It December 2010 C G Ro F Ee Or B Ro R O C
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
g o r F e e r o b o r r o iitt C Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc PO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601 Volume: 46 www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org Number: 11 December 2010 In this issue WWalking in the Blue Mountains alkin g in t 2 Membership matters he Bl ue M 2 President’s prattle ounta ins 2 Walks waffl e 2 First Aid subsidies 2 18 years of broom clearing 3 Review: European Alps: Tour du chell g Mit Mont Blanc & the engin CChallenginghall Mitchell Dolomites au PPlateaulate 4 Blue Mountains Investigating new Kama 5 Accident in the high country Reserve in Belconnen 6 Ben Boyd National Park 6 A mini-fi eld on Mt Kosciuszko 7 Bulletin Board 10 Activity program Important dates 25 DecemberDecemmber PinePine IslandIsland XmasXmX as party 199 JanuaryJanuary LakesideLakkeside BBQBBQ 266 JanuaryJannuaryy JJudgingu our dg CommitteeCoommitteee meetmeetingin pphotographyh ing ot o og ur 266 JanuaryJanuary rap hy SubmissionsSubmissions closeclose for FebruaryFb iti Committee reports FFirstirst AAidid ssubsidiesubsidies President’s Walks e have previously advised that prattle waffl e Wthe Club will subsidise people doing fi rst aid courses. This remains a priority but only two people have he activities for the Club’s 50th taken up the offer so far. A person erry Christmas and a Happy must have done 10 walks (or days Tanniversary are starting to heat New Year to all. There is a up along with the weather. The fi rst M walking) in the previous year to be large number of walks on over the eligible for the subsidy ($100) and activity, ‘50 Peaks in 50 Weeks’ is December to February period and I up and running! Look out for the 50 people who received a subsidy last would encourage members to take club year are not eligible. I strongly peaks indicator – remember points advantage of what’s offering to will be awarded on altitude and dif- encourage people who are eligible, bag a few peaks, the strategy being to do a course as we want people fi culty of the walk. Multiple peaks that if you hit the ground running may be achieved on a single walk, qualifi ed in fi rst aid on as many of you’ll have no trouble tallying those our walks as possible. If the subsi- but all peaks must be achieved on a ‘50 peaks in 50 weeks’. Club walk. All the old clichés come dies have not been taken up by the to mind ranging from “you have to Thanks to John Evans and the 50th date of the March committee meet- be in it to win it” to “winners are Anniversary sub-committee for ini- ing, people doing refresher courses grinners.” After all the rain the bush tiating this activity (50 peaks…). I will also be eligible. has not looked so good for some understand that John will send out a g o r F Stan Marks e e r o b o r r o time so get involved. You should few messages as needed to literally C also consider leading a walk that is get people on track. And of course Training and Safety Offi cer part of the 50 peaks challenge and the purists amongst us hardly need as leader you will get some extra the stimulus; we’d be doing such points. The rules for the ‘50 peaks’ every year anyway, wouldn’t we? 1188 yyearsears ofof broombroom are on the Club’s website. There are some excellent opportuni- cclearinglearing There is a great diversity of walks ties for overnight pack trips. People The 18th annual broom clearing exer- coming up over the next few months. new to this part of the game should cise was very successful with 16 I suggest you book early as many of talk over what’s involved with the participants. the walks are popular and will fi ll particular leader and remember not up quickly. We also have some new to buy gear as a new pack walker; We removed in excess of 200 plants, members leading walks, get behind the Club has plenty for loan so which is down from the 500 that we them and offer your support. There that people may trial and evaluate removed last year. It is a great result as are also an abundance of walks in other’s equipment before deciding it means that we are getting on top of it the high country covering areas upon their own. again following the huge outbreak that from Charlottes Pass to Mt Bogong occurred after the fi res in 2003. and the High Plains. If you want Some of the trips will be hot work so I can imagine leaders stopping This year for