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198102 [2016/03/20 16:10] – tyreless198102 [2016/03/20 16:17] (current) – tyreless
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 Approaching Wentworth Falls, we entered a little mist and drizzle. Our leader began to mutter, but Peter, anxious to reach Leura and call in on the wife of a climbing friend of his (away in N.Z.), drove on. At Leura Peter rushed into the house, and a few minutes later Vanessa (for that was the lady's name) appeared at the door and invited us in for supper. After this pleasant break Peter drove on, and we rode, and reached Budthingeroo Clearing at about 11.30 pm. We were the last to arrive, it was drizzling steadily, so we erected our tents and slept. Approaching Wentworth Falls, we entered a little mist and drizzle. Our leader began to mutter, but Peter, anxious to reach Leura and call in on the wife of a climbing friend of his (away in N.Z.), drove on. At Leura Peter rushed into the house, and a few minutes later Vanessa (for that was the lady's name) appeared at the door and invited us in for supper. After this pleasant break Peter drove on, and we rode, and reached Budthingeroo Clearing at about 11.30 pm. We were the last to arrive, it was drizzling steadily, so we erected our tents and slept.
  
-In the morning we met the other members of the trip. In alphabetical order they were: Diana Bucknell, Don and Jenny Cornell, Bob and Margaret Hodgson, Tony Marshall, Rob Mason, Alan Pike, Fazeley Read, and Barry Wallace. Knowing his usual skill and efficiency, we were shocked to see the state of Barry's tent: poles askew, tent a-sag, all in all a very poor erection. Barry himself looked bed-raggled. The weather was still uncertain. The drizzle had stopped, but low cloud and mist remained, and in breaks through this we could see high wind-swept cirrus. Most experts thought this a sure sign of impending storm, but as the leader offered:-+In the morning we met the other members of the trip. In alphabetical order they were: Diana Bucknell, Don and Jenny Cornell, Bob and Margaret Hodgson, Tony Marshall, Rob Mason, Alan Pike, Fazeley Read, and Barry Wallace. Knowing his usual skill and efficiency, we were shocked to see the state of Barry's tent: poles askew, tent a-sag, all in all a very poor erection. Barry himself looked bedraggled. The weather was still uncertain. The drizzle had stopped, but low cloud and mist remained, and in breaks through this we could see high wind-swept cirrus. Most experts thought this a sure sign of impending storm, but as the leader offered:-
  
 (a) A fast 50 km traverse of the Axe Head Range, or (a) A fast 50 km traverse of the Axe Head Range, or
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 as alternatives, the party voted solidly for Morong Deep. as alternatives, the party voted solidly for Morong Deep.
  
-The leader announced a pack limit of 20 lbs, and brought out his spring scales in an attempt to enforce it. Most packs weighed in the range of  15 to 17 lb, but John Redfern's weighed only 11 lb, and Peter Harris, because of his insistance on carrying a Lilo, a fresh rock-melon, and a pair of special sidling boots, weighed 30 lb.+The leader announced a pack limit of 20 lbs, and brought out his spring scales in an attempt to enforce it. Most packs weighed in the range of  15 to 17 lb, but John Redfern's weighed only 11 lb, and Peter Harris, because of his insistence on carrying a Lilo, a fresh rock-melon, and a pair of special sidling boots, weighed 30 lb.
  
