JULY 2004 1045 Victoria Rd West Ryde 9858 5844
Come in and see one of the best lightweight and roomy bush walking tents currently available. It sleeps 3 and weighs in at only 2340 grams complete (with the mesh inner tent and pegs.) Or just 1260 grams fly, pole and pegs.
GOLITE HEX 3 or 4 SEASON SHELTER
i S, USES . . 3 or 4 season hiking or backpacking, winter camping, mountaineering fo \ Price: $ 599.00 a , WEIGHT fo oy 800 g canopy + 370 g pole + 90 g pegs and sack aa \ - oN DESCRIPTION TN aN This 4-season, extremely versatile, roomy 3-person, canopy-style shelter is bound to be- a M come your favourite all-year home-away-from-home. Unlike a tent, which essentially requires you to use poles, inner tent with floor and fly HEX 3 FLOOR Only whenever you pitch it, the Hex 3 is a component system: Price: $ 169.00 You can use just the canopy with or without a floor, or Ae wot just the bug net inner tent, or the canopy with the bug net. PRS. g And you can pitch the Hex (canopy or Nest) over a paddle ips DESCRIPTION on a canoe trip, or over a ski pole on a ski-tour. Or hang Vs Perfect for those who want a waterproof | i. canopy Via its top loop from a branch or a line sus- Z we ee ne need full bug protection. pended between trees. You can dig a snow pit under it and
ners
- @ Clips into Hex 3 canopy at 6 cor-
e Abrasion resistant Cordura centre
pole patch @ 6000 mm waterproof floor
@ 4-inch bathtub design
HEX 3 NEST (No pole)
FEATURES
Price: $259.00 WEIGHT
1080 g net + 90 g pegs (if you already have the shelter then you wont need to take 2 lots of pegs and keep the weight down)
DESCRIPTION
The perfect companion to the Hex 3 shelter when you're heading into mosquito or insect-laden adventures. Can be pitched separately when desert camping.
e No-see-um mesh canopy e Full length 2-way C-shaped door zipper Foam cone pole seat at apex Pole Only Pole Only e Abrasion resistant Cordura centre pole patch 6000 mm waterproof floor e 4-inch bathtub design Pole Only e 6Stow sack Price: $85.00
Weight 370 g
mcrease the amount of usable space; you can pitch it over rocks; and you can put it up quickly by yourself in the nas- tiest. weather. How's that for versatility.
Dual roof vents provide excellent air flow, and the sup- plied extra guy lines can be used to pitch the leeward side (the side facing away from the wind) well off the ground to increase ventilation. SiLite construction and the six- sided shape with extra stake-outs midway along each side add up to an incredibly wind-stable, weatherproof shelter. Functional details include reflective, adjustable guy points: the adjustability ensures a good, taut pitch, while the reflective strips simplify pitching the Hex in the dark (and mean that it's much easier to find your Hex when re- turning to camp after dusk - and less likely that you'll trip over a comer once you have…)
Available in Sun for people who want to be seen, and For- est for those who don't.
For even more versatility, there will be a new trekking pole extender that will enable you to leave the Hex 3 pole at home and use any standard trekking pole to pitch the Hex 3! Available soon
FEATURES
e SilLite silicone-impregnated rip stop nylon
e Hexagonal shape sheds elements superbly
Adjustable aluminium centre pole (also available as a separate item)
Top loop
2 large roof vents
2-way door zipper
Reflective adjustable stake out loops
9 Y-stakes
Floorless design
4-season palace for 2 or home for 3 Stake sack, SilLite stow sack included
THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER is the monthly bulletin of matters of interest to members of
The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc PO Box 431 Milsons Point 1565.
Editor: Bill Holland Production Manager: Frances Holland .| Printers: Kenn Clacher, Barrie Murdoch,
Tom Wenman Don Brooks Fran Holland
LOOK AT OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMME
Theres fun and games in the Clubrooms on Wednesday 18“ August see Page 20
The Coolana Fund: Donations to the Coolana Fund are very welcome and will be used to provide income to assist with
thanks to those who have already donated. and to those who have indicated an. intention to include the Coolana Fund in their wills. Please send in your donation, addressed to The Coolana Fund , The Sydney Bush Waikers Ine. PO Box 43] Milsons Point 1565.
ADVERTISERS: Alpsport Front cover Eastwood Camping 11 Paddy Pallin Back cover Wilderness Transit 5 Willis's Walkabouts 7
JULY
2004
Issue No. 8336 THis MONTH INCLUDES
REGULAR FEATURES:
2 3 4
20
From the Committee Room Message from President Maurice Treasurer's Report
Editors Note
New Members Page
Social Notes
CONSERVATION MATTERS
5
News from Coolana This time Gretel Woodward tells of the latest on Coolana
Johns White Paper Not Green Enough
Pamela Irving is t unhappy with the approach to Australias Energy Future
National Treasure, is under threat Report of a crisis meeting on the future of Kosciuszko
WALK PAGES
10
11,13
14
15,16
17,18
Walk Notes: Barry Wallace summarises recent walks
Colorado Backcountry Second part of Kenn Clachers skiing adventures in Colorado
NZ Walkscrawl lan Wolfe continues his travels in NZ
Maurices Walk To Ettrema Mike Floyd tells of his long weekend walk in Maurices favourite area
Kanangra to the Axehead Range New member Janes Swinton has his first overnight walk with some experienced SBW members
Navigation 101 with Professor Finch
Alison WNinio reports on a_ training weekend in the Blue Mountains
The Sydney Bushwalker: First Edition July 1931 Official publication of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc. [Page 2
T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004
The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc.
Our Club was formed in 1927 for the purpose of bringing bushwalkers together; enabling them to appreciate the great outdoors; establishing a regard for conservation and promoting social activities.
The Club's main activity is bushwalking but includes other activities such as cycling, canoeing and social events.
Our Walks Programme (published quarterly) features day walks on most Saturdays and Sundays, some mid week walks and overnight weekend walks.
Extended walks are organised in areas such as Lamington, Snowy Mountains etc as well as interstate.
Our meetings are held on Wednesday evenings (see Social Programme) at Kirmbilli Neighbourhood Centre, 16 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli (near Milsons Point Railway Station). Visitors and prospective members are welcome. General Enquiries: Phone 0500 500 729 SBW Website www.sbw.org.au
Office Bearers
President: Maurice Smith Vice-President: Rosemary MacDougal Treasurer: Tony Marshall Secretary: Leigh McClintock Walks Secretary: Peter Love
Social Secretary Caro Ryan Membership Secretary Ron Waiters
New Members Secretary: Grace Martinez Conservation Secretary: Pamela Irving
Magazine Editor: Bill Holland Committee Member: Barry Wallace Heike Krausse
Delegates to Confederation:
Jim Callaway - vacant -
Contact The Committee:
Members are welcome to contact the following officers on Club matters:
President : Maurice Smith
9587 6325 (h) mauricethewalker@ihug.com.au
Vice President : Rosemary MacDougal
9428 5668 (h) rmacdougal@bigpond.com Secretary: Leigh McClintock 8920 2388 (h) meclintock@pacific.net.au Treasurer Tony Marshall
9713 6985 (h) thuilder@bigpond.net.au Members Secretary: Ron Watters 0419617491 wattersr@bigpond net.au
New Members Secretary: Grace Martinez
0405 473 029 (m) gracie_mar@yahoo.com.au
From The Committee Room - July A report on proceedings at the Management Committee meeting on 7 July 2004 Roger Martin and Pam Campbell were
accepted as Active Members.
= Ron Watters will report to the next meeting on members who have not renewed for 2004.
The Website Sub-Committee has been asked to prepare a paper addressing privacy and security issues involved with a members-only section on the website.
Committee allocated $200 to enable the club to sell high quality electronic copies of the photographs that appear on the clubs website.
“The Secretary to write to the Webmaster, thanking him for his role in developing the website.
= Maurice Smiths walk on 3-4 July and Allan Wells walk on 5-6 June retrospectively upgraded to qualifying walks
” Peter Love reported on arrangements for the walks grading forum on 14” July. .
The Treasurer advised that the funds situation was comfortable, with about $16,000 in the bank.
= Committee approved the payments for the month including a cheque for Confederation of $8,515 (covering affiliation $2,050, public liability premium $3,919, personal accident premium $2546)
= The Treasurer noted that donations had been received $2,000 and $1,000 for a bio-toilet for Coolana. Patrick James is_ actively investigating products on the market.
= The Conservation Secretary advised that she has received the Draft Plan of Management for the Kosciuzsko National Park and its companion volume, the Alpine Resorts Plan.
EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
SBW has purchased an EPIRB for use by club members, in particular walks leaders.
The GME Electrophone MT310 is a self contained radio transmitter, which transmits an internationally recognised distress signal on the aviation emergency frequencies for a minimum of 48 hours. These frequencies are monitored not only by commercial and military aircraft but also by the COSPAS/SARSAT satellite systems. Weight 185g
The Club Secretary, Leigh McClintock will manage the EPIRB. So if you would like to take the EPIRB for a walk give Leigh a ring on 8920 2386 and arrange to collect it. The Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 Page 3
Message from President Maurice:
As part of the my monthly column I am taking the time to sing the praises of the heroes who are usually unsung, that is those members who do so much of the behind the scenes work that make our club such an alive organisation.
If you are among those who do that work and you have not had your moment of glory in this column, it will happen. My selection of those whose praises need to be sung is purely random. This month it is the turn of the team of people who print the monthly magazine and the quarterly walks program as well as other documents that are printed less frequently.
