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At this stage too we filled the two vacancies resulting from Stephen Harvey' | At this stage too we filled the two vacancies resulting from Stephen Harvey' | ||
- | Correspondence, | + | Correspondence, |
We decided to donate $50 to the McDonnell Ranges appeal and it was remarked that the present era when the beef market was depressed might be a favourable time to persuade landholders to contribute property to such a reserve. On the question of the Widden Valley property (Baramul is about 10 miles up from the Goulburn River and just south of " | We decided to donate $50 to the McDonnell Ranges appeal and it was remarked that the present era when the beef market was depressed might be a favourable time to persuade landholders to contribute property to such a reserve. On the question of the Widden Valley property (Baramul is about 10 miles up from the Goulburn River and just south of " | ||
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This is the famous Icelandic volcano, still active, set in a remote part of the island. I was working at the time (in 1956) on a farm outside Reykjavik, so only had the weekend. Accompanied by three Danish farmhands like myself, we walked the 7 miles to town, and caught a bus to where the road ends and then walked for hours across those barren wastes. At a lonely farmhouse roofed in turf sods and the only form of transport was donkey, we barged in for a bite to eat. Kindly people and they treated us like lost relations. They had a piano and those days I could play my 3 pieces properly. After playing my Mendelssohn and Chaminade we set out and there, shortly over the sand dunes, was Hekla. | This is the famous Icelandic volcano, still active, set in a remote part of the island. I was working at the time (in 1956) on a farm outside Reykjavik, so only had the weekend. Accompanied by three Danish farmhands like myself, we walked the 7 miles to town, and caught a bus to where the road ends and then walked for hours across those barren wastes. At a lonely farmhouse roofed in turf sods and the only form of transport was donkey, we barged in for a bite to eat. Kindly people and they treated us like lost relations. They had a piano and those days I could play my 3 pieces properly. After playing my Mendelssohn and Chaminade we set out and there, shortly over the sand dunes, was Hekla. | ||
- | Clouds were looming up and as we all climbed higher the fog became thicker and thicker. The scoria commenced and it was one up, two back. Visibility was down to a few feet and I decided enough was enough. What's the point in going further up to see a crater that would be invisible and no view? The following morning when they came down to me in my tent they were full of misery and woe. Serves them right! They weren' | + | Clouds were looming up and as we all climbed higher the fog became thicker and thicker. The scoria commenced and it was one up, two back. Visibility was down to a few feet and I decided enough was enough. What's the point in going further up to see a crater that would be invisible and no view? The following morning when they came down to me in my tent they were full of misery and woe. Serves them right! They weren' |
===Mount Egmont.=== | ===Mount Egmont.=== | ||
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===For the cheapest gear in Australasia.=== | ===For the cheapest gear in Australasia.=== | ||
- | We have a prompt mail order service to Australian customers - **free | + | We have a prompt mail order service to Australian customers - **free |
| |$| | | |$| | ||
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At 12.30 p.m. we stepped out into the full force of this now dangerous weather. At that moment, strangely as if to thwart our intentions, a thick mist enveloped the mountains, reducing visibility to a few yards. It was as if I had been blinded in mid-stride and in fact it was the last we were to see of the landscape for over six hours. Now the navigation of the South West Cape Range is difficult indeed in such conditions for the top of the Range is undulating, with shoulders and hollows all over the place; there is no well-defined crest. Of course, if one had been perfectly rational the compass would have been consulted immediately. But I find, unfortunately, | At 12.30 p.m. we stepped out into the full force of this now dangerous weather. At that moment, strangely as if to thwart our intentions, a thick mist enveloped the mountains, reducing visibility to a few yards. It was as if I had been blinded in mid-stride and in fact it was the last we were to see of the landscape for over six hours. Now the navigation of the South West Cape Range is difficult indeed in such conditions for the top of the Range is undulating, with shoulders and hollows all over the place; there is no well-defined crest. Of course, if one had been perfectly rational the compass would have been consulted immediately. But I find, unfortunately, | ||
