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 After a flying (or running) tour of Melbourne we flew to Hobart, there to be met by Fay Peterson, Mr. Peterson and Melva Stocks. A hectic night of sorting food and gear, eating scollops, slide showing, having baths and talking. We eventually ended in deep sleep, so deep I still wonder what that alarm clock sounded like. However, without too much of a rush we were ready in good time to catch the special bus from Franklin Square to Hastings caves, together with 30 other bods. After a flying (or running) tour of Melbourne we flew to Hobart, there to be met by Fay Peterson, Mr. Peterson and Melva Stocks. A hectic night of sorting food and gear, eating scollops, slide showing, having baths and talking. We eventually ended in deep sleep, so deep I still wonder what that alarm clock sounded like. However, without too much of a rush we were ready in good time to catch the special bus from Franklin Square to Hastings caves, together with 30 other bods.
  
-The weather was cloudy and overcast, but the occasional views of snow-capped peaks like Picton and the Nartz Mts. thrilled us no end. Eventually the bus stopped for a few minutes and we got out to stretch our legs. Dot and Garth took this a stage further and suggested a run down the road, consequently the bus was picking up odd groups of runners for the next mile or so, with Dot and Garth leading the field. Another stop at Dover Hotel, and we finally arrived at the Forestry hut just past the Chalet and Thermal pool soon after 11 a.m. We chose the hut, some camped out, and some chose the table tennis room of the Chalet. We lunched, than about 1.30 started up the road towards the Caves. At a bridge just before the end of the road we turned off to the right, and in the rain climbed up through the wet rain forest and tree ferns for a few hundred feet to the Wolf Hole. This is quite a hole, about 100 ft. deep, mostly vertical except for the funnel-shaped mouth for about 20 or 30 ft. Heavily covered with vegetation, it makes you wonder how many more undiscovered caves there must be in the area. It has been descended a few times, but is still largely unexplored. Nearby is the Cub Hole, a rabbit sized burrow opened out by the Caverneers, which looks as though it might link up with the Wolf Hole.+The weather was cloudy and overcast, but the occasional views of snow-capped peaks like Picton and the Hartz Mts. thrilled us no end. Eventually the bus stopped for a few minutes and we got out to stretch our legs. Dot and Garth took this a stage further and suggested a run down the road, consequently the bus was picking up odd groups of runners for the next mile or so, with Dot and Garth leading the field. Another stop at Dover Hotel, and we finally arrived at the Forestry hut just past the Chalet and Thermal pool soon after 11 a.m. We chose the hut, some camped out, and some chose the table tennis room of the Chalet. We lunched, than about 1.30 started up the road towards the Caves. At a bridge just before the end of the road we turned off to the right, and in the rain climbed up through the wet rain forest and tree ferns for a few hundred feet to the Wolf Hole. This is quite a hole, about 100 ft. deep, mostly vertical except for the funnel-shaped mouth for about 20 or 30 ft. Heavily covered with vegetation, it makes you wonder how many more undiscovered caves there must be in the area. It has been descended a few times, but is still largely unexplored. Nearby is the Cub Hole, a rabbit sized burrow opened out by the Caverneers, which looks as though it might link up with the Wolf Hole.
  
 Back down the track a bit and off a few hundred yards to the side we came to the main interest of the afternoon, the King George Caves. A small unimposing hole in the ground leads down a wire ladder to a mudslide and a passageway. This eventually leads to the main chamber about 20 ft. high by 20 ft. wide with a large red and white tooth-like stalactite hanging from the centre. Through this runs a small creek. There were some nice formations off in side grottos and even Dot was duly impressed - less mud and no blowflies like Bungonia. Lots of photos were taken of all, sorts of odd things. Passages were explored and wetas and spiders collected, Lots of people think caves are dead, but far from it. First of all we found wetas - brown grasshopper-like creatures which abound in some sections of caves. They live off small flies and insects which wander in, and off the vegetation which grows round the entrance. Hunting wetas is quite a sport as they jump considerable distances and if you're not quick you can chase them quite a way, The spider we found on a stalagmite; it was quite as large as the huntsman spiders round Sydney. Nearby was a hole in the mud which could have been its home. We finally enticed him into a kodachrome tin. While we concentrated on photos and collecting insects, some others of the party did a bit of exploring through a long muddy squeezeway. Back down the track a bit and off a few hundred yards to the side we came to the main interest of the afternoon, the King George Caves. A small unimposing hole in the ground leads down a wire ladder to a mudslide and a passageway. This eventually leads to the main chamber about 20 ft. high by 20 ft. wide with a large red and white tooth-like stalactite hanging from the centre. Through this runs a small creek. There were some nice formations off in side grottos and even Dot was duly impressed - less mud and no blowflies like Bungonia. Lots of photos were taken of all, sorts of odd things. Passages were explored and wetas and spiders collected, Lots of people think caves are dead, but far from it. First of all we found wetas - brown grasshopper-like creatures which abound in some sections of caves. They live off small flies and insects which wander in, and off the vegetation which grows round the entrance. Hunting wetas is quite a sport as they jump considerable distances and if you're not quick you can chase them quite a way, The spider we found on a stalagmite; it was quite as large as the huntsman spiders round Sydney. Nearby was a hole in the mud which could have been its home. We finally enticed him into a kodachrome tin. While we concentrated on photos and collecting insects, some others of the party did a bit of exploring through a long muddy squeezeway.
