it Canberra Bushwalking Club Newsletter
May 2020 Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc GPO Box 160 Volume 56, Issue 4 Canberra ACT 2601 www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org
GENERAL MEETING Using Zoom INSIDE THIS ISSUE 7.30 pm Wednesday 20 May 2020 Presentation (Zoom) ..... 1-2 President’s Report ...... 3 Drought and Fire in the West MacDonnells Conservation Officer’s Report This trip was led by Meg McKone in August 2019. Join her ...... 4 presentation of this fascinating region. The party explored a Obituary—Reet Vallak ... 5 new section of the northern side of the Chewings Range and, Review ...... 6-7 despite some tense moments, managed to find water for every night. They also witnessed the results of the huge fire CBC Committee ...... 8 which swept through the West Macs on both sides of the Facebook admin ...... 8 Chewings Range from Standley Chasm to Redbank Gorge the Club items for sale ...... 9 previous February. Walk Secretary’s Report and featured walks ...... 10-15 Hope you can join us for this Zoom presentation! Three Capes Track ...... 16-18
An email containing the Zoom link will be sent to all Recipes ...... 19-20 members prior to the meeting. Bulletin Board ...... 21 Link to Bushwalking NSW More information on the Zoom session is outlined on the publications ...... 21 next page. CBC Publication Policy link to website ...... 21 Activity Program ...... 22-27
IMPORTANT DATES
• 20 May— General meeting (Zoom) • 27 May—Committee meeting (Zoom) • 27 May—Articles for inclusion in June 2020 It close
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 1
Monthly Meetings using Zoom
The CBC Committee is keen to maintain a Asking Questions after the sense of community and to help keep presentation people informed during these challenging There will be an opportunity for times, and will continue to offer general participants to ask questions. To ask a meeting presentations using Zoom until question Unmute your microphone (it is further notice. Final details on the Zoom automatically muted to begin with) and meeting will be emailed to members a few speak. All participants will hear your days prior to the meeting. question. Then Mute your microphone please. (If all microphones are not muted How to use Zoom then there is constant background noise It is easy to use Zoom. It is easy to which significantly affects the sound participate in a Zoom meeting. You do not quality for everybody.) need to log in, but it is good to set up Zoom on your device and to confirm your We look forward to seeing you on Zoom on video and audio settings are working well Wednesday 20 May 2020 at 7.30 pm. before the meeting. (You can instead participate by phone on The following video will show you how to 02 8015 6011 if you prefer. You will be do this. The video is only about a minute prompted for the Meeting ID: 406 919 long. 385. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ hIkCmbvAHQQ? Use *6 to Mute/Unmute your phone microphone.) rel=0&autoplay=1&cc_load_policy=1 If you have trouble then contact Alan Laird on 0478 616 214 or at [email protected] and we will explore what might be wrong. (But please don’t call just before or during the meeting!)
A few minutes prior to the meeting just click on the Zoom meeting link and we should see you on-line.
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 2 President’s Report
With the cold snap upon us it certainly feels interest to participate in an IT issues like winter is all but here and for many of working group. The purpose of this small us this is the perfect time of year to be out working group will be to work through walking. So, it is welcome news that the troubleshooting an existing list of bugs and physical distancing restrictions are to be enhancements, with a view to come up with gradually lifted. As you will no doubt be a range of potential options for aware national restrictions will be lifted in improvements in readiness for committee three steps, of three weeks duration for consideration. If you would like to be each step. So let us see how this rolls out considered for one of two positions I would locally here in the ACT but for now we are welcome hearing from you directly by permitted to have non-contact outdoor emailing me at activities in groups of ten which means we [email protected]. Or if can start putting walks back on our you know of a fellow club member you program once again! I hear the jubilation. think might be interested. As a Club we rely Further details on the Walks program from heavily on our website as the ‘go to’ our Walks Secretary and Leaders to follow. information portal for booking activities, I would like to thank you all for your new and renewing memberships, for policies and guidelines pertaining to a wide patience during these challenging times, and as a Committee we have adapted to variety of bushwalking situations, and as a ensure we continue to bring you the toolkit of information for walk leaders. It is monthly presentations that so many of you therefore important that we have a system find both informative and inspiring. I also that can deliver the level of function we know from the photos on Facebook many require to provide the best possible of us have been enjoying some fabulous outcome. Your contribution of assistance walks much closer to home while in ISO would be greatly appreciated. and making some amazing new discoveries I look forward to seeing you all on the trail too. Some of my favourites have been the again soon Rob Roy gully walk that incidentally Jenny Diana Horsfield writes about in this issue, and others along both the Cotter and Murrumbidgee river corridors. Plenty of rock hopping, beautiful deep waterholes, huge fish, and of course physical distancing no problem at all! All within a 15-20 minute drive from home, we really so have so much to be grateful for. Finally, I would like to invite members with an interest and/or expertise in web-based IT systems to put forward an expression of
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 3 Conservation Officer’s Report
Submission re coal mining in Gardens of Stone National Park area
On behalf of the CBC, I have compiled the following report outlining objections to proposed project addressed to Rob Stokes, NSW Minister for Planning Industry & Environment: Objection to the State Significant Project– Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition) We request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the DoPIE) recommend refusal of consent, as Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal to adequately protect nationally endangered swamps and has sought to grandfather its consent until 2053, preventing future necessary adaption of the energy sector to address the growing climate emergency. As a result: • We oppose the mine extension as it will fracture the sandstone strata supporting the nationally endangered swamps. • We request that if any consent is issued, then it must be reviewed every 5 years with a possibility of cancellation from 2025, to enable future NSW Governments to end coal-fired electric power as soon as possible and so help stop the growing climate catastrophe. • Please require Centennial Coal to revise this amended proposal to prevent damage to spectacular Birds Rock, pagodas, cliffs and the nationally endangered swamps in the 2,000 hectare proposed mining area. • DoPIE must not allow Centennial Coal to replicate under this proposal the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau. • The Wolgan Falls must not run dry and so the proposed mining panels along the Wolgan River side of the proposed mining area must be shortened by hundreds of metres to prevent river water losses due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament field. • The excessive clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for additional roads, ventilation and pumping facilities must be greatly reduced and all facilities located away from sensitive areas. • DoPIE must require that Pristine Carne Creek, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley resort not be contaminated with iron and manganese or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks. • In the seven years since Centennial’s consultants identified the need for targeted surveys of four nationally endangered plants, the company failed to undertake these searches. Lithgow Environment Group has in that time identified many sites where these Federally listed plants occur within the proposal, highlighting the weakness of the company’s environmental assessment. • For all the above reasons, the amended mine extension proposal must be subject to Independent Planning Commission review processes. Canberra Bushwalking Club members walk in and revere the Gardens of Stone and Wollemi National Parks as these Parks are of extraordinary natural significance, comprising rare landforms, rare vegetation communities and ancient aboriginal rock art. The proposal resulting in the desecration of these areas for the purpose of mining coal is globally impacting and unnecessarily environmentally destructive. Please recommend rejection of this proposal.
