FREE ECHO News 6456 1122 Advertising 6456 1122 Fax 6456 1122 [email protected] [email protected] Vol 6/5 Issue 62 SEPTEMBER 2009

Your Free Community Newspaper in the Winter Expedition to Mt Kosciuszko Retraces Strzelecki’s Steps

Happy Fathers' Day to all our Snowy Mountains Dads on Sunday 5th September!

I NSIDE

"Lucky Friday' at Leesville Estate - p.2

Interview with Alpine Eco- logist, Dr Ken Greeen - p.5 View of from Mount Townsend - the very spot where Strzelecki named Mt Kosciuszko in March 1840. Federal Member Mike Kelly “The highest peak of - it towers over the entire continent - which before my coming had not been addresses health issues - p.6 surmounted by anyone, with its everlasting snows, the silence and dignity with which it is surrounded; I have reserved and consecrated as a reminder for future generations upon this continent, of a name dear and hallowed to every Pole, "Watts" What in your Garden to every human, to every friend of freedom and honour: 'Kosciuszko.'” - Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki this Spring - p.33 To follow in the steps of Sir Paul right in the middle of winter. Oscar had already travelled that Rocks! - p.34 Edmund Strzelecki’s extraordinary road in summer with two American expedition across the Snowy The harrowing but rewarding expe- mountaineers (story in Echo, March Mountains almost 170 years ago, an dition took them 6 days/5 nights (two 2009). This time, he was accompanied Snowy River Day 2009 - p.38 intrepid crew of three Polish men, days over their original plans) as they by team members Mariusz Szlapak including filmmaker Oscar Kantor, covered over 40 kilometres in the and Stefan Lewandowski. took the challenge to relive the journey most challenging conditions. (continued page 30)

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Winter Expedition Retraces Strzelecki’s Steps (continued from front page)

This is the diary of Oscar Kantor's was some singing, as well as campfire winter expedition to Mount Kosciuszko stories and the morale of our group this August. was restored. Friday 7 August Sunday 9 August

We set out on our Kosciuszko Early Sunday morning, we set out expedition on Friday morning, August for Byatts Camp where the forest 7th, from Jindabyne and on our way ends and the land is slightly easier to to Geehi Valley, our starting point, cross. The route from Moires Flat to we saw a wild black cat run across Byats Camp was very hard with lots the road – we took it a bad sign, and of overgrown trees, waist-high snow as it turned out, we had our share of and the temperatures dropped below misfortune. zero – which made any progress even slower. It was too early to use The first stage of our expedition was snowshoes, so we often sank deep to cross Swampy Plan River which in into the snow, carrying our 40 kilo winter can reach depths of up to 1.5 backpacks. Towards the evening metre but we crossed it rather easily. we reached Byatts Camp where we Then, we began walking through a built an igloo and we put up our tents thick forest. It started raining heavily between giant boulders. Again, we right from the start and it practically did had a campfire with a sing-along and not stop till the evening. We continued we grilled Polish sausages.

"We made it"! The team on top of Mount Kosciuszko

where we spent the night. Seamans no point in going to Thredbo due to Hut was built as an emergency shelter the heavy snowfalls from the previous for mountaineers just like us. There day, so we made our way towards are two rooms and most importantly, Charlotte Pass. After almost 2 hours a fireplace. Our decision to change of walking in blizzard conditions again course proved to be a smart move as and with no visibility at all, we reached later that evening a terrible snowstorm Charlotte Pass. We used an oversnow broke out and continued through the vehicle to get to Perisher Valley where night. we caught the Skitube to Bullock Flat, and we went back to Jindabyne by Tuesday 11 August bus. On the 5th day of our expedition, After six days and five nights, our we waited until 10am, hoping for the group was totally exhausted but today, snowstorm to abate; unfortunately, this I can say that the first Polish winter was not to be. Despite the poor, about expedition to Mount Kosciuszko via one-metre visibility and the strong Strzelecki’s track was a success. (As wind, we decided to take the risk and far as we know, this winter expedition

Crossing the Swampy Plain River our journey, soaking wet - sleeping Monday 10 August bags, tents, clothes, video equipment and cameras were all drenched. So at On the 4th day we planned to reach 3pm, after having covered only about Mount Kosciuszko about noon. 3 kilometres, we decided to set up our However, in order to follow Strzelecki’s camp in a very difficult terrain. Unable track precisely, we chose a path to find sufficient space for our tents, through Mt Townsend and Abotts we were forced to clear a small 3x3 Peak which of course was a detour, metre space. We went to sleep in so we had another 3 kilometres added freezing temperatures, soaked to the to our journey. Nevertheless, climbing bones. Mt Townsend was worth it as we experienced the same scenery that Saturday 8 August Strzelecki did when he climbed Mount Kosciuszko 170 years ago. The next morning we packed up As it got pretty late, we decided not quickly and moved on. After a 2 to climb to Mt Kosciuszko on that kilometre walk, the sun came out but day. We thoroughly enjoyed sliding then snow began to fall so we set our the two kilometres down the snowy camp right away. With great effort, we mountains. Towards the evening we built a fire and spent the entire day walked past a snow-covered Lake Warm at last - spending the night at Seamans Hut trying to dry our belongings. There Albina, heading to the Seamans Hut

we set out for Mount Kosciuszko. has only been successfully attempted The distance between the hut and once before in the 1960’s.) the mountain is about 3 kilometres. It took us nearly two hours but we finally I would like to take this opportunity reached Mt Kosciuszko around noon. and thank Mariusz – for helping me take photos, and Stefan – for setting (You can view our short movie from the up the camp, building the fire, and summit - go to: http://www.youtube. cooking our meals. com/watch?v=xWbk6w61mUc) I would also like to thank Mr Steve Our next challenge quickly came as we Darlington from Nationals Parks in started our descent towards Thredbo Jindabyne and Mr Bruce Easton from and all hell broke loose. A blizzard with Jindabyne’s Wilderness Sports; and terrible winds and complete lack of many thanks to Jindabyne’s Police visibility forced us to dig a hole in the Station for their fine cooperation. snow, where we took refuge for two Finally, I wish to express my gratitude hours. When the snowstorm ended, to Puls Polonii, Ernestyna and Andrzej, we decided to return to Seamans Hut for their moral and multimedia support as going to Thredbo would have been during our journey. too risky. And so, we were quite happy Oscar Kantor to spend another night in a warm and safe place. You can watch the film and photos of Oscar’s expedition at next year’s Kozzie Wednesday 12 August Fest' in Jindabyne, early March 2010. In the meantime, you can view their photos Seeking shelter for the night between large boulders On the 6th day we decided there was on their website www.oskipictures.com.