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 By 1830, commuting between Sydney and the west had reached such a volume that Governor Bourke commissioned two improvements: a more gradual road up the Lapstone hill and a third road on Mt. York. For the western detour, Major Edmund Lockyer was commissioned - that same Lockyer who saved Western Australia from settlement by the French. By 1830, commuting between Sydney and the west had reached such a volume that Governor Bourke commissioned two improvements: a more gradual road up the Lapstone hill and a third road on Mt. York. For the western detour, Major Edmund Lockyer was commissioned - that same Lockyer who saved Western Australia from settlement by the French.
  
-But alas, poor Lockyer. That great public service innovator, unhandicapped by mock modesty, Surveyor General Sir Thomas Mitchell, happened along, ca ridge took us back into the canyon. Shortly afterwards we encountered another dry waterfall with an overhanging chockstone. We managed to shoulder Spiro up and after he determined there were no more camp site in the next 500 m, we called it a day, at 3.15 pm.+But alas, poor Lockyer. That great public service innovator, unhandicapped by mock modesty, Surveyor General Sir Thomas Mitchell, happened along, called, it off and attacked Mt. Victoria instead. He achieved a grade of 1-in-5. Mt. York and its roads thereupon became history, as also did the inn established by Pierce Collitts in Hartley Vale at its foot. 
 + 
 +In May, we followed in Ainslie's footsteps down the eucalypt groves of Mt. York and through the grassy flats of the long alley. The Lands Office track, following generally on Lawson's route, is about the standard of the well-known Six-Foot Track of the Megalong and is clearly but unostentatiously marked all the way. 
 + 
 +After our lunch at the picnic reserve in Hartley Vale, we were introduced to the old shale works and the shafts in the scarp above the remains of the township. 
 + 
 +While Barbara Evans posed kodachromatically for me beside some earthworks of an old mine tramway, Ben Esgate charged up the hill to the crowning cliffs, returning with enthusiastic stories of mine shafts, angle wheels, and the breach in the cliffs formed by the old railway which once went right to the main line on the causeway above. 
 + 
 +When Lawson!s men were carving his road into the valley, they discovered a seam of what they thought was coal. Samples sent to Sydney evoked no excitement and the seam was forgotten. However, when one Henry Buckley Esq. sent a sample to the Paris Exhibition in 1854, some excitement began to gestate. And it gestated for eleven years before, in 1865, the “Kerosene Oil and Paraffine Co. Ltd.” was formed. The Shale was mined, not from the seat discovered by Lawson's men, but from higher grade seams across the alley and even below its floor. 
 + 
 +The construction of Mitchell's road with its easy grades enabled the haulage of raw shale and refined products to markets in Sydney, via the railhead at Penrith. On return, the carriers backhauled materiel for the refineries which the. Company was building in the Vale. The ore was rich, yielding 160 gallons of crude to the ton. 
 + 
 +Hartley Vale, fallen into a decline since the Mt. York roads departed. to Mt. Victoria, was rejuvenated under the name of Petrolea. A second company, “Western Oil Co. Ltd.” commenced operations and Petrolea grew to accommodate over 600 people. 
 + 
 +By 1868 the western railway was officially opened to Mt, Victoria, while an unopened extension had already reached Bowenfels. To reduce the costs of haulage of its shale (its refineries were in Waterloo in distant Sydney) the Western company constructed a metre-gauge railway up the slopes and through the cliffs to the main line. Because of the richness of the various strata in the hillsides, both companies started to go broke (though their directors continued to live in mansions), so in 1371 they decided to rationalise through amalgamation. From this, the “New South Wales Shale and Oil Co. Ltd.” was formed. 
 + 
 +Candles, naphtha, kerosene and miscellaneous lubricating oils were produced, reaching markets in Australia, San Francisco, India, China and Europe. The kerosene was marketed as “Comet Oil, the bottled sunshine of Australia'. The original little Aussie bottler! 
 + 
 +Shale mining ceased in 1903; and although the Commonwealth Oil Corporation (of Newnes fame) moved in in 1906, they too were gone in 1909. 
 + 
 +A decline again set in; Petrolea reverted to Hartley Vale; and peace reigned over the glades until we arrived. 
 + 
 +Thanks, Ainslie, it was a most pleasant interlude, even if we did have to walk back up that too-steep road pioneered by William Cox. It was quite a pleasant grade, I thought; but then, I am not a horse and cart. 