 The weighing done, we re-entered the cars and drove a little further along Kanangra Road, and then along the fire trail which leads towards Morong Falls. A little short of Morong Creek we disembarked. A leader with only normal route-finding ability would have cautiously followed Morong Creek down to the falls, but our leader, without help of compass or visible sun, led us boldly across the featureless plateau in a bee-line which missed the cairn on the right shoulder of Morong Falls by only 4.6 metres. Here we looked down onto the Kowmung and saw its drought-stricken appearance. It contained no white water at all; possibly it was not even flowing. We began the steep descent to the river and from a vantage point looked back at Morong Falls; it was completely dry. The weighing done, we re-entered the cars and drove a little further along Kanangra Road, and then along the fire trail which leads towards Morong Falls. A little short of Morong Creek we disembarked. A leader with only normal route-finding ability would have cautiously followed Morong Creek down to the falls, but our leader, without help of compass or visible sun, led us boldly across the featureless plateau in a bee-line which missed the cairn on the right shoulder of Morong Falls by only 4.6 metres. Here we looked down onto the Kowmung and saw its drought-stricken appearance. It contained no white water at all; possibly it was not even flowing. We began the steep descent to the river and from a vantage point looked back at Morong Falls; it was completely dry.
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 However Morong Deep becomes narrower and wilder as one goes downstream, and soon we came to reaches where the easiest progress was made by bombing into pools and swimming. In time we came to a fall of 3 or 4 metres which, because of submerged rocks, looked dangerous to bomb. Here, with some difficulty, David Rostron and Bob Hodgson set up a climbing tape. Less aquatic members of the party, led by Peter Harris and his Lilo, began a high sidle to avoid the fall. When David reached the pool below he had a bright red tape burn across his body, at the sight of which further members took off for the high sidle. I threw David's pack down to him in the pool below, only to be abused because he was protective about the fresh eggs it contained. Then Margaret Hodgson, Diana Bucknell, Rob Mason, Barry Wallace (I hope I haven't forgotten anyone) and I climbed easily down the tape. Bob Hodgson came last and brought the tape with him. However Morong Deep becomes narrower and wilder as one goes downstream, and soon we came to reaches where the easiest progress was made by bombing into pools and swimming. In time we came to a fall of 3 or 4 metres which, because of submerged rocks, looked dangerous to bomb. Here, with some difficulty, David Rostron and Bob Hodgson set up a climbing tape. Less aquatic members of the party, led by Peter Harris and his Lilo, began a high sidle to avoid the fall. When David reached the pool below he had a bright red tape burn across his body, at the sight of which further members took off for the high sidle. I threw David's pack down to him in the pool below, only to be abused because he was protective about the fresh eggs it contained. Then Margaret Hodgson, Diana Bucknell, Rob Mason, Barry Wallace (I hope I haven't forgotten anyone) and I climbed easily down the tape. Bob Hodgson came last and brought the tape with him.
  
-All in all the trip down the river was easy and pleasant, with boulder-hopping interspersed with pool bombing and swimming. At the best bomb, most of the party piked and climbed down a poor old casuarina which had already lost much of its bask from previous hiking parties. The trip was almost without incident. John Redfern (I was told) fell into a crevasse but was recovered. Barry Wallace almost surmounted a smooth granite slab only to go back to the river on hands and knees in a stately long slow slide, leaving four barely discernable trails of skin and flesh behind him. By dint of Lilo and high sidling Peter Harris did the whole trip without getting wet above the navel.+All in all the trip down the river was easy and pleasant, with boulder-hopping interspersed with pool bombing and swimming. At the best bomb, most of the party piked and climbed down a poor old casuarina which had already lost much of its bask from previous hiking parties. The trip was almost without incident. John Redfern (I was told) fell into a crevasse but was recovered. Barry Wallace almost surmounted a smooth granite slab only to go back to the river on hands and knees in a stately long slow slide, leaving four barely discernible trails of skin and flesh behind him. By dint of Lilo and high sidling Peter Harris did the whole trip without getting wet above the navel.
  
 It was still afternoon when we began leaving the narrowest part of Morong Deep; here we made camp on a small forested ledge. We were amazed to see John Redfern unpack not only food and sleeping bag, but a tent fly; that his pack should weigh only 11 lb defied all laws of physics. It being so early, four of us walked back to the last big pool for another swim, and here David and Barry gave Fazely lessons in bombing. A cunningly graded series of educational techniques was used - explanation, reassurance, praise, persuasion, ridicule and hesitation, shame at failure, verbal threats, encirclement and physical threats - and after a little time their efforts were rewarded; Fazely jumped three times from a height of about 2 1/2 metres - without being pushed or thrown. It was still afternoon when we began leaving the narrowest part of Morong Deep; here we made camp on a small forested ledge. We were amazed to see John Redfern unpack not only food and sleeping bag, but a tent fly; that his pack should weigh only 11 lb defied all laws of physics. It being so early, four of us walked back to the last big pool for another swim, and here David and Barry gave Fazely lessons in bombing. A cunningly graded series of educational techniques was used - explanation, reassurance, praise, persuasion, ridicule and hesitation, shame at failure, verbal threats, encirclement and physical threats - and after a little time their efforts were rewarded; Fazely jumped three times from a height of about 2 1/2 metres - without being pushed or thrown.
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 From start to finish of the trip some members walked so competently, and caused so little nuisance, that they have scarcely caused mention in this report. Yet these members were the mainstay of the party. It should be said therefore, that Alan Pike could certainly hike, that Tony Marshall to the rough going was partial, that blondie Diana climbed like a goanna, that her friend Rob outdistanced the mob, and that Don and Jenny were as adroit as any. From start to finish of the trip some members walked so competently, and caused so little nuisance, that they have scarcely caused mention in this report. Yet these members were the mainstay of the party. It should be said therefore, that Alan Pike could certainly hike, that Tony Marshall to the rough going was partial, that blondie Diana climbed like a goanna, that her friend Rob outdistanced the mob, and that Don and Jenny were as adroit as any.
  
