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Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc. disclaims any warranty for the content, and will not be liable for any damage or loss resulting from the use of any content. SLEEP WARM ••• Wake Up Refreshed REMEMBER • • • there is nothing like DOWN FOR WEIGHTLESS WARMTH IN * SLEEPING BAGS-TAILOR MADE BAGS ON REQUEST. * EIDERDOWN QUILTS. * FEATHER AND DOWN PILLOWS. The Eiderlite ''Arctic" Bag FOR SUPPLIERS CONTACT: KIMPTONS FEATHER MILLS PlY. LTD. KIMPTONS NOW MAKE IN AUSTRALIA UNDER LICENCE THE FAMOUS . MOUNTAIN MULE RUCSAC AS USED BY SIR EDMUND HILARY ON HIS SUCCESSFUL MT. EVEREST EXPEDITION AVAILABLE IN 3 SIZES; ALSO WITH MANY LUXURY EXTRAS LIGHTWEIGHT TENTS MADE TO ORDER 5 • 11 Budd Street Collingwood -PHONE 41-5073- No. 19- 1968 WALK Post Distribution enquiries to: C/- Distribution Manager, Melbourne Bushwalkers, Box 17.'510. G.P.O., Melbourne, 3001. Editor: A. Schafer. Advertising Manager: G. Kenafacke, C/- Riley Dodds (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., 636 Swanston St., Carlton, Vic. Phone 34-4651, ext. 26. WALK is a voluntary, non-profit venture published by the Mel­ bourne Bushwalkers in the interests of bushwalking as a healthy and enjoyable recreation. CONTENTS Walking-A Way to Health .. 3 Moroka Gorge and Snowy Bluff Alma Strappazon 4 South of Bryce's Gorge F. W. Halls 10 Between the Kiewa and the Mitta A. Schafer 18 A Walking Menu Doug and Robyn Pocock 24 New Zealand's Milford Track Marion Siseman 26 Our Mountains in Winter John Brownlie 31 Wildflowers of the Autumn and Winter Rex and Sue Filson 33 24 Hour Walk Shirley Treloar 37 Yambla and Tabletop Tyrone T. Thomas 53 Tasmanian Newsletter 58 Mountain Muster 59 New Maps 62 Why Adventure? Robert Taylor 63 WALKS SECTION Wilson's Promontory (Northern Half) 39 Mount Cole State Forest (2 and 3 days) . 48 Neerim Junction-Glen Nayook-La Trobe River (1-day) 54 Tecoma-Sherbrooke Forest-Belgravc (1-day) .55 Bear's Head Range-Lerderderg River (1-day) 56 COVER PHOTO by John Brownlie. "Bushwalkers in Barmah Forest." If you are interested in DAY WALKS WEEK-END WALKING EXTENDED TOUR WALKING Then write for details to the Hon. Secretary, Box 1751Q, G.P.O., Melbourne, 3001, or CALL AND SEE US any Friday (8 to 10.30 p.m.), at 161 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. MELBOURNE BUSHWALKERS VISITORS are always WELCOME on our walks. 80 Walks a year are listed on our Walks Programme! Page Two WALK WALKING- A Way to Health In recent years, much concern has been voiced over the low level of physical fitness in the community at large. It is agreed that people of all ages are not as fit as they should be; while with the middle-aged and elderly there is. an increasing incidence of degenerative diseases, the beginning of the run-down can often be found among those of youthful years-a fact which has been highlighted by the official admission that large numbers of 20-year olds, called up for compulsory military service, are rejected on account of their bad health or poor physical condition. Most of the blame has been laid obviously and correctly on the increasing mechanization of daily life where arms, legs, hands and feet have become increasingly less active agents. This is especially true in the fields of transport and communication where the wheel has ousted the leg. To counter the loss of forced but beneficial physical activity, some kind of voluntary exercise must be undertaken to avoid too much muscular atrophy. In this regard scientifically designed sets of pro­ gressive exercises, such as the 5BX series and the Australian "Keeping Fit" campaign, have been given widespread publicity, sometimes with full official sanction. However, although many may start the exercises, relatively few practise them consistently for the length of time necessary to achieve any lasting benefit. Call it lack of self-discipline-or mere laziness-there appears to be a perfectly understandable reluctance to perform on a voluntary basis too many mechanical chores in a world already full of dull routine. If, as an alternative to a prescribed set of exercises, an interesting recreation is taken up, there is every chance that the effort will be kept up for a longer period