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r o Bushwalking C it Club newsletter Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc GPO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601 Volume: 49 www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org Number: 5 June 2013 GENERAL MEETING 8 pm Wednesday 19 June 2013 In this issue 1 Sharing experiences Common foot problems 2 Canberra Bushwalking Presenter: Allan Donnelly Club Committee 2 President’s prattle Allan Donnelly will give a presentation on Plantar fasciitis - a very common foot injury - including the nature of the injury and how best to treat it. 2 Simulacrum: competition 3 Walks Waffle The hall, Hughes Baptist Church, 3 Training Trifles 3 Proposed Introduction of 32–34 Groom Street, Hughes Recreational Hunting in (The Hall is accessed via the car park - left side of the building as NSW National Parks you face the main entrance) 3 Spending proposals 3 Membership matters 4 Kanangra weekend Also some leaders of walks in June/July will be on 4 Mother’s Day at Black hand with maps to answer your questions and show Range you walk routes etc. .. including maps of Kakadu 5 Review: Great Victoria which show some approved walking routes - this is a Desert special opportunity as there is no published source of 7 Activity program information on these routes. 11 Bulletin Board 11 From the Archives 12 Feeling literary? Sharing experiences 12 Wednesday walks ave you had a great Hexperience on a Club walk or been on an interesting trip or trek in past years. Important dates Why not share your 19 June experience with General meeting a presentation at a Club general 26 June meeting. Please Committee meeting email the Club Social 26 June Secretary: socsec@ Submissions close for canberrabushwalkingclub. July it org who can help if you need equipment Committee reports

Canberra Bushwalking Club Committee President’s President: Phillip Starr prattle [email protected] 0419 281 096 ave you considered becoming a walk leader? Are you Treasurer: Julie Anne Clegg Hlacking confidence and slightly terrified at the mere [email protected] suggestion? 0402 118 359 ounds like me three years ago when I first joined this SClub. I had not previously been a bushwalker and had Walks Secretary: Linda Groom absolutely no knowledge of navigation. Being eager to get [email protected] the most out of my new pastime I participated in the annual 6281 4917 Club Navigation Course. There was absolutely no intention to start leading walks. After all I was a mere babe in the woods. General Secretary: Tim Wright A little while later the not so subtle hints began. The sug- [email protected] gestions that I should start leading walks fell on deaf ears 6281 2275 for some time. There was however a wish to put something back into this Club that was giving me so much enjoyment. Membership Secretary: Roger Edwards After much encouragement and a fair bit of self-examination [email protected] a flicker of desire appeared. 6288 7863 or 0406 378 217 Joint leadership with experienced leaders was the starting point followed by sole leadership. I started leading walks Training and Safety Officer: John Evans on trails and gradually graduated to off track by sticking to [email protected] ridges and recognisable land marks such as streams. Now I 6288 7235 or 0417 436 877 will happily head into thick bush. It was easier than I thought it would be and my confidence gradually improved. Conservation Officer: Nathan Holt The best way to build confidence is to have a go. I have been [email protected] leading walks for two years now and still have very much to 0414 628 429 learn. I have made mistakes but I have learned from them. I recognise my limitations and there is no expectation that I will Web Manager: David Briese become as competent as the living legends of our Club. [email protected] I like my newfound confidence and I love contributing to the 6286 3479 enjoyment of my fellow walkers. I get to pick where to walk Editor: Alison Milton and enjoy pouring over maps planning new walks. In fact I feel that I am gaining more than I am contributing. [email protected] 6254 0578(h) or 6289 2717(w)) Who said that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks? This old dog is having a great time. Assistant Walks Secretary: Keith Thomas

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Phillip Starr r o [email protected] C President 6230 1081 or 0421 607 667 Social Secretary: Quentin Moran [email protected] Simulacrum Simulacrum: a slight, unreal, or vague semblance of 6288 9840 something. A new competition! Below is a simulacrum Publisher: Gabrielle Wright of an elephant seal. Prize to anyone who can identify [email protected] where this is located. Answer next month. 6281 2275 If you have a simulacrum photo, please send it to the Editor and we All members of the Committee can be contacted will publish it. A in one email to chocolate frog to [email protected] both sender and solver: if you CHECK IN: Ring Keith Thomas on 6230 1081 attend a general meeting to collect WEB SITE: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org your prize. Photo submitted by Eric Pickering

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Page 2 – Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 g ro F e re o b ro r o C

