9A1db27aab6b645f9131
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THETHHE NEWSLETTER OFF CANBERRACANBERRA BUSHWALKINGBUSU HWALKING CLUBCLU it VolumeVolume 44, Number 4 MaMayy 200920 CanberraCanberra Bushwalking ClubClub IncIn PO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601 GENERAL MEETING 8pm Wednesday 20 May 2009 What’s going on in our woodlands? Presenter: David Shorthouse Over the past fi ve years the ANU and the ACT Government have been collaborating in a program of ecological research in the Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo nature reserves. The aim of this work is to improve our understanding of how to our woodlands should be man- aged and to improve their conservation values and perhaps restored to their former glory. Part of the research relates to the construction of a predator-proof fence around much of Mulligans Flat. Dr David Shorthouse, Visiting Fellow at the ANU’s Fenner School for the Environment and Society and formerly Manager of the ACT’s wildlife research programs will explain the background to the research and where it is leading. Main meeting room, St. John’s Church Hall Constitution Avenue, Reid Canberra Bushwalking Club it May 2009 page 1 The events also highlight the role of should re-read the ‘Guidelines for President’s thethe individual in safety in the bush. Leaders/Participants’ on the club’s OurOu leaders are screened before they website. The wisdom is there and Prattle appearap on the program but safety needs to be kept in focus. inin the bush depends on the action of individuals not just the skills of Navigation skills are very impor- ushwalking has been in the the leader. New walkers especially tant. We run refresher courses and Bmedia for all the wrong reasons need to think about what they are incidental day-trips (see program) to lately as the tragic events which led doing. As they say in many sports, improve members’ abilities where to the death of a teenage bushwalker you need to do the simple things needed. One way, in particular, to are played out in the NSW Coro- well. See Terence’s article on page 4 gain experience is to take an active ner’s Court. of this it. part in navigation on trips: carry map and compass and be directly We do not, of course, know what Meanwhile, who said new leaders involved or an independent check the coroner will find nor do we don’t lead interesting walks? In on the course of progress. GPSs are know how the NSW Government early April, Austin and Beatrice good but ensure that you can still will respond but I think it is a good Kenney took a group to Talbingo, handle a circumstance without one; bet that there will be some action where we rarely walk as a club. you might have to one day. on bushwalking, which is one of the The Saturday included a section of few activities still unregulated. The the Hume and Hovell Track, with Two reminders: the Veteran’s Choice likely result, I suspect, is the earlier several kms paralleling the Buddong led by Alan Vidler is at the end of the than otherwise introduction of the Creek as it dropped about 400 m in month—an opportunity to appreciate Adventure Activity Standards (see a series of cascades and falls. The some of the club’s heritage. Over Terence Uren’s article on page 3 of creek was in fl ood from a storm the the weekend of 23–24 May there’s the December 2008 it). night before, which helped. It was the Corang Plateau work party in association with Rob Perry of The committee is trying to prepare a brilliant day. See Tom Gosling’s article on page 6. the NPWS. It’s a great spot with the club for this eventuality with spectacular vistas. The track needs improved pre-trip documentation Stan Marks attention, our club is a frequent user, being a fi rst step. This now includes President so it’s appropriate that we help with a requirement for leaders to tell the this one. check-in officer before the walk where the cars will be parked and Highlights in the coming snow better details on the planned route. season will be Rupert Barnett’s See the introduction to the Activity Walks and John Ions’s snow-shoe trips. program for details. This type of activity is having a Waffl e come-back in recent seasons. The These events provide the trigger to shoes are cheaply hired, easily think about our own safety proce- used and a marked advantage over dures. Many of the things that hap- here have been some great trips plodding through the snow on foot. pened on that day would not have Tlately and the program in the Some enthusiasts prefer to make happened under our club procedures coming months has plenty to offer. their own. viz a minimum of four people on a Mild temperatures at this time of the walk, groups to stay together, walk- year make for very pleasant