South-East Forests and Logging
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MAGAZINE OF THE CONFEDERATION OF BUSHWALKING CLUBS NSW INC. ISSN 0313 2684 WINTER - MAY 2000 VOLUME 25 NO 4 http://www.bushwalking.org.au BUSHWALKING IN S OUTH-EAST FORESTS THE UNITED STATES Tom Boyle AND LOGGING T HE JOHN MUIR TRAIL Excerpt from NEWS RELEASE; John Macris Conservation Officer In the United States, bushwalking is Friday, 14 April 2000 importantly to protect endangered called hiking. There are three famous The Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr species from extinction in coming hiking trails in America: The Appala- today announced a major expansion of the decades. chian Trail, The Pacific Crest Trail and States national parks system of almost While the reservations of the past 5 The John Muir Trail. 324,000 hectares and a guaranteed 20 year years are measured in the hundreds of The Appalachian Trail extends log supply for the timber industry in the thousands of hectares, the data from from northern Georgia to Southern South Coast and Tumut regions. the assessment process would demon- Maine near the crest of the Appala- The Southern Forest Agreement, strate that these steps forward have chian Mountains on the eastern side of comprising the South Coast and Tumut been modest rather than momentous in the country. Compared to the isolation regions, represents a balanced decision based the scheme of things. of the other two trails, it is a social on three years of intensive scientific forest The figure of 324,000 hectares gathering. Approximately 3,400 research. protected under this decision, is kilometers long, the trail is host to It creates a approximately about 750 through hikers each year. continuous corridor 50,000 hectares less There are a number of huts along the of national parks than the reserve trail where one can stay overnight. and reserves, option favoured by There is no reservation system. Its stretching 350 conservation first-come, first-served. Like the other kilometres from the advocates. These two trails, it can only be hiked in the Victorian border to areas, now allo- summer from late March to early Macquarie Pass, cated to logging October. north of Nowra. and woodchip The Pacific Crest Trail is located on And links from the production, include the western side of the country. 4,255 escarpment to the lands of previously kilometers long, it extends from coast. recognised wilder- Mexico to Canada near the crest of the Icon areas such ness quality in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California as Murramarang, Deua, Tumut and and the Cascade Mountains in Oregon Conjola the Five Goobarragandra and Washington. The trail is Lakes area south of (northern oftentimes remote. We once hiked for Ulladulla, Deua, Kosciuszco) forests, 35 days between civilization although Dignams Creek and along with impor- you usually will come into a town Monga will be tant corridors along about once every two weeks in the less protected forever. the Clyde River remote areas. Because of the length of The media valley and the trail, one cannot carry regular food; statement goes on Wandella. The number of new it would be too heavy. One must carry to take credit for Photo - South-East Forest Alliance freeze-dried food. Since it is usually unprecedented reserves also needs unavailable in the little towns in the additions to the States reserve system a little scrutiny. Most are small, iso- mountains, one must have a base in the life of the present Government. lated areas. This is mainly a facet of person somewhere in America to ship The additions over the past 5 years are the immense fragmentation of remnant the freeze-dried food packages on a of course welcome. They should also natural areas as islands on public land. regular basis to remote post offices in however, be looked at from the perspec- It is more a reflection of the folly of the mountains. The trail can only be tive of what these intensive regional land clearing when looked at in con- hiked from March to early November assessment processes have confirmed. text. but those who start early and quit late That is that the New South Wales The amount of land protected has will probably have to hike across reserve system at the time of assess- ultimately been decided as a factor of snowfields. For this reason, one must ment, protected only a quarter to a what could be reserved without native know and be intimately familiar with third of the forest environments needed forestry job numbers being reduced in the usage of an iceaxe. It is the only to meet the criteria of our National the southern region, rather than the Forest Policy of 1992 and, more Continued on page 13 Continued on page 3 ...............................................................................................................Walk Safely - Walk With a Club ........................................................................................................................................ C OMMITTEE MEMBERS THE BUSHWALKER Contributions, letters to the editor, President - Jim Callaway (02) Mount Druitt Bushwalking Club original cartoons and suggestions are 9520-7081 (H) (02) 9219-4379 (W) [email protected] welcome. They should be sent to the The Sydney Bush Walkers Conservation Officer - John address below. Except for short notes Vice President - Alex Tucker Macris (02) 9526-7363 (H) Na- or letters, all contributions should be (02) 94514028 National Parks tional Parks Association accompanied with text file on three and Association [email protected] a half inch floppy disk in IBM format [email protected] Tracks and Access officer - or E-Mail. Treasurer - Maurice Smith (02) Alex Tucker (02) 9451-4028 Advertising rates are available on 9587-6325 Sutherland Bushwalking National Parks Association request. Contact Richard Merry at Club [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Secretary - Prudence Tucker Magazine Editor & Communi- Distribution is through affiliated (02)9451-4028 email cations Officer clubs, major retail outlets, council [email protected] Colin Wood, Tel (02)4625-0916 H information centres and national parks National Parks Association 0438013500 Bankstown offices. Insurance Officer and member- Bushwalking Club. Address all correspondence to The ship secretary - Anne Plowman [email protected] Editor, The Bushwalker Bushwalkers (02)9747-1346 Training officer - Peter Mullins NSW PO Box 2090 GPO Sydney 1043. [email protected] [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue The Confederation of Bushwalking officer - Keith Maxwell (02) 9622- Clubs NSW Inc represents approxi- 0049 Pager 016020 #277321 mately 67clubs with a total membership over 10,000 bushwalkers. Formed in 2 2 1932, the Confederation provides a I N THIS ISSUE united voice on conservation and other issues, runs training courses for mem- Bushwalking in The United States...........................................1 bers, and provides for the public a free wilderness search and rescue service. South-East Forests and Logging..............................................1 People interested in joining a bushwalking club are invited to write to The Bushwalker All Care and Responsibility.....................................................4 the Secretary Bushwalkers NSW at the above address for information on clubs Wilderness Safety...................................................................4 in their area. Or web site www.bushwalking.org.au Prices for advertising Along The Track....................................................................5 Back cover $450 - full page inside back cover $400 - full page inside $350 - Human Waste Management....................................................5 half page $175 - quarter page $90 business card size $50 insert $250 Kosciuuszko Summit TechnicalCommittee..............................5 +insertion cost approx $90. Deadlines for magazine The Poo Tube Is Coming!........................................................6 Summer edition, 2nd week in October- Autumn 2nd week in January Letters To The Editor..............................................................7 - Winter, 2nd week in April - Spring, 2nd week in July Snowy Mountains Resorts Sewage Treatment Plants...............7 T HEB USHWALKER Bushwalker Rescue Training...................................................8 is the magazine of the Confed- eration of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc. It's published quarterly. NavShield 2000......................................................................8 The aim of the magazine is to provide articles and information of Wombeyan Caves Search........................................................8 interest to the members of clubs affiliated with the Confederation Oral History Project Released................................................11 and Bushwalkers generally. Any opinions expressed by individual authors do not always represent the 4TH World Rogaining Championships New Zealand................12 official views of the Confederation. Walk Safely - Walk With a Club................................................................................................................ Continued from page 1 350 km corridor of connected reserves South West Slopes Nature Reserves described in the Premiers statement. (approximately 15,000 ha) These best available scientific knowledge. ................................................................................................................................. Following is a brief look at how the Some of the wilderness values of scattered areas generally came across