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CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB

NEWSLETTER

it Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc. GPO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601 Volume 54 Number 3 www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org April 2018

GENERAL MEETING 7.30pm Wednesday 18 April 2018 Weston Uniting Church 16 Parkinson Street, Weston

The AAWT Adventure Guest Speaker: Mac Kirby

Last November, Mac Kirby, Cynthia Burton and Carl walked the Australian Alps Walking Track, taking 6 weeks for the 650km trek which mostly follows the Great Dividing Range. Several other walkers joined them for sections of the walk. The group experienced all the ‘ups and downs’ that go with the terrain – glorious days with breathtaking views from mountain tops, beautiful snow gum forests and alpine environments, thunderstorms, hailstorms, ‘interesting’ river crossings, and new friendships formed with fellow walkers. Join us to watch a video of the stunning scenery, the walkers and the walk. Carl, Cynthia and Mac on Mt Howitt Photo supplied

Contents

CBC – A Success Story The Club’s 400th member The benefits of slow walking Notice of Motion – April Club Meeting Membership update Defying Cyclone Gita Bushwalking NSW – a win for CBC Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail CBC Committee members Protect yourself from sun damage Leading a Wednesday Walk Contributions to the newsletter This month’s it Janet’s encounter with ants Activity Program Bulletin Board

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The CBC – a Club to be proud of

Our Club has had many successes in recent months.

 Club members have been recognised for involvement in environmental activities.  The Club’s practices have been awarded by Bushwalking NSW, a result of our Walks Secretary, Linda Groom, contributing Club-running tips.  Our membership has grown to an all-time high of 403.

We have also made progress in the area of privacy with a new Privacy Policy and refined Guidelines for Leaders and Guidelines for Participants. Our goal is to balance the convenience of organising walks and the joy of participating in them with the privacy desired by members in a digital world.

In another step forward, the committee has formulated advice for those wishing to acknowledge Aboriginal traditional lands at the start of activities. You may use this at the start of activities and we will use this at AGMs.

My thanks go to all who have contributed to activities and organisation in the Club. I hope to catch up with you on a walk soon.

Michael de Raadt President

Notice of Motion At our Committee meeting on 25 March 2018 it was recommended that the Club make a donation of $200 to the Colong Foundation to support its work in opposing the raising of the Warragamba Dam wall (see article in March it Page 4 ). The raising of the wall will threaten the integrity of one of the most protected natural landscapes in Australia – it will drown 65 kilometres of wild rivers and 4,700 hectares of National Parks surrounding the dam. Further information can be found at wildrivers.org.au

As this donation was not included in the budget approved at the AGM in September 2017, it is necessary to have it approved at a general meeting, in accordance with the Club’s rules. Club members will be asked to vote on this motion at the April Club meeting.

A quote from Bushwalking NSW newsletter March 2018 “We are delighted to announce that the Canberra Bushwalking Club won our February Prize for the best club-running tips! From formalities to fun, the CBC has it covered. Check out their website for loads of tips and ideas. And join them on a walk to experience the result of all their great work!”

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Protect Your Skin from Sun Damage

Autumn is an ideal period to get into the Aussie bush. The heat of summer has (largely) passed, and the bitter cold of winter is yet to arrive in earnest. We do need to beware of the sun however. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) can still be very high in autumn, particularly with the clear days that we seem to be having a lot of.

I am starting to sustain some pretty serious skin damage from 40 years of weekend bushwalking. Solar keratoses and disfiguring blemishes on my face are the price for having been outside a lot. Some other walkers (and folks in general) have developed more serious skin conditions than me. Apparently, Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma diagnoses in the world. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.

A friend recently reminded me of the risks of UV, and the apps that are now available to provide UV readings. He showed me his app, which led me to finding Sunsmart. Jointly funded by the Cancer Council Victoria and VicHealth, the Sunsmart program is a leader in skin cancer prevention.

I recommend a visit to the Sunsmart website, to increase your understanding of how UV works, and how to better know and protect your skin. I have downloaded their Sunsmart app and now take note of what the UV is doing on any given day. Whenever the UV goes above 3, as it does by mid-morning most days, I apply sunscreen, and put on a hat and sunglasses. I notice that the UV is quite low in the early morning, and in the late afternoon.

We should get some sun, which is a great source of Vitamin D. As we walkers walk right through the high-UV part of the day (the late morning, noon and afternoon period), we need to manage the plentiful sun exposure with judicious protection. As Sid the Seagull wisely advised in 1981 - slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. Or as Baz Lurhmann said, even more succinctly - 'wear sunscreen'!

David Dedenczuk Training and Safety Officer

Welcome to the April edition of it.

There is a smorgasbord of delights this month, and many issues to think about in each of the articles featured here. There is Janet Duncan’s encounter with ants – not such a delight for Janet but something for us all to take warning from. We have Robin Cayzer’s strategies for organising Wednesday walks, with many useful tips for potential leaders who are encouraged to have a go as Robin did with great success. Matthew Higgins reflects on slow walking in the bush to explore the sights and sounds not usually available to noisy parties of walkers. Elizabeth Moore’s description of Janet’s Depot Beach camping trip is one example of a slow walking experience – an article filled with the sensations of the sea, beaches and headlands as the party explored the coastline around Depot Beach. Mike Morriss has done a superlative job summarising Meg McKone’s talk about her Kangaroo Island trip – another coastal exploration. And we meet our Club member number 400 – Bill Binks. 400 is a milestone for the Club. Greet Bill with reverence when you encounter him on a walk sometime. Thank you to everyone who has sent me these wonderful articles for all to share. Enjoy your reading. Meredith Hatherly Editor Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 3

Featuring our 400th Club Member, Bill Binks

I found out about CBC by googling walking groups in Canberra, driven by my desire to explore the bush around ACT and NSW with my family. I'd like to share my passion for bush landscapes with my young son Nicholas I haven't been in a bushwalking club before, but have a background in caving with CEGSA (the Cave Exploration Group South Australia). I’m from Adelaide and one of my most favourite places anywhere is walking the limestone parts of the Flinders Ranges, where I’ve found both caves and tranquillity. I have quite a thing for mountains: looking at, reading about and climbing them (not quite a peak-bagging type though!). My wife Heidi and I did a 3 day trip in the cool forests up around Careys Peak in Barrington Tops NP in 2015. About 10 years ago I had a daunting 2 nights caught in a blizzard on the side of Mount Anne in Tasmania. Lots of my longer bushwalks seem to have happened overseas. Some of my favourite places have been overnight hikes in the Cederberg mountains in South Africa, Mount Kinabalu (Malaysia), missing the sunrise but sliding down scree on Mt Fuji (Japan), Mount Kenya, and in the Peruvian Andes surrounded by 6000m+ peaks. Future-wise I’m really keen to see more out of the way places in Namadgi and Kosciuszko NPs, maybe some snow camping or snow-shoeing, and go hiking in Tasmania. One day I would love to do a trip to the Himalayas. Bill Binks Photo supplied

The Club would like to welcome the following new members who joined the Club during March 2018: Bill Binks, James Volk, Kirstin van Wijk, Mohamed Rageeb, Stuart Wiscombe and Tim Woolmer.

Roger Edwards Membership Secretary

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Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

A review of the talk by Meg McKone featured at the CBC meeting on 21 March 2018

The party for this trip included: Meg McKone (Leader). Michael Bentley, Kerri-Ann Smith-Bentley, Cynthia Burton, Lynette Finch, Christine Francis, Esther Gallant, Chris Roper, Mike and Annette Smith, Helen Stevens (with support from Frank McKone).

We were treated to a thought provoking and entertaining talk by Meg McKone about a walk she led in March 2017 in the Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island. The walk went through the southern ocean- front region of the Park on the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.

The party of 11 covered a distance of 65km over 5 days. The most challenging of the four walk options, called “self-contained”, was the one chosen, as we would expect. The other three walk options involved support in the forms of daily transport to and from accommodation outside the Park and/or overnight gear and provisions transported to the campsites along the trail.

Meg also described the amenities provided at the start and finish of walk, and at the campsites along the way. She said that the Park staff were heavily involved in scheduling a constant flow of walk parties which required pre-booking for self-contained groups and commercially-led groups, each with a maximum of 12, totalling up to 24 in separated camps at each site each night. The Park staff had to clean each campsite each day while parties were walking, as well as maintaining a considerable amount of infrastructure such as platform tent sites, kitchen shelters, the toilets and water tanks. In addition, they needed to attend to the safety of walkers and the protection of the environment and the flora and Dining shelters are provided at each campground with sinks, water, tables and seats. fauna, which includes many rare and Photo: Annette Smith endangered species.

After describing the complex combinations of human resources and infrastructure, and the presence of roads and private dwellings in the area, Meg put the question: “Was this wilderness?”

This question, from a person with Meg’s prodigious experience in leading wilderness walks, was something to keep in mind as she went on to relate the experiences of each of the five days of walking. She mentioned particularly the popular thinking that wilderness can include built infrastructure like luxury lodges, such as the one proposed for below Federation Peak in Tasmania.

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Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Day 1 Flinders Chase Visitors Centre to Snake Lagoon, 12km. The Trail followed the Rocky River from near its headwaters to a lagoon close to its outflow into the ocean. Names along the way such as ‘Platypus Waterholes’ and ‘Pardalote Lookout’ suggest a wide variety of life forms that might be seen or heard in the diverse habitats along the trail. I wondered if a goanna in one of Meg’s photos might be a subspecies of the ones we see on our own south coast - it looked leaner to me. Perhaps the south coast goannas are overfed from the food waste of campers?

Day 2 Snake Lagoon to Cape du Couedic, 14.1km. A short walk along the river through woodland to a hill top provided a breathtaking view of the Southern Ocean with its huge waves. For the rest of the day the Trail was on beaches or the tops of cliff lines of this rugged coast. On the beaches there are areas for rare birds, such as hooded plovers and pied oystercatchers. Signs direct walkers away from these areas. Along the clifftops the vegetation is subjected to severe wind and salt spray which with the thin stony soil produce dwarf, bonsai-like shrubs. Many of these are common native plants, and many were in flower. As the party continued to the south- A rare sunny spell along the coast with Cape du Couedic Lighthouse on the east, views of the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse horizon. became a feature of the landscape. Photo: Meg McKone

Day 3 Sanderson Section, 13km. This section provides a number of options requiring going off the Trail, such as to the Lighthouse and Admiralty Arch, with sightings of the long-nosed fur seals and Australian sea lions which breed along this section of the coast. The Trail goes inland through tall coastal mallee before a side trip to the awesome sight of the Remarkable Rocks. The wind-driven sand and salt have eroded the granite rocks on the top of this dome-shaped hill into wonderful sculptured formations.

