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194411 [2017/11/23 13:02] tyreless194411 [2017/11/24 13:18] tyreless
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 +=====Gingera.=====
 +
 +by Alex Colley.
 +
 +It sometimes hapnens that canoeists, beceuse of the lack of water "canike" long distances, and walkers have been known to push cars along with them for miles, but we claim to be the first to take our skis for a walk. A word is plainly necessary to describe this new pastime, but as no English term has yet been included in the dictionaries perhaps the well known Russian word "walkski" is the best to describe our holiday.
 +
 +In April the mountains had been whitened by a foot of snow and again in May there was a good fall. Then something went wrong with the air currents. Week after week I waited and watched the mountains through my office window (not __all__ the time - of course) hoping a cold westerly would cover the mountains in cloud and lift to reveal deep snow. But it never happened. Sometimes clouds would settle for a day, and for a few weeks there was a thin cap on the top of Gingera - never a real fall. By August I had decided there wouldn't be any fall. Spring was in the air - the birds had no doubt about it. However our arrangements were made and we decided that a walk would be fine anyway. But we couldn't bring ourselves to leave our skis behind, so they went with us.
 +
 +Our first camp in the mountains was somewhat of an experiment. How cold would it be? We chose a sheltered spot out of the wind, prepared a bed of bark and grass, put large logs on the fire to keep it going and slept in close phalanx or sardine formation. Though the water bags froze stiff and there was half an inch of ice in the billies we felt warm and comfortable and had a most enjoyable camp. Next day, despite our trappings, we did the remaining 8 miles to the Chalet in 3 hours without undue struggling. In the afternoon we took our skis to the top of Mount Franklin in case there was a bit of snow, but there wasn't, so we returned to the Chalet to plan a walk.
 +
 +To lighten the next stage of our trip, Doreen and I set off next morning with a load of food, which we left at the site of our base camp, while Jean and Ron "did" the local sights, including Ginini Falls. We found a good spot for our base camp on a well drained saddle at the foot of Mount Gingera (6,092 ft.). It was about 5,600 feet up, high enough for a bad blizzard in August, but we knew a warm comfortable hut in a small valley below to which we could retreat if the weather was unkind. Last time I had been on Gingera there had been abut 10 feet of snow and every tree and shrub was flagged with jagged ice on the windward side. I had great faith in that mountain, and it was justified, for on the Southern side we found 50 acres or more of snow; quite enough to play round in.
 +
 +So next day we set out, still carrying our skis, and also the remainder of a weeks food. In the afternoon we really used our skis. The next couple of days we spent there too. The ski-ing was often quite incidental, except for Ron, who skied so ardently and acrobatically that his knees were strained and practically unbendable by the third day. When we weren't gliding through the snow gums or seeking out new runs we paused to enjoy the world of rolling mountains, deep valleys and sunlit plains below, or to look, at first a little wistfully, at gleaming Jagungal and the snow covered Main Range to the South. Only one mountain, the great rounded Bimberi, rose above us. Just below the top of Gingera was a beautiful little grassy flat through which a clear little stream flowed from the snow field through russet shrubs over the edge of the mountain. Looking out from the flat we could see nothing but clouds and sky and the rugged granite peaks at the head of the Cotter.
 +
 +Our base camp was sheltered and comfortable. We chose a spot in the shelter of the two main limbs of a large fallen tree. Often at night we heard the wind roar on the mountain above, but never more than a slight breeze came down to our saddle. We pulled up snow-grass for a bed and always had plenty of wood for a good fire which we made fairly close to the abdulled tent. On the third night it started to rain and continued to rain the next day. We decided that a day of rest would be welcome, in fact necessary for Ron, who was suffering from skier's knees and gave the appearance of one aged before his time.
 +
 +I had often thought of camping in the snow country in winter, and this was at any rate a partial try-out. One of the chief disadvantages of a ski-ing holiday is that one must live a cramped, barracks-like existence. If you have your own party and do your own cooking a good part of the time is spent cutting wood, washing up etc., If you go to a regular hut you must accept the company and food ready made. As ski-ing is strenuous you often don't feel like housework and chores after a good day, and it is irritating to have to spend a couple of hours doing the various jobs in the morning before you set out. If you have a good party and a whole chalet to yourselves, as we did last year, hut life is very pleasant, but this is exceptional. It was infinitely easier and more comfortable in the open. Lots of wood which didn't have to be cut, and big fires we could all enjoy. Very little washing up. The tucker we liked when we wanted it - cooked by Jean, who managed to add half a stone to the weight of one. Plenty of time to be lazy when you felt like it. Another advantage is that you avoid the inevitable mess found in every ski-ing hut. We never felt cold round the camp. In huts it is usually impossible to combine fresh air and warmth for all. Either some away from the fires will be cold or all will incubate together - usually the latter. And last, but most important, you can see the sky at night. Of course there is the risk of a blizzard, but maybe it is worth taking.