- | The passage of time that day made no impact on me but it must have been about 3 p.m. when Joan calld, "Look, what's that?" Looming eerily in the white-out we could make out a straight and slender vertical object. On coming closer we perceived it was an iron stake! So we had at last discovered the route to Window Pane Bay, the route we had traversed two days before. Or had we? Nothing was familiar. We must find more stakes, not an easy exercise in those conditions, but by scouting around with a great deal of shouting we managed to locate the next stake in both directions. (I should add there was no recognisable track.) We walked that line of three stakes three times but failed to recognise a single feature. Incredibly, it seems now, we convinced ourselves that this was not, after all, the route to Window Pane Bay but some other staked route beyond our knowledge. There seamed only one thing to do now - to forget the Bay and find a campsite somewhere up top, because frankly we were bewildered. Fortunately, | + | The passage of time that day made no impact on me but it must have been about 3 p.m. when Joan called, "Look, what's that?" Looming eerily in the white-out we could make out a straight and slender vertical object. On coming closer we perceived it was an iron stake! So we had at last discovered the route to Window Pane Bay, the route we had traversed two days before. Or had we? Nothing was familiar. We must find more stakes, not an easy exercise in those conditions, but by scouting around with a great deal of shouting we managed to locate the next stake in both directions. (I should add there was no recognisable track.) We walked that line of three stakes three times but failed to recognise a single feature. Incredibly, it seems now, we convinced ourselves that this was not, after all, the route to Window Pane Bay but some other staked route beyond our knowledge. There seamed only one thing to do now - to forget the Bay and find a campsite somewhere up top, because frankly we were bewildered. Fortunately, |
Having made this decision, we dropped down the eastern (the more protected) slopes, exploring patches of trees and gullies for possible sites. But the whole landscape was tilted at 60° or worse and the little that was level was covered with scrub and fallen logs. The frustrating thing was that we had to stumble on something out of the fog - there was no " | Having made this decision, we dropped down the eastern (the more protected) slopes, exploring patches of trees and gullies for possible sites. But the whole landscape was tilted at 60° or worse and the little that was level was covered with scrub and fallen logs. The frustrating thing was that we had to stumble on something out of the fog - there was no " | ||
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Apparently this time the gods were with us because no sooner had we got comfortable than the storm returned with renewed fury. For three hours our tiny shelter in the middle of that vast wilderness was buffeted unmercifully by the wind and lashed by driving rain. Fearing the worst, we expected the tent would be lifted bodily from over us at any moment. Memories of a dreadful Tasmanian night spent in similar conditions at the high camp on Mt. Eliza in 1968 only made us more anxious. Then there was the terrible reputation of south-west Tassie to reckon with. I remember saying some prayers at this stage. We began to plan exactly what we would try to do if the worst came to the worst. Finally I got out my novel in an attempt to forget the outside world, but it was no use - I read only two pages in an hour. But the tent held and not a drop of rain had entered and I gave thanks for the sturdy japara sou' | Apparently this time the gods were with us because no sooner had we got comfortable than the storm returned with renewed fury. For three hours our tiny shelter in the middle of that vast wilderness was buffeted unmercifully by the wind and lashed by driving rain. Fearing the worst, we expected the tent would be lifted bodily from over us at any moment. Memories of a dreadful Tasmanian night spent in similar conditions at the high camp on Mt. Eliza in 1968 only made us more anxious. Then there was the terrible reputation of south-west Tassie to reckon with. I remember saying some prayers at this stage. We began to plan exactly what we would try to do if the worst came to the worst. Finally I got out my novel in an attempt to forget the outside world, but it was no use - I read only two pages in an hour. But the tent held and not a drop of rain had entered and I gave thanks for the sturdy japara sou' | ||
- | Around 7 p.m. we became vaguely aware of a change outside the tent. At first it was difficult to believe, a sort of " | + | Around 7 p.m. we became vaguely aware of a change outside the tent. At first it was difficult to believe, a sort of " |
We were now faced with another decision - whether to uproot camp and descend to the Bay while we could or whether to stay put. The wind now came from the south-west, not a reassuring sign at all, we felt. On the other hand, it was clearer in the south-west than it had been all day. Besides, only two hours of daylight remained, barely time to pack up and avoid the difficulties of the forest in the dark. Inertia, of course, won and we stayed. But it was not just that, either. Somehow, just knowing our position was immensely reassuring and after all, the tent had survived one onslaught - it might survive another. We would collect some water, hop into our cosy tent and make the gas stove justify its bringing; and in the morning, weather permitting, we would be off to a flying start along that crazy range. It all worked out. | We were now faced with another decision - whether to uproot camp and descend to the Bay while we could or whether to stay put. The wind now came from the south-west, not a reassuring sign at all, we felt. On the other hand, it was clearer in the south-west than it had been all day. Besides, only two hours of daylight remained, barely time to pack up and avoid the difficulties of the forest in the dark. Inertia, of course, won and we stayed. But it was not just that, either. Somehow, just knowing our position was immensely reassuring and after all, the tent had survived one onslaught - it might survive another. We would collect some water, hop into our cosy tent and make the gas stove justify its bringing; and in the morning, weather permitting, we would be off to a flying start along that crazy range. It all worked out. | ||