Day 4 Sanderson Bay to Grassdale, 13.5km. This stage of the Trail starts along clifftops above Sanderson Bay with spectacular views back to Remarkable Rocks and forward to Cape Younghusband, with views of dolphins frolicking in the heavy seas. The Trail winds inland around Hanson Bay where a luxury resort has recently been opened on private land. It appeared from a distance like a strange grey-paved area on a vegetated hillside. The Remarkable Rocks are accessible by paved road and justly popular with tourists. Photo: Meg McKone

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Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

At the head of Hanson Bay, the South West River is crossed in a small boat, pulled by hand, and the Trail follows the river up to the Tea Tree campsite.

Day 5 Grassdale to Kelly Hill Caves, 7.6km. This is a short walk through very different habitats including woodland recovering from fire, freshwater lakes and karst (limestone cave) country. These areas provide good habitat for woodland and wading birds, and is a great place to enjoy the sounds of the birds and a variety of frogs. At the end of the walk, the Kelly Hill limestone caves, with an unusual formation at the top of a hill, is well worth a visit, along with many other attractions on Kangaroo Island.

Conclusion If we think that wilderness is something approaching a totally natural landscape somewhere in remote mountains, deserts or forests, the answer to Meg’s wilderness question is “No”. If we live in the hope that we may have a ‘wilderness experience’ anywhere on earth if we look for it, hopefully the answer can be “Yes”. Meg’s account of her trip to Kangaroo Island convinced me that its Heritage Trail opens up opportunities for people to have some great heritage experiences. Those having such experiences must do honour to this privilege by working with its custodians – park rangers – to preserve its wilderness values.

Thank you, Meg, for a thought provoking talk to our Club.

Review by Mike Morriss

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Leading a Wednesday Walk

Post retirement in 2016, I discovered the combined clubs’ Wednesday Walks. These were accessible and within my capabilities and promised a return to some level of fitness that employment hadn’t offered and so I became a Wednesday walker, with a brief but enjoyable round of equipment acquisition mostly via Gumtree!

One day, an email arrived from the CBC, asking for volunteers to lead bushwalks. I had been in the Scouts, I had walked Wilsons Promontory and the Bogong High Plains 50+ years ago as a teenager and so I responded with a ‘yes please’. And thus another life journey began.

Many of the walk leaders have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the surrounding ACT and NSW bushwalking haunts - they know when a given walk is best weatherwise and what’s flowering, and they recall tracks that used to be but are no more and areas best avoided and so on, and they can lament that great walks might be forgotten as they get older. The novice leader lacks this knowledge, but not to worry! The Club website has some great resources for leaders, including archives of newsletters and records of previous walks.

I confess to having doubts about simply repeating walks that might have been done in recent times before my involvement. I therefore resolved to lead some walks that put me on the Bicentennial National Trail in the far south of the ACT. I had no idea if the driving distance to get there would be acceptable to the Club.

Rather than describe walks in this article, I thought it would be useful to document the way I went about planning my walks, as an encouragement to others to take the walk leadership plunge.

1. Maps You need maps. My “go to” map is the Rooftop 1:50000 Namadgi - ACT South Activities Map suited to planning rather than navigation. After that it’s the NSW Land and Property Information 1:25000 Topographic and Orthographic Map series and you need quite a few of those if you want to cover the whole of the ACT!

2. Research Spend some time researching the proposed walk on the web; there are some notable websites:  the Canberra Bushwalking Club website, especially the What’s on/Archived Activities tab;  www.environment.act.gov.au has details of Parks and Conservation, with a Parks and Reserves sub- section which includes brochures of many easier walks;  any of the many blogsites such as the remarkable www.johnevans.id.au; www.thewalkact.com www.inthetaratory.wordpress.com, and so on. Just doing a web search on you location of interest will flush out all these sites!

If you look at a few of these websites you will get various perspectives about the duration and difficulty of your intended walk and the area you will pass through. Make use of Google Maps or similar - you can often get a feeling for how open the country might be, whether the trail is distinct, if there is shade and the general navigability of the proposed walk.

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Leading a Wednesday Walk

3. Planning For your walk, take a note of the starting point and write down the distances between key points of interest and major turns, the type of terrain and estimate the likely walk times. When you joined the Club, you will have received a copy of George Carter’s “Finding Your Way in the Bush” book, and you can use the estimates at page 50 to roughly estimate the time it will take to walk a kilometre based on track walking, terrain, slope, vegetation and the like. For example, track walking could be 12 minutes/km, but thick scrub could be 40-60 minutes/km. Your walk should best avoid any private land, but if your walk includes private land you would need to make enquiries about ownership and get specific permission.

4. Reconnaissance Using your plan, reconnoitre your walk, ideally with a friend if on track, and definitely with a friend or two if off-track. Leave very specific route details and plans with family, friends or a Club official who can make sure you get back home! The recce will give you a chance to confirm the travel time, the route, walk timings and to find some morning tea and lunch spots, and to estimate the likely return time. Realistically, your walk timings should consider the pace of the slowest walkers. You also need to do some measurements of the total ups and downs involved in your walk, whether from the map contours or a GPS if you have one.

5. Leadership If you’re going to be a walk leader, you need to be aware of your general responsibilities, which are included on the Club website at the For Leaders/ Guidelines for Leaders tab which contains information on: Forms for Leaders, Gradings, Guidelines for Leaders, Minimal Impact Bushwalking, Transport pooling guidelines, Air Rescue (PDF), Alpine Conditions, Fire Danger and Hot Weather, River Crossings and Unexploded Ordnance. Additionally, take a look at the Resources/Wednesday Walks tab.

6. Difficulty You now need to assess the level of difficulty of your walk. On the Club website, use the For Leaders/Gradings tab. As Wednesday walks include members from several clubs, you could refer to their websites or John Evans’ useful website page on the Other Resources/Gradings of Walks tab so you can include gradings used by other clubs.

7. Walk Description Your walk now needs a description. It needs to do two things. Firstly it needs to be informative about where the walk is, and what it involves so prospective walkers can assess their own ability to do the walk, and estimate when they might get home. Secondly, you need to balance a description which will attract walkers to your walk and yet realistically inform those who might find it too difficult. The general points to cover are: a walk title, the meeting place and time, walk distance, total climb, whether on or off track, and any special equipment needs, transport arrangements and costs. In the Canberra region, water, warmth and sun protection are always important.

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Leading a Wednesday Walk

Close to the date of the walk you will need to include details of the likely weather. A useful tool here is Meteye on the Bureau of Meteorology website, which allows you to get almost hour by hour weather and wind predictions for the next few days, according to location or postcode.

8. The Walk! For your actual walk, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the For Leaders/Forms for Leaders tab provides you with:  Risk form for Wednesday walks (PDF) which each adult participant must sign. You might need to print several of these forms, and take a pen, and a clip board.  Incident report form (PDF) to report an incident or an injury requiring, or likely to require medical attention.  Emergency information sheet (PDF) to keep in your first aid kit; this contains advice and a form for recording an injured person’s condition.

Secondly, on the walk you need to lay a few ground rules which might include: For a large group, a tail-end Charlie, to make sure nobody lags behind; a requirement that anyone leaving the track for e.g. a loo or photo break, tells somebody they’re leaving, and leaves their pack on the track. For a larger group, either require that the group keeps together or lets faster walkers go ahead, provided they wait at the next corner or other landmark. For a larger group, you might ask for assistance in managing the numbers! If there is a walker you do not believe to be capable of doing your walk, or who does not appear to be suitably equipped, you do have a right to exclude them from your walk. If a problem does arise on your walk, there will be plenty of experienced walkers who can help you, but the golden rule is to never leave anybody alone - your primary responsibility is to ensure everyone is always safe, and this is more important than getting home by a specific time! Contingencies do arise - there have been bites, falls and breaks, and I’ve suffered from dehydration. If they do, use the strengths of all your fellow walkers to help resolve the Wednesday walkers - Gudgenby grasslands problem. Photo: Meredith Hatherly 9. After the walk. On your return home, you need to advise the Club Check-In Officer. You can do this on the Club website if you have been set-up as a leader there, or via the email address at the foot of the Risk form for Wednesday walks.

I’m sure there’s more that could be said on putting together your first Wednesday Walk. I started my walks with a theme - sections of the Bicentennial National Trail in the ACT. I moved on to visiting the old huts in the ACT, and recently on to mountain peaks accessible to Wednesday walkers. The ‘armchair bushwalking’ research and planning has become as much fun as the walks themselves. So think about giving it a go; spend your next few walks monitoring the leader for ideas. When the call goes out for walk leaders put your hand up! As always - good luck and have fun! Robin Cayzer

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How Ants Toppled Janet

I had no idea I was allergic to some species of ants.

On Wed 7th March I decided along with 9 others to do Peter Wellman’s Wednesday walk up near the old arboretum where only two huge trees had escaped the 2003 fire. This is the walk description:

WALK 2 - Med/Hard walk Mt Ginini area, circuit to south - 9km medium Leader: Peter Wellman. This will be a circuit, mainly off road, so it will be rough underfoot. We will walk from Mount Ginini carpark to Mt Ginini itself, to Stockyard Gap, to Stockyard Spur Firetrail, to the ex arboretum, then back along the old and overgrown firetrail that passes through the southern grasslands. Total climb 570m. Cars: 140km ($17). Map: Corin Dam. Meet at the tennis court carpark north of McDonalds at Cooleman Court, Weston, leaving at 8:30. As this is mainly ‘off track’ and rough underfoot, with some scrub, do not come unless you are fit

It was a very scenic walk and after pushing our way through lots of exhausting scrub we sat down by the small river to have lunch. We still had a climb of about 250m ahead of us, through some scrub and about 5km back to the car to complete this Walk.