 +
 +After the day's rain, knowing that much of the snow we had not worn out would be melted, we set out to explore a nearby spur on which were some interesting piles of granite rock. Though it was scarcely a mile it took us well over an hour to weave our way through the thick sally. It was well worth the effort, for the biggest pile of rock proved to be tremendous and the view over the Cotter valley was grand.
 +
 +Next day we parked the skis against a tree and set off for Bimberi. The ridge proved too broken for us to get there that day. We were not disappointed, as we reached a knob nearby where we stood in driving hail, fierce wind and sunshine drinking in the magnificent mountain scenery. And it was pleasant walking country; mostly open timber and snow grass opening here and there on to open alpine glades, by one of which we camped. The following day we went on to our hanging valley below Gingera, on the roof of the range. There we camped in a sheltering grove of snow gums by the edge of the stream. From our tent we looked over the grassy little flat to the granite peaks ten miles beyond. A great black cloud rolled up from the valley, filling the whole sky as it approached and soon star-shaped snow flakes fell thickly. With evening came soft yellow light, half daylight and half moonlight, weird and unreal. Slowly the clouds passed over, then the moon cast a still spell over a fairyland of delicate lacy shrubs, veiled grass and white leaved trees.
 +
 +In the morning we started back, wondering how we would get down to the Brindabella Valley with our skis. But it proved easy and the following evening found us camped by the swift-flowing, transparent waters of the Goodradigbee. Next morning we arrived at Brindabella Post Office where we were glad to leave our skis after their 40 mile journey much of which had seen no skis before. Here we were joined by Joan Hunter and Jean Thirgood who came out in the mail-car to meet us.
 +
 +For a few miles below the Post Office the River flowed through a rough gorge, but we followed a wide easy track over the foothills and camped under the casuarinas at the Junction of Tumbledown Creek. It was very like parts of the middle Cox, except that the River was larger and so far unsilted.
 +
 +Next afternoon we went up Tumbledown Creek till we came to Flea Creek, a clear rocky little stream flowing under casuarinas through little grassy flats. A little way up Flea Creek we "got among" the trout, as the fishermen say. Not that we tried to catch them of course. That would have been illegal. But one member of the party was so overcome by the sight of 15 large fresh fish in a clear pool three feet deep, that he plunged in and started to beat the water with his hands, while another flung himself fully clothed across the pool, and others stood by with towels in case any of the fish needed wiping. I'm sure the trout enjoyed the fun as much as we did.
 +
 +In the morning we followed the creek till the going became rough then struck up a spur towards Coree. Again we were lucky to find an easy ridge. Half way up we had our first view of Coree, which looked exactly like pictures I have seen of the Tasmanian mountains. The top was an almost sheer wall of bare yellow granite towering several hundred feet above the surrounding mountains. From the top we had a magnificent view in every direction, while just below nestled a little clearing on Condor Creek, our campsite for that night. But it took us nearly three hours of pushing over loose granite covered with thin wattles, and through other types of undesirable flora before we made camp in the last of the fading daylight.
 +
 +This was the last of our never-to-be-forgotten campsites. Here we left the intrepid Jean and Joan to journey through the trackless pine forests to the Cotter Dam and thence to the Mount Stromlo turn-off where they were met by a car/
 +
 +Now we are back in buildings and streets, working as we must, but just around the corners of memory are visions of mountain and valley, of streams and fire-lit campsites, and, most vivid of all, our little hanging valley on Gingera still and white in the moonlight.
 +
 +----
  
--G-I'NGERA 
-by ilex Coll'ey. 
-It sometimes hapnens that canoeists, beceuse of the lack of water "eanike" long distences, and Talkers have been known to push cars along with them for miles, but we claim to be the first to take our skis for a walk, A word is plainly necessary to describe this new pastime, but as no T]ngljsh term has yet been included in the dictionaries perhaps the well known Russian wodwalkhi is the best to describe our holiday. 
