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r o Bushwalking C it Club newsletter Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc GPO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601 Volume: 50 www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org Number: 7 GENERAL MEETING August 2014 8 pm Wednesday 20 August 2014 In this issue 2 Canberra Bushwalking Walking in Canada Club Committee Presenter: Alan and Sue Vidler 2 President’s prattle Sue and Alan Vidler spent two months in Canada and Alaska in 2013. 3 Walks waffle They walked in the Pacific Rim National Park, the Canadian Rockies, the 3 Membership matters Algonquin Provincial Park and in Nova Scotia. 3 Training trifles 3 It’s cold now but … The hall, Beginners’ sea kayaking Hughes Baptist Church, weekend 3 $pending proposals 32–34 Groom Street, Hughes 4 Review: Four Days on the Inca Trail 5 From the IT Archives 6 Budawangs track work Also some leaders of walks in the current and next experience, 2014 month will be on hand with maps to answer your 8 Mt Durras and questions and show you walk routes etc Mt Dromedary 9 Obituary: Tom George 1940–2014 10 Bulletin board 11 Activity program 11 Wednesday walks 15 Bulletin board cont’d 16 Feeling literary?

Important dates

20 August General meeting 27 August Committee meeting 27 August Submissions close for August it Committee reports

Canberra Bushwalking Club Committee President’s President: Linda Groom prattle [email protected] 6281 4917 Treasurer: Julie Anne Clegg n the first day of the Club walk on the Larapinta OTrail in June, we devoted a little time to checking [email protected] the harness adjustments on participants’ packs. It proved 0402 118 359 to be a topic on which more than one of us had an opin- ion, so those who submitted their pack for adjusting had Walks Secretary: Lorraine Tomlins the benefit of advice from multiple specialists! [email protected] If you are as fascinated by gear as the group of us 6248 0456 or 0434 078 496 who walked the Larapinta, there are two great events General Secretary: Gabrielle Wright coming up. On Saturday 6 September there will be a bushwalking gear display in Lennox Gardens (behind [email protected] the Hyatt) from 10 am to 12 noon. And on Wednesday 6281 2275 19 November the Club’s general meeting will focus on gear displays and demonstrations. On both occasions, Membership Secretary: Roger Edwards there will no doubt be as many intense conversations [email protected] as we had about pack harnesses on Day One of the 6288 7863 or 0406 378 217 Larapinta.

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Training and Safety Officer: John Evans o C [email protected] President Adjusting Brendan’s pack 6288 7235 or 0417 436 877 Conservation Officer: Cynthia Burton [email protected] 0488 071 203 Web Manager: David Briese [email protected] 6286 3479 Editor: Alison Milton [email protected] 6254 0578(h) or 6289 2717(w) Assistant Walks Secretary: Keith Thomas [email protected] 6230 1081 or 0421 607 667 Social Secretary: Quentin Moran [email protected] 6288 9840 Publisher: Tim Wright [email protected] Christmas Party 6281 2275 Saturday 6 December 2014, 6pm All members of the Committee can be contacted in one email to at the home of [email protected] Doug Wright 18 Beedham Place, Lyons Check in: [email protected] Web site: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org we provide: barbeques you provide: food, drinks, plates, utensils, fold-up chairs

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Committee reports $pending Walks Training proposal$ s there anything you believe that waffle trifles Ithe Club should spending money on or buying? We are now preparing he first two sessions of the an- a budget for the current financial Tnual Navigation Refresher year and your thoughts are needed. uckily the grey days of the course have finished. But it’s not Ldepths of winter may be be- too late to join in subsequent days, The Club currently has about hind us. Just recently we had some which cover practical application. $25,000 in the bank. sparkling gems of days interspersed Up-coming days include a great amongst the bleak ones. It is a good Yearly income and expenses weekend trip to Sentry Box and use are each less than $10,000. indication that warmer days are of GPS receivers. See the Activity indeed coming. The August Activ- The greatest expense for the Program and contact Rob and Jenny Club each year is paid to The ity Program is a good place to start Horsfield. planning your activities for spring. Confederation of Bushwalking There are interesting options for Ten members enjoyed a recent Clubs of NSW, about $3,000 the two long weekends coming Introduction to Snow Shoeing as an affiliation fee and Public up. But don’t leave indicating your trip expertly run by Terence Uren. Liability insurance. The fee is interest too long as the trips will fill We are keen to foster activities directly related to the number up quickly. that augment bushwalking. Please of members of the Club. Other contact me if you have any ideas significant costs are for meetings On a different note please ensure (kayaking, abseiling, …). and the it. that you are appropriately equipped for your activities especially when What does a wine cask, bicycle tube Membership fees are budgeted to venturing into the mountains around and watermelon have to do with cover yearly expenses. If mem- Canberra. It is easy to forget how backpack camping? Come along to ber numbers should drastically alpine the environment is in Nama- the Camping Equipment Display fall, so would annual expenses. dgi because it is so accessible. On on Saturday morning 6 September So the money held in Club bank a recent walk above 1400 metres in Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla (on accounts and term deposits is we were walking through snow the edge of Lake Burley Griffin way in excess of the Club’s and rough undergrowth when it behind the Hyatt Hotel), between yearly operating costs. started sleeting. One of our group 10 am and 12 noon, to find out. did not have their raincoat. Luckily Experienced CBC members will Any suggestions for purchases it was only a shower. (Suggested demonstrate the equipment they or other outlays should be passed Equipment List for Day-Walks and use for overnight walks and there on to Committee members. Overnight Walks) will be items of historical interest. Proposals will be included in the It would be great to have a large budget for next year. The budget

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r o C membership turnout, as we are keen will be ratified at the AGM to be Walks Secretary to attract members of the public too. held in September. How can the one Grid Reference be the same for two different loca- tions around 200 m apart? Why not ask your walk leader. Membership Cheers and happy feet

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Please ensure that you keep the Membership Secretary informed It’s cold now but … Beginners’ sea kayaking weekend of any changes to your email xpressions of interest are sought in a beginners’ sea kayaking week- address. Eend on the south coast when it is warmer. Instruction and guidance New members: Charles Clements, will be provided by a highly qualified commercial organisation. The Kate Dawson, Melissa Demian, Saturday afternoon session will focus on stroke tuition and assisted Etienne Dupont, Jacinta Flynn, rescue techniques. Sunday would be an extended guided ocean or river Jaime Lapus, Lizhen Qu, Marja tour (depending on weather conditions). Costs include ~$160 for tuition, Rouse, Tristan Ryall, Gabriela kayak hire and associated gear, plus usual CBC transport costs. Over- Samcewicz, Dominic Wade night accommodation available with a club member or there is nearby low cost camping. Please contact training@canberrabushwalkingclub.