Committee reports which are occasionally visited by the Club include South East Forests Walks Training NP and Wadbilliga NP. Waffle Trifles Spending proposals A short article has been written to ave you ever found that the he Club currently has about help you set up and use the basic $27,500 in the bank, and is Hterrain on a walk was not what functions of your GPS. It contains T you expected? operating close to the budgeted screen shots from Garmin eTrex 30 forecast. The Club’s grading system for and Garmin Oregon GPSs, but the terrain (Easy, Medium, Rough and principles apply to all GPS. Access Yearly expenses are less than Wet) is meant to help you decide the article via the Training and $10,000, the greatest expense whether you would be comfortable Safety button on the Club’s web site being a fee (for membership and with a walk, but there can still be and see item #29. insurance) paid to Bushwalking some surprises. To help walkers NSW of about $3,000. The fee See the separate note in this it for is directly related to the number understand what these gradings an update on the proposed recrea- mean, there will be a new web of members of the Club. Other tional hunting in NSW National significant costs are for meet- page added to the Club site. It will Parks. contain photos of terrain typical of ings and the it. each of these gradings. CBC ‘Stretch Your Legs’ events Membership fees more than continue. To date, 156 different cover yearly expenses. If mem- We need your help to gather suitable members have walked with 23 dif- photos. Please email them to me ber numbers should drastically ferent leaders to 21 different ACT fall, so would annual expenses. (walksec@canberrabushwalking- trigs. Check out your progress via club.org) by 31 August with a brief the Special Events button on the So the money held in Club bank caption such as ‘Easy: track across Club’s web site, and click the Cen- accounts and term deposits is Bushfold Flats’. tenary Events page link. If you don’t way in excess of the Club’s There will be a prize of bushwalking know where the participating trigs yearly operating costs. food – the winner’s choice of home- are, have a look at the map which you can access from the Events Any suggestions for purchases dried fruit or home-baked tararua or other outlays should be biscuits – for the best photo. page, click the ACT Trigs tab, then the link to the map. passed on to the Treasurer. Here is an example to inspire you. Proposals will be considered for inclusion in the budget for next

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r o C Training and Safety Officer year. The budget will be ratified Walks Secretary at the AGM.

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Julie Anne Clegg o C Proposed Introduction Treasurer of Recreational Hunt- ing in NSW National Parks Membership our Committee has been Yclosely following the NSW matters Government’s decision to allow recreational hunting in 77 NSW National Parks and has contributed to the debate in a number of ways. Please ensure that you keep the Implementation has been delayed Membership Secretary informed on several occasions. As soon as of any changes to your email controls and a commencement date address. are publicised we will let you know. New members: Ken Brazel, Rod We are working with Bushwalk- Craven, Penny Daniel, Mel Hunt, ing NSW to develop appropriate Lindsey MacDonald, Angela practices. Areas to be opened for Naumann, Roselyn Tabone, Rodney recreational hunting that are regu- Stuart, Teresa Zarlenga larly used for Club walks include

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Roger Edwards o Brindabella NP, Kosciuszko NP C Rough: rock scrambling after pass- (excluding ski fields), Morton NP Membership Secretary ing packs, Budawangs and Tallaganda NP. Other areas

Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 – page 3 Trip report Kanangra weekend 9–11 March 2013

On Monday we packed our tents his is where Australia emerged We rejoined the Kanangra Circuit and drove to Gillespies Lookout. Tas an ancient continent out of track to admire Thurat Walls and Climbing down to Box Creek, we warm, shallow seas. It’s where Spires. These dramatic crags are were rewarded to see the falls in full Aboriginals sheltered and decorated made of sandstone that once formed spate - an impressive sight both in their terrain. There are canyons, the edge of the continent, while scale and volume of water cascad- waterfalls and orchids, and the Kanangra Walls, which we were ing down. We returned up a granite sandstone cliffs glow golden in the standing on, were formed from hill, with small white Eriochilus early morning light. sediment washed from Thurat orchids in bloom. Walls into the sea. A narrow track Ands that’ just a three-day snippet This weekend convinced me that of Blue Mountains bounty. led us to Coal Seam Cave where a metre thickness of coal formed the there is a wealth of wonderful A 6.45 am start from Canberra back wall of this long rock over- experiences to be had in the Blue meant our party of 8 could set up hang. Water dripped into a nearby Mountains. Thank you Jeff Bennetts camp at the Boyd River Camp Site for a well organised weekend.

g pool. This south facing, damp area o r

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r o and be walking by noon. Heading was studded with fungi including Cynthia Breheny C from Marrilman Heath to Mt Pin- bracket fungi - used by some Abo- dari, our lunch spot had views riginal tribes to transport fire. into Myles Canyon and across to Margaret Falls. After lunch we clambered down a narrow slip- Mother’s Day at pery, gully defined by sandstone/ conglomerate cliffs and filled with Black Range ferns. On climbing Mt Bungin the t was delight all round on panorama of the Blue Mountains I‘Mothers’ Day Saturday’ when wasd lai out before us. Magnificent! a CBC mob stopped for a break Sunday dawned fine and warm. at Black Range Trig (the one Yellow sandstone Kanangra Walls with the boulder suspended in glowed in the early morning sun as the air above a giant boulder) the light mist burnt away. Soon we when Bob Lynch pulled Moth- were under a huge rock overhang. ers’ Day proteas out of his pack It’s out in the bush now, but from and presented them to each of 1897 local folk danced here on a the half dozen girls in the party. purpose-built timber floor. Not a Flowers gratefully received vestige of it left today. all round - except only one of the girls was a mother - and in her culture Mothers’ Day was celebrated at a different time of year. Nice one, Bob! Ross Andrews Ann receives her flower from Bob

Five of us decided to scramble down from Smiths Pass to see an Aboriginal ‘aspirational’ painting. It showed three men with long penises, their arms above their heads. Perspiration dripped as we climbed to the last lookout and our cars, after a day full of bush vistas, fungus sightings (fellow walker Keiren’s terminology), rock scrambling, and a glimpse into our Aboriginal heritage.

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Page 4 – Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 g ro F e re o b ro r o C

Review of general meeting talk

Rock holes to disappear in or just explore. Landscapes crissed and crossed by ranges and breakaway hills. Impertinent hills they call jump-ups. Flat-top mesas. Chasms daubed by ancient rock galleries. Salt lakes, playa lakes and lunettes. Millions of birds and reptiles. Small handfuls of fellow humans. Nights bathed by the Milky Way’s serpentine blaze. Rocket pathways that point straight from Woomera And, at Emu Test Site, the desert surface melted and fused – a reminder of a glowing rockscape.