Cynthia Breheny
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 4 Obituary: Reet Vallak (1936-2020) Long-time members of the club will be saddened to authorities were considering demolishing even more learn of the death of Reet Vallak who died on 1 May, huts. aged 83, after a very full and active life in the Canberra Gosta Lynga remembers her as a strong walker and region. For some time Reet had been cared for at the very good company on many walks. He particularly Calvary Community Care centre having suffered with remembers their trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in 2005. dementia. As the Russians occupied Estonia Reet’s family travelled to Germany and spent time in a German refugee camp before migrating to Australia. In Queensland Reet had to go to school without knowing any English, at a time when there was no special assistance in schools for refugees and migrants. She left school without having matriculated, but did this at night whilst working during the day (at one time in a pineapple packing factory, which put her off pineapples for life). Reet won a Commonwealth scholarship, gaining a Science degree then a Masters Degree in Astronomy. She worked at the Woomera Rocket Range before relocating to Mt Stromlo Observatory in a position Reet on the snowfields of Kilimanjaro that she enjoyed for the rest of her working life, as it Reet liked travelling with camels and organised a gave her the chance of eating her sandwiches at journey through the Australian Painted Desert for 18 lunchtime with the birds, leave work at four on a days with 18 camels. During her many trips into the Friday afternoon to pack before going bushwalking for Himalayan mountains, one to circumnavigate the the weekend. sacred peak of Mount Kailash, she took many beautiful A long-time member of the Australian Native lantsP photographs of the Tibetan shrines and mountain Society, she developed an in-depth knowledge of people which she would develop in her garage when Australian plants. Once retired, among so many other she returned to Australia. She became an active things, she worked as a volunteer for the Cooleman member of the Australian -Nepalese Friendship Ridge Park Care group, where she could be seen Society and studied Sanskrit. wielding an old-fashioned scythe to tackle the invasive Reet was always dependable, always on time, a very grasses on her ‘patch’. She loved the bush and its efficient secretary to the many clubs she joined. She native flora and worked hard to preserve it. enjoyed making pots and painted. Her lasting gift to Reet’s first club trip was with the Canberra Walking the Canberra Bushwalking Club was to hand to the and Touring Club in 1965, a walk to explore the Club Committee a complete set of all the club’s Bungendore Cemetery and Lake George. She enjoyed, publications that she had stacked on the floor of her and took full advantage of, the Canberra Bushwalking house over the years. We all benefitted from her Club’s activity program which over the years dedication to so many of the different activities that encompassed bush song evenings, newsletter she enjoyed and remember her warmly. collations, international folk dancing, ski touring and Reet asked that her ashes be scattered in the tours overseas. She was a good navigator and many of Kosciuszko National Park. There is to be a private the trips that she led were to explore the old huts in cremation and her life will be celebrated post COVID- the Kosciuszko National Park. When the Kosciuszko 19. To keep in touch with future arrangements email Huts Association was formed she became its Secretary [email protected] and later its President. She visited and photographed all the known huts, informing park management of Douglas Wright their heritage value at a time when the park
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 5 Review—Magical Madeira
presented by Cynthia Burton via Zoom This presentation by Cynthia at our General activity, it sits on the African tectonic plate, Meeting 15 April 2020 was reviewed by her in around 400 km north of the Canary Islands the following article. Photos were supplied by and 700 km west of Morocco. The main island Cynthia. is 57 km long and 22 km wide, with a moderate sub-tropical climate. Madeira is a stunning island archipelago of Flying into Funchal, the capital, is an sharply rising mountains, lush green experience itself! The airstrip has been built vegetation, quaint old villages, and azure seas. out over the ocean. The approach is tricky and My husband and I were lucky enough to visit dramatic, having mountains on one side and this magical place in June 2019. We spent a the sea on the other side. It is considered one week exploring the eastern half of the main of the world’s more challenging approaches island on a self-guided U-Tracks trip, being and landings, and the only place in the world transported to various locations for a series of with legal limits for allowable maximum interesting and varied day walks and staying in windspeeds for take-off and landing. different towns and villages along the way. Our six bushwalks ranged from approximately 10-24 km each day, with a mix of easy to challenging terrain; some walks – but not all - do require a good head for heights. The weather also was mixed – clear, cloudy and sometimes pouring rain (one walk had to be abandoned, due to conditions). Some highlights were endless quantities of native and exotic flowers in full bloom, seeing small creatures such as the colourful Madeiran finch and the Madeiran wall lizard, and dramatic mountain views. I will describe just a few of the walks. On the first day, we were fortunate to have fine weather, which allowed us to do a spectacular walk from one coastal village to another (Machico to Porto da Cruz) following a narrow track around the edge of the cliffs after crossing over the Boca de Risco Pass. We looked down over sheer drops of several hundred metres into the sea, passing through dense forest alternating with open volcanic rock. We met an elderly farmer who actually grew sweet potatoes at the bottom of one of the cliffs – Above: View on clifftop walk requiring the feet and balance of a mountain goat plus a very good head for heights! On Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, another day, we walked across the narrow Sao around 1.5 hours flight from Lisbon. This Lourenco peninsula, a complete contrast with uninhabited place was first settled by the its stark volcanic rock formations. Portuguese in 1420 and has a rich history, culture and cuisine. Formed by volcanic
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 6 One of the visual highlights of bushwalking in Madeira is a visit to its highest point, Pico Ruivo (1862 m), and then following its mountain ridge which cuts across the centre of the island – many
Madeira is home to a network of over 2,170 km of aquaducts (called ‘levadas’) built from the 16th century onwards. These have provided water and
‘ups, downs and arounds.’ We experienced more wonderful views of sheer drops down to coastal villages and the sea, as well as a sea of yellow flowering Spanish broom and other exotic and small scale hydro-electric power for centuries; native plants in abundance. Throughout the week, many have also been turned into walking tracks in we saw literally thousands of flowers blooming more recent times. We did a gentle walk along one everywhere we went, creating a virtual sea of of these levadas from Santo da Serra to Ribeiro colour – hydrangeas, agapanthas, daisies, roses Frio, which followed a contour around the and other native/exotic flowers we could not mountains. There were beautiful views to the identify (so just enjoyed!). Hundreds of years of mountains along the way, and we experienced settlement and travellers has taken its toll on some Madeira’s UNESCO world heritage-listed native flora and fauna, though it is all still a visual laurasilva forest. This unique sub-tropical humid feast. forest dates back thousands of years to the Tertiary Madeira was a very pleasant surprise to two people Period; a remnant only still exists in Madeira, the who had just picked this place off a map in a Azores Islands (Portugal) and Canary islands region of the world we were visiting. We had no (Spain). Madeira’s protected laurasilva forest is idea what to expect, but the people, food, wine and considered the largest and best preserved. scenery were all very special. We would highly Above left: Levada tunnel. Below left: Laurasilva forest. recommend the island to anyone. Above right: Pico Ruivo ridge track. Cynthia Burton
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 7 CBC Committee 2019-20
President: Diana Terry [email protected] Treasurer: Melinda Brouwer [email protected] Walks Secretary: Terrylea Reynolds [email protected] 0408 715 218 General Secretary: Jenny Stewart Do you have photos of a great trip that [email protected] you'd like to share on our Facebook Page? Membership Secretary: Mac Kirby [email protected] Some of you have been taking some Training and Safety Officer: Pete Hegarty amazing photos of Club trips you've been [email protected] on and have been asking what's the best Conservation Officer: Cynthia Breheny way to share these. Well, you could take [email protected] advantage of our Facebook page to share Web Manager: Andrew Meers your exploits and show off your [email protected] photographic expertise! Simply send your Editor: Gabrielle Wright photos (preferably already collated into an [email protected]
album) with relevant text to Assistant Walks Secretary: Keith Thomas [email protected] [email protected] and hey, presto, just like magic you'll be 0421 607667 sharing with other like minded folk. Social Secretary: Marg Sharp and Alan Laird [email protected] Publisher: David Williams [email protected] —————————————————————
All members of the Committeecan be contacted in one email to [email protected] Check in: [email protected] [email protected]
Web site: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 8 CLUB ITEMS FOR SALE
Corroboree Frog Buffs Thanks to all who have bought corroboree frog buffs from Linda or Cynthia. We were able to forward $1,520 from the sales to Reclaim Kosci prior to Christmas.