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 Well, there we were, all snugly ensconsed in the Chalet. Built of rough hewn native timber, Waldheim fits as naturally into its surroundings as grey lichen on a rock. Each year its aging frame leans a little closer towards the earth which is its home. Some day, perhaps soon, it will fall to pieces, but when it has become one with the dark mould of the beech forest floor we will think of it as of a dear dead friend....... We slept with our mattresses on the floor in front of a big fire and dreamed of what tomorrow might bring forth. Well, there we were, all snugly ensconsed in the Chalet. Built of rough hewn native timber, Waldheim fits as naturally into its surroundings as grey lichen on a rock. Each year its aging frame leans a little closer towards the earth which is its home. Some day, perhaps soon, it will fall to pieces, but when it has become one with the dark mould of the beech forest floor we will think of it as of a dear dead friend....... We slept with our mattresses on the floor in front of a big fire and dreamed of what tomorrow might bring forth.
  
-Up at 6.30. Snow lit the kitchen range. We had breakfast, cut lunches, and were away by 8.30 bound for Cradle Mountain. We tramped along muddy tracks in shifting mist and low cloud, and over huge snow drifts 30 ft. deep from which we could see a gleam of lakes in the distance. We practiced cutting steps up snow slopes at steep angles and kicking up and down snow faces and over a cornice. Keith knew all the tricks and Garth was pretty to watch, but Snow, new to all this, was like a gawky young puppy. As we approached Kitchen Hut all we saw of it was the chimney poking through the drift. Snow gambolled ahead and with great exuberance dropped himself down the chimney. The next thing we hear is a wail from down under the snow, "I can't get out!" We dragged him out, and as it was only 11 o'clock decided to go and climb Little Horn, a sharp splinter of rock separated by a gap from the north east end of Cradle Mt. For a couple of hours we wallowed waist deep through snow which lay lightly on the low scrub at the base of Cradle. Imagine a howling gale, a snow storm, and us, all aiming for the one target. It was a tie; we all reached the gap at the same time. Wow! We put our heads down and made all haste for the sheltered lee of Cradle. Here we ate our lunch, standing up, stamping our wet feet in the snow trying to warm them up. Although it didn't look far to the summit of Little Horn we decided we were too wet and cold and uncomfortable for any more, so wallowed back to Kitchen. "Ha," said the weather, "I was only fooling you." The wind promptly dropped, it stopped snowing, and out came the sun. Well, wasn'thid mighty! The homing pigeons about faced and headed for Cradle again. Only Keith was a bit dubious about all this, and when we started the familiar sinking-to-the-waist progression all over again he decided he had had enough so returned to Kitchen hut. When we others got on to the steep slope of the mountain the surface was harder, and instead of sinking we now had to kick steps up the snow couloir. The summit ridge was well plastered, and on the sheltered side of the mountain were deep snow faces. We swung along with rising excitement, and at last reached the summit cairn, "Well," said Garth, quoting Hillary, "We knocked the bastard off." Said I, continuing the quotation, "The occasion seems to call for more than a formal handshake," so we put our arms round each other's shoulders and jumped up and down on the summit of our own little Everest - three small figures under the sky and all the world was ours.+Up at 6.30. Snow lit the kitchen range. We had breakfast, cut lunches, and were away by 8.30 bound for Cradle Mountain. We tramped along muddy tracks in shifting mist and low cloud, and over huge snow drifts 30 ft. deep from which we could see a gleam of lakes in the distance. We practiced cutting steps up snow slopes at steep angles and kicking up and down snow faces and over a cornice. Keith knew all the tricks and Garth was pretty to watch, but Snow, new to all this, was like a gawky young puppy. As we approached Kitchen Hut all we saw of it was the chimney poking through the drift. Snow gambolled ahead and with great exuberance dropped himself down the chimney. The next