Mysterious rock lines and swirls that carve and decorate a lost land, their meanings lost. Horseshoe arcs of rounded heath bush, perfectly-topiaried. Psychedelic flowers and lance-faced gumnuts evolved from alien dreams. And stone tools everywhere from the Ngaanyatjarra, Their dreaming tracks waymarked by dams and soaks and yet more rock holes.* * A Creative Non-Fiction Laundry List by Ross Andrews

ut this desert is no featureless flatland. Sue gave most of the talk with a photo presentation – B particularly illustrating the stunning desert flora and Alan and Sue Vidler’s illustrated talk on 15 May peppered with some good insights about camping out left CBC members gobsmacked with wonder at the in a Landcruiser (with a roof-top tent that housed a landforms, archaeological riches, history and remark- queen-sized mattress). able flora of Australia’s largest desert. Stretching over 350,000 sq km, the Great Victoria is Australia’s largest desert by far – an ‘inner desert’ that Vidlers on the roof stretches across South Australia and Western Australia, hemmed by other deserts on all sides. It’s above the Nullarbor, to the right of WA’s Little Sandy, below the Gibson and left of the Simpson and SA’s Strzelecki Desert. They’re the biggest thing on our continent – Australia’s 10 biggest deserts total almost 1.3 m sq km - about 18% of the country. The Great Victoria Desert gets less than 250 mm rainfall per year (compared with Canberra’s 630 mm). But like the rest of arid Australia it’s sprinkled unevenly. At the CBC meeting, Alan outlined the themes of their May–June 2012 adventure in their 80 Series (1996) Toyota Landcruiser. He set the scene with a potted history of this region. Although first occupied over 30,000 years ago, the Great Victoria’s European exploration began with Sue also covered the region’s archaeology, geology, Ernest Giles, who named the desert and first crossed it landforms and wildlife. east-westn i 1875. The 1891 Elder Scientific Expedition They saw no Aboriginal people outside the settlements, (north–south route) followed. but found hundreds of their paintings. Flint tools, Then Frank Hann explored it from 1903 to 1908, fol- grinders, ochre blocks and sharpening grooves were lowed by Len Beadell and his surveys in the 1950s and often found in the desert – and were respectfully left early 60s. where they lay.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 – page 5 Review of General meeting talk The party stopped at many mysteri- a worldwide Geodetic ous ceremonial sites – particularly Survey and oil and min- rock arrangements that included eral exploration. long, straight lines (think of the bora grounds in the Budawangs), spiral Alan and Sue travelled lines and hundreds of man-sized in a group of 10 peo- standing stones that must have been ple, in six 4WDs, in

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r o carried across the desert from their C original sources. to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the They visited chasms cut into cliff building of the Anne lines – some of them with galleries Beadell and Connie Sue of rock paintings, and some with Highways across the pleasant shade under cypress pines Great Victoria Desert. thousands of years old. Mysterious rock arrangement The group included two women in their late 70s, each travel- The expedition was led by Connie ling alone. The pace was leisurely Sue Beadell and her husband Mick with late starts, numerous stops, Hutton whose company, Beadell side-walks and early finishes each Tours, runs outback 4WD tours. day. They, and others, maintain for pos- The 26-day journey, including a terity the extensive road and survey rest day in Laverton, covered nearly markers laid down along routes 3,300 km. Only three other vehicles stretching thousands of kilometres were seen on the two Beadell by explorer–surveyor Len Beadell. highways. He was Connie’s father and named The trip started at Coober Pedy the Connie Sue Highway after her. and, with numerous deviations, Len’s wife and five-month-old baby went west along the Anne Beadell The expedition visited rock holes Connie accompanied Len on his Highway to Laverton, up the Great wherever it travelled, like the thou- surveying and building of this high- Central Road to Warburton, (‘a sands of birds and other animals that way from Warburton to Rawlinna. good dirt road’), with a detour to sought them out for water (queuing Empress Springs (‘the best rock for their turn to get in to drink). Len recommended and surveyed hole of all’). sites for the Woomera rocket range, A few rock holes were attached to the Emu and Maralinga atomic test- Then, with detours, the party trav- little caverns – big enough to climb ing sites and Giles Meteorological elled south down the Connie Sue into and explore. Station. Highway to Rawlinna and on to The desert’s ‘highways’ often were conclude at Cocklebiddy, a road- Then his seven-man Gunbarrel house on the Eyre Highway. little more than deeply corrugated Road Construction Party surveyed dirt tracks, gravel, or patches of and built more than 6,500 km of Alan was full of praise for Connie rock or sand – often at risk of being ‘roads’ through the desert between Beadell and Mick Hutton’s bush- engulfed by the surrounding spin- 1953 and 1963. manship, leadership and thorough ifex, kangaroo grass and encroach- preparation and research. ing mulga and marble gum. These roads supported the operation of Woomera, and provided access Their party suffered seven punc- for many other purposes, including tures – including a nasty one for the Corrugated desert highway Vidlers. All were quickly fixed by the efficient support team. Travellers in the desert have to be Survey marker self-sufficient and well-equipped. There’s no local roadside assis- tance, very few fuel sources (or water or food supplies) and people shouldn’t travel alone. Permits must be obtained well beforehand from relevant land councils. They need enough fuel to travel at least 1,000 km – and more for sand driving, detours and for when vehicles get bogged. And they need to carry a lot of water. Ross Andrews

