Australian Alps Walking Track the Boboyan Pine Plantation NPA BULLETIN Volume 32 Number 2 June 1995
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Australian Alps Walking Track The Boboyan pine plantation NPA BULLETIN Volume 32 number 2 June 1995 CONTENTS Australian Alps Walking Track 4 Fuelling the fire of extinction 22 Babette Scougall Alan Davey National Forest Policy 9 Packwalk in Shoalhaven Region 24 Clive Hurlstone Eric Pickering Unfolding Bushfold 12 A single woman treks in Nepal 27 Matthew Higgins Basia Meder Listen to the trees 16 Clive Hamilton Cover IS Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Photo by Fiona MacDonald Brand Author? Heritage Week KHA and NPA walk to Bushfold Fiat. Boboyan pine plantation 20 Matthew Higgins addresses the group about the Nicki Taws history of George and Russel Read's hut. National Parks Association (ACT) Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) Household members $25 Single members $20 Incorporated Corporate members $15 Bulletin only $15 Inaugurated 1960 Concession $10 For new subscriptions joining between: Aims and objects of the Association 1 January and 31 March—half specified rate • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the pro 1 April and 30 June—annual subscription tection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and Membership inquiries welcome elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. Please phone the NPA office. • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. The NPA (ACT) office is located in Maclaurin Cres, • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment Chifley. Office hours are: of, such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by or 10am to 2pm Mondays ganised field outings, meetings or any other means. 9am to 2pm Tuesdays and Thursdays • Cooperation with organisations and persons having simi Telephone/Fax: (06) 282 5813 lar interests and objectives. Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the plan ning of land-use to achieve conservation. Contribute to your Bulletin Contributions of articles (news, descriptions or fiction), Office-bearers and committee black-and-white photographs and line drawings are Acting president Eleanor Stodart 281 5004(h) keenly sought for the Bulletin. Please label photographs Vice-president Clive Hurlstone 288 7592(h); with the name of the subject, the name of the 246 5516(w) photographer and the date. Leave contributions at the Immediate office or phone the editor, Roger Green, on (06) 247 0059. past president Beverley Hammond 288 6577(h) The editorial fax is (06) 249 7373. Secretary Len Haskew 281 4268(h); fax 281 4257 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Treasurer Mike Smith 286 2984(h); Association opinion or objectives. 248 3624(w) Deadline for September issue: 1 August 1995. Committee NPA Bulletin is produced by Green Words for the Stephen Johnston 254 3738(h); 264 2100(w) National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated. This 264 2364 (fax) issue was produced with the assistance of funds made 248 6769(h); 275 8028(w) Phil Bubb available by the ACT Government under the Steven Forst 2516817(h); 279 1326(w) 1994-95 ACT Heritage Grants Program. Doreen Wilson 288 5215(h) Max Lawrence 288 1370(h); 272 2032(w) Printed on recycled paper by Koomarri Printers, Belconnen, ACT. ISSN 0727-8837 Letters to the editor large increase in usage by sight-seers. Given the above I would not be surprised Sightseers a problem whose knowledge of climber activities is that more than a 'few, presumably non- near zero, is causing problems. A hut representative individuals' hold strong for climbers would certainly attract more sight-seers and valid feelings on this matter. I would like to respond to Ian and and cause greater problems. Margaret's'another interpretation(of the Problems of safety arise because sight- Yours sincerely history of Brandy Flat Hut), which will seers arrive on top of the rocks, above the Grahame Muller doubtless draw someone's fire3(Letterto climbers. Already large rocks, the size of the Editor NPA Bulletin March 1995). 20 litre drums, have been dug up out of Certainly no single group should the ground and rolled over the cliffs, past determine management policyasa whole. and over the most popular climbs, which But if that group is the original and most are obscured from the top. When I Volunteers available significant user of a small area within the reported this to the rangers I received a We are a group of SCUBA divers who are whole and if their usage is of a special let's wait. and see' response. committed to actively preserving the nature andincludes relatively low impact There is an increase in litter and underwater life of our oceans. Because we and caring activities, their views should erosion of the access walking track and are a relatively young gmup, with limited be given detailed consideration. the access road. Climbers now have resources, we have decided to spend some The problem is the old one of expanding increasing problems with the security