 + 
 +**Notice of Change of Walk Dates** 
 + 
 +Wentworth Falls - Leader: Ian Debert.  Changed from weekend of 10, 11, 12 August to 3, 4, 5 August next. 
 + 
 +=====S0, WE'VE MADE IT!===== 
 + 
 +by Jim Brown 
 + 
 +Yes, we've made it. We're the Dictionary. 
 + 
 +At the end of a very easy daywalk, in the pale westering sunlight of a late April day, I asked new prospective member Beryl Barnes, “How did you find your first walk with the, Club' She acknowledged to being a little tired, but said it had been a lovely day. 
 + 
 +Putting on my elder inhabitant's hat, I suggested it would be wise to start with two or three day walks on tracks to build lip confidence and strength, I added, “Some of our trips go straight through the bush, you know. That makes it a bit harder. After all, we were on tracks all through today”. 
 + 
 +Beryl said, “I wondered if the Club did trips like that?” And I answered, “That's probably the real meaning of “bushwalking”. You don't always stay on formed trails”. This led, quite naturally, to the comment that the term “bushwalking” first came into being when our Club in December, 1927, decided to call itself “the Sydney Bush Walkers”, on a motion moved by Maurice Berry. 
 + 
 +Before that, of course, there had been the Mountain Trails Club, and they certainly didn't do all their walking on trails'. But the term “bushwalking” was coined when our Club adopted its' name. 
 + 
 +Considering how often the Australian media now refers to “bushwalkers” and “bushwalking”, I began to wonder if we had yet broken into the dictionaries I looked up my Concise Oxford, and: bearing in mind that it's a Pommy production, it is really very good, It covers “bushranger” and “bushwhacker” and even gives “bushed” as the Australian and New Zealand term for being lost or baffled, But it doesn't mention “bushwalking”. 
 + 
 +Then I wondered if the Macquarie Dictionary, published a few years ago by an Australian University team, would do justice to us. I had a “Scotchman's read” of a copy of the Macquarie Dictionary in a City book shop, and there it was -\\  
 +“Bush walking: The sport of making one's way on foot through the bush, often on tracks designed for this, but sometimes for longer periods through virgin terrain” .... not a bad definition of our game. 
 + 
 +Well, there we are, we've made it. 
 + 
 +No, that's not quite right. The term “bush walking” has made it 
 + 
 +But to my mind **we've had it made** for almost 57 years. 
 + 
 +====="A BUSH WALKER'S LITANY"===== 
 + 
 +by John Baillie 
 + 
 +(Tom Herbert, who joined S.B.W. in 1929, and was President from March 1934 to March, 1936, was recently transferred to the list of Honorary Members. In addition to his activities with the Club, Tom was a foundation member and first President of the River Canoe Club of N.S.W. and an early President of the N.S.W. Federation of Bush Walking Clubs. At an early Club Reunion he discovered “THE BONE” and invested the incoming President with this Mace of Office, which has since been associated with the inauguration of S.B.W. Presidents and is on the desk at every General Meeting. Tom has expressed his “best wishes for the continued progress of a grand Club”, and enclosed with his letter the following verses:-) 
 + 
 + Forbid that I should walk  
 + through Thy beautiful world  
 + with unseeing eyes; 
 +  
 + Forbid that the lure of the  
 + market-place should ever  
 + entirely steal my heart 
 + away from the love of the  
 + open acres and the green trees; 
 +  
 + Forbid that under the low roof  
 + of workshop or office or study  
 + I should ever forget  
 + Thy great over arching sky; 
 +  
 + Forbid when all Thy creatures 
 + are greeting the morning 
 + with songs and shouts of joy 
 + I alone should wear a dull 
 + and sullen face. 
 +  
 + Let the energy and vigour  
 + which in Thy wisdom  
 + Thou has infused into every  
 + living thing stir today 
 + within my being that I  
 + may not be among 
 + Thy creatures a sluggard  
 + and a drone; 
 +  
 + And above all give me grace  
 + to use these beauties of earth  
 + and this eager stirring of life  
 + within me as means whereby  
 + my soul may rise  
 + from creature to creator  
 + and from nature to nature's God. 
 + 
 +=====SNAPSHOTS===== 
 + 
 +by Geoff Wagg 
 + 
 +(These are my snapshots of Barry Wallace 's trip of 11/12/13 May from Kanangra, over Cloudmaker and Ti Willa and up Gingra Ridge.) 