-Back in the car, David Rostron, John Redfern, and I were so grateful to have Peter Harris chaufeuring us again that we completely forgot his Lilo, his naive response to jokes, and the gaps in his knowledge of Amphibia. We sat back and relaxed (except Don and Jenny) for a magnificent meal at Young's Chinese cafe in Katoomba, Peter called in to say goodbye to Vanessa, and then we were home. David Rostron had done a magnificent job arranging and leading the trip, and a very fair job arranging the weather.+Back in the car, David Rostron, John Redfern, and I were so grateful to have Peter Harris chauffeuring us again that we completely forgot his Lilo, his naive response to jokes, and the gaps in his knowledge of Amphibia. We sat back and relaxed (except Don and Jenny) for a magnificent meal at Young's Chinese cafe in Katoomba, Peter called in to say goodbye to Vanessa, and then we were home. David Rostron had done a magnificent job arranging and leading the trip, and a very fair job arranging the weather.
  
 =====Social Notes For March.===== =====Social Notes For March.=====
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 Indian Night. Indian Night.
  
-Now is a chance for those members who have been to India to show all their artifacts, books, souvenirs, etc. and a few colour slides - limit 1/2 hour. We may be able to arrange some Indian music as well.+Now is a chance for those members who have been to India to show all their artefacts, books, souvenirs, etc. and a few colour slides - limit 1/2 hour. We may be able to arrange some Indian music as well.
  
 The adventurous may even bring along some samples of Indian cooking (and the more adventurous will eat it). The adventurous may even bring along some samples of Indian cooking (and the more adventurous will eat it).
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 On Wednesday 10th December the club meeting was notified of a bushfire threatening "Coolana", "Lazy Acres" and "Werona". On Wednesday 10th December the club meeting was notified of a bushfire threatening "Coolana", "Lazy Acres" and "Werona".
  
-Subsequently it burnt a large area in this vicinity and was held by the local bushfire brigade. This group did such a splendid job that the owners of affected properties each donated $100 to the fire fighters funds. The bush is burnt ub to the main road, to "Lazy Acres" house, all the gravel pit and the central section of "Coolana" where it was held with a new firebreak.+Subsequently it burnt a large area in this vicinity and was held by the local bushfire brigade. This group did such a splendid job that the owners of affected properties each donated $100 to the fire fighters funds. The bush is burnt up to the main road, to "Lazy Acres" house, all the gravel pit and the central section of "Coolana" where it was held with a new firebreak.
  
 This break is like a bush track or road in that it has been scraped clear of vegetation, down to bare earth, green one side and burnt on the other. The break branches off our access road and goes down to the river flats. Also a second loop surrounds the intact hut. The water pipe has been burnt or damaged in the places where it was exposed, such as along the rocky creek bed section, where it will need replacing. The underground part, from sample excavations, seems to be undamaged. This break is like a bush track or road in that it has been scraped clear of vegetation, down to bare earth, green one side and burnt on the other. The break branches off our access road and goes down to the river flats. Also a second loop surrounds the intact hut. The water pipe has been burnt or damaged in the places where it was exposed, such as along the rocky creek bed section, where it will need replacing. The underground part, from sample excavations, seems to be undamaged.
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 ====Day 5.==== ====Day 5.====
  
-Another early start at 7 am. We crunched through heavy frost with the day rapidly warming as we manoeuvered through spongy swamps and meandering streams. We then climbed over three low saddles, sidled around the eastern slope of Jagungal and had lunch in the shade of a twisted old snow gum, the view wide and clear. After a lazy meal we dropped down to a branch of Bogong Creek to O'Keefe's Hut with ample time for chores and cooking and we also replenished the hut wood supply.+Another early start at 7 am. We crunched through heavy frost with the day rapidly warming as we manoeuvred through spongy swamps and meandering streams. We then climbed over three low saddles, sidled around the eastern slope of Jagungal and had lunch in the shade of a twisted old snow gum, the view wide and clear. After a lazy meal we dropped down to a branch of Bogong Creek to O'Keefe's Hut with ample time for chores and cooking and we also replenished the hut wood supply.
  