thing we hear is a wail from down under the snow, "I can't get out!" We dragged him out, and as it was only 11 o'clock decided to go and climb Little Horn, a sharp splinter of rock separated by a gap from the north east end of Cradle Mt. For a couple of hours we wallowed waist deep through snow which lay lightly on the low scrub at the base of Cradle. Imagine a howling gale, a snow storm, and us, all aiming for the one target. It was a tie; we all reached the gap at the same time. Wow! We put our heads down and made all haste for the sheltered lee of Cradle. Here we ate our lunch, standing up, stamping our wet feet in the snow trying to warm them up. Although it didn't look far to the summit of Little Horn we decided we were too wet and cold and uncomfortable for any more, so wallowed back to Kitchen. "Ha," said the weather, "I was only fooling you." The wind promptly dropped, it stopped snowing, and out came the sun. Well, wasn'this mighty! The homing pigeons about faced and headed for Cradle again. Only Keith was a bit dubious about all this, and when we started the familiar sinking-to-the-waist progression all over again he decided he had had enough so returned to Kitchen hut. When we others got on to the steep slope of the mountain the surface was harder, and instead of sinking we now had to kick steps up the snow couloir. The summit ridge was well plastered, and on the sheltered side of the mountain were deep snow faces. We swung along with rising excitement, and at last reached the summit cairn, "Well," said Garth, quoting Hillary, "We knocked the bastard off." Said I, continuing the quotation, "The occasion seems to call for more than a formal handshake," so we put our arms round each other's shoulders and jumped up and down on the summit of our own little Everest - three small figures under the sky and all the world was ours.
  
 There were photographs to be taken while the sun lit up the snowy peaks and shining lakes, then the mist came sweeping over and we began the descent. We had great fun glissading down the steep snow slopes, and so back to Kitchen hut. Inside the hut Keith had worn a deep circular track in the snow that had drifted inside, as he stamped round for several hours waiting for us to return. We pulled him out through the chimney then followed our trodden tracks over the snowfields towards home. In the deepening twilight our eyes followed down Marion's track, over the button grass flat with its meandering stream to the dark frings of beech forest where Waldheim nestled in its nest of trees, a white column of smoke drifting upwards - good old Mac had lit the fire for us, and that meant hot water for baths. While still floundering through the button grass swamp we drew straws to see who would have first bath, and Keith was the lucky winner. While he filled the bathroom up with steam we set about getting tea ready. Keith had done a mighty job catering for this party; we had everything. Did we need rice and cabbage for Snow's Foo Chow - it was there. Did we need celery, apple, onion for our stuffed grouse - again, these were all available. There were photographs to be taken while the sun lit up the snowy peaks and shining lakes, then the mist came sweeping over and we began the descent. We had great fun glissading down the steep snow slopes, and so back to Kitchen hut. Inside the hut Keith had worn a deep circular track in the snow that had drifted inside, as he stamped round for several hours waiting for us to return. We pulled him out through the chimney then followed our trodden tracks over the snowfields towards home. In the deepening twilight our eyes followed down Marion's track, over the button grass flat with its meandering stream to the dark frings of beech forest where Waldheim nestled in its nest of trees, a white column of smoke drifting upwards - good old Mac had lit the fire for us, and that meant hot water for baths. While still floundering through the button grass swamp we drew straws to see who would have first bath, and Keith was the lucky winner. While he filled the bathroom up with steam we set about getting tea ready. Keith had done a mighty job catering for this party; we had everything. Did we need rice and cabbage for Snow's Foo Chow - it was there. Did we need celery, apple, onion for our stuffed grouse - again, these were all available.