The team of members, whose names are printed on the first page of the magazine, each month receive the print master from the appropriate author, be it the Magazine Editor, Walks Secretary or other member. From then on the print team do all those sorts of arcane tasks that in my mind conjure up visions of the older style printers of newspapers who worked with lumps of hot lead. However, the new printing machine purchased only last year after the older one finally died and could not be resuscitated pumps out many pages per minute. So let us sing their praises because each month of the year they are there operating the printer ensuring that the in-slot of our letterbox receives our monthly edition of the magazine. What a sterling job they do. Thank you to the printing team of Kenn Clacher, Barrie Murdoch, Tom Wenman Don Brooks and Fran Holland.
The Ciubs Management Committee has been spending quite some time over the past several months on clarifying just how we assess whether any particular walk on the Walks program is of Qualifying grade. After much effort by Ron Watters, Peter Love and other committee members we have a document that will soon be released for wider circulation among our members. Remember that every Prospective Member is required to complete two one-day Qualifying walks and one weekend Qualifying walk as part of the process of becoming a full member.
For prospective members the to-be released document will give them a clear idea of what a Q walk is likely to entail and for trip leaders this document will help them to assess whether their trip meets the criteria for it to be accepted as a Q walk. For the Management Committee, each quarter when we review the draft Walks program we will have a clear means of assessing whether a walk is of Q grade. The two-page
document will be published in this magazine and your input in the way of constructive comments will, as always, be welcome.
The weekend of 10 & 11 July saw the first of the new-style walks training weekends for prospective members. This initiative introduced 11 prospective members to the delights of carrying a weekend pack (this time on a one-day walk in the Nattai NP), and then all participants ended up at Coolana for an overnight camp. The weekend was the brain-child of Peter Love. Many thanks to the organisers of the weekend who did a sterling job, especially Ron Watters and John Bradnam and the weekend instructors/mentors and a big thank you to Lynette Huang, a prospective member about to become a full member, who was willing to be a walk leader under instruction for her contribution. Based on the positive feedback from the participants it is likely that we will make this type of weekend a regular quarterly event.
Thats it from me for the month. See you on the track soon.
Maurice Smith
ERNE ORE een
We invite your participation in the SBW Electronic Media Questionnaire
Ys quesbonnairg wid ba used te agstst in the davelopreand of the club's Wwieb cite and dievibsion of ington to merker:.
Ar Bons mating you to pashuipate vdil te issued shorthe You non nontact Gail Onehton S72 PIS by a pager oogy of the quashonnens f you don't cease thes otal tequdar Broa. The qayshommede dvds opens or 3 Angust coud Geses on St Anagqust Yourressonses will be Leap enomariaus,
Page 4 T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004 Treasurers Report - May Editors Note:
SBW Bank Account Opening Balance 1* Jan 04 $6,745 Receipts 27,696 Payments 12,444 Closing Balance 30“ Jun 04 $21,997
Cash Flows six months ended June 2004
Membership fees 16,598 Prospective and joining fees 4,489 Gear Auction 311 Donations - General 65 Donations - Coolana 55 Interest - General 555 Interest - Coolana 606 Interest - Conservation 222 Magazine advertising 1,795 Coolana donations 3,000 Total Receipts $27,696 Rent of club rooms 995 Postage, Telephone & Website 795 Bank charges 226 Magazine materials 1,706 Magazine postage 2,350 Magazine miscellaneous 266 Coolana rates & rent 583 Coolana supplies & miscellaneous 280 Donations in memonial 100 Miscellaneous 373 Equipment - Data projector 1,399 Sydney Catchment Grant - Coolana 3,371 Total Payments $12,444 Net Increase (Decrease) in cash $15,252
Many members have paid their fees promptly so the clubs finances are very healthy. There are some large bills to pay in the near future, particularly for Confederation affiliation and insurance. After allowing for these expenses the club should still be able in invest funds in the next couple of months.
There have been some very generous donations to Coolana funds and I would like to express my thanks to these donors.
Tony Marshall - Treasurer
My email address has changed
Please note that the Editors email address
Now, I am reasonably literate in IT but must admit to a month of near confusion as I moved to ISDN, with a different ISP (changed email address) and a new browser. Somewhere in all this I know I lost at least one file and possibly others. So if you have sent in a contribution and it has not been acknowledged, please check with me.
Despite the stress and stram of the changeover this months magazine is slightly larger than usual, packed with members articles and there is a carry over to next month. My apologies to the writers for deleting photos with some articles but fitting space was at a premium.
Walk reports are always welcome but there is a better chance of immediate publication if they are limited to one or two pages.
Conservation articles are also welcome as new pressures emerge both at the national and state levels. This month we feature two reports and look forward to your reaction.
Last week I attended a crisis meeting to discuss the environmental impacts of proposed tourist developments in the Kosciuszko National Park.
Kosciuszko is an area treasured by bushwalkers and those who appreciate a natural environment. Our government and the park service must be persuaded not to accept the proposals outlined in the plan - see Page 6.
Your opinion in putting forward a SBW position on Kosciuszko would be appreciated. Please write to this magazine or to the Committee Bill Holland
Letter to The Editor
I am a prospective member who is looking to sell a Macpac 2 man Apollo tent, (just downsized to a Macpac Microlight) and enquiring as to whether any members might be interested in purchasing same. The tent is in mint condition, purchased in November 2001 and used 5 times. Normal cost is $499, will sell for $200.
If interested contact me on 0438 769 484.
Roger Gibson.
Copy for publishing in the SBW magazine should be received by the editor by the end of the first week of each month. Letters stating your viewpoint on matters of interest are most welcome. Please send your submission in by mail (preferably typed), on floppy disc, or by email addressed to The Editor Telephone: 9484 6636 Email: billholland@bigpond.com.au Fax: 9484 6009 (phone 9484 6636 first)
The Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 Page 5
News From Coolana
Gretel Woodward
Don is very busy at the moment so I am filling in for this July Magazine issue.
Bill Holland had a very successful maintenance week-end on the 3 and 4” July as he had 7 helpers (Bill, Chris, Jerry, Wilf, Don, Phillip and I) which enabled us to get lots of work done. Between us we mowed, weeded, watered, cleared timber, chain sawed a couple of dead trees, cleared around our new trees etc.
Bills grandson, Chris was a big help to Bill in clearing timber and controlling the fire, Gerry Leitner helped everybody especially with the mowing and carrying water for me as I was planting the last 10 Casuarina cunninghamania on the eastern bank, Phillip Worledge did a magnificent job on the eastern flat clearing a huge area with the mower and has made the area very accessible for future maintenance and with a bit of luck for camping in the near future, Wilf hand weeded and removed the last of the old Cobblers Pegs and cleared % of the walking track to the Dot Butler lookout, Also there is a track marked with orange tape all the way to the Quaker property next door. Don helped everybody as usual, chain-sawed, mowed etc. and also completed maintenance required on our hard working mower.
We have now completed the tree planting required to complete our obligations to the Sydney Catchment Authority for the $4,500 grant received Jast year and have also planted an additional 40 Casuarina cunninghamania donated to Coolana by Shirley Dean & Hilary Walker. We will have planted (7 still to come from Joan Rigby) 314 trees and/or ground covers plus the 40 donated by Hilary and Shirley over a five month period. We planted 180 - March at the reunion, 80 - April, 44 - May, 33 - June and 10 -July.
Unfortunately over the past two months we have lost 8 trees and quite a few ground covers due to the lack of rain in Kangaroo Valley and it
ts ery
is possible that we may lose a few more due to the drought conditions. However just prior to compiling the article it actually rained and this may help to alleviate any further losses.
Are You Able to Help?
To keep im front of the cobblers pegs we need a mowing roster and to. fill a roster we need more volunteers. We would like to have three teams of two or three people and each team to go down to mow once every three months. It would involve mowing for one day of 4 hours mowing. If you would like to help, and we really need some help, please contact Don Finch finchros@bigpond.com or 9452 3749 (H). Assistance with transport possible
Maintenance and Bush Regeneration 28“ 29” August. Join us for a pleasant weekend of light work and socialising around the camp fire . No need to phone Just come along.
NSW WILDERNESS Tras |
: * ANG
[ YERRANDERIE Guost TOWN
STARLIGHTS TRACK. Buneonta Caves. Woe Woe. Nerniga
4 Departs from Sydney's Camabelitown Railway Station ; Via Paneth, Satoomite & Blackheath for i
1 Returss 4pm Mon, Wed, Frid.
: Vie Starlights, Mittagong & Marulan for
FWog Wog-Nerriga Tues.& Thurs & Sun at Tian : Returns 4 pra Tues, Thurs, Sun.
g Yerranderie Ghost Town first Saturday insach =f E month. relurns Suri att pm (any Friday min 6) Group booking discounts or charter service
[Page 6 - T he Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 |
CONSERVATION MATTERS
Message from Pamela:
The Kosciuszko Draft Plan of Management and The Alpine Resorts Plan are now available for public scrutiny, and submissions from the public will be accepted until Friday 20“ August - see below.
If you would like a copy of the POM, or any further information, help is available from kosciuszkopom@npws.nsw.gov.au, www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 200 208
Johns White Paper Not Green Enough
Last month, our Prime Minister presented something called a white paper, titled Securing Australias Energy Future. It comes as no surprise that the Liberals continue to support the fossil fuel industry, given the 120,000 jobs and $24 billion in exports the industry generates each year. The predicted climate change caused by the greenhouse effect will start devastating Australia earlier and with greater severity than almost anywhere else on earth.