and not so readily abandoned. Doctors have long recommended walking, and more walking, as the simplest and, indeed, the best recreational exercise in which the human frame can achieve a modicum of health and physical fitness. The great advantage of walking is that the pace can be varied to suit the walker, according to age, condition, wish or temperament. Walking, too, can be made more than a mere exercise, especially when shared with companions of similar bent of mind. Certainly, following a track through pleasant, natural surroundings can be more exhilarating than following a set of room exercises. Urban areas with smog, noise and monotony have little to offer walkers. The benefits of recreational walking are best realized out in the quietness and clean air of the countryside, and at fullest in the unspoiled bush. WALK Page Three MOROKA GORGE & SNOWY BLUFF Alma Strappazon Moroka Gorge, the very name brings to my mind the tumbling waterfalls, and that isolation so dear to the heart of the bushwalker. Boxing Day 1966 found four enthusiastic members of the Club en route to McFarlane's Plain in Felix's car, stopping on the way to hide a store of food at the foot of the spur coming down from The Crinoline. This was for the last day of the walk, and knowing how hungry one becomes after days of walking in mountainous country, we sincerely hoped no wandering huntsman would find and devour it. After this most important chore had been seen to, we drove to McFarlane's Plain to set up camp while Felix continued on to Doolan's Plain, leaving the car there with food supplies on board, to be picked up by us after our first six days. He then hitch-hiked back to camp. Next morning our walk began with a steady climb over Trapyard Hill, unsuccessfully searching there for the spring marked on one of our maps. Walking in a north-easterly direction, we also climbed Cromwell's Knob, and later Little Cromwell. From then on, our pace slowed considerably through the dry growth clothing the ridges. Lack of water on this high ridge made it almost imperative to reach the Moroka River that evening, so we held to a compass course a little east of north, and after some slow weary miles, the ridge dropped away sharply, and clinging to the vegetation for support, we found ourselves at last at the junction of the river and Lummican Creek. Surprisingly there had been an earlier camp, and there was just room for our four little tents. We pitched camp, and fell into our sleeping bags with sighs of relief after a difficult day. With the cry from Felix "Moroka Gorge, today!" we were up very early, and, feeling fit again, we left our tents and began our way downstream, keeping to the left bank of the river where an animal pad of sorts made the going easier. It may have been because we carried no packs, or because we were so close to our objective, but whatever the reason, we found the scrub not quite as unfriendly as the day before, and soon we came to the first waterfall where we spent some considerable time. We soon passed Kent Creek, which flows in a southerly direction into the river, and before long came to the second waterfall. The river had a magical effect, leading us ever onwards, forgetful of time, to a place where rocks divided the water into two falls. Here a creek falls steeply down the mountainous banks into the same pool below. The whole setting with the three falls tumbling far down, was really beautiful, and we stayed a long time gazing in admiration. Some thought that a view from below looking upwards would be even better. Page Four WALK Falls on Moroka River. Photo by Ed Lawton. From our high point there was no direct way down, so it appeared that it would have to be a long climb up and a rocky scramble below. This was attempted, but alas for our view from below! The undergrowth grew so thickly along the river and up the walis of the gorge, that penetrating it to reach the pool would have involved many hours of really hard work. However, some day, we will try it again, making the approach from downstream, though this is reported to be even harder. Our return to camp gave us a choice of either a very steep climb out, a swim in the swiftly flowing Moroka, or a bash through the ubiquitous scrub.