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|**Editor**|Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695.| | |**Editor**|Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695.| | ||
|**Business Manager**|Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | |**Business Manager**|Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | ||
- | |**Production Manager**| Helen Gray.| | + | |**Production Manager**| Helen Gray| |
|**Typist**| Kath Brown| | |**Typist**| Kath Brown| | ||
|**Duplicator Operator**|Phil Butt| | |**Duplicator Operator**|Phil Butt| | ||
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|Advance Notice - Walk in Tasmania|Peter Harris| | |Advance Notice - Walk in Tasmania|Peter Harris| | ||
|A Matter of Perception|Don Matthews| | |A Matter of Perception|Don Matthews| | ||
- | |City to Surf in Forty Two Minutes|Nancye Alderson| 10| | + | |City to Surf in Forty Two Minutes|Nancye Alderson| |
- | |Eastwood Camping Centre - Advertisement| | 12| | + | |Eastwood Camping Centre - Advertisement| | 12| |
- | |Arthur and Us - Part II|Bill Gamble| 13| | + | |Arthur and Us - Part II|Bill Gamble| |
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The wind was very strong on top and everyone appeared to have all their gear on - what an array of beanies, gloves and long pants! Jim reported 1< | The wind was very strong on top and everyone appeared to have all their gear on - what an array of beanies, gloves and long pants! Jim reported 1< | ||
- | It was delightful sitting in the sun on the banks of the Kowmung with the temperature at an incredible 10< | + | It was delightful sitting in the sun on the banks of the Kowmung with the temperature at an incredible 10< |
I gave the party the option of an early lunch an the Kowmung (many had collected firewood - a not too subtle form of persuasion), | I gave the party the option of an early lunch an the Kowmung (many had collected firewood - a not too subtle form of persuasion), | ||
- | Over a brief lunch the next option was discussed - camping on one of the streams forming the head of Butcher' | + | Over a brief lunch the next option was discussed - camping on one of the streams forming the head of Butchers |
Where the road crossed the third creek, wine skins were filled and with heavy packs it was slow toil up the 200m of Gander Head. (Our airy perch on the ridge of the Axehead provided a magnificent panorama.) The late afternoon sun highlighted the golden rocks of the Burragorang Walls with Yerranderie Peak and Bonnum Pic standing out in stark relief. | Where the road crossed the third creek, wine skins were filled and with heavy packs it was slow toil up the 200m of Gander Head. (Our airy perch on the ridge of the Axehead provided a magnificent panorama.) The late afternoon sun highlighted the golden rocks of the Burragorang Walls with Yerranderie Peak and Bonnum Pic standing out in stark relief. | ||
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extend over about 200 metres. Sidling was difficult on the east (the normal route is partly on the top and then the west), and the overhangs, visible from a distance, had floors which would only accommodate one or two people. When nearly to the end of this section we came upon a possible 6-person overhang. However the floor shelf was only approximately 3m wide, to the end of a 6m drop. Nearby were a number of places where one or two people could bed down and with some excavation the cave was made habitable. | extend over about 200 metres. Sidling was difficult on the east (the normal route is partly on the top and then the west), and the overhangs, visible from a distance, had floors which would only accommodate one or two people. When nearly to the end of this section we came upon a possible 6-person overhang. However the floor shelf was only approximately 3m wide, to the end of a 6m drop. Nearby were a number of places where one or two people could bed down and with some excavation the cave was made habitable. | ||
- | The cave is about 1 km north of Gander Head. There were no old fireplaces along this section so we assumed the Kamerukas' | + | The cave is about 1 km north of Gander Head. There were no old fireplaces along this section so we assumed the Kamerukas' |
The setting sun seemed to magnify the Burragorang Walls, Although it was cold (about 2-3< | The setting sun seemed to magnify the Burragorang Walls, Although it was cold (about 2-3< | ||
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The views to the west in the early morning light were magnificent, | The views to the west in the early morning light were magnificent, | ||
- | We crossed Green Wattle | + | We crossed Green Wattle |