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 ---- ----
  
-LETTER FROM SNOW IN TASMANIA +=====Letter From Snow In Tasmania.===== 
-Dear Geoff 0, Judy, Bushwalkers and Bono, +
-I followed up two days behind Keith, Dot and GarthThe worst thing that happened was I left my camera behind when I changed into the Spirit of Progress at Albury. Discovered my loss in Melbourne +
-and spent half the day on the telephone tracking it down. Arranged +
-to have it sent on to Sheffield. Good plane trip over to Tassi. Got train to Western Junction and arrived just as the others got in from' Hobart. Packs, skiis, stocks, ice axes and 4 huge cases of foodl Are we going to eat all that? On the train we pushed all the food Into our packs, then found Keith's wouldn't fit into the luggage +
-recess. "Leave it in the passageWay," we told him. "No need to bother where it might be stowed - NOBODY would pinch that loads"+
 Waldheim Chalet Waldheim Chalet
-17, The young guard came in to talk to us. He likes his job, "You + 
-meet such beaut people - like you," he says. That means us. +Dear GeoffoJudy, Bushwalkers and Bono, 
-"I suppose you never get train sick," said Dot. "Not me," says he "But one of our boofay girls gets sick every time she travels on + 
-this train; she's too loose in the bogy; you feel her give every +I followed up two days behind Keith, Dot and Garth. The worst thing that happened was I left my camera behind when I changed into the Spirit of Progress at Albury. Discovered my loss in Melbourne and spent half the day on the telephone tracking it down. Arranged to have it sent on to Sheffield. Good plane trip over to Tassi. Got train to Western Junction and arrived just as the others got in from Hobart. Packs, skiis, stocks, ice axes and 4 huge cases of food! Are we going to eat all that? On the train we pushed all the food into our packs, then found Keith's wouldn't fit into the luggage recess. "Leave it in the passageway," we told him. "No need to bother where it might be stowed - __NOBODY__ would pinch that load!" 
-time you change down." I must have looked surprised, because Dot nudged me and muttered, "He's talking about the train Snow, not the girl." Well, how was I to know2 + 
-We got out at Sheffield and loaded everything into our taxi. We made a few purchases at the shops, then headed for Cradle Reserve. The driver said they had been having heavy falls of snow and we would +The young guard came in to talk to us. He likes his job, "You meet such beaut people - like you," he says. That means us. "I suppose you never get train sick," said Dot. "Not me," says he "But one of our boofay girls gets sick every time she travels on this train; she's too loose in the bogy; you feel her give every time you change down." I must have looked surprised, because Dot nudged me and muttered, "He's talking about the train Snow, not the girl." Well, how was I to know? 
-probably have to walk the last 6 or 7 miles - and our gear weighin, + 
-from 50 to 85 lbs. Hell! Approaching Cradle the road was deeply covered with snow, but another car had made a track through it which we followed right to the Chalet after all. Thank Gods Mac the Rang,: was pleased to see us and asked why didn't we notify him; he would have prepared the fire for us, +We got out at Sheffield and loaded everything into our taxi. We made a few purchases at the shops, then headed for Cradle Reserve. The driver said they had been having heavy falls of snow and we would probably have to walk the last 6 or 7 miles - and our gear weighing from 50 to 85 lbs. Hell! Approaching Cradle the road was deeply covered with snow, but another car had made a track through it which we followed right to the Chalet after all. Thank God! Mac the Ranger was pleased to see us and asked why didn't we notify him; he would have prepared the fire for us
-We are roughing it pretty well - hot and cold water, mattressei stove, even kitchen sink. The weather wasn't very good Tuesday, but undeterred we climbed the horse track to Kitchen hut with ice azes, etc. Practised cutting steps, etc. Garth, Dot and Keith were prettgood, but yours truly only managed to fall over bone over apex. Kitchen hut was covered with snow except for the chimneyI went down the chimney but had difficulty in getting out. We had ideas of climbing Little Horn, but the weather turned for the worse and we ha, lunch over the saddle. The way up the saddle was covered with waist deep vegetation and snow. Could just imagine Putt saying "Bloody vegetation!" and agreedHaving lunch was cold and wet so we reti-ac our steps to Kitchen hut. Here the weather cleared somewhat-so up Cradle Mt. we went. Keith got cramps in the snow and vegetation ha]' + 
-way up so he returned to the hut. Dot, Garth and myself continued. Garth and Dot just seemed to eat it up, but I felt uneasy. Reached +We are roughing it pretty well - hot and cold water, mattresses, stove, even kitchen sink. The weather wasn't very good Tuesday, but undeterred we climbed the horse track to Kitchen hut with ice axes, etc. Practised cutting steps, etc. Garth, Dot and Keith were pretty good, but yours truly only managed to fall over bone over apex. Kitchen hut was covered with snow except for the chimneyI went down the chimney but had difficulty in getting out. We had ideas of climbing Little Horn, but the weather turned for the worse and we had lunch over the saddle. The way up the saddle was covered with waist deep vegetation and snow. Could just imagine Putt saying "Bloody vegetation!" and agreedHaving lunch was cold and wet so we retraced our steps to Kitchen hut. Here the weather cleared somewhat so up Cradle Mt. we went. Keith got cramps in the snow and vegetation half way up so he returned to the hut. Dot, Garth and myself continued. Garth and Dot just seemed to eat it up, but I felt uneasy. Reached the top of the ridge after climbing up the couloir and went along the top of the ridge to the summit cairn. A few photographs in the mist and down we went, Practised stopping with ice-axes on way. Learnt a bit and had tons of funWe returned to Kitchen to find Keith inside and unable to get out. After extracting Keith we wandered down to the Chalet to have a - wait for it - hot bathWe drew straws to see who would have the first, but I was having a spell of bad luck and drew the last. Mac the ranger said we were the first to climb Cradle in winter, so when I'm old with a corporation and a red nose I'll tell my grandchildren how I climbed Cradle in August. After a sumptuous 3-course meal we placed mattresses on the floor around the fire and listened to the fourth chapter of "The Day of the Triffids," Became unconscious after drinking cocoa end rum. 