The money raised will be spent entirely on activities for the Reclaim Kosci campaign that seeks to overturn legislation protecting feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park and to significantly reduce horse numbers in this park.
Campaign expenses include the costs of helicopter and ground-based trips for media and politicians to raise awareness about the impacts of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park, to have the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018 repealed and to cause Canberra Bushwalking Club Badges substantial reduction in the feral horse population They're back. Yes, that's right folks. We've just in Kosciuszko National park through humane and received an order of club cloth badges. Those of you effective means. who've walked with some of us who've already got a badge from a few years' ago may have admired them Corroboree frog buffs are available from Cynthia with envy. You may even have wondered how you Breheny might lay your hands on one of these spiffy little [email protected] and numbers. Well, now you can. Bound to be a Linda Groom . The $20 from each sale will help to Collector's Item (well, maybe ...) you can buy one for $12.50 (cost price). How? They'll be available Reclaim Kosciuszko. through Terrylea, our Walks Secretary. Just give her a ring on 0408 715 218 or email her on walksec@ Canberrabushwalkingclub.org.
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 9 Walk Secretary’s Report Well hello everyone. It’s hard to know At the start of this pandemic the where to begin. Our wings have been well restrictions seemed to be tightening every and truly clipped this year first with the day, with good reason, and each state/ dreadful bushfires and attendant smoky territory determining its own guidelines for pall over Canberra and now this terrible non-essential travel and gatherings. I virus that threatens so many of us, our know that this had the potential to cause loved ones and people the world over. I confusion and have been receiving hope you’re all staying safe and know that, questions from some of you as to how far like me, you’re all looking forward to better we’re legitimately allowed to drive in the times ahead. ACT to go walking and to exercise. I’m very For now, walking in the ACT seems the best pleased to be able to advise that ACT option for us to all remain active and ready Health Public Information Coordination to don our boots once again to walk in our Centre (COVID-19 response) have provided beloved Namadgi, Tidbinbilla or further us with a written response in answer to this afield. One of the upsides of this pandemic query. They’ve had a high volume of has been that so many of us have taken to enquiries as you can imagine but have just officially advised that: exploring the wealth of beautiful parks and reserves we have within such easy reach of “There are currently no restrictions on we Canberrans. I think of those living in travel within the ACT, provided social more densely populated places like New distancing is practiced at all times. This York, Manila, Lombardy or Barcelona and may include travelling only with people count my blessings to live in this beautiful from your own household, or one person bush capital where walking is a pure from outside your household. If you need delight and, as long as I abide by the to travel interstate you should check with current health guidelines, so safe and the authorities in your destination rewarding. jurisdiction.” (28 April 2020). Most days I’ve been out walking on Red So, if you live on the south side and want to Hill Nature Reserve, my local haunt, and drive north side to walk at Mt Painter for am constantly amazed every day by the example or if you live in Weston Creek and variety of flora, fauna and other curiosities want to drive to either the north or east that I discover. In this edition of the then you certainly can – as long as you newsletter I’ve included an article on some abide by the social distancing rules of of my discoveries, including an intriguing course! stone circle. Many of you have also With this in mind, don’t forget that there’s generously been sharing some of your an abundance of local nature reserves for favourite walking areas in the ‘burbs and a us to explore and this is the perfect big thank you for this. Some of these you opportunity to either visit them for the first can find on the Club’s facebook site as time or to reacquaint yourself with an old regular postings. This edition of the favourite. Environment ACT have provided newsletter includes a report from Jenny this link which enables you to filter and Rob Horsfield on walking in Rob Roy. suggested places by area making it easy to
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 10 find places to walk anywhere in the ACT. news-listing/act-parks-visitor-facilities- All places are accompanied by maps, closed-in-response-to-covid-19. directions, suggested walking trails, So, if you’ve got a favourite place to walk facilities and directions on how to get there here in the ACT and you’d like to share it from your place. There’s no time like the then I’d love to hear from you. Please send present to get out and about: https:// details of your walk, with pictures and even www.environment.act.gov.au/parks- a .kml or .gpx track if you record them, and conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a- I’ll include it in our next newsletter and/or park. on our facebook site. Many thanks to those A word of advice though – with so much of you who’ve already shared some of your happening and with health guidelines walks. And for a little bit of encouragement changing so frequently be sure you do a I’m going to donate a prize to one lucky quick check in case there are any member for their contribution. Watch out restrictions in place for that particular for our next newsletter and see who wins! location. The latest list can be found easily Yours with boots on, Terrylea in one place simply by clicking on https:// www.environment.act.gov.au/home/home- Walks Secretary.