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Canberra Bushwalking Club it August 2014 – page 3 Review of general meeting talk Review: Four Days on the Inca Trail

e expect to see iconic scenery in Wfull sun, against clear skies. Such conditions didn’t feature in Rosemary McKenzie’s presentation on the Inca Trail. She introduced herself as a ‘fair weather walker’, but cloud, mist and rain accompanied her for most of her time on the trek. She went there in October, which coincides with the onset of the wet season. And the trail lies within the Amazon catchment, in a region which naturally receives high rainfall. Yet it does her credit that her images still held plenty to interest and inspira- tion. Her well-organised presentation embraced more than just scenery. She showed us people, architecture, crafts She started by flying to Los Angeles, of another lighthouse, confirming and local oddities such as a guinea pig and during her stopover in the USA she Titicaca’s status as the world’s highest farm, which looked like a backyard visited the Grand Canyon, where she navigable lake. operation, rather than one requiring gained a ‘head for heights.’ hectares of land. She then travelled on to Cusco via the A long day of flying took her from LA highest road pass in Peru, and showed Rosemary started by recounting that to Lima, with a transit in El Salvador. us some images from that city, where the Inca civilisation had fascinated her In Lima she took time to see some Spanish architecture rests on Inca from an early age, and she’d completed local sights and sites, including her foundations. She walked us through the a school project on Lake Titicaca in her first set of Inca ruins, at Huaca Pullina. history of Macchu Picchu. The explorer teenage years. She then ran through She showed us an image of walls con- Heiram Bingam revealed the ruins to the her preparations for the trip; she structed so as to withstand earthquakes. wider world in 1911, but it is probably mentioned vaccination against yellow Clever people, those Incas. Rosemary untrue to say that he ’discovered’ them. fever and Diamox to control the effects also ‘collects’ lighthouses, and she To prove that point, Rosemary showed of altitude. She also emphasised the showed us a local example, known (no us an image of a beautifully drafted map indispensability of travel insurance. translation needed) as ‘La Marina’. dating from 1874, which depicts a site labelled as ‘Macchu Picchu’. The Inca Rosemary next Trail has become very popular in modern Clouds and mist were a common theme stopped over at Lake times, and at one stage it had acquired a Titicaca, where she felt reputation for rubbish-strewn, polluted the effects of altitude campsites, and security risks. Since ‘in a big way’. Com- then, the declaration of a national park pared to Himalayan has coincided with efforts to clean up trekking, which gives the trail, and the price to be paid is that trekkers the chance one may no longer trek independently, to acclimatise gradu- all trekkers must join an organised trek. ally, most Peruvian Also, pack animals may not enter the itineraries catapult park, and even trekking poles have been travellers to high alti- banned, in order to protect the environ- tude at the very begin- ment. Numbers have been capped at ning, with resultant 500 per day, which still sounds like quite discomfort. In spite a crowd, although only 200 of that figure of that, she roamed comprise actual trekkers, porters and the city of Puno and other staff account for the rest. showed us images that emphasised the Rosemary’s party numbered 14, slightly colourful aspects of more male than female, recruited by local life, including a a Canadian company which shows series of parades. She its social conscience by sponsoring visited and strolled development projects in local villages. on the reed islands on Rosemary mentioned a couple of Lake Titicaca, where records—the oldest person to complete she experienced ‘leg the trail (84) and the fastest (3 hours, issues’, presumably running, presumably.) The trail draws compounded by the people from diverse backgrounds and effects of altitude. differing levels of ability, but its’ vital Rosemary also found, statistics suggest that it’s no cakewalk: and captured an image 45 kilometres in four days, altitudes

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Review of general meeting talk second pass, Picchu was not a happy one, as she they glimpsed hobbled on a damaged knee, in cloud Macchu Pic- and pouring rain, amongst ponco-clad chu village, crowds. not the ruined city but the The party enjoyed a last lunch together settlement that in Macchu Picchu village, in a restaurant has sprung up right beside the railway track, and a pic- to serve the ture showed a locomotive drivers’ cabin tourist traffic, only metres away from the tables where and the all-too they sat. An image of the swollen river surging through the valley emphasised

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r o zagging road how much rain had fallen. C that leads to Upon return to civilisation, Rosemary the entrance obtained medical treatment for her of the historic knee, which included blood thinners site. The party to control the risk of thrombosis on took a side-trip the flight home. Her travel insurance to a set of ruins funded an upgrade to business class. known as ‘the Like most of us, she’d always wanted town above to travel at the front end of the plane, the clouds’, although it didn’t please her that it had The locals claim this lake is in the shape of and passed taken an injury to enable her to taste through an such luxury. Inca-built tun- ranging from 2400 metres to 4215 nel. They encountered further evidence She could count herself lucky enough, metres, and a vast number of steps, of the modern world in the form of a however, that her injury had occurred 70,866 in all! That statistic might power pylon, and viewed a rainbow, at the end of the trek, in a place where give cause to pause for anyone with which might have suggested improving evacuation didn’t pose a problem. temperamental knees, which seems to weather, but not in this case, since the Rosemary’s experience reminded us mean the majority of mature-age bush- rain was falling again as they launched that the whims of fate can shred the walkers. And Rosemary reminded us of into their final day. best-laid plans, and that one can travel the trail’s many-steppedness by giving half-way round the world to slog us a running total as the presentation They rose before dawn, waited at the though mist and rain. Yet her presenta- unfolded. checkpoint, and farewelled their porters tion still managed to capture the scenic before making the very steep climb to splendour and man-made marvels of the The party set out in rain, and Rosemary the Sun Gate. A few of the trekkers showed them attired in the many- place, and provided plenty of informa- suffered bad slips on the very wet steps, tion and inspiration for anyone planning coloured ponchos, which the trekking among them Rosemary, who later found company had provided. The first day or hoping to walk the Inca Trail.