-the top of the ridge after climbing up the couloir and went along thf, top of the ridge to the summit cairn. A few photographs in the mist + 
-and down we went, Practised stopping with ice-axes on way. Learnt +__Tuesd..... Sorry, Wednesday__. Woke to the howling of wind and rain. We were more or less hut bound. Dot went for an 8-mile run in her swimsuit while I cooked some Foo Chow. Keith had made a chocolate sponge and Dot two custard puddings. God help us when we start on the dehy. The weather improved so Garth and I went for a stroll to Dove Lake, Just as we arrived the late evening sun shone on Little Horn with Cradle tucking its head in the mist - a superb photo - yes we didn'have a camera between us. We returned to the Chalet - not hut - to a mighty hot bath. After such a big dinner we had no room for tea, so we went to London to see how the Triffids were making out. Garth would read a chapter then would enquire if anybody was hungry - Keith is always hungry. Dot would read the next chapter - still nobody hungry (excluding, of course, Keith). I would read the next chapter until, by 8 o'clock, we had to leave the Triffids and eat 1 lamb chop each, then back to the chaos in London. We went to sleep with my assurance that it was going to fine up. 
-a bit and had tons of funWe returned to Kitchen to find Keith + 
-inside and unable to get out. After extracting Keith we wandered down to the Chalet to have a - wait for it - hot bathWe drew straws to see who would have the first, but I was having a spell of bad luck and drew the last. Mac the ranger said we were the first +__Thursday__. Still rainingWe decided to brave the elements and go and have a look at the cirque. Climbed Marion's track to a world of white. What with the snow and mist it was just possible at times to pick out the next snow pole. Reached Kitchen hut with the weather decidedly worse, but we were not easily turned back. Battling on past Cradle Mt. with the King Billy pines like Christmas trees in the foreground - the wind and snow whistling past - Cradle with its majestic walls sweeping away into the mists - now where are we? Alps of New Zealand? Swiss Alps? or Canadian Rockies? The weather closed in to a blizzard so we beat a retreat to Kitchen hut where we had a small snack. The ice cave I started did not look very accommodating so we just stood and stomped our feet in the snow while we crunched Dot's beaut scroggin. I threatened to sleep the night in the snow cave, but fortunately they didn't take me up on it. We set off for home via Marion's track, with a deviation to look at Crater Lake. "You can't get wetter than wet," said I, and promptly slipped and fell into the lake. Did not get everything wet, but what did get wet was bloody cold! I left the lake like a jet (the Wagg type) with Dot following close behind and made record time to the Chalet. All of us had a hot bath except Garth. "It will take my strength away," said Garth. A couple of chapters of Triffids before tea. After every chapter we would give our own ideas on what would happen next, but every time we would be proved wrong. Keith went to bed early leaving us talking and drinking tea till 1 a.m. 