 + 
 +1. This is Wendy and Don and me in the car on Friday night, going back down Kanangra Road looking for the rest of the party. Don has got his map out and put on his glasses. Wendy is trying to look interested and stifling a yawn. We had just decided to introduce a bit of fact into the debate. 
 + 
 +2. Here we are at Budthingaroo on Saturday morning and you can see it's a bit nippy. Barry is bustling around in shorts and goose pimples setting a good example. That's David (a visitor) packing up his marvellous, but heavy, tent which Barry persuaded him to leave behind. Morag and I are balancing billies on the fire while Don ponders the eternal problem of whether to make tea in his egg water and While Wendy ponders the eternal problem of getting the loose feathers back into her sleeping bag. The reason David is looking slightly perplexed is because someone has just asked him if his previous walks were with a club or with friends!?! Above all you can see the sky is miraculously clear. 
 + 
 +3. This is our whole party together at last and out on Kanangra Plateau. John Newman and his nephew Ron, whose pack is even taller than he is, whom we met at the Kanangra car park. Then there's Don (Tiger) Matthews; Barry calls this trio the Don, John, Ron Show. Then there's Morag Rider in complete bushwalking attire, David our visitor in rather new looking boots. “But broken in,” he says. Then Wendy Aliano in regulation geology department issue field hat complete with flannel flower badge still gleaming with newness. Next our leader, Barry Wallace, smiling into his beard and accepting due credit for choosing such a magnificent morning and then me. Behind us you can see Kanangra and Kalang Falls glinting in their gullies. 
 + 
 +4. And here looking the other way you see our route set out, each stage defined by distance but crystal clear. Beyond Kanangra Plateau, Crafts Walls dipping to Gabes Gap, then up the High and Mighty to Cloudmaker with the cliffs of Ti Willa Plateau crowding. in on the right hand. Beyond again lies the sea of mist rising out of the Kowmung and Coxs river valleys. Nearer to us on the Kanangra side, long fingers of the low sunlight stream, through dips in the ridge line to lie as gently as a lover's hand on the curving flanks of the mountain. That scuffle going on in the foreground is Barry saving Wendy from worrying about keeping her new white sandshoes clean; by coating them with mud, naturally. 
 + 
 +5. Here we are sitting in Gabes Gap by that old fireplace and the yellow everlasting daisies, doing a patch up job on David's first blister. Ron is doing the work, Morag is advising and Barry is supervising. The rest of us are just soaking up sunshine. 
 + 
 +6. This was a coincidence. We arrived at Cloudmaker trig just as the Three Peaks party was moving off. Jim Percy, Tom Wenman, Jim Laing and Ian Rannard look fit and rearing to go as you can see but were missing David Rostron and Spiro who had returned with a companion who was taken ill. 
 + 
 +7. Here we are on Ti Willa immersed in scratchiness from the waist down as we skirt the northern edge of the plateau. Wendy, whose shin is still tender from her Easter 'trip' is contemplating walking in cricket pads. Don, whose shirt suffered lacerations in an earlier scrub patch and was consoled by Morag with offers to sew him back into it, is now having similar trouble with his shorts!?! 
 + 
 +8. Now here we are grappling with the climbing aids in Compagnoni's Pass. Barry, Wendy, Morag and David have grappled and are safely down. Don, whose head is disappearing below is grappling and is muttering uncomplimentary things about the lack of facilities for left-handed climbers. John, Ron and I are waiting above feeling glad we're right-handed. 
 + 
 +9. Here you see us in the scrub at the foot of the pass. It is clear that our beautiful and gentle day is fading fast and there's a lot of ridge between us and Gingra Creek. We might be looking a bit hangdog but when our leader suggested we might like to camp on the ridge we took the hint and put our best feet forward. 
 + 
 +10. This is our camp on Gingra Creek, with magical moonbeams radiating down from a mystical moon; mingling in the tops of the silhouetted river oaks with the quantities of steam and smoke given off by the rather damp wood on our fire. It makes the trees seem even more gigantic than they are and certainly gives the place a lot of atmosphere. Barry has reached the port stage, Wendy is into the Baileys and has just made Don's evening by sharing some with him. David has astonished us by producing an enormous pair of Ugh boots from his pack and is now lounging in them by the fire. Morag is sitting with her feet tucked up looking as neat and contented as a cat. John and Ron, however, are still labouring with their cuisine. It must be the 24 herbs and spices. 
