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197309 [2017/07/11 12:59] tyreless197309 [2017/07/12 14:35] tyreless
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-DOWN 'ROUND COOKBUNDCON (Part ,II).+=====Down 'Round Cookbundoon (Part 2).===== 
 by Jim Brown. by Jim Brown.
-In December's magazine I gave a more or less faithful account of + 
-a walk along a short stage of the Middle Wollondilly, in the vicinity of Canyonleigh and a little way upstream from the junction of the Cookbundoon River. This brought forward a note from Kath Mackay over in Westralia which mentioned some walking done in the same locality a good many years ago and spun the following story to account for the place name Cookbundoon +In December's magazine I gave a more or less faithful account of a walk along a short stage of the Middle Wollondilly, in the vicinity of Canyonleigh and a little way upstream from the junction of the Cookbundoon River. This brought forward a note from Kath Mackay over in Westralia which mentioned some walking done in the same locality a good many years ago and spun the following story to account for the place name Cookbundoon 
-It seems that on an early expleratory trip under the personal patronage of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, the party camped on the heights south west of Berrima and some made a reconnaissance over towards the + 
-Bundanoon area. On return they asked the base camp lackeys if they had done anything about inspecting the western (Wollondilly) flank of the ridge. "Nay", said the camp supervisor, "but th' cook b'n doon". Frankly, I don't believe this tale, but its worth repeating. +It seems that on an early exploratory trip under the personal patronage of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, the party camped on the heights south west of Berrima and some made a reconnaissance over towards the Bundanoon area. On return they asked the base camp lackeys if they had done anything about inspecting the western (Wollondilly) flank of the ridge. "Nay", said the camp supervisor, "but th' cook b'n doon". Frankly, I don't believe this tale, but its worth repeating. 
-Anyway, June saw me having another fling and hopeful of covering + 
-the whole leg of the river from The Hammocks, where I'd pulled out before, +Anyway, June saw me having another fling and hopeful of covering the whole leg of the river from The Hammocks, where I'd pulled out before, down to the Wingecarribee Junction about 12-13 miles in all. Well, I got nowhere near doing it and here's why 
-down to the Wingecarribee Junction about 12-13 miles in all. Well, I got nowhere near doing it and here's why + 
-On Saturday morning I drove out along the Tugalong Road, and about four miles from the Canyonleigh Road Junction turned left on to the Nandi Road. Within a couple of miles this deteriorated and became very scoured +On Saturday morning I drove out along the Tugalong Road, and about four miles from the Canyonleigh Road Junction turned left on to the Nandi Road. Within a couple of miles this deteriorated and became very scoured out on a moderate grade, so I parked and set out on foot to enter the Wollondilly valley somewhere near "The Hammocks". By taking a side trail towards a property named "Wollandi" (a mixture of Wollondilly and Nandi?) and then veering right, I came to a rough bulldozed trail that took me right down to the river, only half a mile or so below my previous point of exit. 
-out on a moderate grade, so I parked and set out on foot to enter the + 
-Wollondilly valley somewhere near "The Hammocks". By taking a side trail towards a property named "Wollandi" (a mixture of Wollondilly and Nandi?) and then veering right, I came to a rough bulldozed trail that took me +The going downstream was fair for perhaps a mile: the flats were very rocky and footing nowhere smooth as it is on, say, the Cox. However the river then swung into a short, quite impressive granite gorge a couple of hundred feet deep. I got through practically at river level, first on the west bank, switching to the east side for the last couple of hundred yards. 
-right down to the river, only half a mile or so belowmy previous point of exit. + 
-The going downstream was fair for perhaps a mile: the flats were +Then quite pleasant going, but mostly rockhopping, for a couple of hours, when I found I was entering the big S bend approaching Cookbundoon Junction. There were a couple of quite pleasant grassed flats along this stage and once even a fence up on the steep hillside above. The last mile to Cookbundoon Junction was rocky and rather slow and took most of an hour, and it was almost four o'clock when I came opposite the outflow of Cookbundoon. 
