THE SCROLL

Newsletter of the Manning River Canoe and Bushwalking Club

Web:- manningcanoebushwalk.wordpress.com email:- [email protected]

P.O. Box 511, TAREE 2430 ISSUE: September 2014

MARLONG ARCH Mt MOFFAT SECTION CARNARVON GORGE NAT PARK – Stuart

Next General Meeting: 6:00pm 4 Dec 2014, Stuart & Jenny Ireland’s home - Taree

President: Greg Stewart Treasurer: Dennis Mitchell 6552 3338 Secretary: Mick O’Brien 6551 2531 [email protected] Editor/ Publicity: Stuart Ireland 6552 6574 [email protected]

Minutes from General Meeting 4 /9/2014 Meeting opened at 6:00pm. Attendance: Greg Stewart, Mick O’Brien, Stuart Ireland, Jenny Ireland, Chris Dennis, Geoff Songberg, Murray Bourke, Chris Stewart, Wendy Campbell, Pam Finlay, Bob Finlay, Apologies: Grahame Enright, Louise Enright, Dennis Mitchell, Geoff Martin, Annelie Johansson-Riley, Linda Walters, Judy Yarrington, Chris Marriott Previous Minutes: Read and accepted. General Meeting Business: * Activities calendar complied for the next 3 months. * Treasurer’s report accepted. * Meeting/Christmas get-together to be held at Stuart & Jenny Ireland’s home on 4 December. * Caparra Hut management discussed. * Co-ordination with National Parks to remove old mattresses from Selby Alley Hut. * Discussion of Larapinta Trail walk in 2015. Chris and Geoff to gather information to disseminate.

TRIP REPORTS (Quite a few cancellations because of weather this time around.)

LITTLE MURRAY–BARRINGTON TOPS NATIONAL PARK 26, 27 & 28 July

The decision was made late in the week to head off to the "Tops" having cancelled the VH MDX reccy due to rain, which was exactly what was happening on the Saturday morning as I packed a few things together for a solo packwalk in no doubt freezing conditions. Arriving at Barrington Trail picnic shelter mid afternoon I was putting on the gaiters & getting ready to hitch up the saddle when the weather turned for the worse bringing tiny balls of ice to transform the appearance of the landscape once again. I decided that no right minded person would walk off in these conditions so quickly stashed the gear back in the car & headed for Polblue.

The shelter at the campground had been commandeered by a group of 4x4s so not wanting to gatecrash I drove further along the Scone Rd to Tubrabucca Rd then onto Horse Swamp camp & Polblue Falls where I had the place to myself for the night. A spare 4 man tent was set up, wet wood collected then settle in with many layers of clothing for the remainder of the evening. It was a cold night without a fire but once inside the tent & -5deg sleeping bag all was once again comfortable in the wilds.

Sunday morning turned out a pearler with sunshine a plenty & the promise of a great day with no rain. A quick pack up then back to the parking bay near the closed gate on the trail to Junction Pools. I had a plan to explore some areas to the East of Polblue Mtn & Brumlow Top as I had not walked anywhere along Carson Trail or Kholwa Trail in the past.

As I was about to throw "the mistress who must be carried" on my back a NPWS Landcruiser drove through the gate heading in the same direction as me. I tried to stick my thumb out but was not quick enough to hitch a ride & so resigned myself to do the hard yards once again. Upon reaching Polblue Ck I needed to collect some water so I took the time to check out this spot for a future trout fishing expedition. Further along the track I surprised a brumby stallion that was not happy & made weird guttural noises which left me feeling a little threatened so I kept a keen eye out for any more possible encounters. Several small very furry kangaroos were seen as well as a large wombat when I made my way into Little Murray for lunch & a good look around.

It was now after midday with the sun shining brightly but in the shade quite cold with a light breeze making the wind chill factor a little above zero. As I settled the pack onto the picnic table feeling pleased with my choice of isolation the NPWS truck resurfaced & headed straight for me, do I need to pay camping fees! I queried to myself? A couple of “G’days” later & I was satisfied that I had not broken any laws so enthusiastically began conversation about many relevant topics. The boss bloke was in his 30’s with his quiet offsider about 50 & they were hard at work on a Sunday but also happy to pass a bit of time with a lonely bushwalker. We discussed feral horses, pigs, trail bikers especially 2 FERAL BUSHWALKERS – the types that won’t stay out of the prohibited area (looks like I won’t be going East from here). We also exchanged information about plane wrecks as well as organizing a clean-up of the left over mattresses at Selby Alley Hut. Two hours later I finally finished lunch (which to some of you is really not much of a surprise).

By this stage in the day I’d pretty much made a choice to stay put so leaving the pack safely at the picnic ground I spread out in search of a nice spot for the night. This wasted yet another hour but in the process allowed me to have a good “Captain Cook” at Little Murray. My chosen tent site was a bit reminiscent of Cowombat Ridge last Jan in making sure that I would not be trampled to death in the middle of the night by wild horses. This was ensured by a suitably roaring fire plus positioning my goods & chattels over a large area, though I still managed to hear them nearby throughout the night.

Monday morning, rising to the sound of a vehicle going by within metres of where I was sleeping. Obviously the NP blokes back at work checking the pig traps. Shortly afterwards, as I’m getting breakfast, the mobile starts ringing which surprises me greatly considering the supposed lack of reception. An hour later the NP workers return for yet another yarn ruining my self-imposed exile totally during my few days away. Lesson learned here – better off killing time in the shed fellas cos “the wilderness is just too busy these days”.