We continued on keeping to the northern edge of the range and then to the north-east corner where there is an easy route through the cliffline. We then headed north down the ridge towards Green Wattle Creek. A steep section required some care because of loose rocks, but then it was easy progress to the creek for lunch. | We continued on keeping to the northern edge of the range and then to the north-east corner where there is an easy route through the cliffline. We then headed north down the ridge towards Green Wattle Creek. A steep section required some care because of loose rocks, but then it was easy progress to the creek for lunch. | ||
- | Those concerned with personal hygiene (no names!) were immediately in the creek for a brisk dip and wash. Anyway it was great to feel refreshed and virtuous amongst those other grimy souls. After a relaxing lunch (no time schedules this day) we sauntered off, found a break in the clifflines on the other side and climbed the ridge to the low plateau of the Broken Rock Range. Visibility was limited and a compass course soon found us on the chosen ridge for the descent to Butcher' | + | Those concerned with personal hygiene (no names!) were immediately in the creek for a brisk dip and wash. Anyway it was great to feel refreshed and virtuous amongst those other grimy souls. After a relaxing lunch (no time schedules this day) we sauntered off, found a break in the clifflines on the other side and climbed the ridge to the low plateau of the Broken Rock Range. Visibility was limited and a compass course soon found us on the chosen ridge for the descent to Butchers |
- | Peter Harris had only Sunday and Monday off that weekend and said he might meet U.S in Butcher' | + | Peter Harris had only Sunday and Monday off that weekend and said he might meet us in Butchers |
- | A great array of pre-dinner snacks | + | A great array of pre-dinner snacks |
Jim Percy reported 0< | Jim Percy reported 0< | ||
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The following weekend, 22,23,24 July saw Spiro and Brian Bolton car swapping in the Budawangs. There were 24 starters and the weather was cold. Ian Debert' | The following weekend, 22,23,24 July saw Spiro and Brian Bolton car swapping in the Budawangs. There were 24 starters and the weather was cold. Ian Debert' | ||
- | Over the weekend 30,31 July Tony Marshall ran an Instructional Weekend at Coolana. There were 11 members, 9 prospectives and 2 visitors. They all walked up Mt. Scanzi on the Sunday to prove that it could be done, without getting lost. Ian Debert' | + | Over the weekend 30,31 July Tony Marshall ran an Instructional Weekend at Coolana. There were 11 members, 9 prospectives and 2 visitors. They all walked up Mt. Scanzi on the Sunday to prove that it could be done, without getting lost. Ian Debert' |
The weekend of 5,6,7 August was a good one for cancellations. Gordon Lee's walk did not go, and the Tony Marshall - Don Finch car swap was abandoned in the absence of Finch. The day walks fared better. David Ingram had 7 members and 2 prospectives on his Middle Harbour Walk despite some train problems and confusion, and George Walton had 22 starters arriving back before dark (!!) after a beaut day out to Mt. Solitary. All of which brought the Walks Report to an end. | The weekend of 5,6,7 August was a good one for cancellations. Gordon Lee's walk did not go, and the Tony Marshall - Don Finch car swap was abandoned in the absence of Finch. The day walks fared better. David Ingram had 7 members and 2 prospectives on his Middle Harbour Walk despite some train problems and confusion, and George Walton had 22 starters arriving back before dark (!!) after a beaut day out to Mt. Solitary. All of which brought the Walks Report to an end. | ||
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by Jo Van Sommers | by Jo Van Sommers | ||
- | October 19* Roger Goode, bush fire control authority, will give a talk illustrated with slides. | + | | October 19* | Roger Goode, bush fire control authority, will give a talk illustrated with slides. |
+ | | | | | ||
+ | | October 26 | Bob and Christa Younger will show slides of classical Greece and Italy. | | ||
- | October 26 - Bob and Christa Younger will show slides of classical Greece and Italy. | + | * __Dinner__ before the meeting at Phuoung Vietnamese Restaurant, 87 Willoughby, Road, Crow's Nest. B.Y.O. 6.30 pm sharp. |
- | * DINNER before the meeting at Phuoung Vietnamese Restaurant, 87 Willoughby, Road, Crow's Nest. B.Y.O. 6.30 pm sharp. | + | The annual Barn Dance at “Coolana”, |
- | + | ||
- | The annual Barn Dance at “Coolana”, | + | |
===== Advance Notice ===== | ===== Advance Notice ===== | ||
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| 3 | Lake Nameless - Lake Johnny - Lake Chambers - Lake Douglas - Forty Lakes Peak - Lake Nameless | (6 km) Day walk | | | 3 | Lake Nameless - Lake Johnny - Lake Chambers - Lake Douglas - Forty Lakes Peak - Lake Nameless | (6 km) Day walk | | ||
| 4 | Lake Nameless - Ritters Track (Central Plateau) - Pencil Pine Tarn | (9 km) | | | 4 | Lake Nameless - Ritters Track (Central Plateau) - Pencil Pine Tarn | (9 km) | | ||