-very rocky and footing nowhere smooth as it is on, say, the Cox. However + 
-the river then swung into a short, quite impressive granite gorge a couple of hundred feet deep. I got through practically at river level, first on +Here it is the Wollondilly really goes wild for a distance. It's a regular ravine, with granite boulders as big as houses, and the river cascading green in leaps several feet in height through slots between the granite bars. Suffice to say, the next mile swallowed up almost an hour: I was on the east bank, and I fancy the other side would have been easier, but don't take that as a certainty if you go there. 
-the west bank, switching to the east side for the last couple of hundred yards. + 
-Then quite pleasant going, but mostly rockhopping, for a couple of hours, when I found I was entering the big S bend approaching Cookbundoon +Anyway the light was failing when I came to the first campable places near the creek junction at map reference Mittagong 063440, so I called it a day, with barely 5 1/2 miles of river covered in an elapsed time of six hours. Next morning, and a few yards downstream at the creek junction, I found a large part of the river flat covered up to three or four feet in depth with timber carried down in past floods
-Junction. There were a couple of quite pleasant grassed flats along this stage and once even a fence up on the steep hillside above. The last +
-mile to Cookbundoon Junction was rocky and rather slow and took most of an +
-hour, and it was almost four o'clock when I came opposite the outflow of Cookbundoon. +
-Here it is the tiollondilly really goes wild for a distance. It's a regular ravine, with granite boulders as big as houses, and the river cascading green in leaps several feet in height through slots between +
-Page 4 THE SYDNEY BUSITIALKER SepteMber, 1973. +
-the granite bars. Suffice to say, the next mile swallowed up almost an hour: I was on the east bank, and I fancy the other side wouldhave been easier, but don't take that as a certainty if you go there. +
-Anyway the light was failing when I came to the first campable places near the creek junction at map reference Mittagong 063440, so I called it a day, with barely 51 miles of river covered in an elapsed time of six hours. Next morning, and a few yards downstream at the creek junction, I found a largo part of the river flat covered up to three or four feet in depth with timber carried down in past floods,+
 Next morning, also, I decided to climb out of the valley. Although the going seemed to be getting a bit easier, I was getting further away from the car and every side creek from the east meant another gully to be headed up on the ridge top. There was also a smell of rain in the too mild wind out of the north west, while it was abundantly clear that it would take more time than I had to get down to the Wingecarribee Junction. Next morning, also, I decided to climb out of the valley. Although the going seemed to be getting a bit easier, I was getting further away from the car and every side creek from the east meant another gully to be headed up on the ridge top. There was also a smell of rain in the too mild wind out of the north west, while it was abundantly clear that it would take more time than I had to get down to the Wingecarribee Junction.
-Having once scaled the ridge it proved easy walking across paddocks to the car, and in fact I was back to it by 11.0 a m. En route I noticed that a power transmission line has been carried right across the %lion,- dilly valley slung from steel towers situated about 1,000 foot above tho river, just a little downstream from my point of exit. + 
-This loaves some 7 or 8 miles yet to do to complete the walk along the Middle Wollondilly. I fancy it will be easier than the second leg, reported above, as the 'dilly dropped about 400 feet in the 5miles I covered, while it loses only another 200 feet or so down to the Wingecarribee. However, I'm beginning to realise why this part of the 7o1londi1ly is seldom "done" by walkers - and at the same time to be amazed that such an intriguing bit of country isn't given more attention- but only at times when the river is low, of course:+Having once scaled the ridge it proved easy walking across paddocks to the car, and in fact I was back to it by 11.0 a.m. En route I noticed that a power transmission line has been carried right across the Wollondilly valley slung from steel towers situated about 1,000 foot above the river, just a little downstream from my point of exit. 