-to climb Cradle in winter, so when I'm old with a corporation and a + 
-red nose I'll tell my grandchildren how I climbed Cradle in August. After a sumptuous 3-course meal we placed mattresses on the floor +__Friday__. Still rain, sleet, wind and snow. Heaven help us if we had had to camp in my tent without tent pegs. Slept in till 8.30 and didn't leave till 11 a.m. Mac gave us the rowlocks and key of the boat on Dove Lake so we rowed up the lake to climb Little Horn. Nearly lost Garth at Honeymoon Island - sprawled onto the bottom of the boat like a performing seal, laughing his head off - reason, a loose rowlockClimbed Little Horn, wallowing up to our waist in "bloody vegetation" at the base. The snow in the couloir was firm giving excellent climbing. In mist and snow we beat a hasty retreat back to the boat, and of course I got the faulty rowlock and landed flat on my back with the oar bashing my nose as well. Here is our course across the lake
-around the fire and listened to the fourth chapter of "The Day of the Triffids," Became unconscious after drinking cocoa end rum. + 
-Tu/kiay. Sorry, Wednesday. Woke to the howling of wind and rain. +     --      --      --      --      0      
-We were ma7T-Uf-TUTF-EUf-Uound. Dot went for an 8-mile run in her swimsuit while I cooked some Foo Chow. Keith had made a chocolate +        /  \    /  \    X  \    / 
-sponge and Dot two custard puddings. God help us when me start on +   /    *  /    \  /    \  /    \  /           
-the dehy. The weather improved so Garth and I went for a stroll to Dove Lake, Just as we arrived the late evening sun shone on Little +0--      --      --      --      -- 
-Horn with Cradle tucking its head in the mist - a superb photo - yes we didn'bave a camera between us. We returned to the Chalet - + 
-18. +I bumped my nose here 
-not hut - to a mighty hot bath. After such a big dinner we had no room for tea, so we went to London to see how the Triffids were making out. Garth would read a chapter then would enquire if anybody hungry - Keith is always hungry. Dot would read the next chapter - still nobody hungry (excluding, of course, Keith). I would read the next chapter until, by 8 o'clock, we had to leave the Triffids and eat 1 lamb chop each, then back to the chaos in London. We went to sleep with my assurance that it was going to fine up. + 
-Thursday. Still rainingWe decided to brave the elements and go and have a look at the cirque. Climbed Marion's track to a world of white. What with the snow and mist it was just possible at times to pick out the next snow pole. Reftched Kitchen hut with the weather decidedly worse, but we were not easily turned back. Battling on past Cradle Mt0 with the King Billy pines like Christmas trees in the foreground - the wind and snow whistling past - Cradle with its majestic walls sweeping away into the mists - now where are we? Alps of New Zealand? Swiss Alps? or Canadian Rockies? The weather closed in to a blizzard so we beat a retreat to Kitchen hut where we had a small snack. The ice cave I started did not look very accommodating so we just stood and stomped our feet in the snow while we crunched Dot's beaut scroggin. I threatened to sleep the night in the snow cave, but fortunately they didn't take me up on it. We set off for home via Marion's track, with a deviation to look at Crater +X Garth landed on his back here 
-Lake. "You can't get wetter than wet," said I, and promptly slipped + 
-and fell into the lake. Did not get everything wets but what did get wet was bloody coldJ I left the lake like a jet (the Wagg type) with Dot following close behind and made record time to the Chalet. All of us had a hot bath except Garth. "It will take my strength +As you can see, we rowed four times as far as we should. Four wet, cold and weary climbers returned to the luxury of the Chalet where we spent the evening drying wet clothes and reading Triffids. 
-away," said Garth. A couple of chapters of Triffids before tea. + 
-After every chapter we would give our own ideas on what would happen +__Saturday__. The weather clearing at last - Didn't I say it would fine up? After a late start we managed to reach Kitchen hut at midday. Could see Barn Bluff for the first time this week. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to cross the cirque to the Bluff, so a traverse of Cradle it would beTwo hours to the summit with ice faces near the top - had to cut steps in places. Back along the ridge to a couloir half way to the end, and down we went. Keith and I used the rope for practice for the first time - then we glissaded down to Kitchen hut in a matter of minutes. Glissading is a wonderful sport in itself - puts skiing in the shade. Returned to the Chalet to find it over-run with tourists, curse them. One, a supreme pessimist, growled that the kitchen was no good, there was dry rot in the roof, wet rot in the floor, the sink is lousy and the hot water system useless - but to us it was a mansion. He gave us a laugh at least. The stars are out with a frosty night, so it will be Barn Bluff or bust tomorrow. To-day has been mighty - one of the best climbs yet