- | | 5 | Pencil Pine Tarn - Lake Gwehdy | + | | 5 | Pencil Pine Tarn - Lake Gwendy |
- | | 6 | Pencil Pine Tarn - Lake Butters - Ritters Track Zion Gate -Mt.Jerusalem - Gate of the Chain Pool of Siloam - Walls of Jerusalem | (12 km) | | + | | 6 | Pencil Pine Tarn - Lake Butters - Ritters Track - Zion Gate - Mt. Jerusalem - Gate of the Chain - Pool of Siloam - Walls of Jerusalem | (12 km) | |
| 7 | Circuit of Walls of Jerusalem | (5 km) | | | 7 | Circuit of Walls of Jerusalem | (5 km) | | ||
| 8 | Pool of Siloam - Damascus Vale - Lake Ball - Lake Toorah | (9 km) | | | 8 | Pool of Siloam - Damascus Vale - Lake Ball - Lake Toorah | (9 km) | | ||
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| 15 | Lake St. Clair - Hobart - Sydney | | | | 15 | Lake St. Clair - Hobart - Sydney | | | ||
- | | Leader: | Peter Harris | Total kilometres | + | | __Leader:__ | Peter Harris | __Total kilometres__ |
- | | | 88-3637 (H) | Plus day walk km | = | 26 | | + | | | 88-3637 (H) | Plus day walk km | = | |
- | | | | | | | | + | | | | __Total for two weeks__ |
- | | Grade: | Medium - | Total for two weeks | = | 121 | | + | | __Grade:__ | Medium - | |
| | Extended walk | | | | | | | Extended walk | | | | | ||
- | | | | Average per day | = | 8 (15 days) | | ||
- | | Maps: | Mersey 1:100,000 (Map No.81149 Tas.) | | + | | __Maps:__ | Mersey 1:100,000 (Map No.81149 Tas.) | |
| | Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park Map | | | | Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park Map | | ||
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by Don Matthews | by Don Matthews | ||
- | Kath Brown was having a surprise birthday party. Not for me to disclose which one, but it was an event to be celebrated. Nor do I intend to describe the scene at that happy gathering at the Duncans' | + | Kath Brown was having a surprise birthday party. Not for me to disclose which one, but it was an event to be celebrated. Nor do I intend to describe the scene at that happy gathering at the Duncans' |
- | There are some people who can speak with eloquence, dignity, and feeling at the drop of a hat, and there are some of us whose attempts at opera end up as overtures and whose best efforts at serious verse end up as doggerel. As I stood under the shower an the morning of the party washing my shirts and socks, it suddenly struck me that I had better get moving on the ode. | + | There are some people who can speak with eloquence, dignity, and feeling at the drop of a hat, and there are some of us whose attempts at opera end up as overtures and whose best efforts at serious verse end up as doggerel. As I stood under the shower an the morning of the party washing my shirts and socks, it suddenly struck me that I had better get moving on the Ode. |
The last time I wrote one it was Owen who threw out the challenge. He rang me at work at lunchtime on that occasion. “I want,” he demanded, “fourteen lines of the worst drivel you've ever written. I want it by eight o' | The last time I wrote one it was Owen who threw out the challenge. He rang me at work at lunchtime on that occasion. “I want,” he demanded, “fourteen lines of the worst drivel you've ever written. I want it by eight o' | ||
- | Somehow the cheese sandwich worked. On this occasion, however, the white heat of inspiration was not so evident, and it took six cups of tea, but the germ of an idea had been floating around in the back of my head for some time. It was all to do with assimilation. When I went on my first day walk with the S.B.W., one of the tough lady walkers eyed me speculatively and muttered darkly, “Hmph, they' | + | Somehow the cheese sandwich worked. On this occasion, however, the white heat of inspiration was not so evident, and it took six cups of tea, but the germ of an idea had been floating around in the back of my head for some time. It was all to do with assimilation. When I went on my first day walk with the S.B.W., one of the tough lady walkers eyed me speculatively and muttered darkly, “Hmph, they' |
==== Birthday Ode ==== | ==== Birthday Ode ==== | ||
| Some score and ten short years ago | | | Some score and ten short years ago | | ||
- | |When some of us were-young And walking, for a pastime, We had only just begun, | + | | When some of us were young | |
- | % to those who participated." | + | | And walking, for a pastime, |
- | start it is where you finish." | + | | We had only just begun, |
- | the City to-Surf race with 33,708 official athletes.taking part. | + | | I ventured out to Coal Nine Creek | |
- | 4 | + | | In apprehens-iun. |
- | Several:members of Sydney Bush Walkers took part in the race and they included Barbara Holmes and Evelyn. Walker...walking, | + | | | |
- | onlookers, to their home after the race and a good time was had by all. A | + | | I'd joined the S.B.W. | |
- | special welcome | + | | I thought |