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r o that she had injured ligaments in her C gave a gentle introduction, through knee. So her experience of Macchu relatively flat farmland. Mist-laden Trevor Lewis greenery typified the images from this stage, and indeed from every stage of the trek. Rosemary called day two ‘the scary From the IT Archives one’, as the biggest climb of all loomed, to ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’. The rain The August 1965 Monthly Circular contained had stopped, but cloud draped the a reminder of the September Annual General landscape. They entered the national Meeting. The announcement included: park, and elfin forest, while glimpses of higher slopes snow-dusted, hinted In line with tradition members are asked to that the party had reached sub-alpine bring to the meeting colour slides taken on Club trips during the year. altitudes. And in its higher reaches the trail rose above the tree-line to pass Perhaps this is a tradition we should reintroduce, and talking about through alpine grasslands. Rosemary tradition… Following the Wright tradition, in 1965 the Secretary of showed several images of the formation the Club was Maxine Wright. This year, 50 years on, the Secretary that gives the pass its name, although I is Gabrielle Wright. for one couldn’t see the resemblance. Bromeliads featured in some pictures, Also included in this issue was the following. I’d certainly find this as did a vicuna, a close relative of the type of walk of interest. lama and the alpaca, and one charming scene showed a huddle of sleeping dogs. The party had negotiated 15,392 Specialist walks steps by the day’s end. … Some novel outings have been organised including special On day three, two smaller pass crossings natural history walks which will be attended by various specialists. faced the trekkers. Wet and misty condi- The Committee asks all those interested in the various fields to give tions again set the tone. An impressive their support; these special programmes might become annual waterfall, a lake whose shape resembled a map of Australia, and striking cliff events. Those planned over the next six months will probably faces of pale granite comprised some include wildflowers, Alpine flowers, trees, birds, insects, marine of the images from that day. From the fauna and flora, rocks and fossils and freshwater biology.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it August 2014 – page 5 Trip report Budawangs Track work experience, 2014 On 20–22 June four people from CBC helped prune coherent overview of that history, and a hunt into the it vegetation from the track in the Budawang Ranges archives for ‘clearing’ filled in some of the detail: dona- between Corang Peak and Bibbenluke Camp site. They tions, track clearing, weed removal, site protection, hut were Janet Edstein, Lois Padgham, Quentin Moran and maintenance and more have been a part of the Club’s Rupert Barnett. Here Rupert reflects on the experience. activities since its inception. ost of us have ‘been there’ - pushing through titree So when another opportunity arose I had to get involved, Mand prickly heaths, getting knocked on the nog- didn’t I? I’d helped with broom clearing in Namadgi, but gin or bashed on the belly by banksias, or clambering had been unavailable for the efforts on the Folly Point around slippy slides when the duckboards disappeared and Corang Plateau tracks in ‘07–09. But the dates for into a wombat tunnel too small even for a tuan. And this year’s proposal in June, ‘Yurnga Lookout–Mt Bib- we’ve followed the leader of the moment – ‘I think it’s benluke–Mt Tarn...’, I could keep free. So did others, this way’ – through a gap that dumps you in a thicket though a change in dates caused by bad weather reduced where you’re ambushed by paperbarks sprouting side- the number to the four above. ways, snowgums downwards, and the wombat trying to be a koala. All just to stay on the track. And didn’t you find yourself wondering, ‘Why don’t the Rangers don’t do something about it?’ Then you said it out loud. And didn’t the conversation go something like, ‘…and remember when we came out here five years ago, and this track was great then’. ‘Well I never see a ranger these days; they seem to think they can look after a Park from behind a desk... !’ ‘Oh I think they’re too busy looking after tourists...’? It’s a dozen years since I started walking in the Budawangs, and I recall many bits of track like those Yurnga Lookout above, where you went off track to stay on track. Then As well there were five from the Shoalhaven Bushwalk- we found that some excellent work had been done – the ers and six Parks staff, so it was a substantial party that Castle Track had new steps to Meakins Pass, the track met with Ranger and Park Manager Rob on the Friday beyond had been pruned and in Monolith Valley step- morning, then drove after him into the privately owned ping logs had been placed. Duck boarding was being pine plantations south of the National Park. That was installed over the soggy pad around Mt. Bibbenluke, and a privilege! In earlier years there had been a couple of much of the rest of the track to the Entrance routes to the park through the pines but they’d been had been cleared too. replaced in the ‘90s by the current Wog Wog Entrance, Nevertheless, if you headed along the track towards (which added six kilometres to the walk in, though). Folly Point you soon found your own reasons to call it So I’d been looking forward to ‘meeting’ Sneddons that – the pad left you in a big patch of untracked scrub. Pass, but the change of dates switched our entry to the To escape I headed for high ground, only to be left high, other original route, past the Green Hut ruins, equally and dry, as dusk closed in. At least there was flat rock historic, and exciting. for the tent, and all was forgiven when dawn filled the Friday eve found us camped in Burrumbeet Valley. Weeks Clyde Valley with pink mists, right beside me. Nor was earlier NPWS had choppered in cooking tent, gear, food I the first there – lying mouldy in the scrub was a map and firewood. We’d survived the rediscovery of the Green case, happily with no skeleton attached. Hut route and the descent of Conglomerate Slope despite On a later walk with some long-time CBC members I strong wind, and got our tents set up – or not, because related these observations, and some of us newbies then learned that much of the work in Monolith Valley and Green Hut ruins the pruning along the main track had been done by CBC volunteer work parties, while the Coast and Mountain Walkers had helped cut the Folly Point Track some years earlier. The Parks Service (NPWS) had managed both of course. In the discussions there was a general understanding that, ‘Parks just don’t have the resources to maintain these areas, and their funding is being cut back all the time. So if we walkers want bush tracks we can use, we’ve got to both encourage Parks, and help do it. Perhaps you don’t know Club members have been doing just that for a long time?’ Sometimes stories about those efforts would surface as one walked, but it was the 50th Anniversary it (2011) article on ‘Conservation Activities’ that gave me a

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Trip report some slept under the nearby cliff overhangs. We’d even done an hour’s work on the track and now, after nibbles, were warming to a Thai curry made even tastier because we’d not had to carry in the ingredients, cooking gear, or Burrumbeet Valley at Sunset do the cooking. In remote ‘Wilderness’ that was almost too easy! Good too was the opportunity to get to know the people in the group, then as the wind and temperature dropped, to finish drinks and slide into sleeping bags. The stiffness of the tent door gave a warning: –2°C. But the brightness through it promised a cloudless dawn. With breakfast eaten and washing up done but the temperature still zero the sure way to warm up was grab tools and go! The plan for us volunteers was to finish the kilometre to the Yurnga Lookout (done smartly, to get to the sun’s warmth), then walk 3 km to the camping spot north of Mt Bibbenluke before working back. Ranger by a day even milder. With packing done we headed Rob and staff had hoped to go an extra km to Mt Tarn out, trimming as we went; past Corang Arch and over but the chainsaw needed for that wouldn’t start. the Peak, lunch at Korra Hill and an uneventful return past the Green Hut ruins.

Breakfast Much had been achieved in a thoroughly enjoyable activity. So do you feel it’s the kind of work experience you can handle? Don’t despair – a fire in September 2013 burnt from the Wog Wog entrance to Corang Arch, and in a couple of years that regrowth will need a great

Pigeon House from Kora Hill

So we wandered back, with lop, saw or snip of any branch that looked aggressive. Yet at every pause you could look up and rejoice, in a wonderful place; rolling plateau, dark-sided gorges, escarpments, rough ridges and sharp peaks near and far, grey sandstone cliffs with bright ochre overhangs. Even the plants we had to ‘redirect’ often had interesting leaf, flower, or cone. You’d finished a patch, catch up to the next group for deal of ‘redirection’. Can’t wait that long, you think? a chat then leap-frog to another patch. Ok, next year Rob has plans to camp at The Vines, Suddenly it was past lunch time, then as quickly, it was giving easy access to over-growing tracks that lead to time to return to camp. Yurnga Lookout let us catch a number of special Budawangs destinations. And yes, the late afternoon glow on the hills towards the coast, the rangers are often out and do know their parks. including . Then almost in camp Is six months too long to wait? Well there are many there was a detour ; a second chainsaw had helped Parks ‘Friends of..’ and other volunteer groups that have staff reroute the track away from a swampy stretch to regular activities near Canberra, and probably a CBC a more interesting route that had been ‘lost’ for years! broom-clearing party in Namadgi NP in late Spring. Or, ‘What’s for dinner?’, and soon we were around the how about taking a walk along ‘our’ newly cleared track!

