CANIE1Q1QA CLU1 FMC. fr$1EWL1ETflR O. Box 160. Canberra. A.C.T. 2601 Registered by Australia Post; Publication number NBH 1859 ASTP. VOLUME 25 MAY 1988 NUMBER 5 PresMextt's Prattle Many members would be aware of the work undertaken by the Kosciusko Huts Association (KHA) and have welcomed the shelter provided by the mountain huts. Indeed over recent months members of CBC have been involved in carrying out repairs to Boltons Hill Hut. At its last meeting the KHA addressed a couple of matters which are likely to be of interest to our membership. The Association's membership decided to award three life memberships in recognition of the work and support provided by three members all od whom also belong to our club. On behalf of the Club. I would like to congratulate Reet Vallak and Bob and Sybil Story - it is great to see such labours recognised. On another matter, the KHA is to work with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service in maintaining a number of huts in the Namadgi National Park- As a starting point, the Association is conducting three maintenance weekends on Frank's Hut just of the Old Boboyan Road. The scheduled weekends are: 21" 22nd of May. 18-19th of June and 2-3rd of July. Any members interested in being involved in this or on projects specific to other Namadgi huts are invited to contact Peter Rose on 282691(h). For those who are interested in finding out more about the Namadgi huts and their history. Graeme Scully from KHA is giving a talk at the National Trust Headquarters in Deakin on Wednesday the 8th of June at 7.30pm. In particular he will discuss the proposed rebuilding of the 150 year old Gudgenby Homestead which, at present, is stored in pieces. If you are interested in attending please contact Carolyn Ho on 768102(w) or 549228(h). Greg Ellis ft1 flU' it nfl St It is almost winter and time to start dusting off those skis and winter woollies again. You do not ski? Well, eager leaders cannot wait to treat you to the delights of a frost covered landscape, frozen pools that you can stand on and drips frozen into stalactites. For photographers, what about early morning mist or the soft hues of the afternoon light across a valley? There is even something for tigers - eg. invigorating conditions for those more challenging trips - or slackers - eg drinking tea or port while toasting yourself by a fire. With such thoughts in mind. I would like to see both leaders and urgers at my place (l Marulda Street, Aranda) at 8pm on Tuesday the 24th of May to plan our winter programme. In particular. I would like to see new leaders and potential new leaders come along. If you are in one of these categories the following track notes on 10 straightforward walks might be helpful. Mount Gingéra/Priors Hut Simply follow the steep track tip Stockyard Sour from Corin Dam car park, turn left at the overgrown fire trail on top, then turn left again when you FoA reach Mount Franklin Road. Priors Hut is about a kilometre down the road and the track to the summit starts on a sharp bend another kilometre further on. You can expect to see snow in July and August. Murramarang National Park Follow the track north from Pebbly Reach, almost to Pretty Beack (walking on rocks and beaches for variety) and return on the track over the top for spectacular views. Nursery Swamp Simply follow the track from the car park and visitors' book in Orroral Valley. Tidbinbilla Range Follow the tire trail from the Mountain Creek car park to the top, turn left (south) and follow the foot track along the top to Fishing Gap (superb views all the way), then follow the fire trail down to the car park and visitors' book at the southern end of the Nature Reserve (short car shuttle). Billy Billy Rocks Walk up the Fishing Gap fire trail for about 1 kilometre to where the Tidbinbilla River runs through a pipe under the road, turn left into the bush and simply walk up -hill to the top. Pick a route through the giant boulders from the eastern end to the highest point for breathtaking views. Mount Tennant Follow the ridge roughly north to the top, starting from the junction of Naas Road and Apollo Road and return by the fire trail (3 kilometre car shuffle). Corang Peak/Admiration Point Follow the track from the car park adjacent to "Wog Wog" property. Pigeon House/Clyde River Follow the track to the top from the car park for some of the best views you have ever seen, continue on a minor track down the northern side to pick up a fire trail, head west and, shortly after scrambling down Lonqfella Pass, take