I somehow put my hand near ants and then moved to sit in a slightly different spot.

Almost immediately my hand became very red so I put Soove on it, but it didn’t do anything to assuage the pain. Oh well, I thought it will get better. I also started thinking that maybe the nettles near the creek were causing the itching.

I began my lunch. However within about 2 minutes I was itching all over, and frantically pouring my drinking water over my hair and arms to try to stop the itching and now the pain. I was also aware that I was extremely restless and couldn’t sit still. The itchiness became extreme, a faint feeling of nausea came over me and somehow I just flopped over.

Most of the group initially thought just that –I had flopped over and would get up. I know I was conscious but couldn’t move or say anything. I remember one person saying “I will stretch your legs out as they are all bunched up”. As time went by I was aware that they were getting very concerned about my state - after all I don’t usually flop over. One person said to take her pulse. Another person, like an angel laid his or her hand on my shoulder - that helped so much. I really felt I would get up and it would all be OK. However I just couldn’t move.

So as time passed, I was aware that the group were considering using the PLB or perhaps call an ambulance. After maybe only 5 minutes I felt I simply had to get out, as it slowly dawned on me that I must be allergic to ants or to some vegetation we had pushed through. I slowly raised my head and asked if anyone had any anti- histamines. No-one did.

Somehow I sat up and insisted that I wanted to get out. It was to the credit of the whole party that with two people pulling me up, others clearing the way, another carrying my pack we slowly made our way back to the cars. I tried to drink water, and kept collapsing, many times. It must have been frustrating to the others to make such slow progress. I had lost my sense of balance so another walker obligingly put out his hand whenever there was a log to get over. One walker went to the top of a hill to see if there was phone reception, and then asked me if I wanted an ambulance. I declined as I felt I was recovering. I suppose almost 30 minutes had passed after my first ‘flop,’ and with the walking and drinking water I was beginning to feel better and more aware of what was happening around me.

We continued slowly up the hill and by the time we reached the cars I was pretty well OK, although worn out and a bit disoriented. Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 11

How Ants Toppled Janet

When we returned to Cooleman Court it was to the credit of the whole group that some offered to drive me home, two offered to stay the night and all over I felt a great deal of care and no panic. Another walker’s wife immediately looked up ants and allergies and emailed that information to me.

At home I could only count 4 ant stings on the outside top of my left leg, not on my hand. I slept, feeling recovered but a bit weak the next day.

I drove to Woden and discussed with a chemist what had happened. Her advice is worth noting:

She said “the almost instant unreasonable itching on skin and in hair, my unsettled state and the feeling of nausea is the beginning of an allergic shock. If it persists it can be anaphylactic and I could have stopped breathing.” (Eeks! the group may have had a body to deal with.)

The chemist agreed that by my walking and drinking water it helped to spread the ‘poison’ and therefore it was a good thing. A snake bite is different - you don’t want to spread the poison so you remain as still as possible.

She suggested that in my case I could buy a tube of hydrocortisone cream and put it on the affected stings/rash as soon as possible as this would instantly neutralise and thereby minimise the possible allergic affect. She also advised taking antihistamines as soon as possible and to double the dose to help the body cope with the poison. She thought that in my case I wouldn’t have needed painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen – they are just another chemical the body needs to cope with. She said being tired, not sleeping well or not eating properly over the last few days would have made no difference – if your body is allergic it will react regardless.

The chemist didn’t feel an Epipen was necessary for me. Within an hour or so I was feeling better, but when the reaction is very severe there is no time to walk out or delay getting help.

(This advice was specifically for Janet’s situation. Club members who feel they may be similarly affected should seek their own advice. Ed)

So what have I learnt? Well, I now carry the cream and antihistamines. I also carry a small old film container to put ants, spiders or whatever in so they can be identified. Naturally, I try to avoid ants.

I recognise that in any emergency there are often discussions afterwards about how the treatment to the patient could have been different or better. In this case I feel the whole group - Peter W, Robin C, David W, Prue D, Mike S, Eric D, John E, Mike M and Mark P acted in a caring and calm manner, giving me confidence that eventually I would be OK, and they didn’t crowd me. I also appreciated that they let me decide what to do, which is one thing that First Aid advises.

So the score is pretty equal - Ants 0; Janet 0

Janet Duncan

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Slow walking

The concept of ‘slow walking’ has been around for a long time and in recent months has been picked up by the NSW NPWS. Rangers have been leading ‘slow walks’ with an emphasis on taking time to absorb all the fine detail of the bush rather than trying to cover as many kilometres as possible in a given time.

‘Slow walkers’ are the opposite of ‘tiger walkers’, those doyens who march at great pace through the bush, setting sometimes incredible distance records. My own walking has been a bit of both. I sometimes get criticised for going too fast, yet in other contexts have been recommended as an example of the ‘slow walking’ philosophy! Different horses, different courses. What I have learnt over the years - and it is something seen in my presentation ‘Ainslie to Kossie: window on a wonder wander’ which I’ve given for CBC and many other groups - is that by slowing down we do get a better opportunity to see the detail whether it be plants, reptiles, birds, mammals, aquatic creatures or elements of the broader landscape. By moving slowly we get a chance to see, hear, feel, smell and touch elements of the bush that otherwise might pass by completely unnoticed. As well as the above talk, my new book Bold Horizon: High-country Place, People and Story, released in April 2018, explores taking one’s time, especially alone, in the first half of the book called ‘My Place’. Some examples of my experiences gained by slowing down range from those in local places like Mt Ainslie to the high peaks of Namadgi and Kosciuszko National Parks. Each year from August to November my wife Steph and I watch about eight families of Tawny frogmouths on western Mt Ainslie go through their annual breeding cycle, from nest-building, egg- laying, hatching and raising, to fledging. These birds are incredibly well camouflaged and require much time and patience to find and then follow as they choose their nest sites (and sometimes change sites several times just when you think you’ve got them pinned down!).

Superbly camouflaged tawny frogmouth family Another species that requires huge patience and perseverance is Rosenberg’s goanna, which I’ve been watching for several years on Mt Ainslie and more recently in Namadgi. Again well camouflaged and able to keep absolutely still, these goannas can be only a metre away and you won’t see them. Finding the termite mounds, where the female goannas lay their eggs and where after eight months of incubation the young goannas hatch, cannot be done on a tiger walk but only after painstaking searches where only a handful of kilometres might be covered in a half day. In Namadgi recently I had a wonderful experience with a copperhead snake, an experience achieved only by moving slowly in the bush and being willing to forestall onward movement on the walk. It was on the Bobeyan Divide and Collegiate copperhead in Namadgi just as I’d finished lunch I stood only to find a large copperhead slithering toward me. It didn’t know I was there, it was simply hunting. I was able to watch, from only a few metres away, for about 20 minutes as it looped around searching for food, completely unaware of the human presence.

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Slow walking

Finding sugar gliders and their tree-hollow homes too has been rewarding but achieved only through patient searches. Given that these animals are nocturnal and arboreal, most people do not know they are there. To find them you need to walk in the hours between dusk and dawn, looking upward into the tree canopy, usually off-track. There’s no choice but to do it slowly. Similarly, when a few years ago I made a documentary about echidnas, it took over 18 months to get all the footage I needed to tell these animals’ story properly. It included sometimes staying with one echidna for up to a couple of hours, learning its behaviour and being entertained in the process, like for example when it has a scratch and puts those long rear claws to good use to get in between all those pointy spines. Finding these sorts of creatures isn’t just about looking. It is also about listening. Listening for the sound of movement and in some cases, calls. Listening too for the alarm calls made by other creatures when your target is around (e.g. birds alarmed by a goanna). You cannot hear these subtle sounds if you are moving fast or with a large, noisy walking group. Slowing down offers time to reflect on what you are seeing and opportunity to try to understand natural processes. This can be on a cross-country ski trip, understanding the rime or icicles built up on trees through the power of wind and/or repeated freeze-thaw cycles, or on a walk noticing the brighter colour of newly flaked granite as boulders exhibit that deep-time process of onion-skin exfoliation. Doing a big walk of many kilometres has pleasures, but taking time to slow down in the bush has many rewards.

Exquisite ice-encrusted lichen, Bobs Ridge, Kosciuszko

Text and photos: Matthew Higgins

Up close and personal with Rosenberg's goanna

Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 14

Defying Cyclone Gita

Depot Beach four day camp 19-22 February 2018 Party: Janet Duncan (leader), Jeff B, Lana B, Anne C, Jenny H, Mark H, Lucinda L, Elizabeth M, Mike M, Jennie N, Terry O’B, Delia O, Julie P, Lyndel P, Terrylea & Mark R, Annette & Mike S, Jenny S Thanks to Janet Duncan, who rightly describes Depot Beach as a ‘jewel’ of Murramarang National Park. Our party of members from Brindabella and Canberra Bushwalking Clubs ventured down the Clyde Mountain soon after Tropical Cyclone Gita had wreaked havoc along its path through Tonga, New Zealand and the east Australian coast. While the Queensland Gold Coast and NSW North Coast were worst affected, the massive ocean swells extended south to the Sydney and Illawarra coast, their impacts extending to the Murramarang beaches. Our accommodation was a mix of cabins, tents and one ‘tiny’ caravan with the added sheltered camp kitchen. Cabin dwellers welcomed tent dwellers to stay overnight, share dinner and to socialise over planning for future walks, or simply a good game of scrabble.

Day 1: 19 February: Point Upright and Burrawang Walk Uncertain about what the weather would deliver to us over the coming days, Mike, Delia and I had a leisurely drive out of Canberra along the Kings Highway. We stopped at Braidwood’s Dojo Bakery for coffee and at Nelligen’s river boat pier where local tales of rough living and rough justice are recorded. Bushrangers, Thomas and John Clarke, were shackled to a tree before being transported upriver to Sydney where they were tried at Darlinghurst and executed in 1867. Having left the Princes Highway, we saw two male lyre birds manoeuvre their feathered tail display across the densely forested approach to Depot Beach. Despite a national parks weather warning of 35-60mm rain overnight, some held up hope that the rain would soon take a course up the mountain to the ACT where it was much needed. Cabin and caravan dwellers were welcomed by friendly king parrots. Some cabin dwellers helped dedicated campers pitch tents during a lighter spell in the rain. Equipped with raincoats and umbrellas the group divided, each to a Point Upright vantage location to A welcome to Julie Pettit witness pounding ocean swells and storm clouds rolling toward Photo: Annette Smith the coast. Jenny Horsfield led some beyond the village roads, to a further vantage point accessed from the well-formed Burrawang Walking Track. Coming from the rain- deprived ACT, it was a welcome experience to meander through the rain drenched forest, predominantly spotted gums with dense Burrawang cycad understory. The rain had the unusual effect on some rough barked eucalypts of running water combining with resin in the bark to form foam which accumulated as a lather at the base of the tree.