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r o campfire, into pasta and a dessert, chatting, listening to Rupert Barnett C the plans for the morrow. Its frostier start was following

Janet adds a bit more of the history: The pruning of the track to Monolith Valley mentioned in Rupert’s article was the result of many hardworking CBC weekends in the 1990s, led in particular by David Campbell. Some of those who worked with him then remain active with the Club. If you were there, well done, and thank you for establishing an important Club tradition. Another important contribution was the protection of the special ambience of Monolith Valley, by initiating the move to have camping excluded from it.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it August 2014 – page 7 Trip report Mt Durras and Mt Dromedary arly on a misty morning in late EJune, a car full of winter-weary walkers, left Canberra for the sunnier climes of the South Coast of NSW. They had in mind to climb two of the iconic hills in two coastal national parks – Durras Mt in Murramarang National Park and Mt Dromedary in . The party made their way to the lovely campground at Pretty Beach, with its extraordinary view south to O’Hara Head, the rugged coast beyond, and the verdant Murramarang hinterland stretching away towards Durras Mt. One of the walkers remarked that no modesty Sunset over Pretty Beach had been exercised in calling the trees, and in such a leisurely fashion beach ‘pretty’, but that it was an that we were able to take multiple themselves from the stars through accurate description. The party were photographs. At the base of the hill their reluctance to twinkle. The party then joined by some Club visitors we reached our day’s destination, was happy to behold the Magel- who had driven down from . Clear Point. This lovely place has lanic Clouds, satellite galaxies to It was interesting that the party had extensive views to the coast on both the Milky Way, far to the celestial walkers who originated in a number sides. The point has clearings on top, south. For the party members who of parts of the world – Columbia, and Indigenous stone tools can be had come from the northern Hemi- China, India, France, Russia and seen, which suggests that the place sphere, this was a rare sight indeed. – but all shared a common was once a home for an Indigenous That night, the wind did howl love of walking in the Australian tribe. When we sat down to lunch bush. After the obligatory pre-walk around the few souls camped at among the rocks on the foreshore, the Pretty Beach campground. The photo, we commenced the walk we could see further evidence for uphill. The track was well made, winds buffeted the tents, and reports the Indigenous encampment. There came over the radio about damaging easy to follow and soon joined were dead shells in their millions, a fire trail heading southwards winds. In Canberra and Sydney we and in an extraordinary diversity later learned, a storm had wreaked along the ridgetop. The vegetation – over 100 species were likely to consisted of light forest – spotted much damage. The winds eased be present. Among the shells were in the morning, however, and the gums (Corymbia) and stringybark. many edible species, and which It fascinated us to think that these leader decided to continue with the surely would have formed part of planned walk for the day. The party spotted gums are not Eucalypts at the diet of the Indigenous people all, but rather a related species – a decamped and undertook the long- who had lived at Clear Point in the ish journey to the next destination: sister species to the Eucalypts, ages before the arrival of Europeans. as indeed are the Angophera. In Mt Dromedary in Gulaga National Canberra, a gum is a Eucalypt, and We retraced our steps to our camp- Park, south of Narooma, and just to that is that. The light understory site at Pretty Point, assembled the the west of the pretty little historic included cycads and here and there, tents, and then scrambled down village of Tilba Tilba. termites had built their mounds. to the beach to make the most of The party commenced walking from the remaining light. We explored After an hour or so, we reached the Pam’s Store, where the very helpful the great sandstone platforms and shopkeeper had given us valuable modest summit of lofty Durras Mt – admired the honeycomb texture in 283 m. More a hill than a mountain information and provided us with the sandstone boulders and cliffs. a mud map. We were very well surely? The hilltop featured various O’Hara Head, was by now, isolated remnants of an old garden, and a equipped with warm clothing and a by the tide, and so could not be PLB, which pleased the folks in the large exotic pine. We found the old explored. Instead, some of the party concrete slab of a structure that had village. Apparently many undertake decided to have a swim in the very the trip to Mt Dromedary somewhat existed here long ago. To the east, we cool water, staying in the shallows could see the ocean, and we decided underprepared, and are then uncom- and well clear of the treacherous fortable when they experience the to walk down to the coast to have currents. When night arrived the a late lunch. As we walked on and sudden drop in temperature above party were still on the beach and the 400 m level. downhill, the bush became denser we admired with amazement the and took on the appearance of a light dark clear moonless sky. Several Mt Dromedary is also known as rainforest. We saw cabbage trees and planets could be seen – Mars, Gulaga and is a place of signifi- trees tangled with vines. A very san- Saturn and Jupiter – distinguishing cance to the local People. The guine lyrebird slinked between the mountain symbolises a mother and g o r F

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Trip report is of particular importance to Yuin be resident among the rocks with women. In our journey there, we our sudden arrival. Indeed it was climbed steadily uphill through a special place – massive boulders farmland and peaceful Arcadian were stacked on top of each other, scenes along a path that was built reaching many metres skyward in 1894 for gold miners. The hill in such a precipitous way that no was unrelenting, and our hearts ordinary walker could (or should) benefitted from the jolly ascent. think to climb them. Between the The vegetation and geology was trees, one could see the coast, and very different from what we had the coastal settlements, that the seen at the Murramarang the day great stones stood watch over, and before and changed continually as which themselves surveyed from we ascended. Helpful information afar. It was clear why these stones panels helped us to identify the great have the significance that they do, Silvertop Ash trees dominating the and why they merit the utmost wet sclerophyll forest. At the saddle, respect and protection. we took a short detour, as we had been advised at Pam’s Store, to see At the saddle, wet sclerophyll forest the sacred site – a field of giant boul- suddenly gave way to the montane ders looming on the top of a ridge rainforest on the eastern and south- heading east. As we approached ern slopes of the summit. the site, we called out, so as not Continued next page to surprise any spirits that might Sacred site at Mt Dromedary Obituary: Tom George 1940–2014 first met Tom in the late 1990’s through a friend- Tom gave valuable service to the I ship group which included myself, my late wife, CBC as publisher of it from Margaret. He was an outgoing, good natured man 2009 to 2011. He has two who easily made friends. His childhood on a farm other legacies. He did sev- near Willow Tree, south of Tamworth, gave him a eral rekkies with Stan Marks good knowledge of the bush and an affinity with rural and some walks Stan leads communities. This was reinforced by his work with near Captain’s Flat reflect the Commercial Bank. As a relieving officer he was his impact. In addition he posted to a number of rural towns throughout NSW. often helped and encouraged In 1970 he came to Canberra and worked in taxi and other walkers who were finding news agency businesses. With retirement he took up the going hard. He was able to bushwalking with his usual enthusiasm. He join the give them a lift to their morale. There CBC in 2003 and was a regular day walker until the was another quality which set him apart from other onset of his tragic illness in October 2010. During this bush walkers. He often provided his car for transport time he came to be well regarded for his gregarious, to and from walks. His car stood out as the only one good humour, ready conversation and enthusiastic which was always spotless. interest in the detail of the life forms in the bush. He was a keen and skilled photographer and one of his His generous and thoughtful nature was illustrated photos has been used on the national park sign at in the friendship and support he and Delia gave to Bendora Arborteum. He enjoyed engaging others in two well known, former CBC members, Frank and conversation about the interesting things they came Joan Rigby, in their final years. Tom was a very good across on walks. He took lots of photos in order to tennis player and a popular member of a men’s group share his enjoyment of walks with Delia and her which played in Turner on Tuesday and Thursday daughter Tamara. When Tamara took a special interest afternoons. Frank Rigby and Stan Marks were also in fungi, after attending a lecture by a former CBC members of this group. member Hieno Lepp, Tom started looking especially Tom is greatly missed by his bushwalking friends and for these life forms. This caught on with other walk- our sincere sympathy goes out to Delia, his daughter ers, so that it became a common thing on walks for Christine and other family members in coming to stops to be called in order to observe and photograph terms with their sad loss. interesting fungi. Mike Morriss with help from other CBC members