- | Margaret and Bob. | + | | They looked me up and down they did | |
- | * * * * * * * * * * * | + | | Those fellows who stood tall. | |
- | eastvvood | + | | "You can't go on this walk or that, | |
- | camping | + | | You're far too bloomin' |
- | ce | + | | | |
- | BUSHWALKERS | + | | But then I met some wiser folk | |
- | 1CAMPING EQUIPMENT Large Tents Stoves | + | | Their name - you've guessed? - was Brown. |
- | DISTRIBUTORS OF: | + | | “Just |
- | Paddymade | + | | “Erase that worried frown. |
- | Proprietors: | + | | Come for a walk to Coal Mine Creek | |
- | rAt | + | | From Perry' |
- | Rowe Street | + | | | |
- | EASTWOOD CANVAS GOODS & CAMPING SUPPLIES 3 Trelawney St Eastwood NSW 2122 Phone: 858 2775 | + | | I grabbed |
- | Lightweight Tents Sleeping Bags Rucksacks* Climbing 8- Caving Gear Maps Clothing | + | | My bag of Terry' |
- | September, 1983. THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Page 13 | + | | The leader gazed upon my load, | |
- | ARTHUR AND US - PART 11. | + | | And said “How does it feel? | |
- | by Bill Gamble. In March, 1983, a Club walk on the autumn programme went to Arthars | + | | It looks a little high to me, | |
- | Pass National Park in New Zealand. Two members (Brian Holden and Bronwyn Stow) and a visitor (Steve Tremont) flew from Sydney to join the leader (Bill Gamble) for nine days of walking in the park. The introduction to the park and the first days of the walking are contained in the article which appeared in the August issue of the magazine.. This article covers the programmed walk in the Poulter Valley and beyond. | + | | Adjust it to your keel. | |
- | It was shortly before 10.00 am by the time we got away from AndrrATs | + | | Try sneakers too, instead of boots, |
- | descends | + | | The benefits are real.” |
- | have walked up Andrews Stream. The gentle saddle between the Waimahariri and Poulter Valleys is deceptive, more like walking a river flat than the semi-alpine meadow it is. Thick forest sharply defines the limits of the meadow and climbs on up the slopes on either side for another | + | | | |
- | We were over the saddle before we really knew it - most interesting and easy to miss - and well worth a second look. Soon we had dropped into Surprise Stream (which joins Casey Stream lower down) and the last of the meadow before picking up the track marker for a sidle down the true right to | + | | So down I went to Coal Mine Creek; |
- | the Poulter Valley. The track stayed fairly high with a steep drop last | + | | The Tigers? they were there, |
- | aad came out in a generous meadow a few hundred metres from Casey Hut. Consistent with the intentions of the walk we only passed through on this | + | | But nicely held in rein by those | |
- | fine late afternoon, taking sufficient time to make an entry in the hat log book before crossing Casey Stream to find a very pleasant campsite a little | + | | Who took some thought and care | |
- | way upstream an the true left. Contrary to previous experiences | + | | And hardly ever lost a soul - | |
- | for cooking, and warmth to sit around and talk into the evening under a cloudless night sky. It felt like a bushwalk out of Sydney, only for the tumbling stream | + | | They always got them there. |
- | The fine weather continued right through the following day as we walked | + | | | |
- | up the Paulter | + | | So if you think the going' |
- | The rout e from Casey Stream up the Poulter Valley is badly affected at first by windfalls and a change in a main channel of the river. These factors and a misplaced reluctance' 'to get our feet wet led us into an unnecessary scrub-bash, | + | | Be patient, |
- | Page 14 TEE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER September, | + | | That someone has the long term view, | |
- | _ | + | | The proper state of mind, | |
- | of New Zealand tramping hut a and which stood-back;' | + | | And certainly will wait for you | |
- | We found the track marker after a bit of a search, then settled down | + | | If you are all behind. |
- | to lunch in the forest, well-covered to minimise the predations of the sand- flies. Our " | + | | | |
- | The next day offered fine weather for our day walk to Minchin Pass, | + | |Now let us drink a toast or two | |
- | 1082 metres, although by late morning Steve had concluded that a weather change was imminent. But apart from being a rather chilly day on the pass it was not until the early hours of the following morning before the change | + | |To friends of some renown |
- | affected us. | + | |Whose talents we should add include |
- | Our exact route to Minchin Pass was not always obvious, but we made good time once we had all decided that getting our feet wet was unavoidable. Until the first plunge we did all sorts of things to try and keep feet dry. There was a reasonable track around the edge of the lake to the gravel flats beyond; and on the far side, where the Mdnchin Stream issues from a gorge, we crossed it to reach a marked track which climbs high and steep, up and over the bluffs on the true right. From there we chose a rock hop up the stream to Mdnchin | + | |The use of verb and noun - | |