Day 2: 20 February: Depot beach headlands, towards Point Upright and Pebbly Beach A night of heavy rain showcased the resilience of campers and their tents. The day began with an optimistic weather forecast - Cyclone Gita’s impacts were moving south, with overcast skies and occasional showers predicted in our surrounds. During a temporary halt to the rain, the good humoured sparring of two young resident male kangaroos and the calls of the Eastern Whipbirds heralded a more active day. Almost everyone decided to explore the headlands of Depot beach.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 15

Depot Beach – Defying Cyclone Gita

Our first venture was south toward Point Upright where the rising tide had us rock hopping close to the cliff. Eventually we were turned back by the daunting size of the waves breaking over the rock platform. Our walk later in the day to Point Upright in clearing weather provided wonderful vistas of the forested coast of tall gums bearing mop top foliage. We reflected on their similarity to iconic ‘art deco’ lines which appear in the paintings of Australian colonial artist, Sydney Long. Resuming our walk north towards Pebbly Beach, the shoreline was ideal for those who wanted to feel the sand Depot Beach spotted gum forest between their toes or to wade over the rock platform. Photo: Jenny Stewart Here we discovered the distinctive large fossils of petrified wood tree trunks. At a small bay south of Pebbly Beach the arrival and retreat of the waves washed through the shoreline of large mixed pebbles that to me sounded like several audience members at a concert encouraging one of their number to ‘shhhhhhh…’ On our return to the campground we saw two lace monitors about two metres long. They were on the prowl for pickings from barbecues and camp kitchens. Not to be deterred by wild oceans most of our group took the Burrawang Walk, this time to Durras North beach for the first ocean swim. The water was warm enough and not too rough for it to be a most enjoyable experience. In the late afternoon the nearby rainforest circuit delivered a noticeable increase in bird activity. So began our bird list! My chance meeting with a friend in the Milton/Ulladulla group revealed that their 8.30am start saw them beat the tide around the headland to Pebbly Beach, and amazingly, back again. Their forward plans were to kayak on Durras Lake and avoid the wild ocean tides. Burrawang walk to Durras Photo: Lana Bermester Cabin dwellers and campers all took the evening meal in the camp kitchen. The clearing weather encouraged Janet to settle more definite plans for the following day via an informal group meeting.

Day 3: 21 February: North Head beach to Durras, surf seeking After an early morning car-pooling at the campground we drove out to the Princes Highway, south to the Durras turn off and then to North Head Road. Our first stop at North Head beach provided a new perspective on the off shore islands. The low tide enabled us to explore the cliff side rock formations and rock pools, which inspired the photographers amongst us. Then, like surfboard riders, though seeking less extreme conditions, we searched the beaches for the perfect ocean swell. Oakey, Richmond and Myrtle beaches were all in our sights, driving on good unsealed road through varied vegetation. Had we brought our guide to seaweed species our list might have outnumbered the bird list.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 16

Depot Beach – Defying Cyclone Gita

Our last opportunity to venture into the surf was at Durras, where some thought our chosen surf conditions were more aligned with the board riders’ preferences, spectacular dumps in evidence. The Murramarang resort shop provided some icy rewards. We farewelled some early departing members returning to the campground. A rare find was a dead yellow-bellied sea snake on Oaky beach, perhaps part of the wash up from the rough oceans created by Cyclone Gita. Perhaps these conditions were also the reason for the finding of a Port Jackson shark egg identified by Mike M. Yellow bellied sea snake Photo: Annette Smith Our bird list had grown to include seabirds, waders and water birds, notable amongst them the Sooty Oystercatchers, often in pairs on the rock platforms, and the White-bellied Sea-Eagle swooping from the trees for an ocean catch. It was time to commit to a combined bird list in taxonomic order (thank you Mike), a list that grew to 41 species.

Australian Wood Duck (numerous Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo New Holland Honeyeater – one pair with 6 ducklings) (heard, not seen) Eastern Spinebill Little Black Cormorant Rainbow Lorikeet Eastern Yellow Robin Black-faced Cormorant - shag King Parrot Eastern Whipbird Pied Cormorant Crimson Rosella Willie Wagtail Australian Pelican Fantailed Cuckoo (heard, not Rufous Whistler White-faced Heron seen) Rufous Fantail Eastern Reef Egret Laughing Kookaburra Grey Fantail Pied Oyster Catcher Superb Lyrebird Pied Butcherbird Sooty Oyster Catcher Superb Fairywren Black-backed Magpie White-backed Sea Eagle White-browed Scrubwren Pied Currawong Dusky Moorhen Yellow-rumped Thornbill Australian Raven Silver Gull Red Wattlebird Satin Bowerbird Crested Tern Little Wattlebird Welcome Swallow Wonga Pigeon (heard, not seen) Lewin’s Honeyeater

List compiled by Mike Morriss

Day 4, 22 February: Walking the rock platform at low tide towards Point Upright and Pebbly Beach In the morning campers were rewarded with a dry tent that enabled early packing. Those seeking a final breath of the ocean air before journeying home revisited the rock platforms at one or other end of Depot Beach. A lone rock fisherman at Point Upright signalled low tide and calmer ocean swells. Most of the party walked to Point Upright and the stunning wave-cut rock platform, and were able to venture right around to North Durras beach. After a swim they returned over the hill for a final walk through the Burrawang cycads. Photo: Julie Pettit Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 17

Depot Beach – Defying Cyclone Gita

Mike, Delia and I went north toward Pebbly Beach slowly, pondering our discoveries. We went a little further than previously but did not venture to Pebbly Beach. The low tide revealed interesting examples of petrified wood embedded in the rock platform all the way. An Eastern Reef Egret was our companion on the rock platform for a time - a first and very good sighting for us all. En route to the campground we detoured through the Rainforest Walk. We observed large strangely shaped spotted gums, cabbage tree palms and a wide variety of vines, ferns, mosses and fungi. The drive home included a stop at Batemans Bay, where I was able to indulge my fish and chip fantasy while large, black stingrays cruised beneath our table on the pier. While the weather would have usually been a deterrent for the author, perseverance proved that good company in less than ideal weather conditions can make for a wonderful time. The quality of text and photographic contributions to this record after the event are testimony to a well led expedition. Thank you Janet from us all.

Text by Elizabeth Moore et al, including Janet Duncan, Mike Morris, Delia Osicka and photographers. Not all photographs are reproduced here due to space limitations.

Reef waders Photo: Annette Smith

Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 18

Who is on the CBC Committee 2017-18?

President: Michael de Raadt Editor: Meredith Hatherly [email protected] [email protected] 0410 233 090 Assistant Walks Secretary: Keith Thomas Treasurer: Julie Anne Clegg [email protected] [email protected] +64 27 535 6176 0402 118 359 Social Secretary: Terrylea Reynolds Walks Secretary: Linda Groom [email protected] [email protected] 0408 715 218. 6281 4917 Publisher: David Williams General Secretary: Jenny Stewart [email protected] [email protected] ————————————————————— Membership Secretary: Roger Edwards [email protected] All members of the Committee can be contacted 6288 7863 in one email to: [email protected] Training and Safety Officer: David Dedenczuk [email protected] Check in: [email protected] 0417 222 154 Web site: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org Conservation Officer: Cynthia Breheny [email protected]

Web Manager: Andrew Meers [email protected]

Contributions to the it  The it depends on your contributions. Please keep them coming – anything which you think may interest CBC members. If in doubt, email me and we can discuss.

 If possible, try to limit your articles to a maximum of two to three pages of text or about 1000 -1500 words.

 When you send a photo, and it is not yours, make sure you have permission to use it. Include the name of the photographer.

 Your article may be edited if the editor considers that is appropriate.

 The closing date for each issue of it is the fourth Wednesday of every month. Send contributions to [email protected]

Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 19

ACTIVITY PROGRAM

Information for Participants Distance and difficulty Distance: Transport (S) Short – under 12 km/day Costs are 39¢/km/car, divided equally among all participants. This (M) Medium – 12–20 km/day amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader, depending on (L) Long – over 20 km/day the condition of the roads and other factors. The figures given are Note: In calculating distance, 1 km is added for every 100 metres for the car as a whole and then, at the discretion of the leader, an climbed. estimate or range per person. Park admission and camping fees are additional costs which leaders should list separately. Terrain: Duty of care (E) Easy – fire trail, tracks, beaches etc. Every person taking part in a CBC activity acknowledges that he/she (M) Medium – bush tracks, alpine areas, some scrub does so voluntarily and that he/she may be exposed to risks that could lead to injury, illness or death, or to loss of, or damage to (R) Rough – much scrub, steep climbs, rock scrambles property. Each person acknowledges risk when they book on line (W) Wet – compulsory swims, many river crossings for walks, and sign the Club’s ‘Acknowledgement of Risks’ form at (X) Exploratory the start of a walk. Visitors are welcome to join trips. However walkers are strongly encouraged to join the Club after a maximum of three trips. Booking Please book online using the 'Request a booking' button on the page For further information see: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org for each walk. Many walks have a booking deadline, and all leaders appreciate Check-in after walks receiving bookings several days ahead of the walk, rather than just a Before a trip, leaders should use the 'Submit Trip List' function day or two ahead. within 'Manage Bookings' to inform the Club's check-in officer of the If the type of walk is new for you, check with the leader about: names of their party. After the walk, leaders should use the 'Check- * the need to carry water, tents/fly, maps, etc. In' function, also within 'Manage Bookings', by 10 am the day after * appropriate clothing, footwear their trip to report their safe return or any incidents, and also email * any precautions you might need to take for severe weather a scanned copy of the Acknowledgment of Risks form to the Check-

in Officer, David Dedenczuk [email protected] In the event of a late return, worried relatives should contact the Equipment hire Check-in Officer, 0417 222 154,or the Walks Secretary, 6281 4917 or Take advantage of the excellent gear that the Club has available for 0474 507 259 in the first instance, not the Police or other bodies hire before lashing out on your own equipment. The Equipment Officer is Rob Horsfield, who can be contacted on 6231 4535(h). To Map scale is 1:25,000 unless otherwise stated borrow the PLB, contact David Dedenczuk, Training and Safety Officer: [email protected]

The equipment available and current rates per weekend/week are Wednesday walks set out below. Hirers are responsible for collecting and returning Two walks one Medium/Easy and one Medium/Hard, are conducted the equipment. The hiring charge (but not the deposit) is waived for most Wednesdays. Walks are conducted in turn by leaders from the members who are ‘first time’ weekend walkers. Canberra Bushwalking Club (CBC), Brindabella Bushwalking Club (BBC – Peter [email protected] and Kathy A deposit of $20 is required and part or all of this will be refunded, [email protected]) and National Parks Association ACT (NPA depending on the condition of the items upon return and whether - Mike S, 0412 179 907). Destination and meeting place details are they are returned late. emailed a few days before each walk. (BBC and NPA leaders as listed in the activity program).