Red Hill – not your average hill
In the suburbs there lurk some strange rocks formed when magma heats and then curiosities that just can’t be explained. recrystallizes the original rock without any None more so than on Red Hill. This well- pressure in the formation process. It is known, seemingly innocuous, nature thought that the texture and toughness of reserve has mysteries which will leave you these rocks resembles animal horns, hence spell-bound and wondering if you’re their name. The best examples can be walking onto Canberra’s own version of the found in the old quarry area on Red Hill or renowned secretive ‘alien’ landing site, in the rock outcrops above Strickland Area 51. Street, Deakin. Red Hill has always been considered an Some of the rocks on Red Hill date back important element in Canberra’s urban 425 million years and for those geologically architecture providing a magnificent bush inclined the south-eastern part of Red Hill setting backdrop to the Parliamentary towards Hindmarsh Drive also has a fine Triangle as well as extensive views right display of Dactitic Ingimbrite, a deposit across to Mt Ainslie, Mt Majura and rich in pumice resulting from volcanic beyond. flows years long past. Named after the red soil which is Red Hill is also considered valuable by predominant it’s also considered an Environment ACT as it contains one of the important geological education site with largest remaining remnants of Yellow Box- some of the best examples of hornfels in Blakely’s Red Gum forest which used to be the region. Hornfels are metamorphic widespread throughout New South Wales
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 11
Canberra’s many movement corridors the all the way down to Victoria. Depending on area is also home to many endangered, rare the season you’re also likely to encounter and uncommon species of plants and animals. If you’re lucky, and know what to Tick Bush (aka Kunzea), beautiful displays look for, you may also see the threatened of Native Sarsparilla, Silver Wattle and Pink-tailed Worm Lizard and Perunga Clustered Everlasting favoured by Grasshopper, both of which are listed as butterflies. vulnerable native species. Gang-gang cockatoos are a common feature as this area Important for wildlife habitat and as one of is one of their favourite breeding grounds but if you keep your eyes peeled it’s not unusual to see wedge-tailed eagles circling for prey above the woodland as well. A walk there on a sunny day will also see the Yellow -rumped Thornbills, Red Wattle Birds, Rainbow Lorikeets and even Wood Ducks. There’s even been a reported sighting of the Sacred Kingfisher. Above left: Strange stone circle on Red Hill Below left: Twisted tree Above right: Odd fungi Of late though there have been more unusual sightings. Strange fur-covered wildebeasts with animals in some sort of pouch loll lazily in the sun blending well into their forested background. Rotting tree
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 12 roots that look like they’ve been strangled to a local artist back in 1914 who thought he death are scattered on the hilltops. Unusual could make much more of the previously tiered fungi can be found growing at the base graffiti ridden concrete ACTEW utility box. of trees. Curiously, this isn’t the first time a Tardis has But … perhaps the greatest mystery of all is been sighted in Canberra with reports of one the strange rock circle formation to be found mysteriously appearing and then on the south-western side of Davidson Trig disappearing on Lake George back in 1918. One mystery that’s easily solved though is amongst an off-track area of low-level native grassland. What mysterious force created that feeling of stiffness in your quads, glutes this curiosity? Is there any truth in the and hamstrings if you do climb the 333 steps. rumour that compasses spin crazily when you More mysteries await if you take a turn stand in the middle of this eerie formation? A around the Hindmarsh walking trail where a bit of googling supplies some answers with an strange African animal adorns the wilds of a article by Canberra’s own Tim the Yowie Man suburban backyard. See if you can find the who notes that it was lovingly constructed giraffe hidden amongst the trees on your next about 20 years ago by a local character who walk on Red Hill. would use it for morning meditation. Are the Yes, Red Hill is definitely worth exploring rumours true that this person was only ever even if it’s just a short bit of exercise on the seen facing west towards Woden – what popular 3.2 km walking loop known as the strange mecca exists that way one asks? Red Track. With the main ridge system Surely it isn’t the Hellenic Club? Was this including the heart pumping ‘huff n puff’ up stone circle constructed as part of some to the trig on Davidson Hill (750m) and Red ancient Greek ritual? Hill itself (720m) both of which are joined in Red Hill contains other oddities of a more the middle by a large five-ways saddle it’s a modern time however. Most people know of place easily accessible by all. the unusual fictional time machine or Dr Who Tardis which stands proudly at the top of 333 Terrylea Reynolds steps near the lookout. This was the work of Below: A giraffe in the burbs!
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 13
Walks on the urban fringe: a hidden face of Rob Roy
The fire trail from Banks up to the summit That takes you up 250m for about 1km of Rob Roy is dull, gravelly and unpleasant. steady climb through pleasant Peppermint But the wooded hillsides and rocky and Scribbly Gum woodland to join the fire outcrops of the Rob Roy Reserve are lovely: trail from Banks and you continue on to the untouched by recent fires, a sanctuary for main fire tail up to the summit, with great bird life and largely free of invasive weeds views over to the Namadgi peaks as you except on the fringe of the suburb. The climb higher. The trig on Rob Roy is a bit Tuggeranong map shows a watercourse wooded for good views but a nice place to winding steeply down from its source on pause for morning tea or a drink before the north-eastern side of the reserve, heading back down the trail. After about 1 ending up at a massive concrete wall with km you join the northerly trail which goes two drainage pipes built above Orange through the reserve to Tuggeranong Hill. Thorn Crescent in Banks. The size of this After following this trail for about 1km, structure gives some idea of the leave it and head steeply down a dry rocky considerable catchment that lies above the slope, thickly covered with mountain she- suburb and the planners’ preparation for a oaks until we reached the creek. It’s a ‘one in a hundred years’ flood. The creek, different world down there! Deep in shade, tamed by parklands and ponds, flows down with steep wooded slopes on three sides, it through Banks and Gordon and eventually feels completely cut off from life elsewhere, into the Murrumbidgee River at Point Hut and is a peaceful place to have lunch. It Crossing. feels as though you are at the source of the We have walked up the rocky gully from the creek, but in fact it rises further even more wall in times of drought but after good steeply for another km to a gully at the rains the creek flows well and clear. After eastern edge of the reserve. flooding you often see debris scattered You follow the creek back down to the start along the bank and trapped among rocks. of the walk. For most of its length it As you leave the suburb behind (and the appears to be completely untouched by attendant weeds) the creek winds invasive weeds (no blackberries! Just some peacefully up among old Kurrajong and healthy stands of native raspberries). It is a Apple Box trees on the banks and you delightful place to explore so close to clamber up above and around a couple of suburbia – and the steep slopes of Rob Roy small cascades. In the deep pool beneath certainly invite further exploration. one of them you may even see tadpoles. After about 700 m of winding upstream a dry wooded spur opens up on the right. Jenny Horsfield
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 14 Bushwalking during during Covid 19
Exploring Canberra Nature Parks is a great way of getting exercise and of learning more about the ‘bush on our doorstep’. We found a shady glade in the Mount Ainslie Forest/Woodland Reserve
Rene discovered that Dr Who had been to Red Hill! And we discovered that the waterfall in the Rob Roy Forest/Woodland Reserve was flowing during Easter!