- | We had thoughts of retreating from the pass to a sheltered place lower | + | |A toast in grape or orange juice | |
- | down to have lunch, but Steve faund a good place on the west slope above the pass which provided shelter and views. We anjoypd | + | |To Kath, and to Jim, Brown. | |
- | same route and got back dragging as much downed wood as possible for our | + | |
- | campfire. We also had company nearby - Pete Williamson from Christchurch | + | So we drank our toasts, and listened while Kath responded with eloquence, dignity and feeling. And this at the drop of a hat, because it was a genuine surprise party. Wonderful! |
- | who had been tailing us by a day since leaving Hawdon Shelter. We figured | + | |
- | that we were the only walkers in the Poulter Valley, which is quite an area | + | ===== City to Surf in Forty Two Minutes ===== |
- | for five People to have to themselves. We left a warm campfire and a starry night to awake in the morning to a grey, misty day which would get a lot worse by nightfall. | + | by Nancye Alderson |
- | tar | + | |
- | September, 1983. THE SYDNEY BUSawA | + | We are standing at the top of William Street near the entrance to the Kings Cross tunnel and we can see thousands of athletes lining up at College Street to take part in the thirteenth annual Sun City to Surf race of 14 km to Bondi Beach. The runners who think they will make the distance in less than an hour are in front. The next group think they will finish in 70 minutes, and finally the people who think they will take 90 minutes or more. The favourite runner today is Zephaniah Ncube from Zimbabwe. A crowd is waiting for the athletes to go past and there is a sense of anticipation and excitement. It is a brilliant day and the sun is warm on our backs. The Hare Krishna wearing their pale pink flowing robes are playing their shrill instruments on the side of the road. |
- | Page 15 | + | |
- | Our plan was to linger awhile at Mdnchin | + | It is 9:55 am, only 5 minutes to go before the race starts. Far away in the distance I can hear a pipe band playing. Two minutes to go now. Here they come, they are off and running down William Street and what a pace! A sea of petiple is moving like a great wave and the crowd behind me are pushing to get a better view. Now the athletes are coming up the hill and whistles and a horn are blowing. The police cars, the Sun car and trucks carrying the gear belonging to people in the race are just cruising past us. Here are the athletes stepping it out up the hill, the majority are men of all ages and they look pretty fit to me. Dressed in red, white, green, blue or gold shorts and tops it is an amazing sight. Several men running past are wearing earphones. As they go through the King's Cross tunnel the athletes are calling out and there is an echo of calls and whistles. |
- | The hut log book had nothing good to say about the Trudge Col route into the Hawdon Valley and it seemed that much depended upon the weather | + | |
- | which. was beyond our control. However, we did take the opportunity of walking up Trudge Stream for about hours to determine what sort of route it offered | + | I can't believe it, they are still coming by in thousands. What a kaleidoscope |
- | to the tops. The first hour was good travelling | + | |
- | It wa' | + | Each athlete has a number pinned to the front of his or her chest and number 25,003 has just passed. A fee of $4 has been paid by entrants and the Spastic Centre receives part of the proceeds. A few girls are walking here, I expect the hill is too much for them. I feel dizzy watching the crowd as they move up and down. And still they come. One man has his girl friend an his shoulders and he is jogging along energetically. The girls are coming now, they are in the group which will take more than 90 minutes. The road is littered with plastic garbage bags and T-shirts |
- | people and gear comfortably. Bronwyn, who did not go on the trip up Trudge Stream, had spent part of the time cleaning it out and the bivy.was in. top shape for our stay. It was left to Steve and, belatedly, Bill to try. (unsucc- | + | |
- | essfully) to clear out the hundreds of sandflies around windows.. Outside, they numbered in their thousands, so our comfort inside really had to be measured relative to the alternative. | + | The tail end is coming up now, and there are another two dogs an leads, they are basset |
- | Assisted by a tailwind we were buffeted along an our walk back down the Poulter River, the Trudge Col route abandoned in the face of the weather. There was no way of crossing the channels with dry feet and very soon we were crossing and re-crossing them without much thought as to whether they could' | + | |