Item w.e./week Control your receipt of Wednesday Walk emails via your Olympus two person tent $15 / $40 membership profile. Contact John, co-ordinator of Wednesday Macpac Microlight one person tent $15 / $40 Walks, via [email protected] for Snow tent $15 / $40 general enquiries. If you are not a member of CBC, BBC or NPA you 3 season bag, mat and liner $10 / $25 must contact the leader before the walk to discuss the level of Assorted packs $5 / $15 difficulty and must be accompanied on the walk by a sponsoring Trangia and fuel bottle $5 / $15 member. Please note that leaders retain the right to not accept any Snow shoes/poles $10 / $25 walker. Snow sleeping bag, mat and liner $15 / $40 Personal locator beacon – nil (see website for conditions) GPS – nil (see website for conditions of use)

Check you have ALL the bits and pieces you need when collecting and returning gear.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 20

Activity Program

Sat 14 - Sun 15 Apr: S24C#2 - Max & Berts Hut - M/M/W An afternoon stroll from Caloola Farm along Naas Valley Fire Trail crossing the Naas River seven times (10km). From the fire trail it is 1.5km footpad to Max & Berts Hut. A morning return by the same route. Ideal bush break for busy people. Suitable as an overnight pack trip for beginners. Map: Michelago Transport: $60 per car Leader: Sean Sunley. Book by: Wed 11 Apr, 6:00pm. See online...

(Fri 13) Sat 14 - Sun 15 Apr: Opera House & The Sentinel - L/R/Part X Travel to Jindabyne Friday evening in bunk room accom overnight. On Saturday, depart Charlotte Pass to Club Lake, over to Lake Albina, then down Lady Northcote canyon to Opera House Hut where we spend the night. On Sunday, ascend The Sentinel via its main ridge (rough, 900m climb), then via Blue Lake back to the cars. About 16-18km and 1500m of climbing. → 16 to 18km ↗ 1500 ↘ 1500 Map: Perisher Valley Transport: About $150 per car plus KNP entry fees if applicable. Limit: 8 Leader: Rowan Peck. Book by: Wed 7 Mar, 2:00pm. See online...

Sat 14 Apr: Toddlers Toddle - Gossan Hill Nature Reserve - S/M A walk of about 400 metres return designed for families with pre-school kids. We'll explore a gully with lots of interesting rocks. No need to book - non-members welcome, though if this is your third walk as a non- member, it's time to join. Meet in the green space between no. 7 and no. 17 Mugglestone Place, Bruce, ready for a 10am departure. Should be finished before noon. Park on the nature strip. → 1.5 hours, 400 metres ↗ About 25 metres ↘ About 25 metres Map: Google Maps Transport: Drive yourself Leader: Lisa Quilter. No need to book. See online...

Sat 14 - Sun 15 Apr: Main Creek - S/R/Part X A circuit to explore the beautiful cliff-base scenery, rain forests and rocky creeklines of Yerriyong State Forest. We will start at the corner of the Rosewood Fire Trail, drop quickly through the cliff line by a known, straightforward route, into magnificent turpentine forest, then head east along the cliff base past isolated sandstone outcrops covered in moss and monkey vines, then drop to a fire trail to take us most of the way down to Main Creek. Day 2 will be up Main Creek, up a scrubby ridge then a bit more cliff base scenery. Short distances, but a strenuous walk, requires previous experience of M/R grade walks. → About 6 km per day in 6 hours ↗ Main ascent 300 metres on day 2 ↘ Main descent 300 metres on Day 1 Map: Sassafras and Tianjara Transport: $120 per car; last 15 minutes best done with AWD/4WD. A 2 hour 15 min drive from Canberra. Limit: 8 Leader: Linda Groom. Booking required. See online...

Sun 15 Apr: Shepherds Lookout, Murrumbidgee River - M/M From Shepherd's Lookout in Belconnen follow the trail down to the Molonglo River, cross the river, follow the Uriarra Loop Walk, and then climb back up to Shepherds Lookout for a final view of the Murrumbidgee River towards the ACT/NSW border. About 10km and a total climb of 300m. We will be home in time for lunch. → 10k ↗ 300 ↘ 300 Map: Umburra Transport: Drive yourself but let me know if you need a lift. Leader: Phillip Starr. Book by: Fri 13 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Tue 17 Apr: Yankee Hat, Cliff, Namadgi National Park - M/R/X From the Yankee Hat carpark, we’ll walk a few kilometres up Bogong Creek, then ascend 350 metres up the steep and scrubby southwest flank of Yankee Hat to investigate a large cliff. We shall return on a similar route. Most of the day will be off-track. → 13 km ↗ 550 ↘ 550 Map: Yaouk Transport: 110km return Limit: 8 Leader: Ian Wright. Book by: Fri 13 Apr, 10:00pm. See online...

Wed 18 Apr: Wednesday walk Easy-Medium BBC sponsored - M/E E-mail to be sent prior to walk Map: nil Transport: nil Leader: Kathy Handel - No need to book. See online... Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 21

Activity Program

Wed 18 Apr: Wednesday walk, Medium-Hard, BBC sponsored - M/R E-mail to be sent prior to walk Map: nil Transport: nil Leader: Peter Wellman. No need to book. See online...

Wed 18 Apr: Pre-Meeting Dinner at Canberra Irish Club - -/-/W Prior to the CBC monthly meeting come to the Canberra Irish Club at 6pm for a pre-meeting dinner. NO NEED TO BOOK. Map: UBD page 67 K14 Transport: N/A Leader: Mark Peirce. See online...

Wed 18 Apr: CBC Monthly Meeting 7.30pm Weston Uniting Church, 16 Parkinson St, Weston Guest speaker: Mac Kirby. The AAWT Adventure

Thu 19 Apr: Queanbeyan River & Spring Creek Gorge - M/R/X From the day use area on Woolcara Lane, climb 150 metres through glades and scrub to the trig on Corner Hill, then descend 200m to the large pool on the Queanbeyan River. Then upstream, mostly about 50 metres above the river with views of its pools and rapids, to the junction of Spring Creek. The creek has a small interesting gorge and several cascades. Return to the cars via ridge tops. About 11km and 400m climb, some rock scrambling and loose sloping ground but at a moderate pace, mostly forest with light scrub, and a few patches of thick scrub. The water quality in the river is similar to the Murrumbidgee’s. A one hour drive from Queanbeyan, suitable for larger 2WDs. → 11km ↗ 400m Map: Captains Flat. Transport: $10-$14pp Limit: 8 Leader: Phillip Starr. Book by: Tue 17 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Thu 19 - Sun 22 Apr: Eden Boydtown Twofold with Kayaks - M/-/X/W A four day visit to the Eden Twofold Boydtown area with kayaks. Camping each night at: http://www.boydtownbeachholidaypark.com.au/ Note camping fees apply. Launching from Davidson Whaling Station. See: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/historic-buildings-places/davidson- whaling-station-historic-site. Very weather dependent, we plan to paddle the Towamba and perhaps Womboyn Inlets. If weather is calm we will venture out into Twofold Bay. Equipment: Your own kayak and paddle, preferably a sea kayak, is essential. Full safety equipment including flotation vest is essential. Car camping gear and food also required. → 4 to 6 hours paddling per day, many rests. Map: EDEN 8823-1N See: https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/etopo.html and search for Boydtown. Transport: From Canberra 273km 3.5h each way. Generally only 2 kayaks and people per car. Limit: 12 Leader: Peter Conroy. Book by: Tue 17 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Sat 21 - Sun 22 Apr: Mt Banks and Mt Solitary (Blue Mountains) - M/R Two wonderful walks to iconic Blue Mountains peaks over two days. We will likely do the shorter easier Mt Banks on the first day and the harder longer Mt Solitary on the Sunday. This will however depend on weather. Mt Solitary is a five hour 14km walk involving clambering over sandstone. 400m ascent. Therefore this is a walk for fit walkers only. → 14km, 5 hours ↗ 400 Map: Jamieson 1:25000 Transport: Depart Canberra at 8:30am Saturday 21 April. Drive 660km, $264 per car Leader: David Dedenczuk. Book by: Mon 16 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Sat 21 Apr: The Highs and Lows of Booroomba Rocks - M/R The Booroomba Rocks cliff top is a great vantage point, with views over Blue Gum Creek to Blue Gum Hill and further into Canberra. But what lies above and below? We’ll follow the footpad north-east to SH1353 above the northern buttress, then return to the central cliff and enjoy the easy scramble south-west up over granite slabs through SH1372 to SH1396. A great spot for morning tea. We’ll then descend and take another easy pad (with a scramble or two) beneath the southern buttress of Booroomba Rocks. Grand views up the monstrous cliff faces where rock climbers ascend.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 22

Activity Program

Returning the way we came, we’ll then descend the Middle Rocks area. This is below the cliff top view point and, although there is a little exposure below, the footpad is indeed wide and easy. It’s quite a thrill to get down under the northern buttress with its massive cliffs. We return the same way, huffing and puffing slowly up across Booroomba’s Middle Rocks. Scene-ed out, we’ll walk back down to the Booroomba Rocks car park on the walking track. Around 9km and 600m climb. → 9km ↗ 600 ↘ 600 Map: Corin Dam Transport: ~$8 per person Limit: 12 Leader: John Evans. Book by: Thu 19 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Sat 21 Apr: A walk through history in the Orroral Valley - S/E Meet at the Orroral River campground just inside Namadgi National Park and walk approx. 4km on a well made track into the Orroral Valley, passing signage that interprets the settlement history of this beautiful valley. After afternoon tea at the homestead with a talk by local historian Jenny Horsfield we return to the cars the same way. A Heritage Festival event in collaboration with MOTH (Minders of Tuggeranong Homestead) → 8 km Map: Rendezvous Creek Transport: Drive yourself Limit: 25 Leader: Jenny Horsfield. Book by: Thu 19 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Sun 22 Apr: Corin Dam to Mt Gingera - L/M We'll walk up Stockyard Spur, follow the trail to Mt Franklin Rd then the footpad up to Mt Gingera, returning the same way. This walk is all on tracks but the climb up Stockyard Spur is long and steep. → 20km ↗ 1200m Map: Corin Dam Transport: approx $28 per car Limit: 12 Leader: Lisa Quilter. Booking required. See online...