Have fun with your house mates or friend exploring our very own bush! (Cynthia has put friend singular as you are allowed to walk with only one friend at present ed.) Cynthia Breheny Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 15 Three Capes Track
In February 2020, I was fortunate enough to spend nearly three weeks walking in Tasmania. The first two weeks were spent in the remote wilds of the south west where the walking, at least for me, was physically very demanding given that I hadn’t had much time to train over the summer as the smoke from the bushfires around Canberra had kept me indoors much of the time. Starting from Melaleuca several of us walked the South West Cape Circuit and then the South Coast Track with Lorraine T as our leader. That’s a story for another day though. No spoiler alerts here. This particular article is all about the luxury that awaited me having finished these two back-to-back pack Below left: Cape Pillar Sheoak (allocasuarina) walks emerging at Cockle Creek in need of a Above right: Sunset at Munro Cabin decent shower and change of clothes on Day 15. After a night in the comfort of a Hobart hotel the much lighter – no need to take a tent, sleeping next adventure awaited – the Three Capes Track mat or gas cooking kit, and with only 4 days and on the Tasman Peninsula. This time the pack was 3 nights worth of food required things were looking up. I had a new spring in my step and the prospect of sleeping each night in an eco-friendly cabin without leeches, ticks and mosquitos was irresistible. I’d also heard that the Tasman National Park is the only place which boasts the rare Cape Pillar Sheoak. Advertised as a 48 km independent multi-day walking experience through a ‘myriad of natural landscapes with exhilarating cliff top outlooks’ the Three Capes Track is definitely one walk to put on your bucket list. Starting from the Port Arthur Historic Site you board a 2 hour cruise to the start of the track at Denmans Cove with close- up glimpses of native fur seals, and if you’re lucky, even a whale or two and some dolphins on your journey past numerous coves and clifftops. The boat journey by Pennicott Wilderness Tours can be very windy but they kit you out with good quality water and wind proof jackets to keep you warm and dry as you sail past numerous coves and clifftops with on-board naturalists/park
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rangers pointing out various features along the itself this proved invaluable. Water way including the beds of valuable giant kelp conservation practices are evident throughout which are rapidly disappearing due to climate with a bucket shower only being available to change. walkers on night two. Environmentally friendly pellet heaters are in each of the main dining Upon disembarking it’s a leisurely two hour (4 hubs. The sleeping rooms don’t have any km) walk along board walk through eucalypts heating but are well insulated (from the cold and coastal heathland until you arrive at your and heat – not noise). Being there in summer I first destination, Surveyors cabins. Here you certainly didn’t need to be concerned about the get your first glimpse of Cape Raoul in all its cold even though Tasmania is notorious for its magnificence. If you’re lucky a stunning sunset variable weather. awaits and then when you’re all tucked in at night you can listen to the masked owls calling Each of the three cabins has a Host Ranger who or the wombats, bandicoots and potoroos as will greet you as you arrive and show you they scurry about. around the facilities. They also take care of all the cleaning so everything is spick and span The track can only be walked in one direction when you arrive. All you have to do is check with a maximum of 48 walkers per day to the noticeboard for your room and then unload minimise impact and maximise your remote all your pack etc into your allocated cabin. The wilderness experience. That said, it’s not usual cabins are split into two separate areas linked in the wilderness that you can expect well- by timber decking and accommodate 48 maintained timber boardwalks, gravel paths, maximum. Six of the rooms can take 4 walkers stone steps and a series of 40 unusual story- (bunk beds) and three of the room take 8 seats each of which has a tale to tell. Armed walkers with these latter rooms having a partial with your self-guided walking notes you set off wall for a bit more privacy. The rooms are very each day stopping at each of these story seats comfortable albeit minimalist. discovering a little more about the area in which you’re walking and the vistas before you. The cabins also all have a range of reference books which not only cover the local flora and The trail was originally created by the Hobart fauna but also detail the history of the HWC’s Walking Club in the 70s and you can still see involvement with some excellent photographs remnants of the old footpads when you go out of the original walkers and their track building each day, especially near Retakunna cabin. activities. Prior to the 70’s the area was seldom walked as the scrub was too thick and drinking water The walking distances each day are very hard to find. reasonable and allow plenty of time for those with an average fitness to take numerous Each night you stay at a different cabin, photos of the flora and fauna and still arrive at Surveyors, Munro then finally Retakunna. The your cabin with plenty of time to perhaps just cabins blend in beautifully with their sit on the expansive timber decks admiring the surroundings and have been cleverly designed view or doing a bit of yoga on the free mats for maximum protection from bushfires provided. through the use of high-density timber. The windows in the shared dining hubs are Day 2 (11 kms and a suggested 4-4.5 hours) interesting - all downward sloping to prevent involves a short climb to Arthur’s Peak with birds from striking them. Fresh rainwater is magnificent views across Crescent Bay beyond available at each site for you to refill your water to Cape Raoul via the open and windy Ellarwey bottles and as there’s no water on the track Valley, so named apparently by the Hobart
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Walking Club as “where the ‘ell are we?”. The and more eucalypt forest for your last night. day’s vistas again include spectacular dolerite The final day, Day 4 was harder than I thought. sea cliffs, eucalypt forests, banksia, windswept Whilst only 14kms there was a seriously decent coastal vegetation and the occasional orchid. climb to Mount Fortescue and then out to the tip of Cape Hauy, made all the tougher by the heat of the day. We were told to keep an eye out for rock climbers tackling the famous dolerite Totem Pole but missed them, although others did see them apparently. Perhaps the highlight of the day for me though was the remarkably beautiful temperate rainforest that started almost immediately after leaving Retakunna and seemed to go on for about 6 kilometres. It was reminiscent of ancient Gondwanaland made even more spectacular that morning by the mist on the top of Mount Fortescue. I even saw several varieties of stinkhorn fungi. Wildlife? Today’s encounter was with a slow- moving Tiger snake on the gravel track out to Cape Hauy. I was happy to give it plenty of space. Would I do the Three Capes Track again? Definitely. Whilst it isn’t cheap, you can apparently camp in your tent in a couple of places, however for me the luxury of taking only Above Jagged Dolerite Cliffs, The Blade, Cape Pillar a day pack and a couple of days of food and It’s worth taking your time to get a good look at spending the night in such well-equipped Cape Raoul as you don’t actually get to stand on environmentally sensitive cabins was worth the it. Whilst the Three Capes Track gives you money. And, yes I did get to finally see the rare walking access to Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy if Cape Pillar Sheoak! you want to actually walk on Cape Raoul itself Terrylea Reynolds you have to go back to Port Arthur and then drive for half an hour to the start of the track which is about 5 hours return. Perhaps another time? Upon arriving at Munro Cabin the views are again magnificent – this time of the dramatic Munro Bight and Cape Hauy. Day 3 is a bit longer at 19 km (6 hrs) but you can leave your pack at Munro Cabin and take a day pack only as you head out to Cape Pillar, collecting your pack on your return before you continue onto Retakunna Cabin via heathland
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 18 Recipes Delicious wholemeal bread
Put three cups of warm water (blood temperature) in a Here is recipe for bread from Jenny china bowl (don’t use plastic or metal when using Horsfield which she thinks is a really yeast). Add tspn salt and either large tblspn sugar or nice activity on a day when you are half cup honey. Sprinkle powdered yeast on top (either two 7gm packets of yeast or heaped tblspn of confined inside. She recommends yeast from tall container – both should be on sale at the NutShoppe at Fyshwick markets WWorths or Coles in baking section) where you can order all the kinds of Cover with another bowl or cloth and leave in a warm place for 10 mins or so, when you will see the mixture flour you want, plus gluten flour and is frothy and ‘yeasty’ lots of interesting nuts, spices and Gradually stir in 1 kg flour. I use 600 gm of strong seeds. And they only charge $3 for bakers flour to 400 gm of plain wholemeal flour. If delivery . you like, add half a cup of either buckwheat, sesame seeds or carroway seeds for interesting textures and flavours. You also need to add one third of a cup of gluten flour. This is needed to make the bread rise nicely with plenty of air bubbles. Work into a nice big floury ball (using extra flour if needed) and punch down and leave covered in a warm place for up to an hour – or when you see that the ball has nicely doubled in size Now comes the fun bit! Find a clean open surface ( I use the dining room table with an ‘oil cloth cover’) and have your baking tins sprayed with oil and ready. Put on some favourite music and spend the next ten minutes kneading the ball of dough and working the yeast and gluten thoroughly into the mixture. You will find it is a very relaxing and therapeutic activity and very good for hand muscles! When the ball seems thoroughly worked and smooth, divide into three sections. I find the mixture is too big for two loaf tins so I fashion an extra loaf to cook on a flat tray or make a number of small bread rolls. Leave them covered with a cloth to rise in a warm place – takes about half an hour. They should all go into the middle of the oven at a moderate 180 degrees for half an hour. You will find then that they are nicely browned on top. Turn out onto racks to cool. Freeze all except the one you plan to eat fresh – delicious with butter and honey or home made jam!