 + 
 +11. This was next morning at the foot of the Gingra Ridge. You can see it's another perfect morning, clear and bright. That long pool on the upstream side of the ridge is returning immaculate image reflections of the casuarinas on its brink, and by that log you can just make out a pair of ducks. Over there the photographers are jostling each other for the best positions but it's hard for yours truly being the photogenic foreground. “Stand up!” “Sit down!” “Lie down!” “No, go forward six feet!” That would put me waist deep in the Kowmung, 
 + 
 +12. This is us climbing Gingra Ridge. It's hot and still and sweat is running off the end of my nose like water over Kanangra Falls. Barry is out of sight in front with David (whose blisters don't seem to slow him down) glued to his heels. You can just glimpse the two girls between the trees, going like rockets with Morag religiously counting the bumps on the ridge and ticking them off on her map. Just a little further back comes the Don, john, Ron Show. 
 + 
 +13. Here we are at our well earned 'slightly **after** lunch break' on the cliffs above the Coal Seam Cave at Storm Stallion Point. It is the most languorous moment of a languid, golden afternoon. The rest of the world seems so far away it's hard to believe it exists. Just this group of friends, this rock, this sunshine, these ridges going on forever into the sky.... Then the billy boiled and brought us back to earth. 
 + 
 +14. This is us sitting in Rene's Pizza Palace in Katoomba Street, all crammed round one table and half filling the dining area. We're eating communal pizzas with utmost relish. The reason Don has that strange look on his face is that he thinks he's just lost the cap off his tooth and he is trying to find out if he's swallowed it. We gave him a reduction on account of the handicap. 
 + 
 +Oh well, that's all - perhaps next walk I'll remember to take my camera. 
 + 
 +=====THE PADDY PALLIN FOUNDATION. 1984 GRANTS===== 
 + 
 +Robert Pallin, Trustee 
 + 
 +This year a large number of applications were received, most for worthwhile causes. The committee considered two points should be made in reference to applications. 
 +1. The Foundation is not a welfare organisation. 
 +2. The Foundation's main aim is to encourage the rucksack sports. It is seen by the committee that the main contribution the Foundation can make is to supply funds for the preservation of areas where the rucksack sports are carried out and to encourage the spread of knowledge of our wilderness areas. 
 + 
 +This year the committee allocated funds to the following organisations. Funds are made available, as either grants or loans. Loans are considered to be unsecured and interest free. The committee considers loans to be a better use of funds and therefore gives preference to applications for loans. Some projects will not generate funds to repay a loan and this is taken into account. 
 + 
 +**Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers**\\   
 +Grant $1000 
 + 
 +This organisation supplies teams of volunteers to landholders for conservation work that is not economically viable. This money will purchase most of the supplies needed for one team. 
 + 
 +**The Colong Committee**\\  
 +Loan $2000 
 + 
 +Publication of a book “How the Rainforest was Saved”. It is hoped this publication will help other conservationists in planning campaigns. 
 + 
 +**The Tasmanian Canoeists Assn. & Pedal Power**\\  
 +Loan $2000  
 + 
 +A loan was approved to help publish “Canoeists's Guide to Tasmania” and “Cyclists's Guide to Tasmania”. It is intended that one be published in June and the other in September. 
 + 
 +**Federation of Bushwalking Clubs (N.S.W.)**\\  
 +Grant $500 
 + 
 +To print a leaflet “Ethics of Bushwalking” 
 + 
 +**National Parks Assn. (N.S.W.)**\\  
 +Grant $1000 
 + 
 +To publish a leaflet on proposed extensions to Barrington National Park. 
 + 
 +**Tasmanian Wilderness Society (Albury-Wodonga)**\\  
 +Grant $ 500 
 + 
 +Portable display equipment for a campaign for a Victorian Alpine National Park. 
 + 
 +**Tasmanian Wilderness Society (Tas.)**\\  
 +Grant $1000  
 + 
 +Production of a professional quality audio-visual presentation for the Daintree area. 
 + 
 +**Federation of Bushwalking Clubs (N.S.W.) S. & R. Section**\\  
 +Grant $1500  
 + 
 +To enable S. & R. to print:\\  
 +1. A calendar and safety pamphlet\\  
 +2. A call-out manual\\  
 +3. A trip preparation safety leaflet. 