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Page 6 – Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 g ro F e re o b ro r o C

Activity program Activity program Arrange for your Club-related activities to be included in the program with Linda Groom (Walks Secretary) Ph: 6281 4917, Email: [email protected], Post: 96 Strickland Crescent, Deakin ACT 2600

Information for participants Distance and difficulty Transport Distance: Costs are 37¢/km/car, divided equally among all participants. This (S) Short - under 12km/day amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader, depending on the condition of the roads and other factors. The figures given (M) Medium - 12-20km/day are for the car as a whole and then, at the discretion of the leader, (L) Long - over 20km/day an estimate or range per person. Park admission and camping Note: In calculating distance, 1 km is added for every 100 metres fees are additional costs which leaders should list separately. climbed. Duty of care Terrain: Every person taking part in a CBC activity acknowledges that (E) Easy - fire trail, tracks, beaches etc he/she does so voluntarily and that he/she may be exposed to (M) Medium - bush tracks, alpine areas, some scrub risks that could lead to injury, illness or death, or to loss of, or (R) Rough - much scrub, steep climbs, rock scrambles damage to property. Each person is required to sign the Club’s (W) Wet - compulsory swims, many river crossings ‘Acknowledgement of Risks’ form. Visitors are welcome to join (X) Exploratory trips. However walkers are strongly encouraged to join the Club after a maximum of three trips. Booking Contact the leader early rather than late. Book by Thursday For further information see: 2.00 pm for the following weekend (both one-day and multi-day www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org walks) so the leader has time to arrange transport. Check with the leader about: Check-in after walks Before a trip leaders are to email or phone through the names XXthe need to carry water, tents/fly, maps, etc of their party, and by 10 am the day after their trip report XXappropriate clothing, footwear X their safe return or trip cancellation, to the Check-in Officer, Xany precautions you might need to take for severe weather Keith Thomas ([email protected], changes. 6230 1081 or 0421 607 667 leave message if no answer). The Ask about anything you’re unsure of, especially if you are new to Check-in Officer or the Walks Secretary (6281 4917), not the Police our Club. or other bodies, should be the first point of contact for worried relatives if you are late in returning.

Equipment hire Map scale is 1:25,000 unless otherwise stated Take advantage of the excellent gear that the Club has available for hire before lashing out on your own equip- Book by Thursday 2:00 pm for the ment. The Equipment Officer is Rob Horsfield, who can following weekend so the leader has time to be contacted on 6231 4535(h) or to borrow the northside arrange transport PLB, Keith Thomas, 6230 1081 or 0421 607 667. The equipment available and current rates per weekend/ week are set out below. Hirers are responsible for col- Saturday 15 June: Black Mt and Aranda lecting and returning the equipment. The hiring charge Bushland – M/E (but not the deposit) is waived for members who are ‘first Meet at 9.45 in the car park opposite 160 Dryandra St, time’ weekend walkers. O’Connor. This walk traverses the Bruce Ridge then A deposit of $20 is required and part or all of this will be crosses into the Black Mt Reserve. Traverse the reserve, refunded, depending on the condition of the items upon following the track part way up the mountain, then along return and whether they are returned late. the lake to Yarramundi Peninsula for lunch. Home via the cork plantation and the Aranda Bushland. All on track, Item w.e./week back at the cars about 4.15 pm. Maps: Black Mountain, Olympus two person tent $15 / $40 Aranda Bushland and Bruce Ridge at http://www. Macpac Microlight one person tent $15 / $40 tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/parks_and_reserves/ 3 season bag, mat and liner $10 / $25 canberra_nature_park Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), [email protected]. Assorted packs $5 / $15 au Transport: drive yourself but please book as usual; Trangia and fuel bottle $5 / $15 there may be someone from your area who needs a lift. Snow sleeping bag, mat and liner $15 / $40 Personal locator beacon – nil (see website for conditions) Saturday 15 June: Mt Tennent challenge GPS – nil (see website for conditions of use) (Part 4) – L/M–R Check you have ALL the bits and pieces you need The challenge is to climb Mt Tennent with a laden pack when collecting and returning gear. by four different routes over four weeks. Each week we will increase the difficulty of the route and the weight of our packs. From the Namadgi Visitor Information Centre, we will follow the AAWT to Bushfold Flats before climbing through the scrub to pick up Tennent Fire Trail, which will take us to the summit. Return along a

Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 – page 7 Activity program foot pad and the AAWT. ~14 km + ~1000 m ascent, on Saturday 22 June: Faunce Hill – M/E a mix of track, fire trail and off-track negotiable route Faunce Hill is on the eastern side of the Queanbeyan through scrub. Suggested pack weight ~16 kg. Meet in River gorge on the northern end of Googong Dam. The the visitor centre carpark at 8.00 am. No need to book. walk is a mixture of on and off track, starting at the end Map: Williamsdale. Leader: Terence Uren terence. of Wanna Wanna Road (off Captains Flat Rd) thence [email protected] Transport: Drive yourself. through open forest to the Hill and south to lunch on an open ridge before wandering back to the cars. Plenty Saturday 15 June: Mt Gingera from Corin of variety and good views. About 5½ hrs walking. A Dam (with loooong optional extension up mixture of on and off track. Map: Hoskinstown. Leader: the Brindabellas, returning at night) – L/M Stan Marks 6254 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), stan.marks@ or L/M–R infrastructure.gov.au Transport: $10. An early start. From Corin Dam, walk the steps and Stockyard Spur, past Pryors Hut and up the footpad Sunday 23 June: Perigee–syzygy walk – S/E to Mt Gingera. Descend the SW flank of the Gingera A supermoon is the coincidence of a full or a new moon ridge to visit Brumbys Flats and the huge grey-burnt with the closest approach the Moon makes to the Earth Snow Gums. Return to Pryors Hut and so back to Corin on its elliptical orbit, resulting in the largest apparent Dam. Around 20 km and 1100 m climb. Warm clothing size of the moon’s disk as seen from Earth. The technical a must. Enquiries to Edwina. Or, on returning to Pryors Hut, an optional walk along the crest of the Brindabella name is the perigee-syzygy of the Earth–Moon–Sun Range through Little Ginini Mountain, Stockyard Gap, system. This event will occur on 23 June. The moon rises Mt Ginini, Mt Franklin, Aggie Gap, Mt Aggie – or until at 4.55 p.m. Start walking at about 4.30 pm for about we want to turn around. Return via the Mt Franklin 6 kilometres around Mt Stromlo and Mt Brown, mainly Rd and the Stockyard Spur steps at night. Up to 40 km on track. A torch and warm clothing are a necessity. and 2000 m climb. Let’s say 16–18 hours of walking. Maps: Canberra, Cotter Dam. Leader: Roger Edwards Discuss gear requirements with John. Maps: Corin Dam, 6288 7863 [email protected] Transport: Tidbinbilla. Leaders: Edwina Yee 0418 651 421, edwina. drive yourself. Limit: 8. [email protected] and John Evans 0417 436 877, [email protected] (bookings to John). Transport: Sunday 23 June : BT 2 Mount Painter to ~$7 per person. Further details at www.johnevans.id.au. Black Mountain – M/E Limit: 8 for the extended trip. Another blatant exercise in collecting trigs. Starting from Sunday 16 June: Tinderries mainly by fire Cook, we’ll follow the path to the top of Mount Painter (trig), before heading east towards Black Mountain. The trail – M/M path will take us through the Aranda bushland and under Start at Keewong fire trail, walk to West Tinderry fire Caswell Drive. From there, we’ll skirt the east of the trail then at a suitable point, leave trail and walk through Black Mountain reserve south towards the lake, before forest/open country to peaks to the north of Tinderry Twin heading up a steep southern spur of Black Mountain. Peak. Return along Mount Allen Trail. Short car shuffle About 10 km and 350 metres in climbing. Car shuffle required. Distance is about 18 kms with about 14 kms required. Map: Canberra. Leaders: Barb Vaschina and on fire trails and climbs of up to 700 metres. In clear Nathan Holt 0414 628 429 or [email protected] weather there are great views over Monaro and Googong Transport: Drive yourself. Dam. Maps: Tinderry, Michelago and Williamsdale, but ACT 1:100,000 is easiest to use. Leader: Tim Wright. Tuesday 25 June: Booth Range, Bog Hut Bookings by email please at [email protected] or Site, Namadgi NP – L/R/part X after hours on 6281 2275. Transport: $39 per car. Starting at the lookout on the Boboyan Road (grid ref: Tuesday 18 June: Hardy Hill and other trigs 809401) we will climb to the Booth Range and cross at grid ref: 834391. The main objective is a remote – M/M–E sub-alpine swamp at about 1300 metres altitude where The aim is to visit a number of trig points near the Cotter the ruins of a stockman’s hut, known as The Bog Hut, Dam; Hardy Hill, Condor Hill, Mt McDonald, and CE1 are located at grid ref: 844417. If time and scrub permit, with a side trip to Mt Moore. (Mt Moore does not qualify we will also climb to the ridge 1 kilometre to the east for ‘stretch your legs’ event trig bagging.) Mainly on of the hut site. The afternoon return route will descend forestry roads but a kilometre of thick scrub up to Hardy the range from Spot Height 1401 on a different spur to Hill. 450 metres of ascent. May do as 2 or 3 walks i.e. the morning’s course. This will be an arduous walk, all we will drive and start at several spots. Map: Cotter off track, with an early start and late finish, possibly Dam. Leader: Roger Edwards 6288 7863 rosemarie@ by torch-light. Minimum distance: 15 km with ~950 grapevine.com.au Transport: ~$16 per car. Limit: 8. metres of ascent. Maps: Colinton, Michelago. Leader: Wednesday 19 June: Wednesday Walk Ian Wright: 6286 1473, [email protected] For fit and experienced walkers. Leader: Steven Transport: ~120 km return. Limit: 8. Reynolds (for BBC) [email protected] Wednesday 26 June: Wednesday Walk For fit and experienced walkers. Leader: Mike Smith Wednesday 19 June 2013, 8 pm (for NPA) [email protected] MONTHLY MEETING 26 June–20 July: Kakadu – M/R/X/W Common foot problems Three walks in succession in the South Alligator River Presenter: Allan Donnelly and Jim Jim Falls area. Maps: El Sherana, Callanan, Koolpin, Goodparla and Jim Jim Falls, all 1:50,000. Hall: Hughes Baptist Church Transport. Share 4WD costs. Leader: Linda Groom 32–34 Groom Street, Hughes g o r F

