Canberra g o r F e e r o b o r r o Bushwalking C it Club newsletter Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc GPO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601 Volume: 50 www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org Number: 11 In this issue December 2014 2 Canberra Bushwalking Club Committee Important dates 2 President’s prattle 2 Wedding anniversary 25 December 3 Walks Waffle Christmas Day 3 Training Trifles 1 January 4 Review: Gadgets night New Year’s Day 5 Four Club members help in Blue Mountains search 21 January 6 Exploring the Carr Boyd Ranges Black Mt BBQ 8 Waratahs, waterfalls: Nattai Gorge 28 January 2015 8 Bulletin Board Committee meeting 9 Activity program 28 January 2015 9 Wednesday walks Submissions close for Feb- 16 Feeling literary? ruary it Happy Holidays and safe walking Committee reports Canberra Bushwalking Club Committee President’s President: Linda Groom prattle [email protected] 6281 4917 Treasurer: Julie Anne Clegg t’s been another busy month for the Committee. The Iworking group investigating the feasibility of new [email protected] software has made good progress with a first draft of 0402 118 359 requirements. The December it will be bursting with great content, requiring some skilled space juggling Walks Secretary: Lorraine Tomlins from our Editor. As part of a rolling review of Club [email protected] web pages, we are nearly finished restructuring the 6248 0456 or 0434 078 496 ‘Special Events’ web page. New members are now asked ‘How did you hear about the Club’ on their ap- General Secretary: Gabrielle Wright plication forms. Our Conservation Officer has arranged [email protected] grass recognition training for five Club members and by the time this is in print, weed orientation in Perisher 6281 2275 Valley for a dozen more. Name tags have been made Membership Secretary: John Evans for Committee members to wear at general meetings. The 2015 training program is under development and [email protected] will include kayaking for beginners. On 29 November, I 6288 7235 or 0417 436 877 attended a day-long consultation meeting on feral horse management in KNP, mainly as an observer to ensure Training and Safety Officer: David Dedenczuk the process was even-handed, which it was. [email protected] And the news you have all been waiting for! We are 0417 222 154 close to finalising the details of a new incentive pro- Conservation Officer: Cynthia Burton gram, to follow in the wake of the very successful ACT Trigs and Walk with 20 Different Leaders programs. The [email protected] new program is called Totally Topo! Watch the February 0488 071 203 it for the announcement. g o r F e e r o b o r r o Web Manager: David Briese Linda Groom C [email protected] President 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: Cynthia Coppock [email protected] 0408 266 501 or 6270 9010(w) Wedding anniversary Publisher: Tim Wright ongratulations to Pat and Eric Pickering who [email protected] Ccelebrate an amazing 60 years of marriage on 6281 2275 18 December. They are long time members of CBC, having joined the Club in 1983 (31 years) and have led All members of the Committee can be contacted many walks over the years. in one email to One of their favourite [email protected] places is Ettrema and they have still managed Check in: [email protected] to get there to celebrate Web site: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org Pat’s birthday in recent years. g o r F e e r o b o r r o C Page 2 – Canberra Bushwalking Club it December 2014 g ro F e re o b ro r o C Committee reports excellent in this regard. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and a collared Walks Training long-sleeved shirt. Protect your skin and eyes by putting on sunscreen and sunglasses. Waffle Trifles Good walk planning can be also helpful in minimising the exposure to heat. Earlier starts take advantage t’s December and the days are get- of cooler morning temperatures ummer has arrived and the Ac- Iting long, hot and dry. These are and are the best time in summer to Stivity Program has a good range good walking conditions in many climb hills. It is never pleasant to be of evening walks that should allow ways, as one can venture further and climbing a hill in the afternoon of a you walkers a pleasant experience. walk longer in a day. It is warm and hot summer day. As well there are walks that feature pleasant, but nonetheless, there are walking in or near water so there certain summer hazards of which If despite all precautions, you