 + 
 +**The Wilderness Society (N.S.W.)**\\  
 +Loan $5000 
 + 
 +National Campaign for Wilderness. 
 +To help cover pre-production costs of a T.V. series “Places of Space and Quiet”. 
 + 
 +Grant $1000 
 + 
 +Audio-Visual production for the campaign to save the Daintree rainforest area. 
 + 
 +The committee would like to thank all applicants and wish all well in their projects whether we were able to supply funds or not. 
 + 
 +=====MACDONNELL RANGES - 1984===== 
 + 
 +by David Rostron 
 + 
 +Following publication of Frank Rigby's and Henry Gold's fascinating book, I had the urge to experience the Ranges myself. This desire was heightened-by the tales of those members who have also visited the area. However, the recommended walking period, from May to August/September, coincides with the ski season and I could never seem to get myself organised to have both experiences in the one year. 
 + 
 +One of my 1984 resolutions was to cease procrastination. As a result 1/6184 found 10 of us at Mascot Airport, bound for Alice Springs. The party was as follows:\\  
 +Heather Finch, Wendy Lippiat, Fusae Dargan, Ray Dargan, Bob Duncan, Tom Wenman, Spiro Hajinakitas, Ray Hookway, Bill Caskey (visitor), David Rostron (leader). 
 + 
 +We had previously decided to have an exploratory type trip in the area between Standley Chasm and Hugh Gorge, to the west. This is the area favoured by previous parties as opposed to the west end of the range around Mts. Giles and Sonder. Another trek considered was from Ormiston Gorge to Mt. Giles and then east along the Chewings Range to Hugh Gorge, finishing at Standley Chasm. However, in the mid section, over about 30 km, there is some doubt about water and the terrain is less interesting. 
 + 
 +We arrived at Alice Springs on schedule at 12.25 pm - a pleasant, windy day with a temperature of 25 degrees C. We dropped off our minor luggage at the Telford Motel in the centre of Alice Springs and then proceeded by mini-bus (Arura Safaris) to the drop off point on Namitjira Drive, about 40 mihutes travelling time from Alice Springs. We had a charming bus driver, Del, who was sorely tempted to abandon the vehicle and join us. 
 + 
 +We headed Up a dry creek bed, through a gap in the Heavitree Range, and then across the plain towards the Chewings Range and the west end of Mt. Conway. We walked 6-7 km, stopping after about 2 hours at a gap between Mt. Conway and a small pinnacle to the west. There were three pools of water in the creek bed at the gap, although we had carried water for a possible dry camp. As it was then 4.50 pm, and we were suffering from first day heavy packs, it was an appropriate time to stop. 
 + 
 +The campsite turned out to be typical of those we had for the trip - on the sand of the creek/river beds with the party members selecting a variety of scattered locations. One of the delights of the MacDonnell Ranges in June is the weather - deep blue skies and glorious starry nights with no dew. “On only two days/nights did we have cloud and there was never any likelihood of rain. As a result, the flies we took were never put up. In any event, erection would have required many rocks to secure the guys. 
 + 
 +For the first night we had the dinner delight of chicken a la Hajinakitas and boiled new potatoes. Heather insisted on climbing the pinnacle (about 100 m in height) for a sunset dinner and she was joined by most of the party. 
 + 
 +I had expected scenes similar to those in Frank and Henry's book - with reds, golds and browns dominating. However, in the last year, the area had three heavy falls of rain - from 10” to 16” at a time - and the locals now call it the Green (instead of Red) Centre. It had last rained in about February and although the red rock is a dominant landscape feature, the remainder comprised shades of green and some light yellow - grass drying off. The scene for the sunset dinner was magical as the rocks of the Heavitree Range to the south changed from a sun-bleached red to a dull glow. 
 + 
 +The next morning set the pattern for the trip. Spiro was first up at first light (6.30 am) and had a fire going in a minute. A leisurely breakfast of porridge and sultanas followed and then we were usually away by about 9.00 am. (As this was a holiday for all, we set no definite starting-finishing times, except on the 9th day.) 
 + 
 +We headed north through the gap into the east-west valley beyond and then east for 2 km to a canyon we had sighted from the pinnacle on the previous evening. 
 + 
 +The gorges and small canyons are the jewels of this area. The spinifex tends to discourage one from climbing the ridges, summits and faces, and the easiest travelling is usually in the creek and river beds. As a result, most canyons we sighted were explored. Invariably the waterfalls were dry and the mainly rough quartzite provided excellent foot and hand holds for scrambling. There is a great variety of vegetation in these canyons and many of the small bedrock pools contained water. 