 + 
 +This leaves some 7 or 8 miles yet to do to complete the walk along the Middle Wollondilly. I fancy it will be easier than the second leg, reported above, as the 'dilly dropped about 400 feet in the 5 1/2 miles I covered, while it loses only another 200 feet or so down to the Wingecarribee. However, I'm beginning to realise why this part of the Wo1londi1ly is seldom "done" by walkers - and at the same time to be amazed that such an intriguing bit of country isn't given more attention- but only at times when the river is low, of course
 Meanwhile, I'vebeendoon. Meanwhile, I'vebeendoon.
-* * * * * * * * + 
-SOCIU SECRETARYS NCJTES. by Elaine Brown, +---- 
-On the 26th September two very intere-sting films are to be shown on Bees and their habits. David Cotton recommended these films from the Australian Honey Board. + 
-On the 17th October, Mouldy Harrison is to give his slide showing on "Gardens Around the World" which should be a most interesting evening, and on 24th October, a talk with slides will be given by Frank Rigby and Henry Gold on "Bushwalking in the MaeDonnell Ranges", a fascinating part of Australia which they have visited several times. +=====Social Secretary's Notes.===== 
-The Slide Competition between members hold on 29th August proved very interesting. It was judged by Er. Don McKenzie, President of Warringah Camera Club, he commented on the high standard. The best slides entered were by Frank Tacker and Jim Brown. + 
-Page 5 THE SYDNEY EUSHWALKER SepteMber1973+by Elaine Brown
-A QUICK EXIT FROM TEE MACDONNELL RANGES PART 20+ 
 +On the 26th September two very interesting films are to be shown on Bees and their habits. David Cotton recommended these films from the Australian Honey Board. 
 + 
 +On the 17th October, Mouldy Harrison is to give his slide showing on "Gardens Around the World" which should be a most interesting evening, and on 24th October, a talk with slides will be given by Frank Rigby and Henry Gold on "Bushwalking in the MacDonnell Ranges", a fascinating part of Australia which they have visited several times. 
 + 
 +The Slide Competition between members held on 29th August proved very interesting. It was judged by Mr. Don McKenzie, President of Warringah Camera Club, he commented on the high standard. The best slides entered were by Frank Taeker and Jim Brown. 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +=====A Quick Exit From The MacDonnell RangesPart 2.===== 
 by Frank Rigby. by Frank Rigby.
-(Readers may remember how we finished up last month in the predawn gloom at Stuart Pass in the Chewings Range: "At 6.15 a m., a mere thirty minutes after I had been up myself, Don woke us suddenly. There was no mistaking the note of alarm in his voice 'The river's rising like hell and its now only a few feet from your tent'." Now read on.) +(Readers may remember how we finished up last month in the predawn gloom at Stuart Pass in the Chewings Range: "At 6.15 a.m., a mere thirty minutes after I had been up myself, Don woke us suddenly. There was no mistaking the note of alarm in his voice 'The river's rising like hell and its now only a few feet from your tent'." Now read on.) 
-Even in such panic situations, when one awakens from deep sleep, it takes a minute or two to sort out the dreams and the reality. When my mind first began to grasp the idea that this was no dream, I could still hardly-believe it. But then, I knew that Don doesn't play jokes at times like this. With moans and groans of despair I shot out of the tent with a torch to once again inspect this silly river that couldn't make up its mind. Sure enough the water was now lapping the second sand shelf on which the tent and the two gunyahs wore pitchedalthough still some distance away from the tent, the difference in levels was only a matter of inches. By now a real frenzy of action had set in throughout the camp as we tried to pack up and boat the menace any exhortations from the leader would have boon superfluous. The darkness, drizzle and the strong wind aid not exactly help matters but somehow we managed to cram what had been a fullflodged established camp into seven rucksacks I + 
-remeMber snatching my groundsheet from the sand as the waters reached its +Even in such panic situations, when one awakens from deep sleep, it takes a minute or two to sort out the dreams and the reality. When my mind first began to grasp the idea that this was no dream, I could still hardly believe it. But then, I knew that Don doesn't play jokes at times like this. With moans and groans of despair I shot out of the tent with a torch to once again inspect this silly river that couldn't make up its mind. Sure enough the water was now lapping the second sand shelf on which the tent and the two gunyahs were pitchedalthough still some distance away from the tent, the difference in levels was only a matter of inches. By now a real frenzy of action had set in throughout the camp as we tried to pack up and beat the menace any exhortations from the leader would have been superfluous. The darkness, drizzle and the strong wind did not exactly help matters but somehow we managed to cram what had been a full-fledged established camp into seven rucksacks remember snatching my groundsheet from the sand as the waters reached its edge. Later we found that Joan and I were wearing one of the other's sandshoesmy pack was a disaster area. But John was probably the worst off with most of his clothing and his sleeping bag wet from his gunyah flood of several hours earlier. 