-In April the mountains had been whitehed by a foot of snow and again in May there was a good fall. Then something went wrong with the air currents, Week after week I waited and w,tched the mountains through my office window (not all the time - of course) hoping a cold wsterly would cover the mountains in cloud. and lift to reveal deep snow. Bilt it never happened. Sometimes clouds would settle for a day, and for a few weeks there was a thin cap on the top of Gingera - never a real fall. By August I had decided there wouldn't be any fall, Spring was in the air - the birds had no doubt about it However our arrangements were made and we decided that a walk would be fine anyway. But we couldn't bring ourselves to leave our skis behind, so they went with us. 
-Our first camp in the mountains was somewhat of an experiment. How cold would it be? We chose a sheltered spot out of the wind, prepared a bed of bark and grass, put large logs on the fire to keep it going and slept in close phalanx or 'rdine formation. Though the water bags froze stiff and there was half an e oh of ice in the billies we felt warm and comfortable and had a most enjoyable camp. Next day, despite our trappings, we did the ree maining 8 miles to the Chalet in 3 hours without'undue struggling. In the afternoon we took our skis to the top of Mount Franklin in case there was a bit of snow, but there wasn't, so we returned to the Chalet to plan, a walk. 
-To lighten the next stage of our trip, Doreen and I set off next morning,,. with a load of food, which we left at the site of our base camp, while Jean and Ron "did" the local sights, including Ginini Falls. We found a good spot for Our base camp on a well drained saddle at the foot of Mount Gingera (6,092. Itewas about 5,600 feet up, high enough for a had blizzard in 
-August, but we knew a warm comfortable hut in a small valley below to which we could retreat if the weather wa$,unkind.'-Last time I had been on Gingera. there had been abut 10 feet of enO* and,everT'tree and shrub was flagged with 'jagged ice on the windward side.' 1.hiid-great faith in that mountain, 
-and,i t was justified, for on the Southern -side' we found 50 acres or more of, snow, quite enough' to play round in. ' 
-So next day we set out, still carrying our skis, an also the remainder 
-- 
-of a weeks food. In the afternoon we really used our skis. The next couple 
-of days we spent there too. The ski-ing was often quite incidental, except for Ron, who skied so ardently and acrobatically that his knees were &trained and practically unbendable by the third day. When liv,? weren't gliding throtgh the snow gums or seeking out new runs We paused to enjoy the world of rolling mountains, deep valleys and sunlit plains beloW, 'or to look, at first a little wistfully, at gleaming JagUngal and the sneW Cbited. Main ,Range to the South. Only one mountain, the great rounded Bimberi tose b:bove us. Just below the top of Gingera was a beautiful little grassy flat through which a clear little 
-, stream flowed from the snow field through :russet hrub over the edge of the 
-' mountain. Looking out from the flat We could 'see nothing but clouds and sky. 
-6 
-and the rugged granite peaks at the head of the Cotter. 
-Our base camp was sheltered amd comfortable. We chose a spot in the shelter of the two main limbs of a large fallen tree, Often at night we heard the wind roar on the meantain above, but never more than a slight breeze came down t(N-1 our saddle. We pulled upsnow-grass for a bed and always had plenty of wood for a good fire which we made fairly close to the abdulled tent. On the third night it started to rain and continued to ran the next day. We deci)aed that a day of rest would: be welcome, in fact necessary for Ron, who was suffering ftoth skierle knees and gave the appearance of one aged before his time. - 
-I had often 'nought of camping in the snow country in winter, and this was at any rate a partial try-out. One of the chief disadvantages of a ski-ing holiday is that one mus4-, live a erampod, barracke-1.1.ke existence, If you have your own party and do your own cooking a good pat of the time is spent cutting wood, washing up etc., If you go to a regular h ot you must accept the company and food ready made, As ski-ing is strenuous you often don't feel like house- 'work and chores after a good day, end it is irritating to have to spend a couple of hours doing the vriolls jobs in the morning before you set out, If you have a good party and a whole chalet to yourselves, as we did last. year, hut life is very pleaoant, but this is exceptional, It was infinitely easier and more comfortable in the open. Lots of wood which didn't have to be cut, And big fires we could all enjoy, Very little washing up. The tucker we lik ed when we wanted it - cooked by Jean, who managed to add half a ston to the weight of one. Plenty of time to be lazy when you felt like it. Anothei advantage is that yeti avoid the inevitable mess found in every ski-ing hut. We never felt cold round the. camp. In -huts it is usually impossible to combine fresh air and warmth fo all. Either some away from the fires will be cold or all will incubate- together.- usually the latter. And last, but mast important,,you'can see the sky at night. Of course there is the riskof a 12lizzarelt but maykea it is worth taking. 