(Sun 22) Mon 23 - Wed 25 Apr: KNP 2100+m Hills - L/R Joint CBC/CWBC trip. Leave Canberra Sunday evening, stay in Jindabyne overnight. On Monday depart from Charlottes Pass and top as many 2100m+ peaks as the group can manage, and weather allows. Camp at Wilkinsons Creek 1st night, and at Cootapatamba Hut 2nd night. ANZAC day dawn breakfast at Cootapatamba Hut. Traverse Ramshead Range and Etheridge ranges before returning to cars Wednesday pm for drive home. Route will vary based on weather and group. In 2017, we topped them all - let's see if we can do it again! → 55km ↗ 2100 ↘ 2100 Map: Perisher Valley and Geehi Dam Transport: About $150 per car from Canberra; plus KNP entry fees if applicable Limit: 8 Leader: Rowan Peck. Booking required. See online...

Tue 24 Apr: High Range summit (via a newish route) - L/R/Part X High Range is a rarely visited Percy. While earlier parties have encountered slow-going and scrub approaching from the south, we will seek easier access from the east, starting along an old access track to Billy Billy Rocks, leaving it to reach Bogong Cave. From there, we will take what looks like the best route to the Percy point at 705684. Walkers should nonetheless be ready for a full body work-out, as there are still likely be sections of thick scrub. → Difficult to estimate. We will allow the full day due to likely periods of slow-going. ↗ About 500 metres ↘ About 500 metres Map: Corin Dam Transport: The leader will try to arrange drivers to pick up passengers from their homes; otherwise, we will meet at Kambah shops. Per person costs should be about $8. The leader prefers early starts to make best use of the day. Limit: 8 Leader: Jonathan Miller. Book by: Sun 22 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Wed 25 Apr: Toddlers Toddle - Aranda bushland - S/M This circuit of about 400 metres is designed for families with toddlers who are keen to explore the natural world. The circuit includes some flat open grassland, a wide gully with climbable banks, and shady forest with big old logs to walk along. No need to book. Meet, ready to start at 9.45am; should be finished by 11.30am. The nearest Google Maps address to the meeting point is ‘Black Mountain Reserve Car Park’; we will meet about 100 metres south west of that, near a stile that leads over the fence into the Aranda Bushland, on the quiet connector road that forms part of a triangle in the Glenloch Interchange.

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Activity Program

Map shows meeting point. If you can't see a sign 'Aranda snow gums' and a stile, you're in the wrong carpark. → 400 metres, 1.5 hours ↗ Less than 10 metres ↘ Less than 10 metres Map: Google Maps Transport: Drive yourself; the starting point is also easily accessible by bike Leader: Diana Kirby. No need to book. See online...

Wed 25 Apr: Wednesday walk, Easy-Medium - M/E E-mail to be sent prior to walk Map: nil Transport: nil Leader: Robert Dewar. No need to book. See online...

Wed 25 Apr: Wednesday walk, Medium-Hard, NPA sponsored - M/R E-mail to be sent prior to walk Map: nil Transport: nil Leader: Mike Smith. No need to book. See online...

Wed 25 Apr: Family walk - Tallaganda Forest - S/R A circuit designed for families, in Tallaganda State Forest, 45 minutes drive from Queanbeyan. Beautiful forest, lunch in a clearing beside a tiny creek, and then a climb up a spur and through some granite rocks to a view point. Will suit active families with kids aged 5 and up. May suit baby-wearing parents, who have off- track bushwalking experience - please email the leader first if you are thinking of bringing a carried baby. Depart Queanbeyan at 9.30am, meeting point to be advised after your book. We should be back by 3pm. Non-members welcome but if this is your third walk with the Club it's time to show your support by joining. → 3.5km; about 2.5hours actual walking ↗ 150 vertical metres ↘ 150 vertical metres Map: Bendoura Transport: Drive yourself, or $32 per car if shared. 45 minute drive from Queanbeyan, some on 2WD dirt road. Leaders: Linda Groom, Peter Conroy. Book by: Mon 23 Apr, 7:00pm. See online...

(Tue 24) Wed 25 - Sun 29 Apr: Blue Breaks - Blue Mountains National Park - M/R/X We will start from Yerranderie and walk up through Tonalli Pass which has extensive views of the Burragorang Walls, Yerranderie Peak and Mt Colong. From here we will drop into Lacys Creek and walk downstream through the large stands of blue gums and then further on some wonderful river flats. We will then climb up onto Tonalli Tableland for splendid views back into the Lacys Creek valley. Then it is across to Burragorang Peak for some close-up views of the Wanganderry Walls and then we will head to Clump Hill Head and Tonalli Peak for more great views before descending to the Tonalli River and returning to Yerranderie. Map: Burragorang and a bit of Yerranderie Transport: $200 per car Limit: 6 Leader: Melinda Brouwer. Book by: Fri 20 Apr, 2:00pm. See online...

Fri 27 Apr: Gudgenby Meadows - M/M Looking for a walk in the school holidays? Join us on this circuit in the Gudgenby grasslands, suitable for active families with kids aged 7 and up, and for agile baby-wearing parents. From the Rendezvous Creek car park, south and up 100 vertical metres to a knoll (the main climb of the day), then along a gentle grassy ridge and round to a small hanging swamp where Pheasants Creek enters the grasslands. Mostly off-track short grass or tussock, some grassy track, one gently sloping granite dome and two optional steeper granite outcrops. Map shows our approx lunch spot. In this open country, even a little elevation provides great views of the Gudgenby Valley and its surrounding peaks. Meet at Kambah shops, in the carpark nearest Marconi Crescent (opposite the petrol station), ready for a prompt 8.30am departure, after which it is a 45 minute drive, all on sealed road. Non-members welcome but if this is your 3rd walk with the Club it's time to show your support by joining. → 11 kilometres, about 4 hours actual walking at the pace of a 7 year-old ↗ 150 metres ↘ 150 metres Map: Rendezvous Creek Transport: $40 per car if shared, or drive yourself. Leader: Linda Groom. No need to book. See online...

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Activity Program

Sat 28 Apr: Billy Billy Rocks Cross Over - M/R Party 1 start at Fishing Gap fire trail, up and around base of Billy Billy Rocks, exit east on track to Corin Dam Road. Climb ~ 600m, distance ~5km. Party 2, Reverse of 1, descent of 600m. Two parties rendezvous at western end of Billy Billy Rocks Maps: Tidbinbilla, Corin Dam Transport: ~ $28 per car Leaders: Rob Horsfield, Jenny Horsfield. Booking required. See online...

Sun 29 Apr: Tidbinbilla Mountain via Snowy Corner - M/R/Part X Starting at the Tidbinbilla NR Mountain Creek carpark at 900m altitude, we climb initially via the Lyrebird Trail, then via a faint very steep footpad to Snowy Corner, then NW to Tidbinbilla Mtn at 1615m, some scrub on route. We may then continue a little further NW to open rock for great views, return via initial route. Total distance about 7km, total climb 750m. Parka and warm clothing essential, scrub gloves essential, no water on route. Nature Reserve entry fee $12 per car. We will be leaving south Canberra around 8am. → 7km ↗ 750 ↘ 750 Map: https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/ Lat-35.456529 Long148.888822 Transport: Driving distance 80km loop. About $35 per car. Limit: 10 Leader: Peter Conroy. Book by: Wed 25 Apr, 2:00am. See online...

Tue 1 May: Joadja Nature Reserve - L/R/X A walk 20 kilometres to the northwest of Mittagong, on the vacant crown land to the east of the Joadja Nature Reserve. We will follow gullies and spurs in the catchments of Basin and Barracks Creeks, which have formed ravines in sandstone country. The off-track walking requires some scrambling in steep, rocky, and scrubby terrain. → 16.5km (Off-track: 10.5km, Fire-trails: 6km) ↗ 500 ↘ 500 Maps: Barralier, Hanworth, Hilltop, Mittagong Transport: 418km return. 2 hour 10 minute drive each way. Limit: 8 Leader: Ian Wright. Book by: Fri 27 Apr, 10:00pm. See online...

Fri 4 May: Toddlers Toddle Mulligans Woodland - S/M A circuit in the woodland of Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, designed for kids who have started walking, and pre-schoolers. We will walk about 400 metres through pleasant, mostly open eucalypt forest with a leaf-litter floor. This Toddle has more than the usual number of balancing logs to try, and has some shelter if it's a windy day. No need to book. The meeting point is the dirt car park on the north side of Mulligans Flat road, about 140 metres east of the roundabout at the junction of Mulligans Flat Road and Henry Williams Street, on the outskirts of the suburb of Bonner. → 400 metres, 1 to 1.5 hours ↗ Less than 5 metres ↘ Less than 5 metres Map: Google Maps Transport: Drive yourself Leader: Linda Groom. No need to book. See online...