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Activity program [email protected], 026281 4917 Limit: 9. This trip It’s then along this trail back to the cars. The distance is is fully booked; waiting list commenced. short, about 7 km but the southern traverse will be steep and scrubby. It can be taken slowly, with stops to listen to the lyrebird performances. Map: Tidbinbilla. Leader: COMMITTEE MEETING Mike Morriss 6287 5304, [email protected] Wednesday 26 June 2013, 8 pm Transport: ~ 90 km return. at the home of John Evans Tuesday 9 July: Various trig points south of 38 Rocklands Street, Duffy Canberra suburbs – L/E More trig bagging for the CBC ‘Stretch Your Legs’ program. Start at Big Monks Trig then to Rose Trig and Submissions close for Gigerline Trig. A short car shuffle involved. Afterwards July it drive to two other spots to ascend to Tharwa and Melrose 26 June 2013 Trigs. About 700 metres of climbing. Will share cheap bottle of wine at lunch to celebrate a participant who is claiming his 30th birthday. Access permission has been Saturday 29 June: Mundoonen Nature granted from all property owners. Maps: Tuggeranong, Reserve – M/M Williamsdale. Leader: Roger Edwards 6288 7863, This National Park lies just south of the Hume Highway [email protected] Transport: ~$8 per car. between Gunning and Yass. The area is attractive, open Limit: 9. woodland. I plan a fairly light day of walking, about 4hrs, a mix of fire trail and off track. Map: the only published Wednesday 10 July: Wednesday Walk For fit and experienced walkers. This walk will be map of the area is Gunning 1:50,000 but I recently got a essentially the same as that led by Mike Morriss on very detailed map from the ranger which is what I will Sunday 7 July. Meeting place: Kambah Shops at 8.30 use. About 4 hours walking. Leader: Stan Marks 6254 am. Leader: Mike Morriss (for CBC) mike.morriss123@ 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), [email protected]. gmail.com au Transport: ~$10. Tuesday 2 July: Border markers near Hall – Saturday 13 July: Rekkies near Palerang – S/M/X L/M/X There are two tracks in the Black Range-Palerang area (Rescheduled from 27 April when the heifers were being that I want to check out. The area is great forest and I weaned.) From Binns Street Fraser and the Dunlop would like a bit of company as I work out whether any Grasslands Nature Reserve, follow the ACT border of these tracks will work as part of some longer walk(s). across Wallaroo Road and the Barton Highway through The first runs starts where one of the fire trails crosses private property to One Tree Hill and return. Permission Mulloon Creek and I want to check out where it goes. has been obtained from relevant landholders. Bag One I have a fair idea but want to confirm. The second is a Tree and Baldy trigs. Check out the Crowajingalong site track near the semi-abandoned property we transit on and osage-orange trees. Around 18 km and 350 m climb. the Black Range walk. Should be fun. Map: Bombay. Map: Hall. Leader: John Evans 0417 436 877, john@ Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), stan. johnevans.id.au Further details at www.johnevans.id.au [email protected] Transport: ~$15. Transport: ~$10 per person. Limit: 8. Saturday 13 July: BT 3 North Belconnen – M/E Saturday 6 July: The peaks of Goorooyarroo Any excuse to bag some more trigs ... in this case, two hills – S/E that aren’t often walked on CBC walks. Starting from near This walk on the northern fringe of the city traverses, the golf course, the route follows the edge of Gungahlin partly on and partly off track, a series of hills with pond before heading up to the trig on Percival Hill. From spectacular views over the city and to the Brindabellas. there, it’s back to the pond wall and along Ginninderra Be at the parking area on the northern side of Horse Creek to the Bicentennial National Trail, then west towards Park Drive about 1.5 km toward Gungahlin from the Melba and the climb to the trig on Mount Rogers. Around Federal Hwy junction (Gungahlin exit) at 9.45 am for this 14 km and 200 metres ascent. Car shuffle required. Map: walk – lunch on top of Old Joe with spectacular views. Hall. Leader: Nathan Holt 0414 628 429, nholt_98@ About 4 hours walking. Map: Goorooyarroo at www. yahoo.com Transport: Drive yourself. tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/390580/ cnpmapgoorooyaroo.pdf Leader: Stan Marks 6254 Tuesday 16 July: Creeks and valleys, 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), [email protected]. western side of Mt Clear, Namadgi NP – au Transport: ~$15. L/R part X Sunday 7 July: Listening to lyrebirds on From the Mt Clear campground at the southern end of the ACT, we will spend most of the day off-track on Tidbinbilla slopes – M/M a route that links up some of the many small creeks Mid-winter is the prime time for this amazing bird’s between Mt Clear and the Naas Creek, though we will courtship dance and song and the eastern slopes of not be going to the Mt Clear summit. Some of valleys are Tidbinbilla Range is the prime place to experience their grassy but there will also be scrubby spurs and ridges. performances. From the car park on Mountain Creek we Minimum distance: 16 km with 500 metres of ascent. will walk on the track going north and climbing steadily Maps: Bredbo, Colinton. Leader: Ian Wright 6286 to the ridge of Tidbinbilla Range. After 4 km. and a 1473, [email protected] Limit: 8 Transport: climb of about 200 m. we will turn south and contour ~160 km return. back, crossing 3 gullies to a ridge above Cascade Trail.