Two degrees of warming will kill about half of
. the worlds coral reefs. The Wet Tropics World Heritage area in north-eastern Queensland will start experiencing extinctions at one degree rise in temperature. The wetlands of Kakadu will be destroyed by the rise in sea level and storms. The majority of our alpine areas will disappear.
The Kyoto Protocol has had a reprieve in May, Russia announced its intention to sign. The Federal Government claims that Australia is on target to meet its Kyoto commitments on greenhouse emissions. However we are still one of the worst polluters per head of population, and one of the countries most reliant on fossil fuels.
In the white paper, John Howard announced a $500 million fund to promote technologies that reduce greenhouse emissions. One such technology is geosequestration, a process which pumps carbon dioxide produced as a by-product of the fossil fuel industry back into the ground. This technique is still in the research stages, with no guarantee it will succeed or be financially viable. In other words, its business as usual for the oil producers.
$134 million has also been allocated for the development of renewable energies such as solar and wind. $75 million has been allocated for a solar cities trial in Sydney and Adelaide. Smart Meters will be installed which will wind backwards if excess solar power is generated and send it back to the grid. However green groups have described this money for research and trials of clean energy options as sugar coating, unless the government increases the amount of energy that is required to be produced from environmentally-friendly sources.
Australias potential stand on the greenhouse effect was summed up by Don Henry, the director of the Australian Conservation Foundation, prior to the release of the Federal Liberal Governments white paper:
Will this statement be forward-looking and realise one of the great environmental and economic challenges of our time is about cutting greenhouse emissions? Or will it be backward- looking to last century and the dominance of the fossil fuel industry?
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Pamela Irving
Dont Let This Happen Here! Bush To Open Forests To Logging, Mining
A new regulation put forth by the Bush Administration this week would allow the building of roads in many of the most remote, pristine areas of the country's national forests and open them to logging and mining…..
… The Australian 14/7/04
The Kesciuszko National Park draft Plan of Management is open for public comment until Friday 20 August. 2004
Post your submission to:
KNP Plan of Management Review Team Parks and Wildlife Division
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) PO Box 733
Queanbeyan NSW 2620
or email to: kosciuszkopom@npws. nsw.gov.au
Exposure draft Alpine Resorts Plan Development Control Issues Plan Discussion Paper is open for public comment until Tuesday 17 August 2004
Post your submission to: The Alpine Resorts Planning Team
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources
PO Box 189
Queanbeyan NSW 2620 or email to: alpineresorts@dipnr.nsw .oov
| The Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 Page 7
Crisis Meeting: “Kosciuszko, Our National Treasure, Is Under Threat”
On Wednesday I attended the above public meeting to discuss the threats posed by the Kosciuszko Draft Plan of Management and the Exposure Draft of the Alpine Resorts Plan both of which have been released for public scrutiny As Pamela (Conservation Secretary) could not attend due to another commitment, I was pleased to represent Sydney Bush Walkers on her behalf.
Pre- meeting publicity included the following Backroom deals are about to be sealed that would bring on a resort apartment construction bonanza in Kosciuszko National Park. Perisher is set to become a town; complete with a huge shopping mall and year-round commercial facilities. Another glitzy tourism trinket town with the national park as its backyard would be a conservation disaster. Resort developers, commercial tour operators and a bunch of horse riding cowboys have ridden off with the planning agenda for Kosciuszko, while many competing proposals for improved nature conversation have gone ignored or been dropped Our largest national park contains the majority of Australia's alpine ecosystems and wilderness. It should not be undermined by plans for more development now and options for further more commercial tourism later on. This, indeed was the focus of the meeting. We were told that the high country areas are under
threat from powerful interests. Six large apartment blocks up to five stories high are proposed for Perisher. This is only the start as the Resort Plan opens up to eight areas for resort expansion/development including the Perisher Range, Smiggins Holes, Charlotte Pass and Mt Selwyn.
Such developments require infra-structure including sewage primary treatment works, ski runs and more road access. Resort development will lead to increased commercial tourism with such unwelcome activities such as four wheel drive tours, mountain bike riding and horse riding.
There are many other problems and you are urged to obtain a copy of these documents, accessible from web-sites (see Pamelas note on opposite page).
If you treasure our Kosciuszko National Park, if you look forward to experiencing alpine scenery in winter without the clutter of buildings and busy ski runs; if you think parks should be for the peaceful enjoyment of people rather than for the financial benefit of developers and government then you are urged to write a letter to the addresses shown on the opposite page.
As for me, I wrote two letters when | returned home form the meeting - it took me 30 minutes - time well spent.
Bill Holland.
{there is no one else!
Thera are many usar operators whe go to Kakedu, but there is only one who offers tours where
@ you camp in the widerness, away from camograuricis,
you share your carapstes wath na one Out your waking companions
* you can weit Jim Jim god win Falls :9 the wet seasos
you can walk for days or weeks without seeing a soul.
Plan ahead and save wilh our advance
purchase discounts.
See why so reany of our clans come back again and again.
www. bushwalkingholidays.com.au |
Williss Walkabouts 12 Carrington St
Miliner NY 6816 Email: walkabout@ais.net.au
3
|Page 8 T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004
THE WALKS PAGES
Walks Notes 3” April to 4“ May.
The weekend of 3, 4 April saw a complete dearth of overnight walks due to a lack of volunteer leaders. There were day walks however, with Carole Beales conducting a group of 5 ladies on what appears to have been a grazing expedition from Newport to Manly via the Northern Beaches in ideal weather on the Saturday. The beautiful swim they had in the rock pool at North Narrabeen provided a recuperative interval. The other Saturday walk, Tony Crichtons trip from Otford to Bundeena saw the party of 13 sobered somewhat by an ongoing police search for the body of a rock fisherman washed off the rocks and drowned in rough seas at Little Marley that morning. There is a cautionary message in this event for bushwalkers moving around tidal rock shelves and headlands in such conditions.
We do not appear to have a report for Roger Treagus Sunday walk from Mount White to Brooklyn along the Hawkesbury River and the other Sunday trip that weekend, Ken Smiths Woodford to Glenbrook walk, was cancelled due to a lack of enquirers.
Tony Holgate had programmed an extended walk in Northern NSW from 9 to 18 April but we have no report for this event.
Caro Ryan and Tony Manes led a silent Easter qualifying trip into the Kowmung River from the Oberon side with a party of 6. Not much to be said really. They did find a couple of dead cows somewhere out there but we have no word of an autopsy, and foul play cannot be ruled out. There was evidence of helicopter access on the riverbanks after all. Kenn Clachers walk from Mount Irvine to Mount Tootie that weekend attracted a party of 6, and was described as an excellent trip. All of the various passes were found in good order, with just a little Tope assistance required in some cases. Nayook Creek was described as both beautiful and spectacular, and swimming was the order of the day in all streams. The party were intrigued to find a
diamond python wandering through their campsite on -
Wollongambe River while they were having their evening meal after dark. There was a Hilltop to Kanangra walk scheduled that weekend but difficulties in arranging transport led the leader, Bill Capon, to opt for a route out from Yerrenderie. There were 10 starters but apart from the route we know no more than this. Maurice also had a tip scheduled for the Easter weekend, from Yalwal to Tullyangela Clearing, but we have no report to date for this one. There were no day walks that weekend though this is not entirely surprising.
We lack reports for both of the qualifying overnight walks for the weekend of 17, 18 April. Rosemary was to have led a trip from Yalwal to Bundundah Creek over the ridge, and back via Danjara Creek, and Wilf had a trip out from Newnes in Wollemi National Park. John Bradnams walk that weekend saw a party of 3 masochists put in a couple of 9 hour plus days travelling from Uni Rover Trail near Boyd River to Yerranderie
Barry Wallace
Pic and retum to Kanangra walls via Bullhead Buttress. They were blessed with fine weather throughout. Michael Bickley had a party of 4 on his Saturday boating/walk trip in Kuringai Chase and on the Sunday Richard Darke led 20 starters on his walk in the Barren Grounds area. They enjoyed a perfect, clear, 21 degrees C day with a hand-line and just a touch of excitement negotiating one or two of the passes
Anzac weekend saw no report for Ian Thorpes exploratory trip in the Wollongambe National Park but John Bradnams walk along some of the lesser known ridges out from Carlons Farm had a party of 5 out in warmer than usual conditions. They rushed things a bit and ended up back at the cars at 1400 hours. They also remarked on the number of people they met along the Cox River who had attended the dawn service at Splendour Rock. David Rostron led a party of 10 on his walk out from Kanangra Walls to traverse the Axehead Range. Weather conditions were perfect for the traverse, though the dry condition of many of the creeks crossed going and coming was cause for concern. The party of 6 that went on Tony Holgates Barrington Tops walk that weekend seem to have got off lightly considering the exploratory rating on the program. Most of the going tumed out to be easy and the Karua River provided beautiful campsites in the rain forest. Nigel Weaver led the only day walk that weekend, a trip from Cowan to Berowra on the Monday, with a party of 23. Conditions were fine with wonderful views of Berowra Creek along the way.