(Fri 4) Sat 5 - Mon 7 May: Cloudmaker, 100 Man and 1000 Man Caves - L/M Drive to Kanangra Friday evening. From Kanangra Walls, we follow the scenic ridgeline to Mt Cloudmaker and on to 100 Man Cave where we will camp for two nights enjoying the ambience of this great spot. On Day 2 we will do a relaxed day walk over Ti Willa Plateau to 1000 Man Cave. On Day 3, we return to Kanangra Walls, enjoying the spectacular views in the opposite direction. You will need to carry at least 2 litres water on Days 1 and 3. Bring a light day pack for Day 2. → Eight-nine hour days on Days 1 and 3. ↗ 800 metres each on Days 1 and 3. ↘ 800 metres each on Days 1 and 3. Map: Kanangra Transport: ~ 500km return, $195 per car. Limit: Eight. Also on the CMW program Leader: Meg McKone. Book by: Wed 2 May, 2:00pm. See online...

Sat 5 May: Hill above Blue Gum Creek - L/R There are 3 geocaches – GC1VDD3, GC1VDD1 and GC1VDD2 – in the hill 400m above the Georges Creek FT ford of Blue Gum Creek. It will be a very long and tough day, over 20 km of walking. Mainly along track but still lots of scrub and rocks on the hill. There are also some awesome granite features on the top. → 20 +km ↗ 650 ↘ 650 Map: Williamsdale and Corin Dam Transport: About $24.00 per car Limit: 8 Leader: Roger Edwards. Book by: Thu 3 May, 2:00pm. See online...

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Activity Program

Sat 5 May: Square Rock - S/E Follow the trail from near Corin Forest through alpine bushland to beautiful views towards the Tidbinbilla Range, and return. About 9km return, gentle climb and descent. Suitable for children who can go the distance, or parents who can carry them if they don't quite make it. → 9km ↗ 200 ↘ 200 Map: Corin Dam Transport: Meet at Kambah Village for car pooling at 1230. Return approximately 1730. Cost per car ~$30 Limit: 16 Leader: Rowan Peck. Booking required. See online...

Sat 5 May: Rob Roy - M/E After a steep initial climb, we'll have a steady walk to Rob Roy for morning tea. Looping around to the plain below, we will walk back to Big Monks Hill before returning to the cars. There are great views along the way to this Percy close to home. Meet at the short lane off Orange Thorn Cres, Banks at 9am. We should be back to cars before lunch. → 12.4 ↗ 600m ↘ 600m Map: Tuggeranong Transport: Meet at start. Limit: 16 Leader: Michael de Raadt. No need to book. See online...

Sun 6 May: Settlers Track and beyond - L/M Starting at Brayshaws Hut we’ll walk the first section of the Settlers Track to Waterhole Hut, then leave the track and make our way up Grassy Creek. We will get onto the Bobeyan Divide and see several of Harry Mouat’s border survey marks dating from 1915, then make our way back down the valley to Westermans Homestead, and back to Brayshaws. → 17km ↗ 300 Map: Yaouk and Shannons Flat Transport: $60 per car ($15 - $20 pp.) Leader: Phillip Starr. Book by: Fri 4 May, 2:00pm. See online...

Tue 8 May: Tarlo River National Park - L/R A long, mainly off-track walk, through open woodlands, to some interesting conglomerate outcrops. The walk is in the same area as the March 2017 trips, but the route differs. Some scrambling required to explore the rocks. → 19 kilometres ↗ 800 ↘ 800 Map: Chatsbury Transport: 272km return. 1hr 45 minutes drive each way. Limit: 8 Leader: Ian Wright. Book by: Fri 4 May, 11:00pm. See online...

Sat 12 - Wed 16 May: Deua River and ridges, 5-day exploratory - M/R/X Day 1: Leaving Canberra after 8.30am. From a branch of the Curranbene Creek Road, walk 8km across gently undulating country to a pleasant campsite near the junction of Wambagugga Creek and the Shoalhaven. Day 2: East across the Minuma Range, down a spur, sometimes narrow with rocky viewpoints, to camp beside the Deua River. 10km, up 200m, down 750m. Day 3 : carrying day packs, may have to swim the Deua River, SE to the Bendethera Razorback and back; optional steep, loose climb on to part of the razorback. 10km, 600 metres up and down. Day 4. Back towards the Shoalhaven, exploring a side creek of the Deua en route - camp either in the headwaters of the side creek or on the Shoalhaven. Day 5: walk out. Map shows likely camp site for nights 2 and 3. Remote, rugged, varied, rarely-walked country, for walkers experienced in rough grade multi-day trips. → The longer days may involve 8 to 9 hours actual walking. Maps: Snowball, Bendethera Transport: $120 per car, last few kilometres best done with AWD/4WD Limit: 8 Leader: Linda Groom. Booking required. See online...

Sat 12 May: Exploring the ridge from Shanahans Mountain down to Mt Clear car park - S/R/X On a recent trip part way down this ridge the going was good. The aim is to look at the whole ridge. → ~6km ↗ ~50m ↘ ~300m Map: Colinton Transport: 130km return $52 per vehicle Leaders: Rob Horsfield, Jenny Horsfield. Booking required. See online...

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Activity Program

Sun 13 May: Padral Road to Mount Coree - L/R Walk on the ACT border straight line off Pabral Road. Hike up to Pabral Road from Blundells Flat, then SW through the top of Musk Creek towards Mount Coree. This is very rough country with strong regrowth and will involve some scrambling near Mount Coree. Return via roads → Up to 13km ↗ 600m . Map: Cotter Dam 1:25,000 Transport: Drive: 45km, $18 per car. Leader: David Dedenczuk. Book by: Thu 10 May, 2:00pm. See online...

Tue 15 May: Mt Herlt, Namadgi National Park - L/R/Part X Mount Herlt is a 1600 metre high point (and Percy) at grid reference: 739479. It is difficult to reach because of the thick regrowth resulting from the 2003 bushfires. On this walk, we’ll start on the Boboyan Road and follow the vehicle track adjacent to Rendezvous Creek for 5km. We’ll then head off-track for most of the day and visit Mt Herlt and some other big granite outcrops in the vicinity, if the scrub allows. → 18 kilometres ↗ 800 ↘ 800 Map: Rendezvous Creek Transport: 107km return Limit: 8 Leader: Ian Wright. Book by: Fri 11 May, 10:00pm. See online...

Tue 15 - Mon 28 May: Janet’s Final Fourth Flinders Ranges Foray This trip is now full and there is already a wait list. Thank you for your interest. Enjoy walking and driving in the beautiful Flinders Ranges and Heysen Trail within the Mt Remarkable and the Wilpena National Parks in SA. Tuesday 15th May arrive at Melrose for 6 nights. Day walks include Dutchmans Stern, Alligator Gorge, Hidden Gorge, and Mt Remarkable. On the rest day, explore Melrose or drive to the Pt Augusta Arid Lands Botanic Gardens. Monday 21st May drive north to Rawnsley Park campground for 7 nights. Day walks include climbing steep and rough Rawnsley Bluff for stunning views of the Wilpena Pound, sightseeing and walking in Aroona Valley, Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorges, Blinman Pools, Wilpena Pound lookouts, along Blacks Gap to Wilpena Pound. Plus a rest day, which you will need after climbing a steep rocky track 700m to St Mary Peak! On Monday 28th, return to Canberra, full of the colours of the Flinders Ranges - its gorges, valleys and hills. . A joint CBC/BBC activity. Grading: M/M to L/R Maps: HEMA map, NRMA has a reasonable Flinders Map Transport: Roughly 3500km from Canberra to Melrose /Wilpena Pound and return, plus another ~ 900 km travelling to the walks = approx. $600 each person. Allow two days for travelling to the Flinders and return. Most roads are sealed. Leader: Janet Duncan. See online...

Wed. 16 May: CBC Monthly Meeting, 7.30pm Weston Uniting Church, 16 Parkinson St, Weston Guest Speaker: Rowan Peck: Snow camping skills and emergency alpine shelters

Sat 26 - Sun 27 May: Max and Berts Hut - M/R Day 1 - Boboyan Road - Dry Creek - Booth Range - hut. Around 400m climb, descend ~400m. Distance ~ 8km Day 2 - return same way → 8km per day Maps: Michelago, Colinton Transport: ~$40 per car Leaders: Rob Horsfield, Jenny Horsfield. Booking required. See online...

(Fri 25) Sat 26 - Mon 28 May: Exploring the Gardens of Stone - M/R/X (Long weekend). Three nights camping near the cars at Newnes Campground, with day walks to the famed Donkey Mountain, Tiger Snake Point and Petries Gully. Dramatic views from the sandstone tops, intriguing caves and slots on Donkey Mountain. Option to spend a day doing self-guided track walks from the campground if you need a break from the rock scrambling. → Max 10km and 6 to 7 hours actual walking on Saturday and Sunday; 4 to 5 hours on Monday. ↗ Main climb about 300 vertical metres each day, with other smaller ups and downs Map: Tba Transport: $280 per car. A 4.5 hour drive from Canberra. Final section of the road is 2WD (fine weather) or 4WD (wet weather). Leader: Linda Groom. Booking required. See online...

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Activity Program

Tue 29 May: The Ridge Northwest of Orroral Hill, Namadgi National Park - L/R Starting from the Orroral Valley carpark, we’ll follow the walking track to the old Lunar Laser Observatory site, then head off-track for most of the day, in steep, scrubby, and rocky terrain. The route links up several attractive granite outcrops and slabs on the ridge to the northwest of Orroral Hill. There are a couple of steep rock scrambles and narrow squeezes between boulders. (We shall not visit the Orroral Hill summit on this trip.) → 14km ↗ 940 ↘ 940 Map: Rendezvous Creek Transport: 97km return Limit: 8 Leader: Ian Wright. Book by: Fri 25 May, 10:00pm. See online...