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Boule
The following is a recipe for Boule, Below is a link to my standard recipe which I have which is a baking favourite of a transcribed from a bread cookbook. friend of mine who lives in the [Attribution and a link to purchase book is included.] country north of Sacramento, CA. Some of his friends have observed To make a boule you would follow the recipe up to the step of forming loaves, but instead form a boule by that some ingredients may be folding the dough over-and-under repeatedly until a difficult to source at the moment rough ball shape is achieved. Use floured hands. due to the popularity of baking as First time around I advise making a 1/2 recipe and a an activity during the Covid 19 single boule. lockdown. (Ed.) Put the boule on the cornmeal on the baking pan, then let it rest 30+ minutes on the countertop. This will help achieve a better shape and consistency after baking.
Slash and baste same as loaves. A criss-cross pattern is nice.
Bake same as loaves, but after 35 minutes probe with thermometer to ensure the very centre is 220+ Deg F (104+ Deg C). Otherwise, uncooked centre.
Good luck!
https://docs.google.com/document/ d/10ox625hwQVxRpxVC3MZNU7QAe7NtsFV0R_S4YNr- 7FM/edit?usp=sharing Here's how an expert forms a boule. ‘Align those gluten strands’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWXA8xFYu9A
The temperatures for the online recipe are in Fahrenheit. (Ed.)
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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.
Link to Bushwalking NSW publications http://www.bushwalkingnsw.org.au/publications/
CBC PUBLICATION POLICY
CBC Publication Policy is outlined on the website at https://canberrabushwalkingclub.org/about-us/governance-and-policies/publication-guidelines/
In general, contributions to It can be anything associated with bushwalking and reflect the diversity of activities provided by the Club. If possible, try to limit your articles to a maximum of two to three pages of text or about 1000 -1500 words, but shorter or longer than this will most likely be accepted in the interests of reflecting diversity and likely interest to readers. If you send a photo which is not yours, make sure you have permission to use it. Include the name of the photographer. Word is the most acceptable text software and jpg files the most desirable image software. The closing date for contributions to each issue of It is the fourth Wednesday of every month. Send contributions to [email protected]
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 21 ACTIVITY PROGRAM Information for Participants
Distance amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader, depending on (S) Short – under 12 km/day the condition of the roads and other factors. The figures given are for the car as a whole and then, at the discretion of the leader, an esti- (M) Medium – 12–20 km/day mate or range per person. Park admission and camping fees are addi- (L) Long – over 20 km/day tional costs which leaders should list separately. Note: In calculating distance, 1 km is added for every 100 metres Duty of care climbed. Every person taking part in a CBC activity acknowledges that he/she Terrain does so voluntarily and that he/she may be exposed to risks that could (E) Easy – fire trail, tracks, beaches etc. lead to injury, illness or death, or to loss of, or damage to property. Each person acknowledges risk when they book on line for walks, and (M) Medium – bush tracks, alpine areas, some scrub sign the Club’s ‘Acknowledgement of Risks’ form at the start of a walk. (R) Rough – much scrub, steep climbs, rock scrambles Visitors are welcome to join trips. However walkers are strongly en- (W) Wet – compulsory swims, many river crossings couraged to join the Club after a maximum of three trips. (X) Exploratory For further information see: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org Booking Check-in after walks Please book online using the 'Request a booking' button on the page Before a trip, leaders should use the 'Submit Trip List' function within for each walk. Many walks have a booking deadline, and all leaders 'Manage Bookings' to inform the Club's check-in officer of the names appreciate receiving bookings several days ahead of the walk, rather of their party. After the walk, leaders should use the 'Check-In' func- than just a day or two ahead. If the type of walk is new for you, check tion, also within 'Manage Bookings', by 10 am the day after their trip with the leader about: to report their safe return or any incidents, and also email a scanned • the need to carry water, tents/fly, maps, etc. copy of the Acknowledgment of Risks form to the Check-in Officer, Pete Hegarty [email protected]. In the event of a • appropriate clothing, footwear late return, worried relatives should contact the Check-in Officer, 0428 • any precautions you might need to take for severe weather 555 191 or the Walks Secretary, 6281 4917 or 0474 507 259 in the first Transport instance, not the Police or other bodies. Costs are 40¢/km/car, divided equally among all participants. This
Equipment hire GPS – nil (see website for conditions of use) Take advantage of the excellent gear that the Club has available for hire Check you have ALL the bits and pieces you need when collecting and before lashing out on your own equipment. The Equipment Officer is Rob returning gear. Horsfield, who can be contacted on 6231 4535(h). To borrow the PLB con- tact Pete Hegarty, Training and Safety Officer: train- Map scale is 1:25,000 unless otherwise stated [email protected]. The equipment available and current rates per weekend/week are set out below. Hirers are responsible for col- Wednesday walks lecting and returning the equipment. The hiring charge (but not the depos- Two walks one Medium/Easy and one Medium/Hard, are conducted most it) is waived for members who are ‘first time’ weekend walkers. A deposit Wednesdays. Walks are conducted in turn by leaders from the Canberra of $20 is required and part or all of this will be refunded, depending on the Bushwalking Club (CBC), Brindabella Bushwalking Club (BBC – Peter well- condition of the items upon return and whether they are returned late. [email protected] and Kathy [email protected]) and National Item w.e./week Parks Association ACT (NPA- Mike S, 0412 179 907). Destination and Olympus two person tent $15 / $40 meeting place details are emailed a few days before each walk. (BBC and Macpac Microlight one person tent $15 / $40 NPA leaders as listed in the activity program). Snow tent $15 / $40 Control your receipt of Wednesday Walk emails via your membership pro- file. Contact John, co-ordinator of Wednesday Walks, via wednes- 3 season bag, mat and liner $10 / $25 [email protected] for general enquiries. If you are Assorted packs $5 / $15 not a member of CBC, BBC or NPA you must contact the leader before the Trangia and fuel bottle $5 / $15 walk to discuss the level of difficulty and must be accompanied on the walk Snow shoes/poles $10 / $25 by a sponsoring member. Please note that leaders retain the right to not Snow sleeping bag, mat and liner $15 / $40 accept any walker. Personal locator beacon – nil (see website for conditions)
Canberra Bushwalking Club It—May 2020—Page 22 ACTIVITY PROGRAM
