered at Mascot Airport by Norman Hardie, who was on his way to Nepal, and asked, "roula you like to lead an expedition?" | + | |
- | "Yes, where to?" (Never miss an opportunity, | + | |
- | It turiled out to be to the Carstensz mountains of Dutch New Guinea. It was a hard, unoorfortable ana sometimes dangerous trip, with very little climbing, but at least I got my partyall: | + | |
- | Two years later, in En61and, at the end of a gcmd day s rockclimbing, | + | |
- | "re are going to Heard Island to climb Big Ben next year, will you come?" | + | |
- | (Marginal note from my wife: 'O.K., you can go." | + | |
- | 18 months later I sicoa at the wheel of the schooner Patanela, steering | + | |
- | % | + | |
- | by a star as she thrashed through the grey seas of the Southern Oceanunder | + | |
- | closer9ef ed canvas..--- | + | |
- | , ..-:_ C.,.' . | + | |
- | | + | |
- | ... | + | |
- | apparently | + | |
- | world. '2liere: | + | |
- | : . . 7 | + | |
- | "Now these barbaidus people had such a F;loiy in-themselves -and distained their enemies so much, that more to-show their force and boldnes than of any necessity that compelled them, or for any benefit' | + | |
- | climb ti p to th6 tops of mountains through great heaps of ice and snow. | + | |
- | o - | + | |
- | And., when they were at the very top of all, they-laid thoir long targets under their bodies, and lay all along tron thimp' | + | |
- | steep high rocks,' | + | |
+ | "Now these barbarous people had such a glory in themselves and distained their enemies so much, that more to show their force and boldness than of any necessity that compelled them, or for any benefit they got by it, they suffered it to snow upon them... and did | ||
+ | climb up to the tops of mountains through great heaps of ice and snow. And, when they were at the very top of all, they laid their long targets under their bodies, and lay all along upon them, sliding down the steep high rocks, that had certain hangings over of an infinite height." |
196601.1458276774.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/03/18 15:52 by kennettj