-edge. Later we found that Joan and I were wearing one of the other's sandshoes my pack was a disaster area. But John was probably tho worst off with most of his clothing and his sleeping bag wet from his gunyah flood of several hours earlier. + 
-So there we stood, just after 6.30 in the first light of that drizzly dawn, seven miserable figures looking quite sorry for themselves. The joys of bushwalking! +So there we stood, just after 6.30 in the first light of that drizzly dawn, seven miserable figures looking quite sorry for themselves. The joys of bushwalking! 
-'That's the quickest way out to Alice Springs?" asked someone in a + 
-shivery voice. I smiled inwardly but couldn't help seeing the common sense in that question under the circumstances. Of course, as leader, +"What's the quickest way out to Alice Springs?" asked someone in a shivery voice. I smiled inwardly but couldn't help seeing the common sense in that question under the circumstances. Of course, as leader, I had to quickly formulate a plan before we all froze on the spot. We had been due at Standley Chasm, and then The Alice, on the following day, but what was the point in hanging around the mountains in this sort of weather? As it happened we were on the right side of the river which was now a raging torrent of a depth, current and width too dangerous to cross. Were we really in Central Australia, I mused? Fortunately, I knew this part of the MacDonnells well as I had, three years previously, discovered a relatively low level route from the Standley Chasm area to this very spot and a year later I had again used the same route. I decided to try this route but towards the end make for the Jay Creek Aboriginal Settlement where we just might, with luck, got transport for the 25 miles back into town no use heading for the Chasm as it would be deserted in this weather and in any case was sure to have a raging torrent of its own. 
-I had to quickly formulate a plan before we all froze on the spot. We + 
-had been duo at Standley Chasm, and then The Alice, on the following day, but what was the point in hanging around the mountains in this sort of weather? As it haPVnod we wore on the right side of the river which was +I put this plan to the others. I think any plan which got us moving, preferably in the direction of some form of civilisation, was welcome. Breakfast was out of the question in the conditions so we plodded off in the semi-darkness towards a cleft in a low range, the key to the lowest-level route out of Stuart Pass. Half-an-hour or so later we took a first breather in the lee of this cleft to sort ourselves outDespite the empty stomachs and being awake for half the night, despite the tearing wind and the horizontal driving rain, it amazed me what cheer a bunch of bushwalkers could generate at such a timeNow that it was light, we looked around to see what we could see - actually, not much. Visibility was not more than perhaps half-a-mile at the best, considerably less at the worst - occasionally the massive rock-face of Brinkley Bluff loomed eerily and furtively through the scuffing cloud. Down below our river was tearing through the gap in the range in wild fashion, a gap in which, the evening before, one could not have found a drop of water to save oneself. 