the right fork down Longfella Ridge to the river. Follow the river downstream for about 2 kilometres to the Clyde Bridge (10 kilometre car shuffleL Bundanoon Obtain a map of the walking tracks in Morton National Park from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (they have an office in Queanbeyan) then make up any combination you like (they are all fairly short). Mount Budawang Follow the fire trail to the top from "Hollow Wood" (about S kilometres south-east of Mongarlowe) for views of the Budawangs, Batemans Bay, Braidwood and inland to Bimberi. For variety, you could follow a ridge north-west from the top down to Currawan Creek, follow the creek 2 kilometres to a fire trail crossing, then turn right onto the trail to return to the cars. - Part one of my notes on "Finding Your Way in the Bush" is included in this "IT" and I hope that new and potential leaders find the series helpful. In order to give an overview of the series, the remaining parts are as follows: Part 2: The Orienteering Compass Part 3: Recognition of Basic Landforms Part 4: Using Different Landforms to Advantage Part B: Choice of Route Part 6: Estimating Distances, Heights and Times in the Field George Carter (Walk Secretary) 3 Jftirdmal impact Bushwalkirtg The need for long tracts of duckboard in the popular walking areas of Tasmania and elsewhere to control erosion and damage to plant species, discarded drink cans, and ugly campfire rings piled with tins and bottles all testify to the impact that recreationists have had on the environment. Two decades ago care for the environment did not seem to matter much. We threw our cans on the fire and perhaps some buried them. Now it is different. Few have been through secondary education without some formal exposure to bushwalking or similar pursuits. There are just so many more people using wilderness. The list below, compiled form several sources, gives positive steps that we can all take to minimise our impact on the resource that provides us with so much pleasure. Campsites (1) Avoid campsites that have been overused. Allow campsites to recover by limiting your stay to two nights. Keep the party small. (E) Choose level ground for pitching your tent so that it is unnecessary to dig drainage trenches. (3) Do not pitch your tent on fragile vegetation or make a mattress of shrubbery or ferns. Campfires (l) Is a fire necessary? Use a stove in the warmer weather. (2) Use established fire sites if possible. (3) If possible dig a small trench for the fire so the ground can be resodded. (4) Use only fallen, dead wood for fires. (S) Take care not to make campfires near the trunks of trees, on roots, on peaty soil, or where the fire could spread. (S) Quench the campfire completely. keep water handy to control the fire should it spread. ('?) If rubbish is burned make sure that it is reduced to ash. the usually means burning rubbish on a HOT fire. You cannot dispose of aluminium foil packets, some plastics or cans by burning. (8) Know the fire regulations. If a total fire ban is likely then take food that needs no cooking. (S) Exercise care with stoves. Do not allow excess pressure that may cause safely valve ignition. Sanitation (l) Faeces MUST be buried - take a trowel and dig a small hole. In snow, if it is impossible to dig down to soil, burn the toilet paper. (2) Defecate well away from the water supply and campsite - at least 100 metres. C3) Tampons and sanitary napkins must be carried out not buried - take a plastic bag. (4) Keep soap, detergents and food refuse out of streams. You can have a warm all-over sponge wash from a billy. When cleaning cooking utensils use gritty sand or a scourer rather than soap. Rubbish Cl) Rubbish must be carried out. Take a few plastic bags for this. - for example to CE) The "carry in - carry out" rule applies generally orange peel, seed containing fruit cores, egg shefl - not just to non- biodegradables. (3) Paper may be burned on the campfire but not much else. Soup and similar packets made of aluminium foil, cans and bones will not burn. Some plastics can produce poisonous gases. 4 (4) Before departing from the lunch or camp site, check that no rubbish is left. Tracks and Routes Tread carefully to avoid damaging the vegetation. Use stepping stones in eroded or fragile areas if available. Avoid bushwalking in areas that have been over-used. Avoid loose ground, scree slopes, dunes, marshes and bogs. Do not make short cuts on zig-zag tracks. (S) A well placed log or two can reduce further damage to a boggy section of a track.