feel will be many chances to swim or we need to be aware. Last month I unwell, alert your walk leader cool off. Holiday time is fast ap- mentioned wildlife, and this month immediately. If you have heat proaching and there is a great range it is timely for me to present on stroke, you will need immediate of longer walks and adventures some other summer-related perils. attention. This may include: from which to choose. Whatever Two key issues are water require- ments and heat. • movement to a shady spot, rest takes your fancy, heed the advice and reassurance in the Training Trifles column that It is imperative to carry sufficient follows. Have a safe and active water in hot conditions. Water • administration of adequate water Christmas and make lots of New requirements vary by person, but in short sips Year’s resolutions about getting out two litres per day would be a • fanning and being cooled with a in the bush and enjoying yourself. minimum. This water can be carried wet cloth and in bottles, or in a bladder or both. g o r F Lorraine Tomlins e e r o b o r r • seeking external medical o C Drink adequate water before you Walks Secretary leave home, even if you don’t feel assistance thirsty. In certain pristine highland The normal safety requirements areas far from any agriculture or of any walk need to be observed. camping grounds, running creeks Always let someone know where may be found in which the water you are going and keep to the route may be potable. However, caution that you advised. Don’t walk alone. should be exercised elsewhere as Take a PLB and/or a mobile phone. many water sources contain con- Take a whistle, compass, map and taminants and drinking from them first aid kit. If there is a heat wave, can lead to serious tummy trouble. for instance when the day is in Unless you are confident of the the high 30s or above, you should purity of the water, it is preferable consider cancelling the walk or to stick to the water that you have turning back. There is no shame carried in from Canberra – good in cancelling with a regard to the reliable Corin or Cotter Dam water. conditions, in the same way that Make sure you take plenty of breaks one doesn’t walk out into a blizzard. to replenish your fluids. For additional relevant informa- It can be a good idea to carry some tion, see two pages on the Club’s Membership electrolyte salt powder to mix with website at: the water that you drink on a walk. matters These salts have the benefit of http://www.canberrabushwalk- replacing body salts lost through ingclub.org/documents/Fire_Hot_ Weather_Guidelines.pdf Please keep your email address exertion and perspiration. Replac- up to date via your membership ing the salts can help with reducing http://www.canberrabushwalking- page on the website. Contact the cramps and other problems. club.org/documents/CBC_Guide- Membership Secretary if you Heat stress is the second summer lines_for_Leaders.pdf need help. issue of which walkers need to be g o David Dedenczuk r F e e r o b o r r o aware. When it is very hot, walk- C New members: Julie Arnold, Patti Training and Safety Officer Bilney, Vivien Carmona, Marga- ing can become difficult and even ret Chibnall, Jenny March, Sean hazardous to health. To avoid heat Michael, Jan O’Toole, Mark Peirce, stress, one can take a number of Maureen Sandilands, Monica Ste- steps. Dress sensibly, with shorts phens, Margaret Thompson and light clothing allowing plenty of areas for air to circulate. Some g o r F John Evans of the newer microfibre materials e e r o b o r r o C Membership Secretary sold in bushwalking stores are Canberra Bushwalking Club it December 2014 – page 3 Review of general meeting talk Review: Gadgets night n 19 November over 50 mem- for many exhibits, and the labels by text message, would make a Obers attended the Club’s gadg- which included information such as bushwalker extremely confident ets night, a fine-art style exhibition ‘Originating Culture’. The arrange- about going out into the bush. The of bushwalking gadgets and gear, ments did not go so far as a string Satellite Text Messenger uses a with prizes. The event provided quartet, but the sound of the vacuum wider range of satellites than the members the opportunity to show packer provided a lively counter- SPOT Connect and at 190 grams others the advantages of their fa- point to the swell of conversation. including the battery, would make vourite spork, pillow or pack. Sixty a great present for a loved one who different items were on display, walks in remote terrain.