IT June 2003 Page 1 As Soon As Possible If You Are Jargon
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THE CANBERRA BUSHWALKING CLUB INC. NEWSLETTER it GPO Box 160, Canberra ACT 2601 VOLUME 39 June 2003 NUMBER 6 JUNE GENERAL MEETING 8pm Wednesday 18th Antarctica Speaker: Reet Vallak Shine Dome, Australian Academy of Science Gordon Street, Canberra City Make the most of the evening and join other members at 6.00pm for a convivial meal at the Vietnam Restaurant, 8-10 Hobart Place, Canberra City (opposite Canberra House Arcade, next to Aussie Home Loans) Try to be early to ensure there will be ample time to finish and still get to the meeting in good time released as this issue goes to press. BWRS (Bushwalkers Wilderness PRESIDENT’S I made two submissions on behalf Rescue Squad). This will be a PRATTLE of the club, to the initial “Issues weekend bushwalk with a and Options Paper” and then to the difference, where “teams of draft Framework Discussion Paper. emergency services attempt to gain Elsewhere in this bulletin you will This enquiry invited public groups as many points as possible by find a proposal that the committee to give their views on the best use finding their way through has formulated for members to of recreational lands in the ACT wilderness terrain to premarked respond to. It is a motion to seek that had been damaged by the checkpoints over an area from 80 extra insurance to cover snow- bushfires. As a bushwalking club, to 100 square kilometers.” related activities for the club. In our main area of interest in this last month’s it, I canvassed Having competed in this event last paper was the Namadgi park; our member opinion on this issue, and year with Pat Miethke, I can vouch concern is to see this area only received two responses, both for what a good, challenging and preserved from inappropriate of them in favour of seeking extra enjoyable event it is. I think it development and to oppose the insurance to enable these activities would be great if CBC could enter introduction of high-impact to resume on the program. The two teams for the weekend- maybe recreational activities like down main issue is seen as that of one that sees itself as having a hill mountain bike racing. broadening the skills base in the competitive “edge”; and one club, and hopefully attracting new, I will report in the next it on the consisting of those who’d like to active walkers by the range of content of the Discussion Paper. practice or learn better navigational activities we offer. skills in a great bushland environ- You will see in the activity ment. I am very happy to lead this The ACT Recreation Framework program that I have advertised the second group. Please contact me Discussion Paper has just been NavShield, a rogaine run by Canberra Bushwalking Club IT June 2003 page 1 as soon as possible if you are jargon. As a note of caution, interested…entries close on 27th Walks Waffle independent and competent June. The event will be held in navigation skills remain necessary bushland west of Sydney, and we On Saturday, the end of May, we since there is always the possibility would drive up on Friday after- rambled up and down the Orroral of having the technology fall over. noon/evening. Valley in Doug Wright’s party. The weather was perfect, the Rob Horsfield Confederation have written a letter company convivial and the walk Acting Walks Secretary of support for our proposal to re- was enjoyed by all. establish the walking track to Admiration Point in the Bu- The effects of the January fires Meeting Report dawangs. More about this continue to restrict access to parts interesting project in our next of the Namadgi and other places. General Meeting - issue. People are advised to check the 21 - May - 2003 status of areas before planning We continue our involvement with trips. In my recent email to Cynthia Breheny's spectacular slide post-fire recovery projects. John potential leaders I suggested a list presentation of her tour of the Mt Thwaite organised a successful of alternate venues. Blanc circuit once again confirmed clean up and weeding day at the that our world was full of wonder- Cotter Hut site recently. He will As I mentioned last month, we are ful opportunities. If the Alps are a keep us informed of future requests still short of leaders for overnight walking mecca, it appears that the for help with maintenance and trips. Maybe there aren’t enough Tour du Mont Blanc must be other activities in the park. people around? Solemn judgement Nirvana.Where else can you hike has it that it is because of the fires. 