the fi rst time we were something closer there are plenty of asked to cut the plants and apply poison walks on the Canberra fringe. off at a favourite swimming spot on the way home. A number of trips rather than just concentrating on dig- Wishing you all a safe and enjoy- have been specifi cally scheduled on ging them out. able Christmas and New Year. rivers in the hot weather; at such Traditionally, the morning is taken up times a cool pool is the ultimate with checking the southern side of the g o r F Peter Jones e e r o b o r r o C experience. Cotter River with the afternoon devoted President If you aren’t otherwise engaged to crossing the river and checking the you might find Doug Wright’s other side. Continued on, page 7 Christmas lunch on Springbank Is., Lake Burley Griffi n of interest. One Membership canoes to the venue with esky and Steve digs out a small plant food hamper, all with good cheer g o r F e e r o b o r r o matters and, I understand, a modicum of C melody and song from DW. Contact Doug as advertised in the program. Please ensure that you keep the Membership Secretary informed On the third Wednesday evening in of any changes to your email January remember the Club BBQ address. at Black Mountain Peninsula. I always enjoy it: a pleasant evening New members: Liz Coats , Carolyn and chat, catching up with people. Holloway, Diana Kirby and Mac Kirby, Lucas Moro, Pam Roach In the meantime, Good Walking. g o r F Rob Horsfi eld e e r o b o r r g o o r C F Gary Trevean e e r o b o r r o Membership Secretary C Walks Secretary g o r F e e r o b o r r o Page 2 – Canberra Bushwalking Club it December 2010 C g ro F ee or b ro r o C Review of general meeting talk RReview:eview: EEuropeanuropean AAlps:lps: TTourour dduu MMontont BBlanclanc & tthehe DDolomitesolomites 1177 NNovemberovember 20102010 Mont Blanc at 4,810 m is the highest mountain in Western Europe. Earlier this year Pennie and David Briese travelled to Europe g o r F e e r o b o r r o to circumnavigate Mont Blanc and C then to walk in the Dolomites. Tracks have formed around The eastern face of Mont Blanc they were surprised to meet a bag- piper. Mont Blanc over thousands of years On the second day they climbed but it is only in the last 50 that the Tour a Roman road and over a Roman A climb of over 800 m through du Mont Blanc has been developed. bridge, through pastures and forest fields of low shrubby rhododen- It covers 166 km and involves a total to reach the Refuge du Bonhomme, drons brought them to the Col de climb (and descent) of 11,500 m, at 2,439 m the highest refuge on the Balme on the Swiss/French border which has been achieved by marathon route. After crossing the Col de la from which they went down to runners in 25 hours. Seigne into Italy they overnighted Tré-le-Champ. in a dormitory at Rifugio Elisabetta Pennie and David spent 12 days The route to the Refuge de la walking this physically demanding Soldini where they watched ibex as they breakfasted. On their way Flégère comprised a steep climb yet well sign-posted route through including steel ladders from which France, Italy and Switzerland, to the Italian ski village of Cour- mayeur they enjoyed refl ections of the views, if you dared look, were staying each night in a refuge extensive, mountainous and glacial. or in a village, booking their mountains in the lakes and seeing marmots in the grassy meadows. Cloud started to obscure views of accommodation only one day the peaks, though the glacier, the ahead. They walked early in June at A 6 km 1,000 m climb through larch Mer de Glace was clearly visible, the beginning of the season, which forest to Rifugio Bertone afforded and the sun setting on the snow clad had the advantage of fewer people great views of the Mont Blanc mountains a wonderful sight. and clear weather, but more snow on Massif including the Tooth of the the passes. French is the language Giant. From there, a narrow ridge As they watched paragliders from used for the entire walk. led up to a grassy saddle with tarns the Grande Balcon, they descended 1,500 m over 12 km on their return They began the walk in Les Houches where they lost the track on a snow covered pass. Recovering the track, to Les Houches. During their whole through fi elds of wild fl owers and tour they never needed to use their alpine pasture to the Col de Tricot at they arrived at Rifugio Bonatti opposite the famed and precipitous wet weather gear.