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 – page 9 Activity program Wednesday 17 July 2013, 8 pm Saturday 3 August: Wild Cattle Creek – M/M This walk MONTHLY MEETING is south of Trekking and travelling in Peru and Boliva Captains Flat in Presenter: Leanne Aust the Tallaganda The hall: Hughes Baptist Church National Park. It is a wander, 32–34 Groom Street, Hughes mostly off track, along ridges 18 July–2 August: Kakadu – M/R/X/W through light, The walks in Kakadu offered by Walks Secretary Linda open forest and for this year’s dry season are full. However some of along the wide us from her waiting list now have permits for two of open valley of those walks, i.e. Dinner Creek (S Alligator R) and Jim Wild Cattle Creek and other watercourses. About 10 km and Jim–Twin Falls. Maps: El Sherana, Callanan, Jim Jim 4 hours actual walking. Return via the purple eatery. Map: Falls, all 1:50,000. Leader: Rupert Barnett 6242 5241, Tinderry. Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), [email protected]; if you are interested please contact [email protected] Transport: ~$20. me promptly. Transport: Airfare currently $633, plus share of 4WD either $300 or ~$1200, depending on Tuesday 6 August: Wanganderry Walls – M/R numbers. Limit: 6. I expect to drive up, and would meet From the Wanganderry Road (~ 482E, 001N 3rd ed of the others at Alice Springs to spend some days in the West map) along firebreak and track to spot height 737, then off MacDonnells before the NT walks. track NW through about 1.5 hours of thick scrub before bursting out on to the amazing sandstone domes above (19), 20, 21 July: Southern Highlands Wanganderry Walls. We will explore about a kilometre of bushwalking bonanza – M/M the sandstone tops, before returning by crossing Bonnum Drive down Friday night to the Bundanoon YHA, where Pic Creek at 484E, 048N and picking up the Bonnum we stay the weekend. I am planning a walk from Meryla Pic track (but not going to BP itself). Total about 16 km, Pass to Lake Yarrunga through magnificent rain forest on with a 160 m drop into the creek and out again and the Saturday, all on track but with 200–300 m climbing many small ups & downs. Some rock scrambling in the and, on Sunday, a walk from Fitzroy Falls, initially along descent to the creek. This walk features stunning views the west edge track, then along the Redhill fire trail to and with luck some wildflowers. Depart North Canberra some ruins from the 1850s, and an attractive glade of fern 7 am for an approx 2 hours 20 min drive. Map: Hilltop. trees before lunch on the edge of the Yarrunga Gorge. The Leader: Linda Groom 6281 4917, [email protected] YHA is a renovated early 20th century home of delight- Transport: $150 per car. Limit: 8. ful ambience. Shared meal on Saturday evening. About 5 hrs walking each day. Map: Bundanoon and Picton. Saturday 10 August: A ridge with a view – Leaders: Stan Marks 6254 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), stan. M/E–M [email protected] Transport: ~$60 per person. Walk from the Spring Creek car park along a series of Accommodation: ~$60 for the weekend. ridges through open forest to an unnamed grassy peak for lunch with spectacular views from Lake George to Sunday 21 July: BT 4: Majura – Ainslie the Tinderries. Similar return. Part on and part off track, traverse – M/E about 13 km, 600 m aggregate climb and 6¼ hours actual Starting early from the end of the houses in Antill Street, walking. Map: Captains Flat. Leader: Stan Marks 6254 Hackett, walking to the summit of Mount Majura (trig), 9568(h), 6274 7350(w), [email protected]. before heading downhill to the valley between the two au Transport: ~$40 per car, ~$15 per person. mountains. After stopping for a beverage by the old Ainslie Dams, we’ll walk to the top of Mount Ainslie Wednesday 14 August: Wednesday Walk via the eastern side. The return to the cars will follow the For fit and experienced walkers. Leader: Rene Davies track behind the houses in Ainslie and Hackett. About (for CBC) [email protected] 15 km long, all on track, with 600 metres in climbing. (5) 6–10 (11) October: Blue Breaks – M/R Maps: Hall, Canberra. Leader: Nathan Holt 0414 628 Drive to Yerranderie Sat 5 Oct for a five day walk in the 429, [email protected] Transport: Drive yourself. Blue Breaks, exploring Lacys Tableland between Lacys Tuesday 23 July: Mount Wanniassa to and Reilly Creeks. We will access the plateau via Tonalli Forster Hill – M/E Pass and descend to the juntion of Bull Island and Green More blatant trig bagging for the CBC ‘Stretch your Legs’ Wattle Creeks before returning over Vengeance Peninsula program. Start at Mount Wanniassa then to Tuggeranong and the Axeheads. Drive home Fri 11 Oct. Magnificent Trig (which is nowhere near Tuggeranong Hill) via spring flowers and spectacular cliff views; mostly off- Fadden Pines, then to TG 26 on Urambi Hills and finally track with some rock scrambling. Run jointly with Coast to Forester Hill. Car shuffle required. About 300 metres of and Mountain Walkers of NSW. Maps: Yerranderie, climbing. Map: Tuggeranong. Leader: Roger Edwards Burragorang. Leader: Meg McKone 6254 5902(h), 6288 7863 [email protected] Transport: [email protected] Transport: ~520 km ~$8 per car. Limit: 8. return, ~$50–$66 per person. Limit: 8. November 2013: Australian Alps Walking COMMITTEE MEETING Track (Kiandra to Tharwa) – M/M–M/L Wednesday 24 July 2013 Looking for walkers interested in joining me for a pos-