Wed 30 May: The Wednesday Walkers Grand Ascent of Mt Gingera - M/E This is an advance notification and full details will be circulated by email to Wednesday Walkers. We will walk on an undulating generally contour hugging track downhill from the Mt Ginini car park and locked gate to Pryors Hut, our base camp for our Grand Assault of Mt Gingera. Many regard Mt Gingera as one of Australia's truly magnificent destinations and by staying on management tracks it is accessible to Wednesday walkers with only the last 1.2km on an open but steep foot track with many steps to assist us. Our aim will be to take our time going up and to enjoy the vegetation and the views. Difficulty is at the upper end of Easy-Medium, and walking distance is 15km. Map: Corin Dam Transport: Meeting point will be Weston opposite the Tennis Courts and McDonalds. Time and weather to be advised by email. Leader: Robin Cayzer. No need to book. See online...

Sun 10 Jun: Mount Taylor Views - S/E A refreshing morning walk, starting at Torrens Shops, then proceeding along the fire trail along the western side of Mount Taylor (wonderful views to the Tidbinbilla Range), ascending via a well-marked track to the summit (morning tea and more views over Woden and Tuggeranong Valleys), then down the eastern side and back to Torrens Shops. All on fire trail or track; a walking pole might be useful for the rougher sections. → 2.5- 3 hours ↗ 200 Map: Mt Taylor Nature Reserve Transport: Drive yourself. Meet at Torrens Shops at 8:30am Leader: Jenny Stewart. No need to book. See online...

Mon 11 Jun: Orroral Valley to Cotter Gap - M/E Meet at Kambah Village shops for an 8:00AM departure for Orroral Valley Tracking Station car park. Follow Cotter Hut Road and AAWT to Cotter Gap with an optional side trip to the split rock. If the optional side trip is included there will be some rough terrain over a steep climb and the walk would then be in category of long. ↗ Approximately 400 metres with possible 200 metres extra for side trip ↘ Approximately 400 metres with possible 200 metres extra for side trip Maps: Corin Dam and Rendezvous Creek 1:25000 and ACT 1:100,000 Transport: $40.00 per car or $10.00 per passenger Leader: Tim Wright. Book by: Fri 8 Jun, 5:00pm. See online...

Wed 13 Jun: M/H Wednesday Walk - Devils Peak - M/R/X Walk along fire trails and through forest to knoll to SE of Devils Peak and to Devils Peak itself. Return through forest and fire trails. Maps: Cotter Dam 1:25,000 Transport: Tba Leader: Tim Wright. No need to book. See online...

Wed 20 Jun: CBC Monthly Meeting, 7.30pm Weston Uniting Church, 16 Parkinson St, Weston Guest Speaker: Luke Ward from The Wilderness Society – “How we can all stand up for Australian wilderness in our own way, when it needs us all the most."

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Activity Program

Sat 30 Jun - Sat 21 Jul: Pyrenees Haute Route - L/M Nineteen days of walking on the famed Pyrenees High Route on the border of France and Spain, from Lescun to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Stunning alpine scenery. Walking on signposted trails from refuge to refuge, carrying light camping gear as a back-up. Mostly buying meals in the refuges, though occasionally we may have to carry 1 or 2 days of food. Maximum altitude: 2983m. → 19 days of walking, including 4 days for rest or climbing nearby peaks ↗ Up to 1500m per day ↘ Up to 1500m per day Map: tba Transport: Arrange your own transport to Pau, France, and after the walk from Bagneres de Luchon onwards. Limit: Limit applies Bookings have now closed. Leader: Karen Cody. See online...

Wed 5 - Sat 29 Sep: 17 Days Walking Trip in Slovenia and Croatia in Sept 2018 - L/M We are aware that walkers of the Canberra and Brindabella Bushwalking Clubs are a fit bunch and like to plan ahead so Terrylea R and Janet D are planning an overseas walking trip in Slovenia and Croatia next year 2018 for your consideration. We intend staying at the towns of Ribcev Laz, Kransky Gora and then Bled in Slovenia and from these towns do approximately 14 day walks using public transport, where necessary. Walkers can do more walks if weather permits but we've also allowed for 3 rest days. From here we plan to travel to the Plitivice Lakes National Park, Croatia for 3 days of walks, staying in cabins. Interested members should be fit (ie Medium-Hard Wednesday walks fitness level), know basic first aid and willing to possibly lead some of the walks. Further details will be posted out in 2018 including dates and early costings. Please note that numbers will be limited and, if necessary, a wait list will be established. Please use 'Request a booking' to express interest, and add any comments e.g. 'Very interested but depends on ...' in the Comments box. Map:Kranjska Gora 1:30000 and Nationalpark Triglav.Kranjska Gora.Planica.Blec 1:35000 Transport: General costs will include your airfare to Slovenia, transport to Croatia, National Park entrance fees, all meals and public transport to and from the day walks. Participants will need to arrange their airfares and other transport to Slovenia. Participants may also need to arrange their own transport to the Slovenia accommodation. Limit: Numbers will be limited. Leaders: Terrylea Reynolds, Janet Duncan. Bookings have now closed. See online...

(Thu 6) Sat 8 - Fri 21 Sep: Granite Belt National Parks, NSW and Qld - M/M/Part X Car camping with day and optional overnight walks in Sundown, Girraween, and Boonoo Boonoo NPs. I plan to do two 3 day walks, one in Sundown and one in Girraween. Beautiful rivers, big waterfalls, huge granite tors, spring flowers. See article in December 2017 IT for more detail about the country. The three day walk in Sundown NP will be partly exploratory for the leader and may entail some wading in the river. Map: See leader Transport: Drive to Tenterfield, northern NSW and beyond. Leader: Meg McKone. Book by: Sun 1 Jul, 2:00pm. See online...

(Fri 12) Sat 13 - Sun 14 Oct: Murrumbidgee Jugiong to Gundagai - L/- Paddling the Murrumbidgee from Jugiong to Gundagai. We will travel to Jugiong on Friday evening and camp there. Early AM we will complete a car shuffle to the end point then paddle about 41km on Saturday (8 hours), followed by a shorter 25km day on Sunday. Some grade 1 rapids. → About 65km paddling (from Wee Jasper direction, 35km + 30km) Maps: Gundagai, Coolac1:100,000 Transport: ~$70 per person ($140/car). Limit: 16 Leader: Rowan Peck. Booking required. See online...

Sat 20 - Sun 21 Oct: Bushwalking NSW Annual Camp - S/- Meet bushwalkers from other NSW and ACT Clubs at this annual event organised by our peak body, Bushwalking NSW. The varied program will include optional day walks and training sessions e.g. on Minimal Impact Bushwalking. Camp overnight at the NPWS Bungonia Campground. → Varies - half day walks, full day walks, or camp-based training sessions ↗ Varies Map: Bungonia Transport: $106 per car Leader: Linda Groom. Booking required. See online...

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Bulletin Board

The Bulletin Board is for members to advertise (at no cost) goods for sale, private trips or other personal bushwalking-related matters. The Club is not involved in, takes no responsibility for, and does not endorse, the activities or goods advertised here. Hence, if people participate in any activities advertised here, they do so as private individuals, not as members of the Club, and will not be covered by the Club’s insurance. Notices for the Bulletin Board should be emailed to the Walks Secretary [email protected]

World Environment Day Dinner 2018 Are you interested in coming along to the Conservation Council annual World Environment Day dinner on Saturday 2 June 2018 at National Arboretum Canberra? Hear guest speaker, Stuart Barry - author of The Rich Greenie - Financial strategies for living well while saving the planet and enjoy a night with colleagues from the Canberra Bushwalking Club at this important annual fund-raising event.

Warm yourselves during the Canberra winter, as Janet Jeffs of Ginger Catering cooks up a treat using local, seasonal produce. Both vegan and vegetarian options are available. A three course meal plus champagne and canapes to start, and your ticket will include wine.

Don’t miss out on unique regional food and wines, live music, inspiring speakers and a range of fun activities including a silent and live auction. Mingle with the best like-minded community of people passionate about the Canberra region’s air, water, flora, wildlife and land. Canberra Bushwalking Club it April 2018 page 30

Bulletin Board

Tickets start at $99 for early birds who take active transport to the event and include a three course meal plus champagne and canapes to start with bottles of wine at your table.

If you're interested in making up a table of Canberra Bushwalking Club colleagues please let Terrylea know by cob 25 April either via email at [email protected] or by phone on 0408 715 218. Terrylea will coordinate a table for the night. Please let her know if you have any special dietary requirements.

More information can also found on www.conservationcouncil.org.au under the Events Tab.

Invitation to 2018 NSW and ACT Ski-Orienteering Championship, Perisher Valley, Nordic Shelter, 12th August 2018, Starting 9.30am This event forms part of XC Ski week (www.perisherxcountry.org ) with the start in front of the beautiful Nordic Shelter at Perisher. Everyone who loves or dreams of trying Skiing or Orienteering, will be able to take an opportunity to combine both skills and to take part. It is the only Ski-O event in Australia and among the only few in the Southern Hemisphere. There will be three types of events: Ski-Orienteering (Individual), Short (about 2.5km), Middle (about 5km) and Long (about 7.5km); Snogaine (teams of 2-3); and Family Treasure-Hunt (adults with kids). Entry fees apply. Please register through Eventor starting April 2018; non-orienteers are welcome to register at Eventor too or to send registration to [email protected]. Inquiries to David Poland [email protected]

Trekking in the Indian Himalaya: Ladakh-Zanskar traverse and mountains, forests and meadows of Garhwal I am planning an extended trekking trip in the Indian Himalaya in August-September, using a local trekking agency. The trip will comprise two stages; participants can undertake both or either of these stages. The first stage is a three-week trek across a large swathe of Ladakh and Zanskar, crossing several high passes and encompassing some of Ladakh/Zanskar's most spectacular scenery. It finishes at the Leh-Manali Road, and we will then have a number of rest days in the hill stations of Manali and Shimla and in the attractive Sangla Valley in Kinnaur district. The second stage is a 14-day trek in the Garhwal region of Uttarkhand state, linking two walking routes - the very scenic Rupin Pass and Har Ki Dun treks - and ending with a crossing of Bali Pass, down to the holy Hindu site of Yamunotri. The first stage is demanding and requires a high level of fitness; the second stage is an easier trek, though the two days spent crossing Rupin Pass and Bali Pass will be more demanding. If you think you might be interested in either or both parts of this trip, I have prepared a detailed information sheet that I can forward. Ian Turland, email [email protected]; tel 0452-110-212.

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