-After the dayls rain, knowing that much of the snow we had ntt-Worn out would be melted, we set out to explore a nearby spur on which were s6me interesting piles of granite. rock. Though it was scarcely a mile it took us well oyer an hour. to weave our war through the thick sally, It was well worth the 'effort, for the biggest pile of rock proved to be tremendous and the view. over the Cottet valley was grand. 
-. . 
-JNI?it..day we -parked the skis against a tree and set Off for Bimberi. The ridge proved too-broken-for Us to get there that day. We were not disappointedi as we reach. a knob nearby where we stood in driving hail, fierce wind and sunr, shine drinking in the magnificent moUnte in scenery. And it was pleasant Walking country, mostly open limber and Snow grass openinF here and there on. to open alpine glades,. bye Of which we camped. The following day we went on to our hanging valley below Gingera, on the roof of the range, There We-camped in a sheltering grov e of snow gums by the edge of Sae stream. From _dur tent we looked over the grassy little flat to the granite peaks ten miles 
-eyonl, A great black cloud rolled up from t4' valley, filling the whole -sky as it approaahed and soon star-shaped snow flakes fell thickly. With -evening 'came soft yellow light, half daylight and half moonlight, weird 
-And unreal. Slowly the clouds passedeover, then the moon cast a still spell over a fairyland of delicate lacy shrubs, veiled grass and white leaved trees. 
-7. 
-In the morning we started back, wondering how we would get do ,in to the Brindabella Valley with our s'leis. But it proved easy and the following evening found us camped by the swift-flowing, transparent waters of the Goodradigbee. 
-Next morning we arrived at Brind-Lbella Pos:t Office where we were glad: to 
-\ leave our skis after their 40 mile journey mush of which had seen no skis 
-, before. Here we were joined by Joan Hunter and Jean Thirgood who came out in the mail-car to meet us. 
-For a few" Mlles' below bhe Post Office the River flowed through a rough gorge, but we followed a wide easy track over the foothills and camped under 
-the casuarinas at the Junction ef. Tumbledown,Creek. It was very like Darts of 
-the middle Cox, except that the River was larger and so far unsilted. 
-Next afternoon we went up Tumbledown Creek till we came to Flea Creek, a clear rocky little stream'flowing under casuarin;s through little grassy. 
-flats. A little way up Flea Greek we "got among" the trout, as the fishermen say, Not that we tried to catch. them of course. That would have been But one member of the party was so overcome by the sight Of 15 large ,fresh fish in a clear pool throe feet deep, that he plunged in and started -6-ce ebeat the water with his hands, while another flung himself fully clothed across the pool, and others stood by with towels in case any, of the fish 
-needed wiping, Ital. sure the trout enjoyed the fun aff much as we did. '  
-In the mopning we followed the creek till the going became rough then struck up a spur towards Coree. Again we were lucky to find an easy ridge, 
-Half way up we had our first view of Came, which rooked exactly like 
-pictures I have seen of the Tasmanian Mountains. The top mas,an almost sheer wall of bare yellow granite towering several hundred fe'et above the surround- 
-ing mountans41 From the top we had a Magnificent view in every direction, 
-while just below nestled a little clearing on Condor Creek, our, campsite-for that night. But it' took us nearly three hours of pushing over loose grahite covered with thin ;wattles, and through other types of undesirable_ flora before we made camp in the last of the fading daylight. 
-This was the last of our never-to-be-forgotten campsites-. Here we left the intrepid Jean and Joan to journey through the trackless pine forests to the Cotter Dam amd thence to the Mount Stromlo turn-off where they were net by a car, 
-Now we are back in buildings and streets,. working as we,must, but 
-just araund the corners of meMory are visions of mountain and valley, of streams and fire-lit campsites, and,- most vivid of all, our little hanging valley on Gingera still and white in the moenlireht. 
-8, 
 OCTOBER NEWS OCTOBER NEWS
 Alust to offset the touch conditions imposed by the Railway Comissioners, the Clerk of the Weather looked kindly on all holiday makers for the 6 hour Alust to offset the touch conditions imposed by the Railway Comissioners, the Clerk of the Weather looked kindly on all holiday makers for the 6 hour
194411.txt · Last modified: 2017/11/28 12:44 by tyreless

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