 + 
 +Our first canyon was quite steep, with only two dry falls and two small pools. This took us out onto the tops with views of Mt. Conway and the Hogs Back. Then it was over two low saddles to the base of Jerry's Canyon (named after a Club member, Jerry Zinzig). Two waterfalls in the lower section cannot be negotiated with packs and a high sidle on the northern ridge took us back into the canyon. Shortly afterwards we encountered another dry waterfall with an overhanging chockstone. We managed to shoulder Spiro up and after he determined there were no more camp sites in the next 500 m, we called it a day, at 3.15 pm.
  
 Sleeping spots were scratched out in, the sand and gravel of the canyon. The more enthusiastic filled their beds with leaves and grass. We then enjoyed a leisurely "happy hour", primed by a rum and lemon drink and then a great night of dining, repartee (the jokes were shockers) and singing followed. We were fortunate to have two good singers, Bob and Tom, with us. Sleeping spots were scratched out in, the sand and gravel of the canyon. The more enthusiastic filled their beds with leaves and grass. We then enjoyed a leisurely "happy hour", primed by a rum and lemon drink and then a great night of dining, repartee (the jokes were shockers) and singing followed. We were fortunate to have two good singers, Bob and Tom, with us.
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 the sandy river bed and as it had been a warm afternoon, no one could resist plunging in. The river was not flowing but the water quality was good.  the sandy river bed and as it had been a warm afternoon, no one could resist plunging in. The river was not flowing but the water quality was good. 
  
-The next morning we saw our first dingoes -three came within about 80 metres, scrutinised us carefully and then retreated with dignity. We headed west along the river fiats, passing many corkwood trees (lakea) in+The next morning we saw our first dingoes - three came within about 80 metres, scrutinised us carefully and then retreated with dignity. We headed west along the river fiats, passing many corkwood trees (lakea) in
 bloom and one received full photographic attention. A Major Mitchell parrot objected to our presence at the morning tea stop below a large river gum. The bird life on the plains, adjacent to the range, was generally prolific, with a great variety of finches and parrots. bloom and one received full photographic attention. A Major Mitchell parrot objected to our presence at the morning tea stop below a large river gum. The bird life on the plains, adjacent to the range, was generally prolific, with a great variety of finches and parrots.
  
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 This was the only section of the trip where we retraced our steps - we headed north in Spencer's Gorge to gain access to the northern plain. We had another delightful campsite in the gorge with the only howl that evening being Bob's imitation of a dingo. A strong wind blew up and I awoke early in the morning to see our first clouds for the trip (eighth day). We headed out to the southern plain and from a saddle had great views of Brinkley Bluff and the range to the east. In the morning light, all the purple shades so evident in Namatjira's painting were apparent. This was the only section of the trip where we retraced our steps - we headed north in Spencer's Gorge to gain access to the northern plain. We had another delightful campsite in the gorge with the only howl that evening being Bob's imitation of a dingo. A strong wind blew up and I awoke early in the morning to see our first clouds for the trip (eighth day). We headed out to the southern plain and from a saddle had great views of Brinkley Bluff and the range to the east. In the morning light, all the purple shades so evident in Namatjira's painting were apparent.
  
-The cloud cleared but it remained cool and windy - a maximum temperature of about 17 degrees C that day. We made good time along numerous horse trails, (brumbies are in abundance on the plains and open valleys). We reached Stuarts Pass for lunch and then returned to our campsite of a few days beforehand. There was no swimming that day as strong winds gusted through the pass.+The cloud cleared but it remained cool and windy - a maximum temperature of about 17<sup>o</sup> C that day. We made good time along numerous horse trails, (brumbies are in abundance on the plains and open valleys). We reached Stuarts Pass for lunch and then returned to our campsite of a few days beforehand. There was no swimming that day as strong winds gusted through the pass.