Carol Lubbers easy/medium walk out to Box Creek Falls and return was the first trip for the weekend of 1, 2 May, with a party of 9. Conditions started out cold and windy and stayed that way most of the weekend. There were even rumors of sleet overnight on Saturday. We do not seem to have a report for John Bradnams overnight walk into Yerrenderie from Kanangra Walls. Of the day walks, Chris Dowling led a party of 11 on his Saturday loop down into Bluegum Forest and return. Kathy Gero was unable to lead her programmed Otford to Bundeena trip on the Sunday due to a broken wrist so Maurice stepped in to fill her place. Al of which may have worked well except for the major Cityrail communications failure that completely disrupted the planned transport arrangements. The party of 4 ended up driving to Cronulla and catching the ferry to Bundeena, then did a 20km out and back walk in The Royal. Roger Treagus Sunday walk, programmed as Stage 19 of the Great River Walk, turned out to be Stage 18, deferred from April due to inclement weather at the time. The party of 18 also got a little more than expected in the way of adversity training due to unexpectedly thick ground cover and difficult terrain. Despite all this they emerged in time for an impromptu happy hour while waiting for the water taxa to take them back to Brooklyn as the moon rose.
The editor is importuning for copy so we will leave it here for this month. Barry Wallace Whether its bush waiking, mountaineering, cross-country skiing, trek- king or travel, a pack is your best friend or worst enemy. Why? Because you depend on the agility and comfort that your pack provides.
The Mont Moto-Active adjustabie har- ness system is deceptively simpie, fast to adjust and easy to fit. Available in three sizes and featuring inter- changeable harness compo- nents, a truly best fit is possible, and best fit means a truly comfortable carry.
&
eastwood camping centre
Pen. bd Innovative designs,
SMONT detailed construc-
tion and quality ma-
terials. Back anatomically con- Country toured hip-belts.
Pack + Spandura and 3D Air-Flow fabrics for body contact points.
bd Bar tacks on the im- portant high stress points.
. Triple stitched with webbing bound seams to ensure massive seam strength.
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T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004
Colorado Backcountry 2004 - Part 2
Our second trip was in the Holy Cross Wildemess and we looked forward to less contact with snowmobiles. From the trailhead at Yeoman Park we skied to Peter Estin Hut where we were to stay on the first and fourth nights. For nights 2 and 3 we were to Stay at Harry Gates Hut, before returning to Peter Estin, then to Polar Star Inn for our fifth and last night before skiing out to West Lake Trailhead near the town of Edwards. This itinerary was dictated by availability of spaces in the huts at the time of booking.
At the trailhead we encountered others who were heading for Peter Estin. One of their cars sported a bumper sticker advocating ski naked. We elected to take the direct (steepest) route which involved lots of zigzagging up a well-used track through fairly dense spruce forest. Nevertheless the climb of 2,140 was accomplished with relative ease. But about halfway up we realised that we had neglected to bring with us a record of the combinations of the locks that are used to lock the huts. There was no prospect of going back to our base, because the trailhead is at the end of a little-used road. Because we knew at least one other party would be at our hut that night we pressed on. The hut was already occupied when we arrived, so we were able to get in.
The party we encountered at the trailhead tumed out to be staying there for just one night, but had brought enough food for a week. And what food! We gladly accepted offers of freshly baked (in the wood-fired oven) bread rolls, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, burritos and ice cream. A jolly night was had by all with the abundance of food and wine. But next morning we had to endure the aromas of bacon and eggs while we waded through our dull porridge and meusii.
Kenn assured the others that Harry Gates Hut would be swarming with occupants and that the lack of the lock combination would not be a problem. This hut is 1,500 lower than Estin. We elected to take the gradually descending road to the hut, leaving the shorter steeper track through the forest to return to Estin two days later. The road through Crooked Creek Pass and past Crooked Creek Reservoir should
have been easy skiing, but it was churned up by snowmobiles and crusty, so it was not much fun.
When we arrived at Harry Gates Hut we were dismayed to see no other inhabitants. While being unable to get into the hut was not life-threatening, as we did have a tent and stove, the weather was looking bleak and the inside of the hut very cosy. On consulting the combinations of the huts we stayed at the previous week, which James was still carrying in his map holder, we detected some clues as to what the combination might be. Fortunately ail the prior lock combinations ended in zero. So, on a lock with 10,000 possible combinations, this reduced our search to a manageable 1000 combinations. We found the right one on the 257th attempt, which took around 20 minutes. It is just as well we did get in because we had the but to ourselves that night (the only time this occurred), as well as a good dusting of snow.
James and Kenn skied up Burnt Mountain the next day a climb of 1,500. The route was a mixture of dense and open forest with the last 500 over several false summits being above the treeline. A feature of the top was a cairn comprised of a single-rock supported by a wooden platform. We hadnt realised that rocks were in such short supply thereabouts. Views from the top were spectacular during the periods when the snow stopped and there was some visibility. In particular, views to the east over Tellurium Park of rugged mountains rising to over 13,300 were impressive, while to the west the ski runs of Aspen could be seen.
Skiing back down the hill to the hut we enjoyed the best downhill skiing of the trip, although it wasnt particularly good. While the snow was soft and not crusty it was fairly heavy, but better than anything else we encountered in two weeks in the Colorado backcountry other than in heavily treed areas.
) Cape Bailey- Whale Watching Walks
= ~<On Tues 15” June twelve members had
a whale of a time watching several whales after walking around the cape from Captain Cooks Landing Place;. first to Cape Solander and later on the clifftops to Cape Bailey.
Although some distance away at first by lunchtime they * were clearly : visible by the naked eye with fins and bodies discernable by =? binoculars
- JT repeated the walk on Sunday 22“ June, this time there were twenty three of us enjoying similar views and success in spotting whales
Bill Holland | The Sydney Bushwalker July 2004 Page 11
NZ Walkscrawl - February 2004 -Part2. lan (Khaos) Wolfe
Ian continues his story of epic adventures in New Zealand.. Part 1 appeared last month
Rimutaka Ranges - Orongorongo
For a change next day we put on our packs and went walking in the bushwalking playground of Wellingtonians ad just had to use that word) in what is known as the Rimutakas Now you may think that this sounds like the name of a very unpleasant stomach condition but in fact its is a very nice range of mountains with a big river in the middle. To a chorus of just look at this highway of a track, it was never like this when I was a boy comments from our Kiwi trio we set off into the bush. This was very pleasant walking through quite lush forest with a profusion of interesting vegetation along the track, which was gloriously named the Orongorongo (i did feel a bit like Conrad).
It also had little pink markers every few hundred meters and adjacent litle wooden boxes with eggs in them. A quick referral into the HHGG advised me to look out for the Dwarves responsible for these acts and sure enough the soon emerged. Well, one of them was dwarf, but the other was anything but. He was a giant of a man in girth, spirit, loquaciousness and his effusive gallantry towards one of the female members of our party. Thus in short order these Stoat Hunters had ensconced us in their hut, plied us with tea and proceeded to tell us tall tales and true.
Regretfully the lure of the Stoats called them away and we had to climb Mount Mathews alone next day. This was a very good day walking uphill into a Tolkien like Mossy forest plateau. Despite the swirling of the mist, the pouring of the rain and the rising of the river we made it back to the hut safe and sound.
Moss cover forest near summit of Mt Matthews Crossing the Orongorongo River
Next morning I found a party of bird watchers, and never one to let a chance go by, I teamed them up with Ted our resident omithologist (as I progress in life I appreciated more and more, mutually beneficial relationships). By way of alternate diversion Alan and John went in search of Alans hut and polished their river crossing survival skills. The rest off us walked back over the ridgeline by an alternate route to emerge at the major objective of the day. This was a renowned Dairy (AKA a Milk Bar) which served NZs magnificent contribution to the global culinary repertoire in the form of Hokey Pokey Ice Cream. You may laugh and sneer but it is great stuff and well worth getting Rimutakared for.
Rimutaka Ranges - Rimutaka Incline
The following day we went for a train ride, except there was no train. Instead we walked along the old rail bed of the Incline Track. This was very easy walking besides gushing streams and through a number of tunnels to pass through to the other side of the range. We even saw a rare NZ Wood Pigeon which someone said were very good eating (tales from a misbegotten youth). You may wonder why the last photo in the gallery shows us being fully rugged up and on edge this is because we were being munched on by sand flies whilst waiting for the Bus to arrive.
Tararuas - Mt Holdsworth
We were getting used to this walking activity by now and shouldered our packs to ascend the Tararuas next day. Now you may think that this is the name of a nasty spider whereas it is very close to the name of a rare and fairly ugly iguana like NZ lizard. This 2 day trip saw us climbing up through a range of vegetation types to get into alpine scenery which was very spectacular and very reminiscent of Tassie ridge walking. The views from Mt Hobson were excellent and the undulating ridge line very easy and pleasant to traverse. Before heading off to Jumbo Hut some of us did a short side trip to Angle Peak and were able to see the route of a multi day extended walk which can be done along the ridgeline which would be a great trip in good weather.
It was at Jumbo Hut that the party endured its greatest scandal in what was to become know as the Great Fudge Packing Affair. A member, who shall remain forever nameless, let out a wail as he unpacked his pack of who stole my fudge?. This led to a fast and furious exchange of insults, accusations, aspersions as well as acts of calumny and conspiracy. In short order everyone was searching their packs and in the end the Fudge was Found … in the pack of the initial Accuser! His penance was to offer the said fudge around to all and sundry - and mighty fine fudge it was indeed! We woke to roaring wind, rain and thick mist. Thus, plans for more highland romping were shelved as we slipped and slithered down the very steep hillside to the river. Swing Bridges, lots of CSMs and benched tracks brought us, via very pleasant rainforest scenery, back to our Bus.