- | It was still raining in the morning, but there was sufficient lightness in the sky to push ahead with plans and walk back over the Casey Saddle. Protected under the canOpy | + | Here we are at the finishing line and the athletes are looking rather |
- | Page 16 THE SYDNEY BUSHWAIKER September, | + | |
- | footing on a route which had become a watercourse rather than a track. At the beginning of the saddle, we left the protection of the forest and felt the full effect of the wet and cold as we scurried on to find the bivy on the saddle. Crammed into this drafty, dirty and dilapidated shack, we slowly thawed and put an most every piece of foul-weather gear we could muster. Obviously. the weather gods were impressed for as soon as we moved off across the saddle, the rain and wind ceased. Within the hour the clouds were - breaking and we stopped for lunch alongside a tumbling stream in the beech forest. | + | Now we are near the finishing line with its photo finish camera and the runner' |
- | It was a sunny and warm descent to Andrews Shelter with sweeping views into the Waimakariri Valley, and we needed to wear only the minimum of gear for a decidedly warm walk back to our starting point at the Hawdon Shelter. Over this last stretch we spread, either talking or lost in our own thoughts. Thereupon we repaired to the tearooms and general store at Arthurs Pass - thirty minutes away by car - for an orgy of junk food, ice cream and milk shakes before returning to camp for the night. . The early evening quiet. in | + | |
- | the shelterloy | + | A little 3-year-old is just crossing |
- | Our last day which had been reserved in case of bad weather delays.was | + | |
- | spent in a day-walkup | + | Andrew Lloyd who ran a wonderful race is receiving a large cup and trophy with an athlete on it. Andrew says, “I would like to thank every one involved |
- | on the true right about 30 minutes walk past the East Branch fork. There were many people moving along the route. The volume_of | + | |
- | - | + | Several members of Sydney Bush Walkers took part in the race and they included Barbara Holmes and Evelyn |
- | day was wet and cold and we appreciated the refuge which, the hut provided for lunch. break. Perhaps we all were not quite so enthusiastic. about .the numbers of trampers which crammed into the place - someone counted over twenty at one stage. Walking back down the valley we seemed to keep a few minutes ahead of worsening conditions spreading across the main divide from the west. We shared the Hawdon Shelter with two deerstalkers who had found the weather in the upper basin of the East Branch unenjoyable and had come down for the night. Late afternoon and early evening was a time to tidy gear in preparation for the return to Christchurch the next morning. A warm fire and protection from the wind and rain contributed to a relaxed evening. But overnight conditions worsened and we were faced with having to dry tents and Brian' | + | |
- | The weather improved by the kilometre and by the time we reached the 'tearooms-cum-general store at Springfield for ice creams etc, it.had become | + | ===== Arthur |
- | a warm, autuffin | + | by Bill Gamble |
- | Bill caught the evening Qantas flight to Sydney and was home at Bondi by 10.00 pm. Brian, Bronwyn and Steve went on the next day to Abel Tasman National Park, which is another story. | + | |
- | ' Nap references: Arthurs Pass National Park, NZMS 273, 1:80000, | + | //In March, 1983, a Club walk on the autumn programme went to Arthurs |
- | 1st edition; Otira, | + | |
+ | It was shortly before 10:00 am by the time we got away from Andrews | ||
+ | |||
+ | We were over the saddle before we really knew it - most interesting and easy to miss - and well worth a second look. Soon we had dropped into Surprise Stream (which joins Casey Stream lower down) and the last of the meadow before picking up the track marker for a sidle down the true right to the Poulter Valley. The track stayed fairly high with a steep drop last and came out in a generous meadow a few hundred metres from Casey Hut. Consistent with the intentions of the walk we only passed through on this fine late afternoon, taking sufficient time to make an entry in the hut log book before crossing Casey Stream to find a very pleasant campsite a little way upstream an the true left. Contrary to previous experiences | ||
+ | |||
+ | The fine weather continued right through the following day as we walked up the Poulter | ||
+ | |||