  
 The next morning saw our earliest start - 8.00 am - for the climb of Brinkley Bluff. On this morning we found a spring with a considerable flow of water near the base of the north-west ridge. Six of the party climbed this ridge (about 2,000' vertical) whilst four of us climbed the adjacent canyon/gully. This involved some great scrambling and it was necessary to leave the gully at times to sidle chockstones and some verticals. However, most of the dry waterfalls provided exhilarating climbing and we emerged onto the face about 200' below the summit. The next morning saw our earliest start - 8.00 am - for the climb of Brinkley Bluff. On this morning we found a spring with a considerable flow of water near the base of the north-west ridge. Six of the party climbed this ridge (about 2,000' vertical) whilst four of us climbed the adjacent canyon/gully. This involved some great scrambling and it was necessary to leave the gully at times to sidle chockstones and some verticals. However, most of the dry waterfalls provided exhilarating climbing and we emerged onto the face about 200' below the summit.
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 in length. Views in all directions were fantastic. Lunch was enjoyed just below the ridge top, out of the wind, and after almost reaching the saddle below the Hogs Back we dropped down a steep northern ridge to a gully and began searching for campsites. The only suitable one was below Surprise Waterfall (dry) where Frank Rigby has camped before. in length. Views in all directions were fantastic. Lunch was enjoyed just below the ridge top, out of the wind, and after almost reaching the saddle below the Hogs Back we dropped down a steep northern ridge to a gully and began searching for campsites. The only suitable one was below Surprise Waterfall (dry) where Frank Rigby has camped before.
  
-The cool south-west wind with some high cirrus cloud continued for the next two days.  Overnight temperatures were 2 - 3 degrees C, and maximums about 17 - delightful walking weather. We were within 5 km of our finishing point and spent the next day exploring the complex system of ridges and valleys in that area, ending up at Standley Chasm and wading through the chest deep pool to the tourist area. Ray Hookway was the only one with money and ventured to the kiosk, returning with Chery Ripes for the girls. We never did learn of his reward.+The cool south-west wind with some high cirrus cloud continued for the next two days.  Overnight temperatures were 2<sup>o</sup> - 3<sup>o</sup> C, and maximums about 17 - delightful walking weather. We were within 5 km of our finishing point and spent the next day exploring the complex system of ridges and valleys in that area, ending up at Standley Chasm and wading through the chest deep pool to the tourist area. Ray Hookway was the only one with money and ventured to the kiosk, returning with Chery Ripes for the girls. We never did learn of his reward.
  
 On our last day, eight of the party ascended to a ridge we had not traversed before and followed this for 5 - 6 km to finish on the road south of Standley Chasm. Bill and Ray took the valley route to finish with wades On our last day, eight of the party ascended to a ridge we had not traversed before and followed this for 5 - 6 km to finish on the road south of Standley Chasm. Bill and Ray took the valley route to finish with wades
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 Bill Capon rep6rted 20 people plus (?) Vic Lewin on his Yalwal trip over 30, 31 March, 1 April. Of the All Fools Day walks, Jim Brown's Springwood/Glenbrook Creek walk had 17 members, 2 visitors, and 8 prospectives on a beautiful walk, and Peter Christian reported 6 members, 1 visitor, "and a good time was had by all". Bill Capon rep6rted 20 people plus (?) Vic Lewin on his Yalwal trip over 30, 31 March, 1 April. Of the All Fools Day walks, Jim Brown's Springwood/Glenbrook Creek walk had 17 members, 2 visitors, and 8 prospectives on a beautiful walk, and Peter Christian reported 6 members, 1 visitor, "and a good time was had by all".
  
-Peter Miller cancelled hisMegaiong Valley walk for 6, 7 April but John Redfern led his Goulburn River National Park trip with a party of 13. Sandy Johnson had a party of 20 people and a long walk in the rain around Erskine Creek on the 8th of April. George Mawer had 13 people and a rainy but beautiful walk in Grand  Canyon, Blackheath the same day.+Peter Miller cancelled his Megaiong Valley walk for 6, 7 April but John Redfern led his Goulburn River National Park trip with a party of 13. Sandy Johnson had a party of 20 people and a long walk in the rain around Erskine Creek on the 8th of April. George Mawer had 13 people and a rainy but beautiful walk in Grand  Canyon, Blackheath the same day.
  
 The weekend of 13, 14, 15 April saw Joan Cooper with 15 people on a great walk in the Budawangs. Peter Christian's walk brought no report. Paul Mawhinney led 12 people on his Otford to Waterfall walk on Sunday, The weekend of 13, 14, 15 April saw Joan Cooper with 15 people on a great walk in the Budawangs. Peter Christian's walk brought no report. Paul Mawhinney led 12 people on his Otford to Waterfall walk on Sunday,
198407.txt · Last modified: 2014/12/21 11:30 by kclacher

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