-now a raging torront f a depth, current and width too dangerous to cross. + 
-Were we really in Central Australia, I mused? Fortunately, I knew this part of the MacDonnells well as I had, three years previously, discovered +Naturally, my 5.45 a.m. report on the trickle of water in the river bed became highly suspect in the light of what had followed; but I was ready to swear to it on the bible if we had one, which we didn't. It was, in effect, my first experience of a flash floodThis branch of the Hugh drains a great length of the northern side of the Chewings Range before turning southwards to plunge through the Stuart Pass. Apparently the run-off resulting from the heavy rain before midnight, coming down countless watercourses, had accumulated in the main river at about the same time, causing a veritable wall of water to reach our campsite some six hours after it had fallen out of the sky. The earlier lesser flooding we experienced at midnight must have been just the run-off from the nearest mountains since it did subside fairly quickly. How easy it is to be fooled by Nature in her grimmest moods? I was glad that MacDouall Stuart himself had had no such encounter - he might never have returned to Adelaide to tell his mighty tale. 
-a relatively low level route from the Standby Chasm area to this very spot and a year later I had again used the same route. I decided to try this route but towards the end make for the Jay Creek Aboriginal + 
-Settlement where we just might, with luck, got transport for the 25 miles +Our crude shelter was no place to lingeralready we were chilling off. I was worried. Could we find the way out of this mountain maze in this hellish weather? Alternatively, could we find some worthwhile sort of natural shelter? I didn't know the answers. The day had begun but no one could predict how it would end
-back into town no use heading for the Chasm as it would -be deserted in this weather and in any case was sure to have a raging torrent of its own. +
-I put this plan to the others. I think any -elan which got us moving, +
-Page 6 +
-THE SYDNEY BUSIMALKER +
-S opt emb 1973. +
-Lightweight hiishvvalking +
-and camping gear. +
-LIGHTWEIGHT TENTS FOR ALL CONDITIONS +
-All 'Paddymadei tents are made with utmost care +
-to stand up to rigorous conditions. They are +
-supplied with nylon cords and have overlapped +
-doors at both ends. +
-The Nadgee tent, of standard green Jarpara, is +
-similar to the famous 'Era' model, but 7'6- in +
-length (6 inches longer than the standard 3 man +
-tent) and with zip doors. The De-Luxe Nadgee +
-tent offers the bonus of Stormtite Japara and +
-sewn in nylon floor; closed on one end with vent +
-and hood cover, sewn-in mosquito net with zip +
-opening, and zipped door closure. 7'6" x 5 x 4'6"+
-111  +
-BUNYIP RUCKSACK +
-This ishipediThcksack is excellent for children. Use- full day pack, Weight 14ozs. +
-'SENIOR RUCKSACK +
-A single pocket, shaped rucksack. Suitable for overnight camping. Weight 11/21bs. +
-BUSHMAN RUCKSACK +
-Has sewn-in curved bottom for extra comfort in carrying. Will hold 30Ibs. 2 pocket model 11/41bs. 3 pocket +
-model l'Albs. +
-PIONEER RUCKSACK +
-Extra large bag with four external pockets and will carry about 40lbs of camp gear. Weight 2341bs. +
-KIANDRA MODEL Hooded bag. +
-Extra well +
-filled. Very +
-compact. +
-Approx nibs. +
-HOTHAM MODEL +
-Super warm box quilted. Added leg MOM. +
-Approx 4Y2lbs. +
-SUPER LIGHT MODEL Half the +
-weight and packed size of regular bags. 9" x 516." dia. 2lbs. +
-Everything for the bushwalker from blankets and air mattresses, stretchers, boots, compasses, maps, books, stoves and /amps to cocking ware and freeze dried and dehydrated foods. +
-69 LIVERPOOL ST. SYDNEY 26-2686 61-7215 +
-Page 7 THE SYDNEY BUSHTAIKER September , 1973 +