Mick “Irish” OBrien

Goonook Mtn – 7 Sep

Showers over the past week had made conditions quite slippery for the walk beginning at Taylors Rd and following an old overgrown logging trail. The recent strong winds had caused many treefalls which created some difficulty in finding the correct route. Eventually the two Mikes made it to the summit. We could see as far as Cape Hawke and Crowdy Head with all the high points in between – possibly one of the better lookouts in our immediate area.

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This short but picturesque climb is typical of those found in the Lansdowne/Taree region. Its geological features are similar to Coxcombe and Killabakh with rough, jagged rocks punctuated with numerous small cliffs and outcrops.

Thanks to all attendees for making it a really enjoyable day.

Mick

Quick Calendar 4/9/2014

Note: You must phone the contact person to let them know you are coming as things may change at short notice.

Each walk is graded into one of six grades based on the degree of difficulty of that particular walk.

Sept 2014 Date Activity Details Contact Thurs 4 Meeting A General Meeting at Geoff Songberg’s home in Wingham starting Geoff S at 6:00pm. 6557 0052 0427 569 050 Sat 6 Walk A favourite walk up Mt Goonook. Excellent views looking down into Geoff S Grade: 4 Killabarkh. There is some off track terrain and some scrambling over 6557 0052 rocks. 0427 569 050 Sun 7 Sat 13 Sun 14 Sat 20 Bike Ride A two day bike ride starting at Bombah Point in the Myall Lakes Nat Geoff M Sun 21 Park. The plan is to ride to Tea Gardens and catch the ferry across 0408 862 292 Port Stephens to Nelsons Bay and stay the night there and return the following day to Bombah Point. Sat 27 Sun 28

Oct 2014 Date Activity Details Contact Sat 4 Walk Long weekend trip to Copeland Tops. Camping and walking. Mick O Sun 5 Grade 4 6551 2531 Mon 6 0400 475 835 Sat 11 Sun 12 Walk An easy day walk in Yarratt Forest walking through to the Stuart/ Jenny Grade: 3 Lansdowne River. 042765526575 65526574 Mon 13 Walk A pack walk to Selby Alley Hut in the Barrington Tops. Starting at Mick O Tues 14 Grade 4 Johnson Pools and going over Aeroplane Hill. 6551 2531 Wed 15 0400 475 835 4 Sat 18 Sun 19 - Pack- 5 day Yuragir coastal pack-walk. This pack-walk begins with a half Mick O Fri 25 walk day then four full days followed by a half day finish on the following 6551 2531 Grade: 4 Saturday. 0400 475 835 Meet: Woolgoolga for car shuffle Sat 25 to Paddle A mixed paddle and walking week on the South Coast of NSW. Janusz Sun 2 walk Starting with some paddling around Batemans Bay and then some 6555 9365 Nov coast-walking in Durras National Park and paddling on Jervis Bay and then on to Tallowa Dam on the Shoalhaven River for more paddling. Sun 26 Paddle A day paddle on flat water on Wallingat River. Wendy 0413591853

Nov 2014 Date Activity Details Contact Sat 8 Paddle A day paddle on flat water on the Manning River from Croki to Geoff S Farquhar Park and return. This will be about 25km round trip. 6557 0052 0427 569 050 Sun 9 Sat 15

Sun 16 Walk A day walk along the coast starting at Bonny Hills and going down Mick O Grade: 3 to Grants Beach. 6551 2531 0400 475 835 Sat 22 Camp A weekend at Stuarts Point with some paddling and walking and Geoff M Sun 23 Paddle camping in a fixed car camp. 0408 862 292 Walk Sun 23 Sat 29 Sun 30

Dec 2014 Date Activity Details Contact Thurs 4 Meeting & Club meeting followed by Christmas get together at Jenny and Stuart/ Jenny Christmas Stuart’s. 042765526575 Party 65526574 Sat 6 Sun 7 Paddle A day paddle on flat water on Khappinghat Creek starting on Stuart/ Jenny Magpie Creek off Old Soldiers Road. This will be about 18km round 042765526575 trip. 65526574 Sat 13 Sun 14 Paddle A day paddle on flat water on the Karuah River from Allworth to Wendy Booral and return. This will be about 17km round trip. 0413591853 Sat 20 Sun 21 Sat 27 Sun 28

FUTURE PROPOSSED ACTIVITIES.

Date Activity Details Contact 3 Day A paddle from Tea Gardens to Neranie with camping along the way. Geoff M Paddle Gear will need to be carried onboard for the trip. 0408 862 292

Winter Pack walk 12 day car-supported walk along the Larapinta Trail in the NT. Have Geoff / Chris 2015 Grade: 4 a look at the web site. larapintatrail.com.au 6557 0052 0427 569 050

When car pooling please consider the cost to the owner of the vehicle in fuel, wear and tear.

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NOTE: Buoyancy jackets are now compulsory to be worn at all time when paddling. Maritime regulation require them to be worn when more than 50 metres from shore.

NOTICES

When car pooling please consider the cost to the owner of the vehicle in fuel, wear and tear.

The club has a personal locator beacon (PLB) in case of emergencies while in remote areas which is available through Mick O’Brien. You will need to sign it in and out. For non-remote areas mobile phone 000 emergency calls should be used. There is also now a GPS to help you navigate.

Don’t forget that there is a kayak and a Canadian also available for use by club members. Jackets and paddles come with the boats.

Note: Buoyancy vests are compulsory on the all canoe trips and must be worn at all times while on the water. Helmets must also be worn on all white-water trips.

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