Canberra Bushwalking Club it August 2014 – page 9 Bulletin board

We followed the track through this rainforest, marvelling at the ancient Coming Back Plumwoods, Sassafras and moss- cloaked boulders. The montane It looks cold out there. Out there is in here. On the gallery wall*. rainforest had a very different Images of snow, snow people, snow mists. I have this dream. I’m atmosphere to the coastal rainforest skiing back. It’s gently downhill. I glide. No effort. Perhaps I’m that we had seen the day before. It not even on skis. Glissading on my feet. Just the right speed. was more still, more dignified, less Gentle. Controlled. Running out. Coming back. Coming back tangled with vines and the great to what? old trees conferred a cathedral-type atmosphere and a sense of antiquity. I have another dream. I’m running cross country. Perhaps I’m The party re-emerged from the competing. But my running is effortless, smooth. I’m contained, rainforest into the tall eucalypt full of breath, mobile, flexible. I’m out in front. The countryside forest on the 797 m eastern summit. may be a bit rough but it’s like I flow over it. Perhaps this dream Gum trees towered over the summit, never lasts very long. and were buffeted by strong winds, but without presenting a risk to And in real life it never was. Or were there glimpses? Skiing was our party. To the west, we could always an effort. Hard work. And I didn’t like going downhill. barely discern Dromedary’s slightly Falling over. And running also hard work. I did jog for a while, higher western summit (806m) but it was an effort. Breathless. Chronic achilles problems. approximately one kilometre away, but as there is no clearly marked It was hillwalking where I really flowed. Early on that was hard track through the forest, the leader work too, but later I tuned in. Every hill has its mantra. Love decided to leave that detour for that micronavigation. Knowing where I’m going to be in a few another day. To the east we could steps time. see the Pacific Ocean, even as far all the rhythms as Montague Island. An information sign at the summit told us that the of walking the Earth – diorite rock there had once hosted uphill plod gold, but that the gold had all been and danced descent won, suggesting that visitors should not souvenir samples in the hope of rhythms of the body knowing getting rich quick. For us however, Gerry Jacobson the prize was not the gold, but rather the feelings of elation that came *Denise Ferris: ‘The Colour of Snow’ inkjet print, CMAG, 2013 with reaching this wonderful spot, in such a fine region and in such fine company.

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

Notices for the Bulletin board should be emailed to the Walks Secretary: [email protected] Peru, June–July 2015 Huayhuash and Alpamayo Circuits and at least one other multi-day trek. Expressions of interest to Linda Groom lbg- [email protected], 6281 4917. Tasmania, 13 December 2014 to 3 January 2015 A tour of Tasmania sampling the some of the best day and overnight walks that Tassie has to offer. This will be a great introduction to walking in Tasmania. Areas visited will include Ben Lomond NP, Freycinet Peninsula, Tasman Penin- sula, Mt Field NP, Lake St-Clair, Cradle Mountain and Walls of Jerusalem. For further details contact Gerald Dodgson, [email protected], 0438 119 803.

Also see item on page 15 Gear for sale?– place an ad! If you have any old equipment you no longer want, why not place an ad here to either sell or give it away. Please include personal contact details and asking price.

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Activity program Activity program Arrange for your Club-related activities to be included in the program with Lorraine Tomlins (Walks Secretary) Ph: 6248 0456 or 0434 078 496, Email: [email protected], Post: 17 Forbes Street, Turner

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 so the leader has time to For further information see: www.canberrabushwalkingclub. arrange transport. See walk description for booking deadline. org Check with the leader about: XXthe need to carry water, tents/fly, maps, etc Check-in after walks Before a trip leaders are to email or phone through the names of their XXappropriate clothing, footwear X party, and by 10 am the day after their trip report their safe return or Xany precautions you might need to take for severe weather trip cancellation, to the Check-in Officer, Keith Thomas (check.in@ changes. canberrabushwalkingclub.org, 6230 1081 or 0421 607 667 leave Ask about anything you’re unsure of, especially if you are new to message if no answer). The Check-in Officer or the Walks Secretary our Club. (6248 0456 or 0434 078 496), not the Police 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- Due to space, walks scheduled more ment. The Equipment Officer is Rob Horsfield, who can than three months in advance may appear be contacted on 6231 4535(h) or to borrow the northside only on the Club’s web site. 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- lecting and returning the equipment. The hiring charge (but not the deposit) is waived for members who are ‘first Wednesday walks time’ weekend walkers. Medium walks (M/M, M/M–R, L/E–M) are A deposit of $20 is required and part or all of this will be conducted every Wednesday. Walks are refunded, depending on the condition of the items upon conducted in turn by leaders from the Canberra return and whether they are returned late. Bushwalking Club (CBC), Brindabella Bushwalking Club (BBC) and National Parks Item w.e./week Association (ACT) (NPA). Details about Olympus two person tent $15 / $40 destination and meeting place are emailed to Macpac Microlight one person tent $15 / $40 those on the Wednesday Walkers email list. Snow tent $15 / $40 Contact Janet Edstein wednesday.walks@ 3 season bag, mat and liner $10 / $25 canberrabushwalkingclub.org to get your name on the email list. Janet coordinates the CBC’s Assorted packs $5 / $15 contribution to these walks. Trangia and fuel bottle $5 / $15 Snow shoes/poles $10 / $25 Walk details will be advised a few days before Snow sleeping bag, mat and liner $15 / $40 the walk, via the Wednesday Walks email list. Personal locator beacon – nil (see website for conditions) Walkers who are not members of the BBC, NPA GPS – nil (see website for conditions of use) or CBC must contact the walk leader before the walk to discuss the level of difficulty of the walk. Check you have ALL the bits and pieces you need (Please note that walk leaders retain the right when collecting and returning gear. not to accept any walker.) Non-members must be accompanied by a sponsoring member.