of time caring for other areas of the usage destroying the original values. The their gear. environment in general, until we are able to care for the ocean in particular. We currently have a group of up to 20 volunteers who are prepared to assist with any projects which are consistent with our organisation's philosophies. If you are in need of volunteers to help you with projects which involve conservation, working towards a cleaner environment, environmental preservation or similar goals, we'd love to offer our services to you. We are not affiliated with any company or other environmental group. Please feel heto contact Kahren Evans, Ambassadors of the Ocean, PO Box 1129 TuggeranongACT 2900, phone 292 5773, for further information. Yours sincerely Kahren T. Evans On Canberra Day NPAoperated a stall to publiciseour activities and make contact with new members. A display ofphotos in the tent drew attention to our work in Namadgi on track-making and the Orroral Homestead and to the other wonderfil resources we have in national parks around the ACT Doreen Wilson's efforts in setting up the stall and organising a duty roster were rewarded as interested people walked through the tent for most of the day and we had a number ofgenuine membership enquiries. Photo by Reg Alder NPA BULLETIN 3 The Australian Alps Walking Track project Origins of the project Murrays Gap (to be in the December establishing their Victorian Alpine issue of the Bulletin). In writing up Walking Trail (later Track) from Mt Members of the Namadgi sub the walks we will include not only a Erica to the Murray River. Over the committee of the NPA of the ACT got description of the features and years the Victorian track changed together in April to initiate a conditions encountered along the way and grew and, since the addition of Namadgi-oriented project for 1995. but also possible side or alternative the NSW and ACT extensions, has We chose the then almost-completed routes. Will our enthusiasm last long been renamed the Australian Alps ACT portion of the Australian Alps enough to complete the task we have Walking Track. Our ACT section is Walking Track. Our aims were to be set ourselves? the last part of the tri-state venture more positively involved in to be established. The challenging Namadgi activities, to contribute 655-kilometre track generally more local items for our partly ACT Some background follows the highest ridges and plains Government-funded Bulletin and information about the of Australia's rugged south-east also to introduce more Namadgi walking track country and is expected to be as outings to our walks program. With significant as the Bicentennial Trail. this in mind five members (Frank The Australian Alps Walking Track The track is intended for Clements, Stephen Johnston, Les has had a long gestation period. The experienced bushwalkers skilled in Pyke, Babette Scougall and Nicki idea of a long-distance track was the use of map and compass and Taws) met with great enthusiasm to first floated in the 1940s, then capable of self-reliant navigation. study maps and discuss the project. picked up and put down by various Few track markers are used; in fact, We are hoping that other members individuals and organisations until much of the track is not formalised, of the Association will take it from the late 1960s, when the Victorian and the policy for the wilderness where we leave off and continue the Ministry of Tourism together with areas is not to use markers at all. the Federation of Victorian Walking articles and walks, either further Anyone attempting to walk the track, Clubs started working towards along the alpine track or other walks or parts of it, needs to take particular within Namadgi National Park. care in planning the trip. Many sections In very general terms, the ACT take in the remotest traverses section of the Alpine Track starts at including the country's highest the Namadgi Visitor Centre in the mountains where conditions are north-east, climbs to the Mt Tennent unpredictable throughout the year. summit road, follows the Booroomba Creek to the Booroomba Rocks carpark, goes past the Honeysuckle Creek Namadgi Visitor tracking station site, over a ridge and Centre to Booroomba down to the Orroral tracking station Rocks carpark site, along the Orroral Valley to the Cotter Hut Road, and through the This is a through walk, so walkers Cotter Valley to finish at Murrays Gap must start with a car shuffle or a in the south-west. key exchange arrangement. (One While this 58.3 kilometre (according hill on the dirt road to the to John Siseman's book and Len Booroomba Rocks carpark is Haskew's pedometer) ACT stretch could extremely steep and may prove best be walked as a four-day packwalk, difficult for two-wheel drives.) we decided to divide it into three parts— Maps required for this one-day the first two parts as one-day walks so walk: 1:25 000 Williamsdale and that a larger number of members can Corin Dam participate, the third section as a two Even though we have provided a or three-day packwalk.