[Page 12 T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004
Group on summit of Mt Holdsworth Jumbo Hut
Tongariro National Park
Being sick of the walking we went bussing again, this time north to Tongariro National Park to once more see if we could climb Ngauruhoe. However, first we had the meal of the trip! We were staying in the equivalent of Jindabyne and as we all know there is nothing more depressing that a ski town in summer when it is pouring rain. The entertainment consisted of speaking to US Student Backpackers or looking out the window and seeing the Danish couples tent disintegrate in the wind/rain overnight and then him attempt to make it up to her next morning (without spending any money). Anyway, the options for being fed were very limited and we trudged from one venue to another with them either being full, closed or very unappetising. In the end we were directed to the Gourmet Burger Caf. We thought. Oh Yeah, Right, this will be a dive. Well, it was fantastic (bar the music, which Peter soon fixed) and we had scrumptious Venison Burgers to kill for. Next day we went up to the ski resort in the lava fields and decided that we really did not want to become textbook examples of a hypothermic walking party (the HHGG said send the Americans instead). In the end we did quite a nice short walk, at a much lower elevation, to a nearby lake for lunch with very inquisitive Ducks for company. To warm up we went and found some commercial hot pools and immersed ourselves for the 20 min maximum time allowed (any more and you end up staggering around drunk like when you get out).
The continuing bad weather, and the prediction for more, meant that not only was climbing Ngauruhoe out but also climbing Mt Egmont, canoeing down the Wanganui river and visiting the Lost World at Waitomo. Much of the North Island was flooded at this time with national highways cut by landslides and towns being evacuated etc. This necessitated some replanning aud investigation of feasible alternative walking. Whilst this was occurring we stopped at a very fine bird sanctuary at Mt Bruce. This had breeding pairs of a number of the endangered birds (primarily due to possums and stoats etc) as well as some of the flightless birds NZ is famous for (Ted Nixon was ecstatic).
Great Barrier Island
In the end we climbed aboard a light plane in Auckland and flew for 40 mins to Great Barrier Island, which is north of the Coromandel. This is a large and mostly pristine island with no stoats or possums. We were to spend 4 very good days doing a range of day and overnight walks. We all found this very pleasant with ridge walking offering spectacular views down from high points such as Mt Hobson across Warrumbungles type land formations to inlets with islands and headlands aplenty. The bird life was appreciable with flocks of parrots and other birds such as a very rare form of Mutton Bird which we saw being filmed (Ted was again ecstatic). The walks included Kauri Trees, rainforest, rushing streams and Kauri Dams often along old logging tramlines. The campsites were on green paddocks thoughtfully a short walk away from Pubs with local Mussel Fritters being the special of the day. In addition there were some natural hot pools shining
dy Canyon
Rocky outcrops in Win
The Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 Page 13 |
Auckland - Waitakere Ranges
On our return to Auckland we spent a day in the Waitakere range, which is like their Royal National Park. This involved walking along old railway tracks and through tunnels again as well as along water pipeline tracks. Whilst the scenery was pretty there were also long sections where the track was made up of slippery clay and mud, which forced one to concentrate to a marked degree. Fairy Falls provided a nice diversion for afternoon tea with a series of cascades
Waitakere Dam Auckland - City
Bottom section of Fairy Falls
Next day, before flying out, we visited the Museum to see the best display of Maori artefacts in the world and also the mock Moa. He stands 16 feet tall and is dressed in emu feathers but still looks pretty impressive. The sobering thought being that NZ used to have a giant eagle that could kill the Moas in one explosive strike. History is silent on the number of Maoris the eagles consumed before the Maoris ate all the Moas and thus put the eagles out of business. Also there were 14 species of Moas (of varying heights).
Thus, in the end, we had a great time in NZ with an interesting series of alternate walking areas being pulled out of the hat by Patrick, John and Alan at short notice (THANKS GUYS!). The bits we missed out on are still there and some more extended walking trips to NZ have plenty to focus on.
Mid - Week Walking Group:
There is a group of members with time available to participate in mid-week activities. The second half of the year is always our busiest for mid-week extended walking as the warmer months slowly emerge. You are welcome to join us.
Mon 6” - Wed 8 Sept - A three day walk in Blue Mountains N P
Wed 15“ - Frid 17 Sept - Bicycle Ride from Robyns Farm near Bathurst (option of extending into the weekend)
Mon 25” - Fri 29“ Oct River Murray Houseboat - from Mildura. We now have a couple of vacancies.. Mon 8 - Fri 12” Nov Moonan Brook Forestry Cottage - Barrington Tops. Comfortable accommodation with day walks in the Barringtons Mon 29“ Nov - Fri 3 Dee:
Berrara Beach Holiday Cottage - South Coast
The cottage provides a good base from which to pian beach walks, canoeing on the lagoon and river, cycling beachside and on forest roads or just easy to medium bushwalks. Bill Holland 9484 6636 or email billholland@bigpond.com
Take care in Sydney
Suburbs
We sat under the awning at
i Bobbin Head, sipped our coffee
7 and watched the heavy rain. An unusual sight in Sydney!
Fortunately, our party of ten had just arrived at the halfway point in time to avoid the downpour on our walk from St Ives (Warrimoc Track) to Wahroonga.
If this continues, I thought, we may have to abandon the rest of the walk (1 was concerned about the risk of flooding creeks)
The rain eased, then stopped, and we continued on our way. When we arrived at the mandatory crossing at Lovers Jump Creek my fears were realised. The normally placid creek had changed to a Taging torrent. With the assistance of a long pole and helping hands we crossed a little further upstream.
The point to remember is that in the built-up suburban environment the water mum-off to creeks is accelerated and enlarged by concrete roads and driveways replacing absorbent soil.
Bill Holland
Fire Danger Period Brought Forward The State Government has announced that the Bushfire Danger Period has been brought forward to 1* August in 46 local government areas including the Blue Mountains and Sydney metropolitan areas. Please be careful when lighting campfires and check that such fires are permitted in the area. Fires should be extinguished before retiring for the night.
|Page 14
T he Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 |
Maurices Walk To Ettrema
Another 4am wake up but Oh what a thing to wake up for! Jt was to be another outing with the Wild Man of Ettrema for 3 days walking in his favourite Gorge. There were originally going to be six of us but we shrank to four by the time we met at Bomaderry at 7am on Saturday 12th June at the start of The Queen's Birthday weekend ( the timing of this holiday has not changed since 1911 since gazetted for King George V's birthday which was on 10th June).
The drive to Tullyangela Clearing takes some time as there is about 50 kilometres of dirt road from Nowra into the heart of Morton National Park but our two cars negotiated the route successfully and we did acar shuffle leaving one at the entrance to the Tolwong property and the other near the Tullyangela Clearing.
I had visited Ettrema on a number of occasions before, one of which was with Maurice but I had never gone into it the way Maurice had planned. Time has a way of healing all wounds because I had forgotten what the vegetation on the tops around the edge of Ettrema was like. If I had bothered to think from times I have encountered this scrub before I would have been clad like Maurice who looked like he was ready for some heavy duty gardening. Maurice had told us of the need for gaiters and gloves but somehow those instructions never sank into my thick head so I was ready for anything in shorts and no gloves.
The walk started very nicely thank you but soon the bush got very whippy with burnt shrubbery and you guessed it ….. HAKEAAHHH. Now Hakea is beautiful I am sure but in my opinion it is natures equivalent of barbed wire and I was to build up a rather twisted hatred/dread for this plant on sight during the course of the weekend. Fortunately in our walk toward Mother Butlers Swamp and Howard's Pass through all this whippy stuff there are some long bands of bare rock which make the walking easier and in the early stages there are some beautiful stands of gums. We walked around the northern edge of Inquisition Hill and headed down into one of the small tributaries that flow into Thumbscrew Gully and after some more serious scrub (during which my fellow walkers used me as a human battering ram) we crossed out of this small creek onto the approaches to Howard's Pass. I should say that we had pretty much been walking on a bearing the whole way from Tullyangela clearing and that it was a very good exercise in navigation even if it was painful in the extreme. It is worth remembering that our rate of travel was pretty slow in this sometimes thick bush and we covered the 6 or 7 kilometres in about 5 hours so it was slow going. Everyone was in good spirits though.