-preferably in the direction of some form of civilisation, was welcome. Breakfast was out of the question in the conditions so we plodded off in the semi-darkness towards a cleft in a low range, the key to the lowest- level route out of Stuart Pass. Half-an-hour or so later we took a first breather in the lee of this cleft to sort ourselves outDespite the empty stomachs and being awake for half the night, despite the tearing wind and the horizontal driving rain, it amazed me what cheer a bunch of bushwalkers could generate at such a time Now that it was light, we looked around to see what we could see - actually, not much. Visibility was not more than perhaps half-a-mile at the best, considerably less at the worst - occasionally the massive rock-face of Brinkley Bluff loomed eerily and furtively through the scuffing cloud. Down below our river was tearing through the gap in the range in wild fashion, a gap in which, the evening before, one could not have found a drop of water to save oneself. +
-Naturally, my 5.45 a m. report on the trickle of water in the river bed became highly suspect in the light of what had followod5 but I was ready to swear to it on the bible if we had one, which we didn't. It was, in effect, my first experience of a flash floodThis branch of the Hugh drains a great length of the northern side of the Chowings Range before turning southwards to plunge through the Stuart Pass. Apparently the run-off resulting from the heavy rain before midnight, coming down countless watercourses, had accumulated in the main river at about the same time, causing a veritable mall of water to reach our campsite some six hours after it had fallen out of the sky. The earlier lesser flooding we experienced at midnight must have been just the run-off from the nearest mountains since it did subside fairly quickly. How easy it is to be fooled by Nature in her grimmest moods? I was glad that MacDouall Stuart himself had had no such encounter - he might never have returned to Adelaido to tell his mighty tale. +
-Our crude shelter was no place to linger already we were chilling off. I was worried. Could we find the way out of this mountain maze in +
-this hellish weather? Alternatively, could we find some worthwhile sort +
-of natural shelter? I didn't know the answers. The day had 'begunbut no one could predict how it would end,+
 (To be continued) (To be continued)
-************+ 
 +---- 
 + 
 +=====Paddy Made.===== 
 + 
 +Lightweight bushwalking and camping gear. 
 + 
 +===Lightweight Tents For All Conditions.=== 
 + 
 +All 'Paddymade' tents are made with utmost care to stand up to rigorous conditions. They are supplied with nylon cords and have overlapped doors at both ends. 
 + 
 +The Nadgee tent, of standard green Jarpara, is similar to the famous 'Era' model, but 7'6' in length (6 inches longer than the standard 3 man tent) and with zip doors. The De-Luxe Nadgee tent offers the bonus of Stormtite Japara and sewn in nylon floor; closed on one end with vent and hood cover, sewn-in mosquito net with zip opening, and zipped door closure. 7'6" x 5' x 4'6"
 + 
 +__Bunyip Rucksack.__ This 'shaped' rucksack is excellent for children. Useful day pack. Weight 14 ozs. 
 + 
 +__Senior Rucksack.__ A single pocket, shaped rucksack. Suitable for overnight camping. Weight 1 1/2 lbs 
 + 
 +__Bushman Rucksack.__ Have sewn-in curved bottom for extra comfort in carrying. Will hold 30 lbs. 2 pocket model 1 1/4 lbs. 3 pocket model 1 1/2 lbs. 
 + 
 +__Pioneer Rucksack__ is an extra large bag with four external pockets and will carry about 40 lbs of camp gear. Weight 2 1/4 lbs. 
 + 
 +__Kiandra Model.__ 
 + 
 +Hooded bag. Extra well filled. Very compact. Approx 3 3/4 lbs. 
 + 
 +__Hotham Model.__ 
 + 
 +Super warm box quilted. Added leg room. Approx 4 1/2 lbs. 
 + 
 +__Super Light Model.__ 
 + 
 +Half the weight and packed size of regular bags. 9" x 5 1/2" dia. 2 lbs. 
 + 
 +Everything for the bushwalker, from blankets and air mattresses, stretchers, boots, compasses, maps, books, stoves and lamps to cooking ware and freeze dried and dehydrated foods. 
 + 
 +Paddy Pallin. 
 + 
 +69 Liverpool St., Sydney. 26-2686, 61-7215. 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND A=ther letter from Alan Pike. AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND A=ther letter from Alan Pike.
 Zermatt 13/6/73. Dear Everyone, Zermatt 13/6/73. Dear Everyone,
197309.txt · Last modified: 2017/07/13 16:19 by tyreless

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