Canberra Bushwalking Club it August 2014 – page 11 Activity program Saturday 16 August: – L/M Saturday 23 August: Serenity Rocks – M/M I’m getting married in late September and would like to Park the cars at the South Black Range car park. Walk hold a buck’s bushwalk (though the walk isn’t gender- on track to Creek for morning tea, then soon specific). The walk will leave from Corin Dam, head after, head off track to Serenity Rocks for lunch with up Stockyard Spur, heading past Pryors Hut, and then spectacular views before returning to the cars. A pleasant tackling the climb to Mount Gingera. All up, the walk is and relatively easy walk, about 12 km, 200 m climb. Book all on track, about 20 km long with about 1100 metres by 2 pm Thursday please. Map: Bombay Leader: Stan of climbing. How far we go on the day will depend on Marks 6254 9568(h), [email protected]: Transport: how much snow there is on the ground. If Corin Road ~$15 is closed, I’ll put on an alternative walk. Map: Corin Dam. Leader: Nathan Holt, 0414 628 429, nholt_98@ Sunday 24 August: Mulligans Flat bird walk yahoo.com Bookings close 2 pm, Thursday 14 August. – S/E Transport: ~$12. This will be a short walk through box gum grassy wood- land with patches of forest. It is 6 km on track and takes Saturday 16 August: Oxfam training in the about 2 hours. Bring binoculars and the pace will be slow Brindabellas – L/M to accommodate bird watching. Map: See information I’ve recently met some young people who are training for brochure about Mulligans Flat downloadable from the the 100 km Oxfam walk in Sydney. They want a training TAMS website. Leader: Lorraine Tomlins 6248 0456 walk of 20–40 km, including some night walking. We’ll [email protected] Transport: Drive yourself walk from Corin Dam to Mt Gingera, joining Nathan for to car park in Forde on Francis Forde Boulevard (not his bucks walk celebration. Then, as time, energy and the one on Amy Ackerman Street). Meet at 9 am. No inclination dictate, north along the Brindabellas. We may need to book. visit Brumbys Flats, go over Little Ginini Mountain, walk up to Mt Ginini and head towards Mt Franklin. We’ll Tuesday 26 August: , return to the cars by 9pm. Others are most welcome to north of Mount Tumanang – L/M/ part X join our party of 5, but you’ll have to be quick walkers The start is 12 km south of on the Wild and it will be a 12+ hour hard day. Minimum distance Cattle Flat road. We will spend the day off-track in the 30 km, 1500 m climb. Map: Corin Dam. Leader: John forests of Tallaganda National Park, mainly in the catch- Evans 0417 436 877 [email protected] Transport: ment of Ballinafad Creek. We will investigate a rocky ~$12 per person. Emergency contact details must be bluff at GR 219429 before returning by a different route. registered/provided to book. Late bookings considered. The scrub is generally light but it is an old forest with plenty of fallen timber. Minimum distance: 20 km with Sunday 17 August: Navigation refresher #3 ~700 metres of ascent Map: Tinderry Leader: Ian Wright A day on the hills west of Kambah following a route in 6286 1473, [email protected] Transport: relation to position fixing skills. Leaders: Jenny and Rob 155 km return. Limit: 8 Horsfield 6231 4535. Wednesday 27 August: Wednesday walk Tuesday 19 August: Majors Creek to Bells See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the Mountain in the Majors Creek State Activity program, for conditions on participating. NPA Conservation Area – M/R/Part X Contact: Mike Smith [email protected] A mostly off-track walk high in the dense coastal escarp- ment. Drive via Braidwood to Bells Mountain and leave COMMITTEE MEETING one car on the Sawyers Ridge Rd then shuffle remaining Wednesday 27 August 2014, 8 pm cars to the tennis courts in Majors Creek Village. Walk via at the home of John Evans lane-way to visit Majors Creek waterfall, then Eastward 38 Rocklands Street, Duffy through the Majors Creek SCA, crossing upper , to spectacular Bells Creek Falls, then to Bells Mountain. About 10 km with 400 m of climbing and steep scree and dense scrub in places. Come prepared for Submissions close for leeches Map: , Monga. Leader: Peter Conroy September it [email protected] 0409 764 785 Transport: 27 August 2014 ~$60 per car Limit: 10. Wednesday 20 August: Wednesday walk (28) 29–31 August: Cloudmaker and 100 Man See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the Cave – L/M–R Activity program, for conditions on participating. BBC Drive to Kanangra Walls Thursday night for a three day Contact: [email protected] walk with time to appreciate the comforts of 100 Man Cave where we will camp for two nights. Mostly on track but Wednesday 20 August 2014, 8 pm with broken quartzite along the ridges and some off-track walking. An easy day on Saturday, drinking tea, searching MONTHLY MEETING for 1000 Man Cave on the eastern side of Ti Willa Plateau Walking in Canada and, weather permitting, admiring views of the Sydney Presenter: Alan and Sue Vidler skyline. Approx 700 m ascent and descent on first and last The hall: Hughes Baptist Church days. Ridge walking with superb southern Blue Mountains views. This walk is in conjunction with the Coast and 32–34 Groom Street, Hughes Mountain Walkers of NSW. Map: Kanangra. Leader:

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Activity program Meg McKone 6254 5902(h), frankmckone@optusnet. Emergency contact details must be registered/provided com.au Transport: $200 per car. Limit: 8. to book. Late bookings considered. 30–31 August: Navigation refresher #4 Wednesday 3 September: Wednesday walk A weekend off-track in the southern Namadgi, navigating See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the with map and compass. See accompanying trip descrip- Activity program, for conditions on participating. BBC tion, Sentry Box Mtn. Leaders: Jenny & Rob Horsfield Contact: [email protected] 6231 4535. Saturday 6 September 10 am–noon: Camping 30–31 August: Weekends in the southern equipment display Namadgi #6 – Sentry Box Mountain – M/R Experienced CBC members will demonstrate gear/ Day 1: Naas car park, Boboyan Hill, Waterhole Hut, equipment for overnight walks and answer your ques- Sheepstation Creek, Lutons Crutching Shed. Day 2: Early tions. Venue: Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla (near Hyatt morning climb, and then down the Naas to the car park. hotel). Contact: Cynthia Burton 0488 071 203 cynthia. This trip is in conjunction with the navigation refresher [email protected] or John Evans 0417 436 877 #4 event. All welcome. Map: Yaouk. Leaders: Jenny [email protected] Bookings not required. Members and Rob Horsfield 6231 4535. Transport: ~$50 per car. of the public most welcome. 30–31 August: Southern Namadgi walking: Saturday 6 September: Black Mt and Aranda A–Z Namadgi – L/M–R Bushland – M/E Day 1: Track walking from the Old Boboyan Rd (South) Meet at 9.45 am in the car park opposite 160 Dryandra car park to Lone Pine Homestead site, dropping overnight Street, O’Connor. This walk traverses the Bruce Ridge gear at Lutons after around 8 km and continuing with day then crosses into the Black Mt Reserve. Traverse the packs. Lone Pine is the start of a multi-leg geocache of reserve, following the track part way up the mountain, at least 37 km, all on track. We’ll do as much as we can then along the lake to Yarramundi Peninsula for lunch. and finally join Rob and Jenny’s Navigation refresher #4/ Home via the cork plantation and the Aranda Bushland. Weekends in the southern Namadgi #6 campsite at Lutons All on track, back at the cars about 4 pm. Map: Canberra Crutching Shed. Around 30 km. Day 2: Join the party going Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568 (h), or [email protected]. to Sentry Box for two geocaches on the way and walk out au Transport: drive yourself but please book as usual; with them. Around 15 km, maybe more. Map: Yaouk. there may be someone from your area who needs a lift. Leader: John Evans 0417 436 877 [email protected] Transport: ~$50 per car. Emergency contact details must Sunday 7 September: Day trips in the be registered/provided to book. Late bookings considered. Namadgi #6 – McKeahnie Trig–Kangaroo Creek – M/R Sunday 31 August: Picnic at Hanging Rock From Smokers Gap, leave the Square Rock track on the – M/M ridge out to the trig. Descend west then north to Kangaroo Drive via Captains Flat to this walk in the section Creek. Car shuttle needed. Map: Corin Dam. Leaders: of . Hanging Rock is a set of con- Jenny and Rob Horsfield 6231 4535. Transport: ~$32 glomerate cliffs that gives views over the Shoalhaven and per car. valleys. We will return via the 96 m deep Big Hole. Eighty per cent of the walk, to and from the base Tuesday 9 September: Nadgigomar Nature of the rock, is through open forest or on track (E grade), Reserve South – L/M but the ascent to the top has moderate scrub and gentle This is a long off-track walk in the southern section of scrambling; there is also a river crossing, usually less than Nadgigomar Nature Reserve, 15 km north of Braidwood. knee deep, at the start and end. The distance is 12 km From the Euradux Road entrance we will follow a maze and there are two climbs totalling 400 m. Map: Kain. of spurs and gullies with many short, steep, ascents for Leader: Jeff Bennetts 6231 5899(h), jcmbenn@ozemail. 11 km to the northern boundary of the reserve on the com.au. Book (preferably by email) between 7 August . The return route is through undulating and 2 pm Thursday 28 August. Transport: ~200 km country in the east of the reserve. The going is either return, $74 per car, $20–$25 per person. Limit: 12. quite open, in dry sclerophyll woodlands or slower going through Casuarina forests. Minimum distance: Tuesday 2 September: Navigation refresher #5 23 km with ~ 800 metres of ascent Map: Durran Durra An introduction to GPS using Etrex (2000–2004) Leader: Ian Wright 62861473, [email protected]. and Etrex 20 (~2008+) at the home of Jenny and Rob au Transport: 200 km return. Limit: 8 Horsfield 6231 4535. Tuesday 9 September: Navigation refresher #6 Tuesday 2 September: Tidbinbilla geocaching An evening using GPS: Waypoints, routes and tracks – L/R with a short ramble. Jenny and Rob Horsfield 6231 4535. From the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Mountain Creek car park, we’ll take the Camel Back Fire Trail towards the Wednesday 10 September: Grassy Creek top. A beeline to the old radio transmitter tower. Camels and beyond – M/M Hump then Pierce Trig. Return towards Camels Hump Starting at Brayshaws Hut we’ll walk the first section of then off the side down Hurdle Creek to Nildesperandum. the Settlers Track to Waterhole Hut, then leave the track Return over the Tidbinbilla River to the picnic areas. and make our way up Grassy Creek past two vestigial 7 geocaches. Around 16 km and 800m climb. Map: sites. We’ll get onto the Boboyan Divide and see several Tidbinbilla Leader: John Evans 0417 436 877 john@ of Harry Mouat’s border survey marks dating from 1915, johnevans.id.au. Transport: ~$12 per person (car shuttle then make our way back down the valley to Westermans required). Further details at www.johnevans.id.au/wp/. Homestead, and back to Brayshaws. Distance: 17 km, on