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Along the track the lower shelf of Mt. Evans ridge brought me back into a paradise of lichen and mosses, and soon I was down in Moa Park, with its rushing stream, scenic clearing and dilapidated hut (4-bunk). The stream contains protected freshwater crayfish. Following up the clearing I located the track to Castle Rocks Hut, and descended about 1,000 ft. along the track to reach the hut by 3.30 p.m., after a very leisurely day. Castle Rocks Hut is 4-bunk, and has a very homely atmosphere about it. The clearing gives some pleasant views of the nearby granite masses from which some superb sunrise photographs may be taken. | Along the track the lower shelf of Mt. Evans ridge brought me back into a paradise of lichen and mosses, and soon I was down in Moa Park, with its rushing stream, scenic clearing and dilapidated hut (4-bunk). The stream contains protected freshwater crayfish. Following up the clearing I located the track to Castle Rocks Hut, and descended about 1,000 ft. along the track to reach the hut by 3.30 p.m., after a very leisurely day. Castle Rocks Hut is 4-bunk, and has a very homely atmosphere about it. The clearing gives some pleasant views of the nearby granite masses from which some superb sunrise photographs may be taken. | ||
- | Tho following morning I left by 9.00 a.m. in order to reach Torrent Bay Hut, a descent of about 2,500 feet. My impressions of the forest deteriorated due to a sort of slog to Holyoake Clearing, with no views till the clearing is reached. The clearing is high-level and is the result of a past fire. There is a 4-bunk hut which is not marked on amy maps that I have seen. I arrived at the hut at 10.30 a.m. for morning tea. Shortly after I encountered acres of gorse, which is a most inconvenient prickly bush introduced into New Zealand initially as a hedge, but gone wild. Goats and pigs also are common in this area. The track forks, one going south to Marahua, my track going north to Torrent Bay. At last I saw my long-sought-after view of the northern coast from a bare hill just off the track, and after a dehydrating descent arrived at sea level to lunch at the Torrent River. | + | The following morning I left by 9.00 a.m. in order to reach Torrent Bay Hut, a descent of about 2,500 feet. My impressions of the forest deteriorated due to a sort of slog to Holyoake Clearing, with no views till the clearing is reached. The clearing is high-level and is the result of a past fire. There is a 4-bunk hut which is not marked on any maps that I have seen. I arrived at the hut at 10.30 a.m. for morning tea. Shortly after I encountered acres of gorse, which is a most inconvenient prickly bush introduced into New Zealand initially as a hedge, but gone wild. Goats and pigs also are common in this area. The track forks, one going south to Marahua, my track going north to Torrent Bay. At last I saw my long-sought-after view of the northern coast from a bare hill just off the track, and after a dehydrating descent arrived at sea level to lunch at the Torrent River. |
The midday light had a magical effect on the water. To my mind it ranks as one of the most beautiful locations I have seen, with reflections, | The midday light had a magical effect on the water. To my mind it ranks as one of the most beautiful locations I have seen, with reflections, | ||
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====Annual Subscriptions.==== | ====Annual Subscriptions.==== | ||
- | Members are reminded that annual subscriptions were due and payable as at March this year. Subscriptions may be paid to Jim Vatiliotis (Treaurer) or John Holly in the club rooms or may be posted to Box 4476 G.P.O. Sydney, 2001. Receipts for payments by cheque will not be posted out unless requested. Subscription rates are as follows- | + | Members are reminded that annual subscriptions were due and payable as at March this year. Subscriptions may be paid to Jim Vatiliotis (Treasurer) or John Holly in the club rooms or may be posted to Box 4476 G.P.O. Sydney, 2001. Receipts for payments by cheque will not be posted out unless requested. Subscription rates are as follows- |
Ordinary member $8.50, Married Couple $10.50, Students $5.00, Non-active member $1.50 plus $4.00 for magazine if required. | Ordinary member $8.50, Married Couple $10.50, Students $5.00, Non-active member $1.50 plus $4.00 for magazine if required. | ||
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By Len Newland. Telephone 43.2419 (B). | By Len Newland. Telephone 43.2419 (B). | ||
- | In order to satisfy | + | In order to satisfy |
====Walks for July.==== | ====Walks for July.==== | ||
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All members and non-members of the Sydney BushWalkers Gourmandizers and Epicurian Club are advised that: | All members and non-members of the Sydney BushWalkers Gourmandizers and Epicurian Club are advised that: | ||
- | **Dinner before the next General Meeting on Wednesday 14th. July will be at Lombardo' | + | Dinner before the next General Meeting on Wednesday 14th. July will be at Lombardo' |
Time: 6.00 p.m. | Time: 6.00 p.m. | ||
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Dusky Sound - Lake Manapouri - N2MS S157, N2MS S148. | Dusky Sound - Lake Manapouri - N2MS S157, N2MS S148. | ||
- | Hollyford Valley - N2MS S122, N2MS S113. | + | Hollyford Valley - N2MS S122, N2MS S113." |
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197606.1472598641.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/08/31 09:10 by tyreless