 ====Day 6.==== ====Day 6.====
  
-Another fine morning, we made our usual early start to enjoy the best of the day. By trail to Farm Ridge Hut (ruins), then easy walking along the ridge. We waded the Tumut River, followed by a steep pull up to Round Mountain Hut. We bathed and had a big "cook-in" with Christa suppiying most of the "goodies" from her portable "deli". In the cool of the evening we strolled the last few kilometres to the car and so to bed.+Another fine morning, we made our usual early start to enjoy the best of the day. By trail to Farm Ridge Hut (ruins), then easy walking along the ridge. We waded the Tumut River, followed by a steep pull up to Round Mountain Hut. We bathed and had a big "cook-in" with Christa supplying most of the "goodies" from her portable "deli". In the cool of the evening we strolled the last few kilometres to the car and so to bed.
  
 A delightful six days - thank you, Bob and Christa. A delightful six days - thank you, Bob and Christa.
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 |B) Human Interest (Related to Rucksack Sport's or Skiing)| | | |B) Human Interest (Related to Rucksack Sport's or Skiing)| | |
 |C) Scenic| | | |C) Scenic| | |
-|Historic (Hunt out your old Prints - Don't worry how faded they are)| | |+|D) Historic (Hunt out your old Prints - Don't worry how faded they are)| | |
  
 Mark number of entries in each. Mark number of entries in each.
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 4) As we cannot promise the return of any slide or photograph we suggest you supply us with a duplicate. 4) As we cannot promise the return of any slide or photograph we suggest you supply us with a duplicate.
  
-5) (a) __Amateur Category__:- All entries become the sole property of Paddy Pallin Pty. Ltd. We therefore maintain the right to use any photograph. Any entrant whose photograph is published but has not been awarded a prize will receive a $20 gift voucher.+5) (a) __Amateur Category__:- All entries become the sole property of Paddy Pallin Pty. Ltd. We therefore maintain the right to use any photograph. Any entrant whose photograph is published but has not been awarded a prize will receive a $20 gift voucher.
  
-(b) __Professional Category__:- All entries become the sole property of Paddy Pallin Pty. Ltd. We therefore reserve the right to use these entries. Standard fees will be paid for any photographs that are later published.+5 (b) __Professional Category__:- All entries become the sole property of Paddy Pallin Pty. Ltd. We therefore reserve the right to use these entries. Standard fees will be paid for any photographs that are later published.
  
 6) We reserve the right to hold a public showing of all photographs and slides for which no fee will be paid to take colour prints of colour slides. 6) We reserve the right to hold a public showing of all photographs and slides for which no fee will be paid to take colour prints of colour slides.
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 1) A professional photographer. 1) A professional photographer.
 +
 2) A representative of the Paddy Pallin Group. 2) A representative of the Paddy Pallin Group.
 +
 3) A representative of the Federation of N.S.W. Walking Clubs. 3) A representative of the Federation of N.S.W. Walking Clubs.
  
 The photographs will be on display at Paddy Pallins Sydney store from the 10th March to the 14th March. The photographs will be on display at Paddy Pallins Sydney store from the 10th March to the 14th March.
  
-A public showing of slides and 'photographs will be held in the Law School Assembly Hall on the 20th March, 1981. The Law School Assembly Hall is on the corner of Elizabeth and King Streets, admission is free and the time is 7.30 pm. Light refreshments will be served.+A public showing of slides and photographs will be held in the Law School Assembly Hall on the 20th March, 1981. The Law School Assembly Hall is on the corner of Elizabeth and King Streets, admission is free and the time is 7.30 pm. Light refreshments will be served.
  
 If you wish to attend the slide night please give your name to the shop staff personnel, or phone on 264-2685. If you wish to attend the slide night please give your name to the shop staff personnel, or phone on 264-2685.
198102.txt · Last modified: 2016/03/20 16:17 by tyreless
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