Canberra Bushwalking Club it August 2014 – page 13 Activity program and off track, including untracked forest Ascent: 300 m 0417 436 877 [email protected] Transport: ~$5 per Maps: Yaouk, Shannons Flat Leader: Phillip Starr 6161 person. Further details at www.johnevans.id.au/wp/ 3835(h), 0419 281 096(m), [email protected] Emergency contact details must be registered/provided Transport: $12. Rendezvous at Kambah Village, Cnr to book. Book by 2 pm Sunday prior. Drakeford Drive and Marconi Street (opposite service station), for 8:30 departure. Wednesday 24 September: Wednesday walk See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the 12, 13–14 September: Merriangaah Nature Activity program, for conditions on participating. NPA Reserve – M/R/part X Contact: Mike Smith [email protected] Merriangaah NR is west of Bombala, at the junction of the McLaughlin & Snowy Rivers. It contains Merriangaah COMMITTEE MEETING Peak with views to the , native pines, Wednesday 24 September 2014 and pools with platypus. Saturday: with day packs up 350 m to the peak. Sunday: a shorter walk, with daypacks, to explore a gorge downstream on the Snowy. The campsite is on a pleasant grassy bench about 15 metres Saturday 27 September: Pine control in above the Snowy, on unoccupied crown land just outside Pryors Hut area the nature reserve; I have checked with NPWS and we A combined CBC/NPA work party at the old pine are allowed to camp there. Terrain includes some very arboretum, adjacent to Pryors Hut, to locate/remove steep, loose slopes on Saturday, rock hopping Sunday, pine seedlings, which have broken out in the area. Bring mostly open forest and some scrubby patches. A 3-hour handsaw, loppers and gloves. Meet at Kambah shops drive from Canberra, departing around 1 pm. Maps: 8:15 am. Leader: Martin Chalk (NPA) 6292 3502. Tombong, Bukalong. Leader: Linda Groom lbgroom@ Bookings: Cynthia Burton Cynthia.burton69@bigpond. gmail.com 6281 4917. Transport: $160 per car. Limit: com Transport: 130 km, $52 per car. 8. Late bookings will be considered. 27–29 September: – M/E Wednesday 17 September: Wednesday walk I have booked accommodation at Bundeena. We will See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the drive down on Saturday morning. In the afternoon, Activity program, for conditions on participating. BBC we will walk Lady Carrington Drive, about 2½ hours Contact: [email protected] along what once was a road but has long been a walking track through rainforest etc. On Sunday, we will walk Wednesday 17 September 2014, 8 pm from Heathcote to Audley, about 5 hours, a variety of MONTHLY MEETING stuff (heathland, rainforest) and on Monday morning, AGM we will do the spectacular and beautiful walk along the coast of the park, from Bundeena to Wattamolla, The hall: Hughes Baptist Church 3 hours walking, before driving home soon after lunch. 32–34 Groom Street, Hughes Maps: Port Hacking, Otford Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568(h), [email protected] Transport: ~$60 Thursday evening 18 September: Navigation Accommodation: ~$120. refresher #7 GPSr and PC Tuesday 30 September: The Pimple and An evening looking at interfacing GPSr to PC. Use of geocaches on the Tidbinbilla Ridge – L/R digital mapping software (e.g. OziExplorer, Garmin’s There is a cache on The Pimple, and a number of oth- BaseCamp) and maps (e.g. NSW LPI TopoView digitised ers on the Tidbinbilla Ridge – Johns Peak, Tidbinbilla 1:25000 topo maps for PC, OZTopo vector maps for Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain; and another near GPS) to plan, record and analyse trips. We’ll also look at the bottom of the Snowy Corner footpad. Let’s visit Google Earth and other software. Bookings: John Evans them. A Google Earth file at www.johnevans.id.au/ 0417 436 877, [email protected] Transport: Drive KMZ Files/Proposed-The-Pimple-and-geocaches-on- yourself to UTM 55H 685271–6088292 (MGA94). Bring the-Tidbinbilla-Ridge.kmz. Around 15 km and 1000m a little supper to share. Late bookings considered. climb. Map: Tidbinbilla Leader: John Evans – john@ 20–21 September: Weekends in the southern johnevans.id.au, 0417436877. Transport: ~$6 per Namadgi #7 – Shanahans Circuit – M/R person. Further details at www.johnevans.id.au/wp/. Day 1 North from Shanahans Mtn along Booth Range Emergency contact details must be registered/provided then down to Max & Bert’s Hut. Day 2: Naas River, to book. Book by 2 pm Sunday prior. Horse Gully Hut, Shanahans Falls Creek, Shanahans Mtn. (3) 4–6 October LWE: Blue Mountains – M/M Maps: Michelago, Colinton. Leaders: Jenny and Rob Leave Canberra Friday night and stay in a comfortable Horsfield 6231 4535. Transport: ~$45 per car. guesthouse in Katoomba for the long weekend. Saturday: Tuesday, 23 September: Geocaches above Gordon Falls to Leura Cascades follow Federal Pass Blue Gum Creek – L/R,ptX into Leura Forest and climb up the giant stairway There are 3 geocaches in the hills 400m above the to Echo Point and return via Prince Henry Cliff top Georges Creek FT ford of Blue Gum Creek. It was a track. Sunday: Wentworth Falls including Vera Falls, 10hr day when I was last in the area 6 years ago, so Wentworth Pass and National Pass. Monday: Grand expect worse. A Google Earth file at www.johnevans. Canyon. Each walk has great valley views but involve id.au/KMZ Files/Proposed-Geocaches-above-Blue- a number of stairs. Map: Katoomba. Leaders: Edwina Gum-Creek.kmz. Around 21 km and 1400m climb. Yee and Quentin Moran. Bookings to Edwina: 0418 651 Maps: Williamsdale, Corin Dam Leader: John Evans 421(m), [email protected] Transport: ~$78 per