+ | The route from Casey Stream up the Poulter Valley is badly affected at first by windfalls and a change in a main channel of the river. These factors and a misplaced reluctance to get our feet wet led us into an unnecessary scrub-bash, taking about an hour to make 200-300 metres to reach the river flats where travelling is easy. Having emerged from this maze of windfalls and scrub, we wandered up to the Poulter Hut (built in the more traditional style of New Zealand tramping hut and which stood back, well maintained, in the shelter of the tree line well away from the main river channels). Then it was a long, diagonal crossing of the Poulter River to reach the confluence of the river and Minchin Stream - it took the best part of an hour. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We found the track marker after a bit of a search, then settled down to lunch in the forest, well-covered to minimise the predations of the sandflies. Our " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The next day offered fine weather for our day walk to Minchin Pass, 1082 metres, although by late morning Steve had concluded that a weather change was imminent. But apart from being a rather chilly day on the pass it was not until the early hours of the following morning before the change affected us. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our exact route to Minchin Pass was not always obvious, but we made good time once we had all decided that getting our feet wet was unavoidable. Until the first plunge we did all sorts of things to try and keep feet dry. There was a reasonable track around the edge of the lake to the gravel flats beyond; and on the far side, where the Mdnchin Stream issues from a gorge, we crossed it to reach a marked track which climbs high and steep, up and over the bluffs on the true right. From there we chose a rock hop up the stream to Minchin | ||
+ | |||
+ | We had thoughts of retreating from the pass to a sheltered place lower down to have lunch, but Steve found a good place on the west slope above the pass which provided shelter and views. We enjoyed | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our plan was to linger awhile at Minchin | ||
+ | |||
+ | The hut log book had nothing good to say about the Trudge Col route into the Hawdon Valley and it seemed that much depended upon the weather which was beyond our control. However, we did take the opportunity of walking up Trudge Stream for about 1< | ||
+ | to the tops. The first hour was good traveling | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was a small A-frame hut with a sleeping platform which took four people and gear comfortably. Bronwyn, who did not go on the trip up Trudge Stream, had spent part of the time cleaning it out and the bivy was in top shape for our stay. It was left to Steve and, belatedly, Bill to try (unsuccessfully) to clear out the hundreds of sandflies around windows. Outside, they numbered in their thousands, so our comfort inside really had to be measured relative to the alternative. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Assisted by a tailwind we were buffeted along an our walk back down the Poulter River, the Trudge Col route abandoned in the face of the weather. There was no way of crossing the channels with dry feet and very soon we were crossing and re-crossing them without much thought as to whether they could be avoided. We made good time and called in at Poulter Hut for morning tea. Intermittent rain squalls followed us all the way to Casey Hut. We did not repeat our scrub-bash this time and at Bronwyn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was still raining in the morning, but there was sufficient lightness in the sky to push ahead with plans and walk back over the Casey Saddle. Protected under the canopy | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was a sunny and warm descent to Andrews Shelter with sweeping views into the Waimakariri Valley, and we needed to wear only the minimum of gear for a decidedly warm walk back to our starting point at the Hawdon Shelter. Over this last stretch we spread, either talking or lost in our own thoughts. Thereupon we repaired to the tearooms and general store at Arthurs Pass - thirty minutes away by car - for an orgy of junk food, ice cream and milk shakes before returning to camp for the night. The early evening quiet in the shelter by the fire was shattered by the arrival of Friday evening trampers from Christchurch | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our last day which had been reserved in case of bad weather delays was spent in a day walk up the Hawdon | ||
+ | |||
+ | The weather improved by the kilometre and by the time we reached the tearooms-cum-general store at Springfield for ice creams etc. it had become a warm, autumn | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bill caught the evening Qantas flight to Sydney and was home at Bondi by 10:00 pm. Brian, Bronwyn and Steve went on the next day to Abel Tasman National Park, which is another story. | ||
+ | |||
+ | (Map references: Arthurs Pass National Park, NZMS 273, 1:80,000, 1st edition; Otira, | ||
198309.1458529194.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/03/21 13:59 by kclacher