Wed 13 May: Wed 13 May: Old Joe Hill S/E/X Station Creek where we return via the - S/E/Part X Murrumbidgee Corridor track. → ~7 km ↗ We plan to climb in the hills of Goorooyaroo ~240 m ↘ ~240 m Limit: 10 Nature Park including Old Joe Hill from which participants Leader: Terrylea there is an extensive view of Canberra. The Reynolds. Booking required. See online... route is circular, partly exploratory so some off Tue 19 May: Adapting to the new bushfire track walking. Bring lunch, water and conditions - Bushwalking NSW Meeting (7pm waterproof jacket. Walk about 7km. Climb for 7:30pm on Tuesday 19th May, 2020 via about 270m. Map Hall 1:25,000 Forecast: 14C zoom) maximum small chance of any rain. Booking Join Bushwalking NSW to hear David’s required by 4pm on Tuesday 12 May. Enquiries incredibly deep and broad understanding of evening only. Limit 10 members. Limit: 10 how bushfire affects our natural environment, participants Leader: Cynthia Breheny. Booking what future we can expect for the national required. See online... parks and wild places we love to walk in, and Sat 16 May: McQuoid Creek, Forster Hill and how we can adapt to the new conditions to the Murrumbidgee Corridor - Trip is now full. - continue enjoying outdoor adventure. S/M/W Presenter Professor David Bowman iis An absolutely delightful walk with stunning Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, views from Forster Hill west to the Bullen University of Tasmania, and Honorary Range and the Murrumbidgee Corridor. Fun Professor Archaeology and Natural History at navigating our way over McQuoid Creek then the Australian National University. His research puffing up steep Forster Hill to the trig and is focused on the ecology,--- evolution, down the other side. From there we follow the biogeography and management of fire. David is reserve boundary north then west to New establishing the new transdisciplinary field of Station Creek where we return via the pyrogeography. Pyrogeography understands Murrumbidgee Corridor track. → ~7 km ↗ landscape burning from a multi-time-space- ~240 m ↘ ~240 m Limit: 10 and-disciplinary perspective. Which means participants Leader: Terrylea Reynolds. Book human, physical and biological aspects are by: Fri 15 May, 2:00pm. See online... considered at local to global scale over the Sun 17 May: McQuoid Creek, Forster Hill and geological past into the future. David is also a the Murrumbidgee Corridor. Trip is now full. - bushwalker who can give us first hand insight S/M/W into the future of our outdoor adventure. RSVP This walk is being put on for those who tried to now for the event to secure your free ticket book on Saturday 16th but, with the limit of 7pm for 7:30pm on Tuesday 19th May, 2020 10, weren't able to be included. So, I'm running via Zoom Adapting to the new bushfire the walk again the next day, Sunday 17th May. conditions- A chat with Professor David This is an absolutely delightful walk with Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire stunning views from Forster Hill west to the Science, University of Bullen Range and the Murrumbidgee Corridor. Tasmania Leader: Terrylea Reynolds. Booking Fun navigating our way over McQuoid Creek required. See online... then puffing up steep Forster Hill to the trig Tue 19 May: Guises Creek - M/R and down the other side. From there we follow A circuit in the Gigerline Nature Reserve, all on the reserve boundary north then west to New the east side of the Murrumbidgee. Lots of
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variety - open grassland walking with views, a This walk starts at Antill Street following a foot forested ridge, riverside walking on the pad in an easterly direction towards the Murrumbidgee. Plus two sections of the rocky Centenary Trail. After reaching the Centenary Guises Creek - the lower gorge section with Trail we will turn right and follow it to the which some Club members will be familiar, and summit of Mt Majura. After catching our a pleasant rocky section further up which is not breath over morning tea we will walk off track visited so often. Patches of scrub. Limit: 8 through open forest down the northern flank participants Leader: Linda Groom. Booking until we reach the southern end of a dry stone required. See online... wall about 300 metres in length. After a short Wed 20 May: Monthly meeting (Zoom walk from the northern end of the wall we re- meeting 7.30 pm): Drought and Fire in the join the Centenary Trail and head back to our cars. Total distance is about 7 km. Total climb West MacDonnells, August 2019 is about 370 metres. We will be home in time This is a Zoom meeting. An email containing the Zoom link will be sent to all members prior for lunch. → 7 km ↗ 370 ↘ 370 Limit: 10 to the meeting. participants Leader: Phillip Starr. Book by: Thu The meeting presentation is "Drought and Fire 28 May, 2:00pm. See online... in the West MacDonnells, August 2019" and is Wed 17 Jun: Monthly Zoom meeting: 7.30 presented by Meg McKone. PM: Mongolia treks: Kharhkiraa Turgen Peaks The party explored a new section of the and the Altai Mountains. northern side of the Chewings Range and, This is a Zoom meeting. An email containing despite some tense moments, managed to find the Zoom link will be sent to all members prior water for every night. They also witnessed the to the meeting. results of the huge fire which swept through The meeting presentation is "Mongolia treks: the West Macs on both sides of the Chewings Kharhkiraa Turgen Peaks and the Altai Range from Standley Chasm to Redbank Gorge Mountains." and is presented by Alan Laird. the previous February. Mongolia is a remote region of boundless Photo (Meg McKone): Luke Mulders on the rim space and sky, endless steppes, the cradle of of the upper end of Hugh Gorge. nomadic people and a land of diverse ethnic Leader: Marg Sharp. No need to book. See groups, religions and terrain. Steeped in online... legend, mythical Mongolia is a fabled land of Sat 23 May: Dowling-Sherwood - M/E golden steppes, the infamous Gengis Khan, We will meander North-East of Blue Range Hut nomads on horseback, gers and both to Dowling trig and Sherwood homestead site. Shamanistic and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Mostly on forestry roads and tracks. Along the Mongolian Expeditions crafted a four week way will visit some interesting historical sites. expedition for June-July for a CBC adventure. Wrong time of year for daffodils but maybe a The talk will cover: Daily routine, Landscapes, splash of autumn colour. → 14km ↗ 400 ↘ Birds and animals, carpets of flowers, urban 400 Limit: 10 participants Leader: Phillip views, climbing Mt Minchin, and highlights, Starr. Book by: Thu 21 May, 2:00pm. See including a visit to a ger. online... Leader: Marg Sharp. No need to book. See online... Sun 31 May: Mt Majura and Dry Stone Wall - (Wed 24) Fri 26 Jun - Fri 3 Jul: Portals Canyon - S/M walk suspended until further notice due to
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coronavirus - M/R/X/W www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/ Mostly off-track walking in the Portals Canyon b42e9c8e-370d-4094-8cef-37ce503e81a3/ and Mt Giles area, Chewings Range, Central files/budj-bim-nomination-dossier.pdf https:// Australia. This walk will only proceed if there is theconversation.com/the-detective-work- more rain in the area by May and if the behind-the-budj-bim-eel-traps-world-heritage- coronavirus situation improves to the point bid-71800 For further details contact Graham where the Club allows walks to resume. Thanks Scully on 0478609917 or to Meg M for the photo. Limit: 8 [email protected] A pretrip participants Leader: Linda Groom. Booking meeting will be organised to fine-tune the required. See online... program Suspended until further notice due to (Sat 11) Sun 12 - Mon 20 Jul: Victoria's coronana virus Limit: 8 participants Leader: Graham Scully. Booking western deserts - postponed due to required. See online... Coronavirus. - -/-/Part X Victorian Western Deserts – vehicle based trip Wed 15 Jul: Monthly Zoom Meeting 7.30 pm: 11-20 July, limit 8 persons. This trip is planned Chulu Far East and Beyond to camp, walk and enjoy two of Victoria’s This is a Zoom meeting. An email containing desert parks, Murray Sunset and Little Desert the Zoom link will be sent to all members prior national parks. In Murray Sunset there is a to the meeting. possibility of staying in shearer’s quarters for Christian Wilson has done a number of high one or two nights. Our journey will conclude altitude climbs over 6000m in the Himalayas , with a visit to Budj-Bim (Mt Eccles) national in both India and Nepal. In 2019 he and a park, where we will camp, walk and