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Activity program person with 3 per car. Accommodation: singles $28 to Yerranderie. Expect magnificent spring wild flowers. per night (dorm room); couples $79 per night (double Mostly off-track with some rock scrambling. Maps: room, share bathroom). Accommodation includes light Burragorang, Yerranderie. Leader: Lorraine Tomlins, breakfast. Limit: 12. [email protected] 6248 0456. Transport: ~520 km return, ~$190 per car. Please book by 7 Oct. 3–6 October: Light to Light walk, with whale watching – M/E 12–18 October: Binna Burra in the spring – Camp by the cars and complete this classic coastal walk S/E–L/R in over two days. Optional whale A week of day walks from Binna Burra Lodge, watching trip from Eden on the Monday (Labour Day). Lamington National Park, Qld, based on your choice of The route is all on track with an interesting mixture of catered cabin accommodation or self-catering furnished cliff top views, rock platforms, beaches and heath land. tents. See full description in March newsletter. Map: 29 km walking over two days. As camping and boat trip Hema Maps Lamington National Park. Leaders: Linda have to be booked I will need to take money in advance. Groom and Peter Conroy. Contact Linda to get a detailed Maps: Eden, Kiah, Narrabarba Leader: Austin Kenney itinerary, 6281 4917, [email protected] Please note 6262 2358 [email protected] Transport: that replies may be delayed during June and July as the $220 per car Other costs: camping $30 per person, boat leaders will be doing extended walks. Limit: 32 for the trip $55 per person. full group; limited to CBC members and their partners; 21 places booked as at late May. Some of the harder Saturday 4 October: Day trips in Namadgi #7 day walks will have limits in the 8 to 12 range. Book – Gudgenby River west of Fitzs Hill – by late August. M/R/W/X In a recent conversation with John we speculated as 18–19 October: Weekends in the southern to the nature of this trip – a gorge perhaps? Map: Namadgi #8 – Mts Kelly & Burbidge – M/R Williamsdale. Leaders: Jenny and Rob Horsfield 6231 Day 1: Bogong, Naas Creek then top end of Sams Creek. 4535. Transport: ~$24 per car. Day 2: early morning climb, Burbidge as a short side trip from Bogong Gap then down Burbidge spur. Maps: 4–5 October: Bimberi Peak from the West – M/M Rendezvous Creek, Yaouk. Leaders: Jenny and Rob A longish drive to the locked gate at Gurrangorambla Horsfield 6231 4535. Transport: ~$40 per car. Creek up the east side of Tantangera Dam makes for a shorter and more flexible ascent of Bimberi Peak. We’ll Saturday 8 November: Day trips in the camp at Oldfields or Dunns Flat or Murrays Gap or even Namadgi #9 – Blue Gum Hill – M/R on Bimberi if the conditions are suitable. A social media An old favourite: Smokers trail car park, then around extravaganza and a ubiquitous geocache. Around 25 km the perimeter of where the dog-proof fence may still be, and 950m climb over the 2 days. Maps: Rules Point, then to the rocky summit of Blue Gum Hill (also called Rendezvous Creek Leader: John Evans 0417436877 Mt Lincoln). Good views. Descend crossing Blue Gum [email protected] Creek then roughly direct to the finish. Map: Corin Dam. Leaders: Jenny and Rob Horsfield 6231 4535. Tuesday 7 October: Mt Boboyan outcrops, Transport: ~$32 per car. – L/R/X The walk starts on the Boboyan Road at the Yerrabi 15–16 November: Weekends in the southern Track car park. Most of the walk is off-track on the Namadgi #9 – Mt McKeahnie – M/R steep western side of Mt Boboyan. In the morning we Day 1: Wander up the Orroral to Sawpit Creek to camp. will follow a spur west to the Old Boboyan Road and Day 2: Early morning climb then return down valley. This investigate numerous granite tors hidden in the forest. We would be suitable as an overnight pack trip for beginners. will have lunch near Hospital Creek Hut, before returning Maps: Corin Dam, Rendezvous Creek. Leaders: Jenny to Mt Boboyan via another spur and more rocky features. and Rob Horsfield 6231 4535. Transport: $32 per car. This is quite a long day with thick scrub in places and some steep rocky slabs to negotiate. Minimum distance: 16 km with ~ 600 metres of ascent Map: Leader: Yaouk Ian Wright 62861473, [email protected] cont’d Transport: 119 km return. Limit: 8 Bulletin board Melbourne University Mountaineering Club Saturday 11 October: Day trips in the 70th Anniversary Dinner Namadgi #8 – Worn boot bash #11 – L/R Date: Saturday 11 October 2014 Time: 7 pm Mt Namadgi via Middle Creek from the Old Boboyan Location: The Corkman Irish Pub, 160 Leicester Pl, road car park. A demanding day hopefully logging Carlton VIC 3053 ~30 km and one or two peaks. Map: Rendezvous Pre-dinner drinks and nibbles from 5 pm at MUMC Creek. Leaders: Jenny and Rob Horsfield 6231 4535. clubrooms 171 Berkeley Street, Carlton Transport: ~$40 per car. Tickets: $47: Purchase online at www.mumc.org.au from 1 September 2014 (10) 11–13 October: Axeheads and Vengeance Peninsula–Blue Mountains – Photos from your time at MUMC and from the M/R adventures you have had since, will be used in a Drive to Yerranderie on Friday afternoon for a 3-day slideshow that will be playing on the night. Please send walk. Day 1 from Yerranderie to Lacys Tableland via them to Tonalli Pass. Day 2 Green Wattle Creek and Bulls Island 70th.anniversary@ mumc.org.au Creek. Day 3 Vengeance Peninsula Axehead Mountains

Canberra Bushwalking Club it August 2014 – page 15 Feeling literary? Membership fees 2013/14 Item Single Household Have you had a great experience on a Club walk? Been Hard copy it $50 $70 moved to write about it, either in prose or verse? Felt the Electronic it $20 $40 urge 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 short paragraph about it/them. The closing date for each issue of it is the date of the 4th Wednesday of every month. Handwritten and posted mate- rial is acceptable, but email is preferred. We also welcome photographs, preferably as separately scanned items or digital images. We can scan original photographs. Contact: Ph 6254 0578, [email protected] Post: 20 O’Sullivan Street, HIGGINS, ACT 2615 Alison Milton, Editor

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CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB

August 2014

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