We arrived at Howards Pass with its amazing views of Ettrema and Tullyangela creek and shinnied down to Barrons Crown in the late afternoon and then slid down the hill to the junction of the aforementioned arriving about half an hour before dark. I don't mind saying that we were all stuffed (it's a better word than exhausted) and we all set up camp in a small grassy area with its usual share of nettles and I in a half crazed state (caused by loss of leg blood in the hakea heights above) cooked my meal tried to look nonchalant and crawled into my
Mike Floyd
sleeping bag and died until the moming
I woke up and somehow felt reinvigorated for the walk down Ettremaand it was a beautiful day for hopping down a creek in volleys. The water was crystal clear and cold so there was definitely no swimming although the thought occurred to us. I shouldn't tell you what I spent some time examining on the way down the creek, Well…………. there were lots of interesting animal scats with strange berries of various types therein. I did see what I am sure was a Spotted Bower Bird which according to my Field Guide would be at the edge of its range in Ettrema. It was very inquisitive and I got a good long look at it
Another long day of rock hopping with a lovely stop for lunch sitting in the creek bed saw us to the camp at the junction of Manacle Creek. We were a little uncertain as to whether we would find a campsite but just on the downstream side of Manacle Creek is a big grove of Burrawangs with just enough room here and there to set up some tents and get a nice fire going. The sunset with the walls of Ettrema in view from our campsite with Burrawangs everywhere was unforgettable and we had a good sit and natter round the fire that night until late (about ooobh 8-30pm….1 think I beat my 10 year old son to bed that night)
Next morming we left the campsite at 7-30 and headed into an uncertain future as we walked up Manacle Creek. El Presidente had spoken to some people who had done this trip before so we thought it could be done. I won't go into too much about it but it was an ascent of about 400 metres in 2 kilometres with some large boulders varying between the size of elephants to small houses and a small part of it was overgrown with spiky vines and my friends the nettles. I think we all really enjoyed the hard work up Manacle Creek and I found it much more interesting and even more pleasant than the usual boring slog up a hill. Manacle Creek levels off after about one and a half kilometres and we had some nice walking along the creek before a short pitch up to the saddle between Felon and Judgement Hills. We were in for a surprise on armiving at the top as the wind was blowing very strongly so after a short oohh ahh at the view over Tullyangela Creek and the beginnings of Dungeon Canyon we headed through the HAKEA . That part of the walk was fairly unremarkable except for beautiful banksias and the PAIN. I have now bought some more gaiters so there will be no more stories of suffering in any future walk descriptions from me.
We emerged onto the Fire Trail about one kilometre west of Talowal Hill and then began the trudge at speed back to the car we had left at the entrance to the Tolwong property. That day's walk had taken us until just after Spm so it had been a long and hard but very enjoyable day. We bad spent a solid eight and a half hours walking that day and pretty much none except the last bit on any tracks.
It was only a small group but we all got on like a house on fire and Thank You Maurice and Andrew Quartermaine and Rochelle Howard. The Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 Page 15 |
Kanangra to the Axehead Range James Swinton
A dry cool front had been predicted to blow from the south late in the evening of April 22, 2004. It did not let us down. I met Wayne Steel and Wendy Lippiatt , Christine and Craig Austin, and Rosemary MacDougal, at the Kanangra walls car park at about 22.30. We made our way down to the inaptly named Dance Floor Cave. There we spent a sleepless, noisy, windy, dusty, and cold night waiting for dawn. This is my first SBW. walk as a prospective.
Five degrees, less wind chill! My hammock provided fine protection. Breakfast Ah, that familiar morning baritone at 0545. I am more used to porridge recalling our many Kakadu momings, but it could only be trip leader David Rostron. Packed up and went to meet Grace Martinez, Peter Love, and John Riddell from WA. The cave offered no protection at all. I felt crapulent after a sleepless night but had not touched a drop. Most of the group slept poorly. David had all his clothes on and did not look comfortable in the cold of our 0610 breakfast. The walk was promptly under way, even before I had returned with my forgotten gaiters, in an attempt to keep warm. The plan had been to meander across the tops to take in the clear and cloudless dawn views of Kanangra Gorge. Not today. The forecast was otherwise fine for the ANZAC weekend.
We headed south down Bullhead Ridge, past two walkers packing their gear at the Coal Seam Cave, around Bullhead Mountain, over Cambage Spire and down the inevitable steep descent to the Kowmung River. During the 730-meter descent, David pointed out our objective Bymes Gap and the Axechead (Tonalli) Range, off on the horizon to the east. His plan was a long first day. To make it to a rock platform high camp on the far northern end of the range, after picking up water in Butchers Creek. Feeling as I used to, after a night shift, I descended slowly so to avoid absent-minded injury. We regrouped on a stony sunny bank amongst the exotic weeds of the river flat. Some concern arose as Grace failed to arrive. I was certain I was the last down. It turned out that she was ahead of me, and had gone to explore the adjacent Christies Creek and quickly found her way around to Wayne and Peter on the river flat. David declared an early brunch, and promised the second half after climbing Bulga Ridge when we reached Scotts Main Range road.
The route up the Bulga Ridge gained 430 metres and was heavily wooded, the track non-existent, and robbed Davids plan of precious time. I was stuffed by this stage and needless to say, the second half of lunch did not eventuate. This did attract some jovial dissenting comments from the group. Once on top we pushed on along the road past Kowmung Mountain and after 3km came to the first branch of Butchers Creek…dry as a bone! The wind was still a blowing. Both conspiring against a high camp that evening. David had a fallback plan to use overhangs on the range if the weather was poor. My legs ached at this stage; the brain was fogged with tiredness. Inspired by plans of a high camp and fabulous dawn views we gathered our packs and plodded on a further
kilometre to the second branch of Butchers creek.
David admitted that the earlier climb had drained him but expressed some optimism about his plans. The second branch was cracked mud. It was getting late after Wayne had explored the creek to no avail and we bounced around ideas to explore down stream. Given, the wind, the lack of water, and time was getting away, David declared that he did not want to climb onto the Axehead Range for a high camp. Relief! Everyone else had no intention of doing it!! Most were running low on water and our last resort was Byrnes Gap a further kilometre on.
A motorcycle club unwittingly came to our rescue. They apparently own a patch of ground within the National Park on which is a basic building with water tanks! Surrounded by a large grassy yard and out-buildings. It was not fenced off, nor was it locked. No sign forbad our presence there except that declaring the area a drink free zone. Ironically we found a trench full of beer bottles, some rubbish and old fireplaces with burnt motorbike tyres. Given their environmental vandalism we had no compunction camping there. We settled on a site set back from the road in a depression to avoid the interest of a Park Ranger who passed earlier in the afternoon. The sky remained clear and warmer, the wind had slowed. David declared Grace and Peters fresh vegetable Thai green curry, meal of the day. Yarns and old jokes around the fire lasted to 19-30 or so, when we began to turn in exhausted.
Dawn on ANZAC Day was cool and clear. The view to the north was gradually dominated by the profile of Gander Head. This was our route forward, up 160 meters. The coming climb and what the day commemorates brought thoughts of clambering the beachhead, through barbwire and bullets of the Turkish lines… After gathering enough water to carry until our campsite that evening and fuelled by good sieep and porridge we clambered up the loose and heavily scrubbed slope until we reached the vertical cliff line that tops off all the valleys of this area. We then contoured the west side of the range just below the cliff line. Thereupon David stopped, and Moses style with staff abducted, had a gander at the view, pointing out landmarks and our prior route. We passed through large overhangs scoured by time and the blasting wind into the cliff line and thanked God we didnt stay up here last night. A few false routes leading up and ending in impassable drops made our passage along the ridge more interesting. David and Craig (a veteran of four prior trips here), found a route along narrow unprotected ledges. While oddly, many of the group sought routes of a less spectacular nature. scribbly and grey gums, red devil flowers and the clarity of the view, impressed Christine. Moming tea was 848 metres looking east to Green Wattle Gap, Bull Island and Bull Island Peak our route east. To the north could be seen the roofs of Katoomba.
We proceeded east along the handle of the Axehead Range. There arose a typical scrub covered stony hill beyond which was a narrow causeway to |Page 16
T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004
the next rise. Like the bridge in the Mines of Moria, a precipitous drop to the north and a lesser drop say 5 meters to the south. The bottom of the latter provided a less spectacular route by passing the narrow stone bridge for the less sure-footed. Certainly less intimidating, this route was characterised by a steep wooded drop off. After this obstacle was a 3 metre climb up an unprotected but holed knife edge onto the next Jevel ground. Grace while undertaking this part had her attention called away by some idiot calling her to pose for a photo. Her immediate concerns were more pressing and she proceeded with the job at hand. The route was then along a thickly wooded but level route to the end of the cliff line and an early lunch.
Two minutes bellowed David, pulling us back from post-prandial somnolence. Shouldnt we give our dinner, time to go down, we questioned. A siesta seemed appropriate on a short day. It was just down the hill to Green Wattle Creek and camp. Though we were cognisant of the prospect of a dry creek and having to cross Broken Rock Range to Butchers Creek for water.
The route down was a very steep 100 metre drop down scree slopes, rocks and scrub; I used my stick as an oar in the loose material to arrest my descent. One is given to grabbing trees and foliage to aid these descents but there were these diabolical shrubs completely covered in thorns set to speed our descent. The next 200 metres was less tricky and as we bottomed to Green Wattle Creek we entered an unexpected grove of blue gums and a rainforest like world so different to the dry above. There were little or no weeds. The creek was just flowing. In places it would disappear under the gravel of the creek bed and reappear further on This part of the creek was characterised by a large cliff line barring our way to the north It was about 1400 at that stage. Wayne explored up a nearby north-facing gorge that turned out to be an ideal route out. Adjacent was a cave David informed us, not unlike One Hundred Man Cave. The ground was nearly level and would be a suitable campsite above the creek level. John had explored down the creek and found a grassy flat. Further on was the junction of a side creek affording another site. David lobbied hard for his proposal, Wayne preferring not to camp in a cave. Wendy and I resigned to the creek bank while a campsite committee was formed to decide the matter. They settled on the site downstream. In no time the area was transformed into urban sprawl: a Megamid, a Macpac outer, a blue tarp, David under the stars, a hammock, John off in the distance on his grassy flat and an old but trusty orange nylon tent with chopped off blue polypropylene frills seeming to float, as if levitated by Harry Potter. a foot or so off the ground. The fire lit, num and lemon barley consumed. The evening was full of tales of people and places. Wayne promised to retell his Octopus joke at lunch the next day citing poor light, but this never happened…
The last day heralded the prospect of a late finish as we headed off at 0730. We climbed Waynes escape route north up through the short steep gorge, rising rapidly through dusty shallow overhangs, past rock orchids and away from the blue gum grove. The climb was then upward through dense scrub. Weaving in and around endless obstacles until we reached the Broken Rock Range. We intended to walk southwest towards the Blue Breaks, and then cut northwest to Butchers Creek. The map showed a proposed road. We found little more than an animal track. The going was slow. Time was getting away. The walk was heavily wooded, views largely obscured. Wayne was keeping a meticulous count of the distance travelled. Counting off each 100 steps with click on his pedometer and knowing 700 steps tepresented a kilometre he was able to place us at the apex of a spur leading to the Grog Shop Bend in Butchers Creek.
