Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- 196612 [2016/08/18 14:12] – tyreless
+++ 196612 [2016/08/18 16:14] – tyreless
@@ Line 274: / Line 274: @@
 ----
+====North From Wanganderry.=====
-December, 1966 The Sydney Bushwalker 11.
-NORTH FROM 7ANGA1DERRY.
 Jim Brown.
-If my grandchildren  should I have any  ask (1) what I did during the War, and (2) what I did when President Johnson visited Sydney, I shall have no difficulty in answering the latter question. In accord with the principle of "getting far away from LBJ" I was groping my way gingerly out along the divide between the Tollondilly and Nattai Rivers north of Wanganderry.
-It was a projo et that had been in cold storage for years and years, ever since I had led, my first programmed walk for the Club over the gap between the Tollondilly and Nat-tai  the pass variously known as The Getover, Travis' Pass and Beloon Pass. In the absence of sign posts, blazed trails and the like, it had taken two reconnaissance trips to find the gap from the Nattai side, and I was immediately taken with the notion of using it as access to the 7anganderry Plateau, then continuing south to the Tombeyan Caves Road at Trangandorry.
+If my grandchildren - should I have any - ask (1) what I did during the War, and (2) what I did when President Johnson visited Sydney, I shall have no difficulty in answering the latter question. In accord with the principle of "getting far away from LBJ" I was groping my way gingerly out along the divide between the Wollondilly and Nattai Rivers north of Wanganderry.
-Well, that was back in '47, and in all that time the idea had
-never got beyond a iroposal. I knew that a party from the Club had been along the divide some years ago as part of a long holiday weekend jaunt, and on ! a day walk a few months ago, I asked Frank Loyden about it, His reply was not really encouraging, and he inferred that it was a slow, slugging march through very dense scrub. He advised wearing gaiters, and I said that in thick scrub I preffered long trousers. "If so," he said, "Don't wear old worn out ones. They want to be pretty strong."
+It was a project that had been in cold storage for years and years, ever since I had led my first programmed walk for the Club over the gap between the Wollondilly and Nattai - the pass variously known as The Getover, Travis' Pass and Beloon Pass. In the absence of sign posts, blazed trails and the like, it had taken two reconnaissance trips to find the gap from the Nattai side, and I was immediately taken with the notion of using it as access to the Wanganderry Plateau, then continuing south to the Wombeyan Caves Road at Wanganderry.
-He did add, however, that there should be some quite interesting scenery, now that Lake Burragorang fills the Tollondilly valley. I got the impression any views likely to be found would scarcely 'be worth the labour. This rather discouraging intelligence had, if anything, the reverse effect
-on me. And, strangely enough, coupled with the newly released maps of the area, it provoked me into tackling it the wrong way round. From the navigatorangle it is always easier to follow a ridge towards its junction with the
+Well, that was back in '47, and in all that time the idea had never got beyond a proposal. I knew that a party from the Club had been along the divide some years ago as part of a long holiday weekend jaunt, and on a day walk a few months ago, I asked Frank Leyden about it. His reply was not really encouraging, and he inferred that it was a slow, slugging march through very dense scrub. He advised wearing gaiters, and I said that in thick scrub I preferred long trousers. "If so," he said, "Don't wear old worn out ones. They want to be pretty strong."
-main range, because the side creeks and side ridges all converge. Going "out"
-along a ridge is always fraught with the possibility of veering off on a aeries of side spurs. So the sensible way of doing the Wanganderry Plateau is from Beloon Gap south to Tanganderry. Pervcrsely, I went north from
+He did add, however, that there should be some quite interesting scenery, now that Lake Burragorang fills the Wollondilly valley. I got the impression any views likely to be found would scarcely be worth the labour. This rather discouraging intelligence had, if anything, the reverse effect on me. And, strangely enough, coupled with the newly released maps of the area, it provoked me into tackling it the wrong way round. From the navigator's angle it is always easier to follow a ridge towards its junction with the main range, because the side creeks and side ridges all converge. Going "out" along a ridge is always fraught with the possibility of veering off on a series of side spurs. So the sensible way of doing the Wanganderry Plateau is from Beloon Gap south to Wanganderry. Perversely, I went north from Wanganderry seeking the Gap.
-Tanganderry seeking the Gap.
-Departure from the deserted farm at the head of Burnt Flat Creek
+Departure from the deserted farm at the head of Burnt Flat Creek was at 7.40 a.m. on the Saturday and the going over pasture and a couple of richly grassed hills was very pleasant for a mile or two. At the second basalt knob I could see the scrub beginning to crowd in on the ridge ahead, and decided to get out my compass in readiness. Then I remembered digging it out on the pack half a mile back, intending to slip it into my trousers pocket. Either I had left it lying in its tan leather case on top of a pile of the brown basalt rocks which were all over the place, or it had fallen from my pocket. The chances of recovery didn't seem so bright, but that compass had sentimental value for me.