participate friend went to climb Chulu Far East (6058m) in in a guided tour of the indigenous eel traps and Nepal. Chulu Far East lies in a chain of hut sites recently recommended for inclusion mountains, Chulu West, Central, East and Far on the UNESCO World Heritage list. AWD or East. 4WD vehicles are preferred although all The expedition led them along the Annapurna camping areas can be reached by 2WD, and Circuit trail through the beautiful high altitude their drivers may then be able to be desert of Mustang then up over high passes accommodated in the AWD and 4WD’s if we and valleys of the Annapurna Ranges. After the choose to venture along more challenging summit attempt at Chulu Far East, they went tracks. Before deciding if this trip is for you, do back around the mountains to trek into the look at the Parks Victoria Visitor guides, the UN spectacular Annapurna Sanctuary. nomination for Budj-Bim and the Conversation Christian will share his story about the trek article on the detective work behind the eel through this amazing part of Nepal, including a traps world heritage bid. Murray Sunset first hand account of climbing a 6000m high national park: www.parks.vic.gov.au › Himalayan peak. documents › visitor-guides-and-publications Leader: Marg Sharp. No need to book. See Little Desert national park: online... www.parks.vic.gov.au › visitor-guides-and- (Sat 1) Mon 3 - Sun 23 Aug: Highlands of publications Budj Bim (Mt Eccles) national park Central Qld - Activity Postponed due to www.parks.vic.gov.au › visitor-guides-and- Coronovirus - M/R/Part X publications Nomination for UN World Virus willing, in August. Two - three weeks Heritage nomination https:// doing day and overnight walks in the Central
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Qld Highlands (not burnt in the recent fires, distance is about 8 km (Mostly on forest roads and copious summer-autumn rains), in Salvator and tracks). Total climb is about 300 metres. Rosa, Ka Ka Mundi and Isla Gorge. We have We will be home in time for lunch. → 8 Km ↗ permission to access an interesting rock 300 ↘ 300 Limit: 10 participants Leader: Phillip formation on Carnarvon Station, a Bush Starr. Book by: Fri 4 Sep, 2:00pm. See online... Heritage property, on the eastern border of Ka Wed 16 Sep: Club AGM Ka Mundi. The area has colourful and dramatic 7.30 pm, Wednesday 16 September 2020 rock formations and prolific spring flowers. Weston Creek Uniting Church, 16 Parkinson St, Dates are approximate - more details later. Weston. Further details will be available closer Note: Also on the program of the Coast and to the time. Leader: Marg Sharp. No need to Mountain Walkers of NSW. → Four to eight book. See online... hours per day. ↗ No more than 300 metres per day; usually less. ↘ No more than 300 metres Sat 19 Sep: Aranda Bushland - S/E per day; usually less. Limit: 8 Meet at 10.30 in the car park accessed via the participants Leader: Meg McKone. Book by: Fri lane beside 57 MacKellar Circuit, Cook (go 12 Jun, 2:00pm. See online... through the gate) and we will walk through the Aranda Bushland and return to the cars via the Wed 19 Aug: Monthly meeting Aranda frost hollow. No bookings. Leader: Stan 7.30 pm, Wednesday 19 August 2020 Weston Marks 6254 9568/0408 030 390, or Creek Uniting Church, 16 Parkinson St, Weston. [email protected] lf → 2hrs ↗ 50 ↘ The meeting presentation is to be 50 Limit: 16 participants Leader: Stan announced. Leader: Marg Sharp. No need to Marks. Booking required. See online... book. See online... (Sat 17) Mon 19 - Sun 25 Oct: Gibraltar Range Sat 5 Sep: Sherwood Daffodils - S/E - Washpool World Heritage Walk - Activity From Mountain Creek Road we will walk two postponed due to Coronovirus - M/M kilometres gaining 165 metres in altitude to an GIBRALTAR RANGE-WASHPOOL NP, open ridge with expansive views. We then NORTHERN NSW (Q) Virus willing, in October. proceed to Sherwood Homestead site for This World Heritage Walk comprises a four to morning tea among the daffodils and jonquils. five-day circuit walk around a high plateau Our return is by a different route. Total amongst areas of granite outcrops, heathland, distance is about 8 km (Mostly on forest roads tall eucalypt forest, rainforest with rare red and tracks). Total climb is about 300 metres. cedars and tree ferns, and prolific spring We will be home in time for lunch. → 8 Km ↗ flowers including waratahs (not all areas have 300 ↘ 300 Limit: 10 participants Leader: Phillip been burnt). The main track is approx 50 kms Starr. Book by: Thu 3 Sep, 2:00pm. See with another 50 kms of side-tracks. Some of online... the side trips can be done as extra day walks Sun 6 Sep: Sherwood Daffodils - S/E (I've allowed two to three extra days for these From Mountain Creek Road we will walk two in order to keep each day of the pack day walk kilometres gaining 165 metres in altitude to an at a moderate length). You will need an extra open ridge with expansive views. We then day or two at each end to drive from Canberra proceed to Sherwood Homestead site for to Mulligans Hut campsite and return. Bush morning tea among the daffodils and jonquils. camping and camping beside cars, $6 pp/pn. Our return is by a different route. Total NP entry is $8 per vehicle pd, or an annual
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parks pass. LEADER: MEG MCKONE does what the name suggests, allows you the [email protected] 6254 5902 (H) navigator to, create a file, download maps, TRANSPORT: $LOTS ** Note: This Trip also enter waypoints and routes, then leave home, appears on the Walks Program of - Coast and step out of reach of mobile phone towers, Mountain Walkers of NSW. → Approx 10-20 navigate on a stored map, collect bushwalking kms per day ↗ Approx 100-300 metres per day data, and ultimately return home safely. ↘ Approx 100-300 metres per day Limit: 12 Leader: Marg Sharp. No need to book. See participants Leader: Meg McKone. Book online... by: Thu 8 Oct, 2:00pm. See online... Wed 18 Nov: Monthly meeting Wed 21 Oct: Monthly meeting: Smartphone 7.30 pm, Wednesday 18 November 2020 navigation using the Backcountry Navigator Weston Creek Uniting Church, 16 Parkinson St, app Weston. The meeting presentation is to be 7.30 pm, 21 Oct 2020. Weston Creek Uniting advised. Leader: Marg Sharp. No need to Church, 16 Parkinson St, Weston. book. See online... The meeting presentation is Smartphone Sat 24 Apr 2021: Cotter Dam and Mt navigation using the Backcountry Navigator McDonald - S/E app and the presenter is Peter Conroy Meet at 10am at the Cotter Camping area car Most humans begin to navigate soon after they park near the toilets. It is just past the lean to crawl, and become proficient Murrumbidgee River bridge on the left. We will navigators soon after they learn to walk. As consolidate the cars and drive the few km to prehistoric people, we used memory and the start point of the walk. We will walk to a simple memory-jogging devices. Major lookout over the dam and then climb Mt improvements arrived with the use of a McDonald, which provides views in all compass. About 100 years ago our blue water directions. → 2 to 2 1/2 hrs ↗ 200 Limit: 16 navies began using radio position finding participants Leader: Stan Marks. Booking systems. required. See online... A major step forward came in 1968 to 1974 with the launch of the US-GPS satellite system which began a navigation revolution. From about 1975 computer-aided methods of mapping our geoid were developed by the Keyhole company and this joined Google in developing Google Spherical Projection and ultimately Google Maps, now the most used maps of our planet. By about 2005 cheap smartphones with inbuilt compass and GPS receivers and sufficient CPU power to handle spherical projection were available; this opened a world of bushwalking navigation carrying only a smartphone. In my talk we will run through a little of this history and then move to a demonstration of the "Backcountry Navigator" app. This app
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