We descended down the spur line. Later we came to a cliff line, found a route through by descending a near vertical conglomerate crack. David subsequently gave us an excellent demonstration of how to slide a scree slope on his bottom. Back on his feet, turned and gave a triumphant grin. What leadership! The route became particularly steep and loose near the bottom leading to another cool and green valley floor. Butchers Creek was only a pool, providing a respite from the steep descent. Christine raised some smiles when she produced a pack of Tim Tams from her pack. What a welcome sight! From here we clambered up a steep soil slope and on upwards to Scotts Main Range road. During the earlier break John had put on a vivid white tee shirt for the last day of the trip. On the way up he laid down for a rest. We complemented him and a noted a large brown spot on its right side…Oh shit! He had laid in fresh animal excrement. Upon reaching the road another navigation committee meeting was brought to order and it was decided to proceed southwest about 3.5 km. to Mount Field and there at a gate and a 4WD proof fence we proceeded down Dennis Ridge over two saddles and two rises to a well defined track to the north leading through sparse trees beginning the way to the Kowmung River. The track was unusual that it was so well defined and gradually descended in an uncharacteristically genteel manner. The track suddenly ended where a fallen tree crossed the track. We proceeded down through a densely wooded drop to the river. This was a more westerly spur than the track defined on the map.
The river flat was a spectacle in green lushness. Cool soft long green grass lined the flats criss- crossed by fallen timber. We walked 300metres north and found a large pool in the river for a swim. The water was freezing but welcome and Wayne set a bonfire for those who wanted tea. After a pleasant lunch we departed at about 13.30 for a 4-hour slog up Roots Ridge, along Gingra Range past the Tops to the cars and home via the hamburger shop at Oberon. The Sydney Bushwalker
July 2004 Page 17 |
Navigation 101 with Professor Finch Alison Ninio
Friday morning greets us with a detailed email from our fearless leader. For those able to flee the city early enough, we were, per Dons instructions to meet in Blackheath at Gerins Hotel (spelling is wrong) the hotel is on the right at the end of the shops opposite the railway station. We arrive in Blackheath at the appointed hour. Hmm, were across from the station but the only pub I see is called Gardiners Inn. A bit more than a spelling mistake, but it must be it. And it is, but Don tells us later that Gerins Hotel is actually the name of a pub in Katoomba! Hope Dons navigation skills are a bit more accurate than his memory of pub names! And they are.
After a chilly evening at Boyd Crossing we gather round the breakfast fire and ready ourselves for a weekend of navigation lessons in Kanangra Boyd National Park. We are led by Professor Don Finch and his assistant professor John Bradnam. Taking the course for the tenth time is Ros Kerrigan, who claims she learns something new each time but I think she has a crush on the professor. For variety, a few students from overseas: Siobhan Kerrigan from Dublin and Bea Robotham from Germany. And, for good measure, a few eager new members: Kelly Rees, Lynette Huang, Alison Ninio and Julian Ninio.
We start with the basics. What the numbers mean, how to give coordinates, the different map systems. We play with the GPS and check its accuracy. We learn the favourite of SBW members: CMA (which stands for something that was meant to help us remember but I find it easier to just remember map to compass, subtract 12). And, yes, Bill Holland was properly attributed as coming up with CMA. Don explains that over this weekend we will navigate from Nohan Spot to Nohan Spot. A few beats later, the non-Australians among us realise that there is no Nohan Spot, only known spots.
Right - time to push on. We take our first bearing of the day, and head to that little circle at the top of a few contour lines, just following the compass reading into the bush. The way is rather clear at first, given the controlled fires just around Boyd Crossing, but the going is slow. Very slow. Forget about that 3k an hour, 1 square every 20 minutes idea. Were addicted to the compass bearing. Take 5 steps, check the compass. Take another 5 steps, check the compass. It will be a long day at this rate!
We pass the morning ignoring the landscape and focussing on our maps and compasses. We then learn lesson 2: look around you and try to match the landscape to the contours on the map. Are you on a ridge? Are we going up or down? Do you see the creek or the gully? There is more to navigation than taking a compass bearing, you must open your eyes and think in terms of contours and map illustrations. What would this mountain look like on the map? If you see these lines, what should you expect to see in front of you? I imagine one day getting so good at navigation that my mind works in contours. Its like learning a language. To gain fluency, you must think in the foreign language. To attain compass fluency, you must think in the language of contours.
After walking for several hours along Kanangra Range and having just gotten out of eyesight of the car park, okay, a bit farther, but not much, our stomachs tell us its time for lunch. We head down towards Bourne Soak and find a clear patch near the creek. Time is not too precious, so Don lights a fire and we enjoy a leisurely lunch.
After lunch, we head north, the plan being to camp along Thurat Creek, just west of the Baldy Bill Fire Trail and southwest of Baldy Bill. We take our compass bearing and begin the march, this time noticing that we want to stay level and should therefore stay away from any climbs to the left or right. Our pace remains a bit slow: 5 steps, check the compass. 5 steps, check the compass. Observe the ridges. Observe the inclines. Observe the fire trail that we reached!
Mid-term exam. We break into 2 groups and Don tells us, Okay, we know where we are. Heres where we want to camp, its a nice big clearing. Wel] meet there. The compass bearing is 50, no turns, no ridges to follow. Easy, peasy.
(apparently something groups do when navigating in the dark with one person walking ahead and the others keeping the bearing and instructing the bunny to veer left or right and so on), so Ben leaps ahead. The stop and go nature doesnt really suit any of us, so we simply hold the bearing and continue walking. After less than 10 minutes, we reach an initial clearing and proclaim victory. Wait a minute, thats not a creek, and it does seem rather quick to have walked the noted distance (especially given our 5 steps, read the compass pace). We keep going. Hmm, no clearing yet. Oh, theres the creek. But were meant to be on the other side of it. Okay, lets cross it. Bash through some thick bushes, while Julian walks around the bush and finds the fire trail that fords the stream. Oh. Okay, thanks for finding that and now we know for sure where we are and weve definitely gone too far. Right, well, just follow the stream the other way on the correct side and well reach the clearing. Off we go, and we hit the spot just 2 minutes later. We beat the other group by a few minutes. How long have you been here? Oh, just a few minutes. we proclaim with snug confidence of the seasoned navigator. Did you have trouble [Page 18
T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004 |
finding it? we ask the other group with a slight sense of superiority. Theyre none the wiser… until now.
Its a five-star campsite, thick grass like a mattress, running water a few steps away, plenty of wood for the fire. Oh, there are leeches you say? The bloodsuckers seem to like some people and some backpacks more than others. (Overall, no damage from the leeches that night The next day was a different story when Lynette discovered a very satiated leech crawling down her arm, and a stain on the back of her shirt that looked as if she had been shot in the back. Lesson number 3: always close your fly when in leech country (not sure how this lesson applies to those without tents who sleep under their flies, although the fly group seemed least worried about the leeches, while the new members couldnt stop checking their shoes).)
We had arrived at the campsite relatively early and, after setting up camp, we all had a bit of energy left, so we head to Baldy Bill to take in the sunset. We head towards the summit and the bush bashing is tough, very touch. Damn banksia trees will not bend! Baldy Bill is not very bald! We decide that it must have received its name from a bloke named Bill who was a bit bald. Either that or Wilf Hilder was in a playful mood when he named this part of the world. Note to self: next time, skip Baldy Bill.
We arrive back at the campsite for happy hour: there is rum and lemon barley in abundance, and plenty of sweets and savouries. As is often the case, tales of past walks are shared; recipes for bush tucker are exchanged. We learn about Dublin and Germany and trips overseas. We pass an enjoyable evening around a warm fire.
We have a bit of a sleep-in on Sunday morning. Our second day of navigation training begins with a short walk up the Baldy Bill fire trail. Don focuses us on reading the map, seeing the curves in the trail and making us recognise them in real life. In between two curves, we head west into the bush. We walk on a slight ridge and start noticing the steep decline on one side, how difficult it is to keep your way when the ridge is wide, the gully down below. We follow this ridge until the junction of two creeks, where we rejoin the Baldy Bill fire trail. We remain on fire trails until we are just south of Queen Pin and the trail heads sharply to the west.
Pop quiz. Don lines us up in a row on the fire trail and we all take a bearing to go through the bush and amive at King Pin fire trail (which runs parallel to our current trail). The bearing is straight, no tums and no tricks. We head out, each going at his or her own pace. We crash through the bush, sometimes in sight of each other, sometimes not. We all hit the fire trail, within a few minutes of each other. Line up. Totally out of order, who was right, who was wrong? Julian gets the wooden spoon, having started on one end of the line and ending on the other. Its not an exact science and we learn that a small mistake is usually not a big deal, 10, 20, 30 meters won't make a difference in the scheme of things. Yes, you need to be a slave to the compass, but perfection is near impossible.