-was at 7.40 a m. on the Saturday and the going over pasture and a couple of
-richly grassed hills was very pleasant for a mile or two. At the second basalt knob I could see the scrub beginning to crowd in on the ridge ahead, and decided to get out my compass in readiness. Then I remembered digging it out on the pack half a mile back, intending to slip it into my trousers pocket. Either I had left it lying in its tan leather case on top of a pile of the brown basalt rocks which wore all over the place, or it had fallen from my podket. The chances of recovery didn't seem so bright, but that compass had sentimental value for me.
+To start with, I had for almost four years accounted for that compass on the monthly stocktake of binoculars and compasses returned by an Infantry Brigade Headquarters; then in 1946 I had purchased at a disposals place for £2 one of the very compasses I had recorded for years. Since then it had guided me across miles of Blue Labyrinth in the days before fire trails, in mist along the Talaterang range, and on several jaunts in the most obscure ridges of the Northern Blue Mountains. I even knew its individual error - about 1/2° east - so it was worth trying to find it.
-. The Sydney Bushwaiker December, 1966
-To start with, I had for almost four yea-2s accounted for that compass on the monthly stocktake of binoculars and compasses returned by
+This part of the story ends on a happy note because I found the compass in ten minutes and was back to my pack in another five. Fortunate, too, because once the scrub closed in it was never out of my hand, and for three hours it was consulted at intervals of two or three minutes.
-an Infantry Brigade Headquarters; then in 1946 I had purchased at a
-disposals place for E2 one of the very compasses I had recorded for years Since then it had guided me across miles of Blue Labyrinth in the days
+The Wanganderry Plateau is the trunk divide from which the ridge runs out to Paddy's Peak and I had heard it was not by any means easy navigation. It is flat, fairly wide and covered with open forest and underbrush; on its eastern side spurs lead off toward the Nattai valley as thick as a porcupine's quills. Between 8.30 and 11.30, in spite of cautious progross, I found myself off-course on three occasions. Each time, as the bearing of the ridge veered too much to the east, I turned back and picked up the right range, and in total, lost little more than half an hour.
-before fire trails, in mist along the Talaterang range, and on several jaunts in the most obscure ridges of the Northern Blue Mountains. I even knew its individual error  about east  so it was worth trying to find it
-This part of the story ends on a happy note because I found the compass in ten minutes and was back to my pack in another five.
+By 11.30, however, the trickiest part of the pathfinding was almost over. I emerged on a rocky area, with the creek between the divide and Paddy's Peak forming a ravine on the west, while the head of Album River flowed towards the Nattai in a rocky cleft to the east. The crown of the ridge was narrow and obvious, its fretted sandstone wearing into domes and minarets rather like parts of the Northern Blue Mountains. At that time it was a veritable flower garden, with massed pale pink boronia - the only place I have seen better is on the Barren Ground.
-. Fortunate, too, because onco the scrub closed in it Was never out of
-my hand, and for three hours it was consulted at intervals of two or three
+From the western rim, too, there was a magnificent view, with the glittering sheet of water to the north, the paddocks around Jooriland, and beyond them timbered ranges rising to the peaky tops around Yerranderie. Paddy's Peak, so spectacular from the west or north, was revealed as just another sandstone plateau with a knobby point. Unfortunately there was a good deal of haze despite a fair mild south-west wind.
-minutes.
-The 7anganderry Plateau is the trunk divide from which the ridge
+I had carried a 30 oz plastic water flask in anticipation of a dry stage along the divide, but the naked sandstone had weathered into a series of good water holes, filled with the rain of the previous days. I halted here for lunch, and concluded from the map that I was just about to leap from the Mittagong one-inch map to the Nattai two-inch survey.
-runs out to Paddy's Peak and I had heard it was not by any means easy
-navigation. It is flat, fairly wide and covered with open forest and underbruzh; on its eastern side spurs lead off toward the Nattai valley ns thick as a porcupines quills, Between 8.30 and 11.30, in spite of caut5.bus rrogross, I found myself offcourse on three occasions. Each time, as the bearing of the ridge veered too much to the east, I turned back and picked up the right range, and in total, lost little more than half an hour.
+The easy open going over bare smooth sandstone continued for almost a mile, then the ridge widened, and it was back to the Mulga. Where the garden had been mainly boronia and spider flower in the morning, I was now in an eggs-and-bacon region, with shrubs laden with yellow and red pea flowers crowding together, the air sharp-sweet with its scent, and the whole bush humming with bees.
-By 11.309 however, the tEif&:ioc,t part of the pathfinding was almost over. I emerged on a rocky area, with the creek between the divide and Paddy's Peak forming a ravine on the west, while the head of Album River flowed towards the Nattai in a rocky cleft to the east. The crown of the ridge was narrow and obvious, its fretted sandstone wearing into domes and minarets rather like parts of the Northern Blue Mountains. At
-that time it was a veritable flower garden, with massed pale pink boronia  the only place I have seen bettor is on the Barren Ground.
+The growth was denser, too, much denser, and in places one had to contest every steep. Speed dropped dawn to something like a mile an hour, and remained so for the next 2 1/2 hours. Somewhere along this stage the knees of my trouser-legs were ripped open - they were neither new pants nor by any means worn out - until then.