195 Kms, in 13 days, ascend Jenny Horsfield Those long in the tooth say that we 10,000 metres and enjoy the President are all aging. Perhaps with the spectacle and ambience of three winter coming on it’s too cold to countries (France, Italy and Snow Insurance: sleep in a tent. In days of yore, of Switzerland). course, we did all those things and more. Commencing in Les Houche (Fr) Notice of Motion Cynthia and her four companions But we still need overnight trip The committe has investigated the ambled through the awe-inspiring leaders. need for supplementary insurance mountain landscape rife with to cover snow activities for the Usually we aim at 2X1 day trips dramatic tumbling glaciers, club, through Snowsports ACT. plus 2Xw/e trips each weekend. crenellated peaks, and heaven- With less active leadership this reaching spires masquerading as We are therefore putting a motion, isn’t possible. Where the program Gothic cathedrals. The dramatic "That the committee be authorised is thin I will try to distribute trips alpine scenery vying with the to arrange extra insurance to cover uniformly across the weekends of fascination of the Alpine towns and snow activities, up to a total cost of each month. Leaders would need to villages. $5 per member" indicate whether or not they are After a 800 metre 'leg up' from Les This motion will be put at the July flexible with dates. Houche the party journeyed general meeting The Navigation Review has counter-clockwise, over a number attracted good response. By the end of breathtaking cols, including Col Membership of #2, a walk to the west and south de Tricot (2120m), Col de Fours Matters of Kambah, everyone could use (2665m), Cal de la Seigne (2516m grid references, position find from at the French/Italian border), Grande Col Ferret (2537m at the Prospective members: bearings on distant features and set Maryanne Italian/Swiss border), and Col de Humphreys, Charlie Montross, and negotiate a course to a distant place. #4 will be a weekend trip to Balme. Views of Mt Blanc were Andrew Meers, Katia Moura, limited due to the variable weather Michelle Boyle, Cliff Peady. the southern Namadgi. All are welcome. If you haven’t attended conditions. They stayed at a range New members: Margaret Lesjak, #1. 2 or 3, not a problem; establish of accommodation including Jennifer Brett, Truus Ford, Jill the basics en route. The use of mountain refuges, hotels and Bell, Peter Twyman, Annie GPSs is increasing. These guesthouses. The nights in Peake,.Libby Adamson, Lesley machines are certainly magic. mountain refuges were comple- Band, Lesley Donohue. There is a variety of models with mented by nights in the alpine attendant software and usually the towns of Les Containes (Fr), Roger Edwards main problem is to crack the Courmayeur (It) and Chamonix Membership Secretary (Fr). Canberra Bushwalking Club IT June 2003 page 2 The circuit was undertaken in made. Then literally beat a path September to avoid the summer down the Guy Fawkes River to City to Surf crowds and the winter chills. Only obtain water. Six porcupines then The ACT Cross Country Club is 2 maps (1:25,000) were required. spent the rest of the afternoon hosting a chartered bus to By staying in the mountain refuges (again) grooming themselves. Sydney for this year's City to the load was lightened as it wasn't Next morning the cleanskins turned Surf on Sunday 10 August necessary to cooking gear, food or their heads upstream - retreat was 2003. So far equal interest has tents. the order. Meg, forever optimistic, been expressed by runners, The presentation generated a lot of had a short look upstream but was joggers and walkers. Seats on interest and much discussion. I am unimpressed. Even a couple of the bus are open to anyone who sure that most of us present made a fisher-people, who had headed wishes to enter the City to Surf, mental note and added it too our upstream the day before, also and it was thought that walkers lists of possibilities. thought retreat was the only on the tour may wish to partici- solution. pate together as a group in a John Kelly more social atmosphere, Another grooming session then a whereas runners and joggers are Trip Report few F-words (expletives!) were more likely to run on their own. said, under my breath, on the steep The one-day tour is ideal those climb out, with full packs - the who are planning to enter the A Penny-a-liner for the Guy weather was perfect. City to Surf, but don't want the Decisions made back in years 325 Up Hill, Spare Me hassle of driving, organisation and 1915 in far away places of their own transport, accom- coincided to produce a long-Easter Bushwalking Fashion modation, finding somewhere weekend. Meg therefore scheduled safe and accessible to put their a five-day trip into Guy Fawkes Megan Shirlow modelling a new belongings etc., and want a bus National Park east of Armidale.