walk- In the meantime, good walking. ing on very hot days discouraged, ing. With the coming chilly nights Rob Horsfi eld adequate water should be carried of winter the number of overnight and each participant is encouraged pack trips is likely to decrease but I Walks Secretary to carry map and compass. like to encourage people to meet the challenge. These days there is good equipment to be had for being warm Membership Contents and comfortable in cold weather and of course, being a “bushwalker” matters 2 PrPresident’sesident’s PrattlPrattlee would, I hope, incline one to be 2 WWalksalks WWafaffl e hardy too. 2 MembershiMembershipp mattmatterse Safety issues have been of increas- lease ensure that you keep the Membership Secretary informed 3 RReview:eview: LhaLhasasa to ing concern in recent months. There P have been several cases of people of any changes to your email ad- KathmandKathmandudu in the club becoming lost and other dress. 4 AlAloneone in ththee busbushh members unable to sustain demand- New members: Jane Aitken, Garry 4 FirstFirst AidAid fforor asthmaasthm ing conditions. Fortunately, to date, and Margaret Hulme, Eric Glass, 6 A pleasant weekeweekendn at all’s well having in each case ended Tanya King, Tony Marx, Claire well. We have our leaders to thank McLoughlin, Andrew Matthews, TalbinTalbingogo for that. Safe practice is about appre- Amir Mohammadi, Sally Sargeson, 7 ActivitActivityy proprogramgram ciating the potential for a problem Sean Sloan and taking suitable precautions. A 11 From ththee ArchiveArchivess review suggests that a current fi rst Allan Mikkelsen aid certifi cate has value and that one Membership Secretary Page 2 – Canberra Bushwalking Club it May 2009 BecauseBecause there had RReview:eview: LLhasahasa ttoo been a change in obtainingobtaining tourist visas KKathmanduathmandu thethe groupgroup needed to A mmountainountain bbikeike ttourour staystay in KKathmandu for 5 daysd at the aacrosscross thethe roofroof ooff tthehe beginningbeginnin of their wworldorld trip.trip. ThisThis meant that eanne Aust veryvery ablyably described thethe overallover cycling Lherh epici cyclingli jjourney across trip from Lhasa to the roof of the world at the last CBC Kathmandu was meeting. Helping to set the scene going to be far more demanding. There Leanne brought in her mountain up 1,122 kms, ascending over bike, prayer flags and had some were no rest days; acclimatising days were limited to 10,000 m and crossing fi ve passes Tibetan music playing. Her quite with the highest at 5,300 m. heavy bike had dual hydraulic sus- two and the last two days were extra pension and sturdy mountain bike long. While waiting for visas to be Scenic photos showed the vast open tyres. Once the paved road ended issued the group rode around the spaces of the Tibetan Plateau, the she was extremely glad that her bike most attractive foothills of Nepal and different and very demanding road had this dual suspension. visited markets and temples. Those surfaces from beguiling smooth who have visited Nepal know how pavement to deeply rutted and cor- This trip was organised by a United exciting and colourful (and smelly) rugated, the many hairpins they tra- Kingdom company, Red Spokes, a it all is. versed up and down, the road works company that specialises in rather Then they fl ew to Lhasa to begin in progress, road crews setting off adventurous as well as demand- the explosives to rebuild parts of the ing bike tours. Leanne’s photos their epic journey. They saw the impressive Potala Palace, once the road that had experienced landslides, certainly showed all that. Over fi elds where yaks were grazing or 20 days in late September 2008 she headquarters of the Dalai Lama, before he fl ed the country. being used to plough the fi elds, and and another 12 cyclists pedalled the very deep culverts, which, as their often weary way from Lhasa Leanne’s photos were magnifi cent she explained, once made a handy to Kathmandu following the Friend- and her presentation demonstrated toilet stop (until a tourist bus went ship Highway. On the way the group her enjoyment in re-living the whole past!). One of the passes, the Pang needed to cycle up and over fi ve trip. Her talk and explanations La had 50 hairpin bends. Leanne very high passes, including Kamba also clearly showed the endurance noted that sometimes the mountain La Pass at 4,794 m and Karo La Pass necessary for such a ride. For peaks viewed from the road took on at 5,010 m. This trip also visited the example on the fi rst day in Tibet the appearance of icebergs as their Everest Base camp. The group were they cycled 30 km uphill from bases couldn’t be seen from the high supported by one truck that usually 3,600 m to 4,700 m over a pass Tibetan Plateau.