Final exam: Don and Ros head to our lunch spot, which, we are told, is 500 metres south of King Pin. Find us, they say, and off they crash into the bush. We partner up. John brings up the rear to make sure we dont lose the plot. We head off in staggered pairs. Aim, walk. Aim, walk. Hey, Im taking more than 5 steps before I check my compass again! We reach what looks like the summit of King Pin and we take another bearing to head 500 meters south. Aim, walk. Aim, walk. And there they are, on top of the rock, soaking up the sunshine.
Success. We passed our final exam! We enjoy a well-earned lunch and then follow the ridge we are on, which runs parallel to Kanangra Walls Road,
5,
We arrive back at the cars by 3pm. We take advantage of being where we are (and having travelled so far) to explore Kanangra Walls. We stay on the tourist tracks and gape at the lookout and relax at Kalang Falls. We then head over to Seymour Top and contemplate the meaning of life. Ah, the views are simply glorious, with Thurat Spires playing mind games, Johns tales of the K to K in a day almost convince me to sign up then and there. Luckily for myself as well as others, I wake up from my self- induced stupor and realise I prefer to smell the roses- -maybe next year when I build up my reservoir of knowledge and navigation.
Back to the cars and then down the mountain for a delicious steak at Lapstone Inn. Oh, and happy Mothers day Ros!
Thanks to Don for some wonderfui lessons; to John for making sure none of us followed the wrong ridge; and to everyone for a great weekend.
Great South West Walk (Victoria) 9” to 23 October
The Great South West Walk is situated in the south west part of Victoria. The walk starts and finishes at Portland and passes through forests and heath land, along riversides and windswept coastal cliffs and beaches. Attractions include magnificent coastal scenery contrasting with the serene Glenelg River. 10 to 12 days of walking with a food drop at the halfway point. Participants can join or leave the walk at the halfway point at Nelson. Grade: L221 (medium) Leader: Paul McCann 6772 6156 evenings
The Sydney Bushwalker July 2004 Page 19 | NEW MEMBERS Welcome to New Members First Aid Certificates
Congratulations to Roger Martin and Pam Campbell who have progressed to full membership
Coolana Training Weekend
14/15“ August
Ideal for new members. Experience the wonderful river- front and bushland environment of the Clubs property Coolana im the beautiful Kangaroo Valley. Practical training given in map reading, first aid and bushcraft.
As well as training and walking around the property the weekend provides an ideal introduction to camping and, if required, we can assist with tents and sleeping gear. There is a shelter shed near the campsite..
SBW members are also encouraged to attend and assist with training and social activities around the camp fire on Saturday evening. This is an opportunity to foster social contacts within the club.
Activities start on Saturday morning and transport assistance is available.
Bill Holland: 9484 6366 billholl@bigpond.com Patrick James: 9567 9998 piames@idx.com.au
More Training Opportunities
The club is developing additional opportunities for new members to receive training in preparation for progression to ful! membership. Please refer to the Spring Walks and Social Programme for these training activities
To encourage leaders and members to get their St Johns First Aid Certificate, the Club will subsidise the cost of gaining an accredited Senior First Aid Certificate.
Weekend Walking Gear for Hire
The club now has a small pool of weekend walking equipment available for hire. The rates for weekly hire are:
Weekend pack: $15
Sleeping bag: $15 (For hygiene reasons you must provide and use your own sleeping bag liner)
Sleeping mat: $5 Ground sheet: $2 Tent: $20 Complete kit $50
Equivalent refundable deposit required. Contact: Geoff McIntosh 9419 4619
Have You Changed Your Address?
If you have changed your address or phone number recently, please advise:
Members: Ron Waiters
Prospectives: Grace Martinez
The advice should be in writing directed to the Clubs postal address. This will ensure that our records show your current address and prevent delay in receiving the magazine each month
weekends.)
Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad (BWRS) Your Squad needs YOU! We see them on the news regularly, the dedicated people in our community wearing orange and white jumpsuits - the volunteers of the SES (State Emergency Service) and RFS (Rural Fire Service). But did you know that we, as bushwalkers have our very own rescue squad that is part of the VRA (Volunteer Rescue Association) which is the umbrella organisation for the SES and RES, amongst others? (fou look closely at our Walks Program, you'll see references to BWRS activities dotted throughout these include First Aid courses, Events and special training
I joined up with the BWRS (Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad) earlier this year, as I wanted to volunteer within my community and wondered if some of the skills that I have learnt from SBW could be put to
good use. The answer was an undeniable yes.
The fact is that at SBW we have quite a high level of fitness and bushcraft that is expected of our members. Straight away these skills can be translated at a practical level to assisting in BWRS operations like Search and Rescue. To build upon this, the BWRS offers an extensive list of training competencies to help you improve and extend the skills that you can offer the squad, as well as being valuable to your own bushwalking experience, both within SBW and outside.
Last weekend saw the annual NavShield competition/exercise run in the Goulburn River National Park, north of the Hunter Valley. It was great to be out bush in a new area for me and to help out. Of the 430 or so people there, I counted 3 SBW members involved in the event. It just seemed such a shame that in a club of our size, that there arent more of us
involved.
Although NavShield was a fun event to be involved with, what BWRS members are mostly called to do, is be involved in searches for lost bushwalkers or injured people, as was demonstrated most recently by the successful location of the walker who fell 100m at Bundanoon in Morton NP. It was members of the BWRS who located the injured man and were able to offer immediate first aid and call in the paramedics, etc.
So, let me encourage you, if you are thinking of volunteering in the Community, whether you are a full or prospective member of SBW, check out www.bwrs.org.au to learn about how you could get involved with what is essentially, OUR
rescue squad.
Caro Ryan
| Page 20
T he Sydney Bushwalker July 2004
SOCIAL NOTES
July Social Blurb
Ab yes, theres nothing quite like escaping to warmer places during the Winter months. Yes, I was in exile last month to my employer in foreign (warmer) lands, but am now definitely back in Sydney and keeping warm by getting out n about on the trails.
Great to hear that the Mid-Winter feast was well attended by up to 45 people at one stage, with standing room only. I was also impressed to hear about the culinary efforts of many who came along sounds like a tasty night indeed.
Thanks to Tony Manes and other members of the club who helped out at the July social evening focussing on How to Pack and What to Eat? A dilemma that faces each one of us at that cmitical late night packing frenzy for a weekend walk. I hope that everyone walked away with new ideas and satisfied that their next outing can be a yummy one.
Now, can you think of any better cosy way to enjoy a chilly winters evening, than snuggling up with a glass of red wine, some chocolate and good company around a game or two. We'd love to have you along to the next Social Night, Wednesday 18” August, 8pm at the Clubrooms for some good old-fashioned game playing. SBW will be providing FREE wine, port and chocolate, so all we ask is that you come along with your cards, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Jenga, Pictionary or whatever, to share and enjoy. This is an Opportunity for all the 500 players to strut their best Open Messier (sp??) or for us mere mortals to wonder at Mah-jong players and their Wrigegly Snake! It will be a great way to meet new people in the club well help organise various games and tables around the room, so dont worry if you dont know anyone… you soon will! See you there!
Cheers Caro
Social Programme - August:
Wed 4“ 7pm Committee Meeting
Wed 4” 8pm Introduction to SBW Learn all the important information needed to join the club.
Wed 18“ 8pm Games Night at the clubrooms OK, so winters a great time to Tug up and have a good ol game of 500 or Canasta, Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary or Jenga
Wed 18” 8pm Introduction to SBW - as above -
A Politically Correct Joke?
A lobbyist on his way home from work in Canberra traffic comes to a dead halt in a long line of banked up traffic, and thinks to himself “Wow, this seems worse than usual.
He notices a cop walking between the lines of stopped cars, so he rolls down his window and asks, “Officer, what's the hold-up?”
The cop replies, “The Prime Minister is depressed with the way opinion polls are going, so he stopped his limo and is sitting in the middle of the road threatening to douse himself with petrol and set himself on fire. He says no one believes his stories about why we went to war in Iraq, or the connection between Saddam and al-Qaeda, or that his tax cuts will help anyone except his wealthy friends, or that he won't retire half way through his next term to let Peter Costello in. So we're taking up a collection for him.”
The lobbyist asks, “How much have you got so far?”
The officer replies, “About 20 litres, but a lot of people are still siphoning.”
Fire Him ! A company, feeling it was time for a shake-up, hires a new CEO. This new boss is determined to rid the company of all slackers.
On a tour of the facilities, the CEO notices a guy leaning on a wall. The room is full of workers and he wants to let them know he means business!
The CEO walks up to the guy and asks, “And how much money do you make a week?”
A little surprised, the young fellow looks at him and replies, “I make $300.00 a week. Why?”
The CEO then hands the guy $1,200 in cash and screams, “Here's four weeks pay, now GET OUT and don't come back!”
Feeling pretty good about his first firing, the CEO looks around the room and asks, “Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-off did here?”
With a sheepish grin, one of the other workers mutters Hes the Pizza delivery guy from Domino's.
: - Contributions Welcome: -~ Members conttibutions fo this inlagazine. are very welcome, Sendin your interesting stories
of recent walks, letters; notices, jokes etc by. taail (preferably typ by-email addfessedto The Editor : Fasc: 9980 6009 (phone. : billhollindl@bigpond com:
), on floppy idis; by fax o Of
84,6636 fs) |
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