-next, but every time we would be proved wrong. Keith went to bed early leaving us talking and drinking tea till 1 a.m. + 
-Friday. Still rain, sleet, wind and snow. Heaven help us if we had +__Sunday__. Woke up with Keith, who did not have to get up as he was going to have a day of rest, prodding me in the back saying, "Get up Snow. It's either 5 o'clock or 6 o'clock"- UrhI fumbled round, 1it the stove, and we were away by 7.45. Walking up Marion's track with the snow firm underfoot - into the mist up top like walking thru cotton wool. Reached Kitchen in 1 hour, then around to the cirque. We became confused as to where Barn Bluff was, but found it in the same position. Plodded up the lower slope towards the rock, then as if by the touch of a magic wand the mist rolled away like curtains on a stage reveal the Bluff in the centre. Would we be the performers and climb it for the first time in winter? Up the couloir we went right to the summit. Wow! What view! Snow-dappled peaks around us forming the backdropFirstly Cradle, then RowlandOakleigh, Pelion East, Ossa, Pelion West, Frenchman's Cap, Lyon, ocean beyond Queenstown. The weather was perfect everywhere in sight (our pessimistic friend told us it couldn'be fine in the N.W.), and it seemed too soon when we had to retreat. The sun had been shining for a couple of hours turning the hard crisp snow into wet slush, Dot sinking to her knees, myself to the waist, and sometimes we thought we would never see Garth again. Under these conditions it was a hard bash back to Kitchen. From there we followed our tracks of the previous day, arriving at Waldheim at 4.30p.m. Keith had wandered up to Dove Lake, etc., in our absence, obtaining some mighty Kodachromes. A bath for everyone - even Garth condescended to have a "weakening" bath; however he was so long about it, Dot suggested he might be too weak to crawl out of it, so I went down to give him a hand. After that a mad rush to pack up and catch our taxi to Sheffield where we slept the night under some fir trees in a cow paddock. Every bird in the district must have been roosting in those trees - it was not only super, it was superphosphatebut Dot fixed that with a few loads of straw from the goods shed. Next morning we dragged the postmaster out of bed to give me my camera - but no, it had not arrivedInto the bouncing buggy to Railton with Garth shooting off 17 frames of black and white through the back window. "I've got 400 ft. of this stuff" he explained. 
-had to camp in my tent without tent pegs. Slept in till 8.30 and didn't leave till 11 a.m. Mac gave us the rowlocks and key of the boat on Dove Lake so we rowed up the lake to climb Little Horn. Nearly lost Garth at Honeymoon Island - sprawled onto the bottom of + 
-the boat like a performing seals laughing his head off - reason, a loose rowlockClimbed Little Horn, wallowing up to our waist in "bloody vegetation" at the base. The snow in the couloir was firm +At Railton we lost Dot and Garth who had to get the plane at Devonport. When you have lived together as a group for a period of time, and especially climbed together, it was a sad loss when they had to leave us. Keith and I are going on to Hobart, thence to Field National Park to get in some mighty skiing. (I haven'used my skiis yet so I'm looking forward to it.) 
-giving excellent climbing. In mist and snow we beat a hasty retreat back to the boat, and of course I got the faulty rowlock and landed + 
-flat on my back with the oar bashing my nose as well. Here is our +This letter started off to be just a couple of lines, but like Topsy it just grew. However I will close now, hoping you are all well. See y' later hot pertater, SNOW. 
-course across the lake f"-; x Garth landed on ' I 1 ifZ was bumped on nose here, + 
-his back hereAs you can see, we rowed four times as far as we should. Four wet, cold and weary climbers returned to the luxury of the Chalet where we spent the evening drying wet clothes and reading Triffids. +=====Good Gracious, Here Comes Christmas!===== 
-Saturday.. The weather clearing at last - Didn't I say it would fine up? After a late start we managed to reaah Kitchen hut at middc,. + 
-Could see Barn Bluff for the first time this week. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to cross the cirque to the Bluff, so a traverse of Cradle it would beTwo hours to the summit with ice +Most of us will never cease to be startled when we first see in some shop window "__NINE WEEKS TO  CHRISTMAS__", with obvious arrangements that tick off the fateful weeks as Time's swiftly flowing stream relentlessly bears us forward to the snags and rapids of Christmas time. 