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Bulletin board walking distance each day will be 14 to 20 km. Will have a day plus stop at Blue Waterholes area. Car shuf- fles involved and option to join or leave group at Blue Waterholes. Experienced full pack walkers only. Joint From the activity with Shoalhaven Bushwalkers. Maps: http:// www.australianalps.environment.gov.au/walktrack/ map-guide.html Leader: Paul Ellis 6258 1949, borstal@ Archives shoalhaven.net.au Transport: tba. Limit: 8.

ere’s an article from Canberra’s past. The Hbridge in question will be known to some CBC members. It was washed away in the floods of 2012 and has since been replaced with a Bailey Bridge. The original bridge was built during the Bulletin Board Great Depression, 1933, with unemployed labour The Bulletin Board is for members to advertise (at no on government relief. cost) goods for sale, private trips or other personal bushwalking-related matters. The Club is not involved A large gathering of residents of the southern portion in, takes no responsibility for, and does not endorse, of the Federal Capital Territory, including visitors the activities or goods advertised here. Hence, if peo- from Canberra and Queanbeyan, witnessed the ple participate in any activities advertised here, they official opening of the bridge over the Gudgenby do so as private individuals, not as members of the River, about one and a half miles south of Tharwa Club, and will not be covered by the Club’s insurance. yesterday afternoon, 19 February 1933. Notices for the Bulletin board should be emailed The structure is of the low lying type of two spans to the Walks Secretary: walksec@canberrabush- resting on solid concrete piers, and was erected as a walkingclub.org relief job by Queanbeyan labour. Walking in Southern Patagonia Major C. Lucas, who welcomed the visitors, I’m planning a trip to Southern Patagonia next recounted the difficulties experienced by settlers summer to walk the Torres del Paine Circuit and between the Gudgenby and Murrumbidgee Rivers the area around Monte Fitz Roy. It will also include a couple of days in Buenos Aires and a visit to the for more than 50 years in being unable at times to Perito Moreno glacier and is expected take around negotiate the crossing. Originally, when horse and 3 ½ to 4 weeks to complete. The trip is planned to cattle traction was the only kind available, the be undertaken between December 2013 and March boggy nature of the crossing held terrors for all. Any 2014 with the exact timing to be finalised following fresh in the Murrumbidgee backed up the water at consultation with interested participants. If interested the spot. He had heard that thirty years ago Mr. contact Gerald Dodgson 0438 119 803 (m), 6249 Morrison had endeavoured to negotiate the crossing 6690 (h) or via email at [email protected] in a waggon drawn by fifteen bullocks, but after he Great Ocean Walk had been manoeuvring for about half an hour, all Expressions of interest are sought from interested he could see to flog were bubbles in the water. Now walkers to complete the Great Ocean Walk in that motoring was the vogue, things were different November 2013. The walk will be led by Barry Keeley because Mr. Snow kept a horse always handy to help and organised by George Hill. We will camp at a out unfortunates who got bogged central point near Cape Otway and shuttle to the start of each day’s walk, which has a distance of 103 km Mr. J. Morrison said that as one who had occupied over six days. This has the advantage of not having to a holding on the other side of the river for a great carry big packs for the full distance. Accommodation number of years he was relieved to see the bridge, so will be in basic shared cabins with relatively civilised long advocated and urgently needed, erected at last. cooking and sleeping facilities. Please note that there One of his worst and also most recent experiences was is a limit of 10 participants and it is expected that the in trying to get a mob of sheep across the ford. He walk will fill quickly so please be prepared to be put had exhausted his vocabulary, temper and strength on a waiting list. You will need to be reasonably fit when Dr. Barnett, of Queanbeyan, drove up in his to complete the walk successfully. Please send your expressions of interest to [email protected]. car. The doctor took a hand and got the flock across. au and include a contact telephone number After the bridge had been opened, a procession of Gear for sale?– place an ad! more than thirty cars crossed, followed by several If you have any old equipment you residents on horseback. Afternoon tea was taken no longer want, why not place an on the bank below the bridge under the shade of the ad here to either sell or give it away. willows. Please include personal contact

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Canberra Bushwalking Club it June 2013 – page 11 Feeling literary? Membership fees 2012/13 Item Single Household Have you had a great experience on a Club walk? Been Hard copy it $46 $73 moved to write about it, either in prose or verse? Felt the urge Electronic it $27 $54 to see your name in print? Or even just taken some great photo shots that you would like to share. The Club welcomes contributions from members so why not write about an interesting experience on a walk or just an enjoyable walk. Alternatively, send in a photo or two with a Wednesday walks short paragraph about it/them. Medium walks (M/M, M/M–R, L/E–M) are conducted The closing date for each issue of it is the date of the 4th every Wednesday. Walks are conducted in turn by Wednesday of every month. Handwritten and posted mate- leaders from the CBC, Brindabella Bushwalking rial is acceptable, but email is preferred. We also welcome Club and National Parks Association (ACT). Details photographs, preferably as separately scanned items or about destination and meeting place are emailed to digital images. We can scan original photographs. Contact: those on the Wednesday Walkers email list. Contact Ph 6254 0578, [email protected] Barrie Ridgway [email protected] to get your Post: 20 O’Sullivan Street, HIGGINS, ACT 2615 name on the email list. Janet coordinates the CBC’s Alison Milton, Editor contribution to these walks.

If undeliverable return to PRINT POSTAGE GPO Box 160, Canberra ACT 2601 POST PAID PP 248831/0047 AUSTRALIA Print Post Approved PP248831/00047 it

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CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB

June 2013

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