-From the western rim, too, there was a magnificent view, with the
-glittering sheet of water to the north, the paddocks around Jnoriland, and beyond them timbered ranges rising to the peaky tops around Yerranderie. Paddy's Peak, sp spectacular from the west or north, was revealed as just another sandstone plateau with a knobby point. Unfortunately there was a
+I headed a few small steep gullies leading to the western side, and at 3 p.m. the divide narrowed and I was again on bare rock - a spine of sandstone along the Wollondilly rim, where deep gullies cut in from the Nattai side. The views in the mellow afternoon light were very lovely and I decided well worth the toil: unfortunately the distance was still hazy.
-good deal of haze despite a fair mild southwest wind.
-I had carried a 30 oz plastic water flask in anticipation of a
+My relief at the re-appearance of the open rock was short-lived, because the divide which had been mercifully level to this point, began to saw-tooth up and down. The going was slow, with abrupt rocky slopes and deep growth in the saddles, but as compensation there were non-stop views over the golden-green Wollondilly valley. An hour produced only 1200 yards of progress.
-dry stage along the divide, but the naked sandstone had weathered into
-a series of good water holes, filled with the rain of the previous days. I
+Then the ridge went up, widenod and stablised again, and for a short way the vegetation thinned out. There were lookdowns into shadowy green gulfs on the Nattai side, with the slanting sunlight falling on the ridges leading down beside Album River and Martins Creek: off to the south Jellore was a dull green cone.
-halted here for lunch, and concluded from the map that I was just about to leap from the Mittagong oneinch map to the NattaitWe-inch survey.
-December 1966 The Sydney Bushwalker 13.
+As I lileared the last 500 ft descent into Beloon Gap the bush clamped in again and I was driven over to the rocky Wollondilly rim, dropping quite steeply into the saddle with its cairn marker and the reverse slope rising abruptly towards Beloon Trig. It was just after 5 p.m. as I reached the gap.
-The easy open going over bare smooth sandstone continued for almost a mile, then the ridge widened, and it was back to the Mulga.
-Where the garden had been mainly boronia and spider flower in the morning, I was now in an eggsandbacon regions with shrubs laden with yellow and
+I remembered I still had an untouched flask of water, carried all the way from Wanganderry. All the way? Well, only 9 or 10 miles, but representing nine hours fairly steady effort. I took a sip and was about to pour out the rest when I reasoned, no, I could break a leg going down the pass, and what a fool I'd feel then. I put the flask back into the pack and started down into the setting sun. The rest of the trip, which was quite straightforward, has no part in this chronicle. It was all open enough to allow me to wear shorts - much more comfortable than long trousers with the knee caps abraded out. And, finally, I did drink my carried water, which was a good deal cleaner than the bulk supply down in the valley.
-red pea flowers crowding together, the air sharpsweet with its scent, and the whole bush humming with bees.
-The growth was denser, too, much denser, and in places one had
+----
-to contest every steep, Speed dropped dawn to something like a mile an
-hour, and remained so for the next. 2i hours. Somewhere along this stage
-the knees of my trouserlegs were ripped open  they were neither new parts nor by any moans worn out  until then.
-I headed a few small steep gullies leading to the western side, and at 3 p m. the divide narrowed and I was again on bare rock  a spine of sand-
-stone along the Wollondilly rim, where deep Gullies cut in from the Nattai side. The views in the mellow afternoon light were very lovely and I decided well worth the toil: unfortunately the distance was still hazy.
-My relief at the reappearance of the open rock was shortlived, because the divide which had been mercifully level to this point, began to saw.-tooth up and down. The going was slow, with abrupt rocky slopes and deep growth in the saddles, but as compensation there were nonstop views over the goldengreen 7ollondilly valley. An hour produced only 1200 yards of progress.
-Then the ridge went up, widpnod and stablised again, and for a short way the vegetation thinned out. There were lookdowns into shadowy green gulfs on the Nattai side, with the slanting sunlight falling on the ridges leading down beside A13.-um River and Martins Creek: off to the south Jellore was a dull groan cone.
-As I lileared the last 500 ft descent into Beloon Gap the bush clamped in again and I was driven over to the rocky I:Tnllondilly rim, dropping quite steeply into the sdd.1e with its cairn marker and the reverse slope rising abruptly towards Beloon Trig. It was just after 5 p m. as I reached the gap.
-I remembered I still had an untouched flask of water, carried all
-the way from 7Tanganderry. All the way? Well, only 9 or 10 miles, but
-representing nine hours fairly steady effort. I took a sip and was about to
-pour out the rest when I reasoned, no, I could break a leg going dawn the pass, and what a fool va feel then. I put the flask back into the pack,
-and started down into the setting sun. The rest of the trip, which was
-quite straightforward, has no part in this chronicle. It was all open
-enough to allow me to wear shorts  much more comfortable than long trousers
-With the knee caps abraded out. And, finally, I did drink my carried wateii, which was a good deal cleaner than the bulk supply down in the valley.
-. The Sydney Bushwaiker December, 1966
-. . -
 --WITS:THE GOURMETS AT ERA. (Version 1)
 by "A...Gormanaiser":2