-193 + 
-faces near the top - had to cut steps in places. Back along tho ridge to a couloir half way to the and, and down we went. Keith and I used the rope for practice for the first time - then we glissaded down to Kitchen hut in a matter of minutes. Glissading is a wonderfu: sport in itself - puts skiing in the shade. Returned to the Chalet to find it over-run with tourists, curse them. One, a eupreme pessimT 1st, growled that the kitchen was no good, there was dry rot in the roof, wet"rot in the floor, the sink is lousy and the hot water systel useless - but to us it was a mansion. He gave us a laugh at least. The stars are out tith a frosty night, so it will be Barn Bluff or bust tomorrow. To-day has been mighty - one of the best climbs yet, +Well, here stands Paddy like Father Time, hour glass and scythe complete, (but without the forelock), to remind you that by the time you read this it will be __SEVEN WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS__
-Sunday. Woke up with Keith, who did not have to get up as he was c_flin' to have a day of rest, prodding me in the back saying, "Get up Sn',7ir. It's either 5 o'clock or 6 o'clock- UrhI fumbled round, 1i thstove, and we were away by 7.45. Walking up Marion's track with 1-le snow firm underfoot - into the mist up top like walking thru cotton wool. Reached Kitchen in 1 hour, then around to the cirque. We becai + 
-confused as to where Barn Bluff was, but found it in the same posItioe +About 2,000 Boy Scouts go forth this year from N.S.W. alone to the Jamboree to be held in Melbourne, and there will be a corresponding pressure on all camping Equipment. Bushwalkers will therefore be wise to secure their requirements early. 
-Plodded up the lower slope towards the rock, then as if by the tolech of a magic wand the mist rolled away like curtains on a stage reveM the Bluff in the centre. Would we be the performers and climb it for the first time in winter? Up the couloir we went right to the suliciAt Wow: That viewl snow-dappled peaks around us forming the backdrop Firstly Cradle, then RowlandOakleigh, Pelion East, Ossa, Pelion Wes +
-Frenchman's Cap, Lyon, ocean beyond Queenstown. The weather was +
-perfect everywhere in sight (our pessimistic friend told us it couldn be fine in the N.W.), and it seemed too soon when we had to retre,-:c. +
-The sun had been shining for a couple of hours turning the hard cl-dsp snow into wet slush, Dot sinking to her knees, myself to the waist, +
-and sometimes we thought we would never see Garth again. Under th.:se conditions it was a hard bash back to Kitchen. From there we fo17.7,we our tracks of the previous day, arriving at Waldheim at 4.30p.m, Keit, had wandered up to Dove Lake, etc., in our absence, obtaining sco mighty Kodachromes. A bath for everyone - even Garth condescended +
-to have a "weakening" bath; however he was so long about it, Doi, +
-suggested he might be too weak to crawl out of it, so I went down to give him a hand. After that a mad rush to pack up and catch our taxi +
-to Sheffield where we slept the night under some fir trees in a cow paddock. Every bird in the district must have been roosting in tH.,.)se +
-trees - it was not only super, it was superphosphate but Dot I'X';ed that with a few loads of straw from the goods shed. Next morninr. 4a dragged the postmaster out of bed to give MB my camera - but r).- it had not arrivedInto the bouncing buggy to Railton with Garth oting off 17 frames of black and white through the back window, ni ve got 400 ft. of this stuff" he explained. +
-At Railton we lost Dot and Garth who had to get the plane at Devonport. When you have lived together as a group for a period :)f time, and especially climbed together, it was a sad loss when thcr;-. had to leave us. Keith and I are going on to Hobart, thence to Field National Park to get in some mighty skiing. (I haven'use-: skiis yet so I'm looking forward to it.) +
-This letter started off to be just a couple of lines, but U. re Topsy it just grew. However I will close now, hoping you are all weL See y' later hot pertater, SNOW. +
-GOOD GRACIOUS HERE COMES CHRISTMAS+
-Most of us will never cease to be startled when we first see in some shop window "NINE WEEKS TO  CliRISTMAS", with obvious arrangements that tick off the fateful weeks as Time's swiftly flowing stream relentlessly bears us forward to the snags and rapids of Christmas time. +
-Well, here stands Paddy like Father Time, hour glass and scythe complete, (but without the forelock), to remind you that by the time you read this it will be SEVEN WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS+
-,bout 2,000 Boy Scouts go forth this year from N.S.W. alone to the Jamboree to be held in Melbourne, and there will be a corresponding pressure on all camping +
-Equipment. Bushwalkers will therefore be wise to secure their requirements early.+
 Primus Petrol Stoves, 21 oz. 49/- Primus Petrol Stoves, 21 oz. 49/-
 +
 Melbourne type one-man tent 4/19/6 Melbourne type one-man tent 4/19/6
-Imported aluminium + 
-screw-top tins 4/6+Imported aluminium screw-top tins 4/6 
 Phone: BM2685. Phone: BM2685.
-PAWN Lightweight Camp Gear 
-201 CASTLEREAGH St SYDN EY 
  
 +Paddy Pallin Lightweight Camp Gear, 201 Castlereagh St, Sydney
195511.1454552732.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/02/04 13:25 by tyreless

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