THETHHE NEWSLETTER OFF CANBERRACANBERRA BUSHWALKINGBUSU HWALKING CLUBCLU it VolumeVolume 43,43, Number 10 November 220080 CanberraCanberra Bushwalking ClubClub IncIn PO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601 GENERAL MEETING 8pm Wednesday 19 November 2008 Looking after your feet Presenter: Allan Donnelly Allan will talk about foot mechanics and what your foot does over different terrains, on track, off track walking and how they affect the foot differently. He’ll also cover the fi reside topic of boots versus volleys, foot orthotics; when they are appropriate and when they are not, with lots of pictures from trips over the years. Main meeting room, St. John’s Church Hall Constitution Avenue, Reid Canberra Bushwalking Club it November 2008 page 1 walk more suited to his/her experi- Charles opened a museum in Mal- President’s ence,en would often be critical. So too, parinka. There was a large turnout thethe way the person feels after his/her of locals, VIPs and journalists for Prattle fi rstr walk. We need to ensure that the occasion. Oddly, Prince Charles newne participants are made to feel wore a ridiculous-looking fox-fur welcomewe and comfortable. hat. People were polite not to draw he return of the warmth gives attention to it but one journalist Trise to opportunities that don’t Plan on being at the Christmas Party quietly asked him about it. Prince exist when it is colder but also to on Sunday, 7 December. See the ad Charles said that he was glad to be issues that leaders and participants on page 5 of this it – it is always a asked about it as he had thought it alike need to keep in mind, viz we great evening. rather strange too. He’d left the Pal- do not want any incidents arising Stan Marks ace in London quite early for a fl ight from hypothermia. All participants President to Australia and as he passed the should wear a hat and take plenty of Queen’s bedroom door he shouted water and leaders should consider that he was off to Malparinka to cancelling walks if the temperature open a museum and she shouted gets around 30 degrees. back, ”Wear the fox hat”. Congratulations to Rob Horsfi eld and Walks Rob Horsfi eld his accomplice, the non-destructible Walks Secretary Karen Cody, for completing another Waffl e epic. This time, it was the Black Allan Line, the straight part of the he year has been passing quickly NSW–Vic border. Starting at the Tand the holiday season is not source of the Murray, they walked as far away. Leaders are requested to EEmergencymergency far east as Mt Victoria, some 8.5 km forward their walks for the Dec/Jan/ from the coast. Also participating Feb period as soon as possible. Re- iinformationnformation in various stages were wife Jenny, member that our December it covers he CClub’slub’s EmergencyEmergency Informa- Lois Padgham, Glenn Kramer and the time from mid-December to the Ttion sheethidid provides guidance on Keith Thomas. end of February and that there is no what to do when dealing with an On a recent walk, the conversation January issue. We specifi cally need emergency on a Club trip that cannot turned to how to recruit and retain weekend overnight trips for January be managed within the group and new members. The point was well and February. a decision is made to seek outside made that our first contact with At this time of the year we need to help. It is recommended that you interested people is often critical and recall the safety considerations for carry a copy of the sheet in your assistance from the club member walking in hot weather: participants fi rst aid kit. contacted, in making arrangements suitably fit for the task, first aid Contact telephone numbers on the for the person to participate or in treatment for hyperthermia, trips sheet have recently been updated referring them to a leader running a that involve only easy or moderate and its design modifi ed to allow it exertion, appropriate hat, clothing to be used to record information that and ‘sunscreen’ and plenty of water. may be needed by rescue authorities, Most venues at this time of the year including casualty observations. Contents are chosen near water: a wallow in a river or perhaps some surfi ng. A copy of the sheet can be down- 2 President’s Prattle loaded from the Club’s web site 2 Walks Waffl e In recent months a young ACT at www.canberrabushwalkingclub. woman was lost for three days in the 2 EmergencyEmergency informatinformation org.au/documents/Emergency_ Nursery Swamp area. Fortunately, Information_Aug_2008.pdf 2 MembershipMembership mattersmatters she was found and brought out safe 3 Review:Review: Drought in the and well. Being a committee mem- Terence Uren ber, I was approached by a local Training and Safety Offi cer WestWest MacdonnellsMacdonnells newspaper for a few general remarks 3 HakeaHakea prickles about the Namadgi bush, maps and 4 DroughtDrought in the West guide-books. Subsequently I was MacdonnellsMacdonnells amazed at the extent to which the journalist mistakenly represented Membership 5 ChristmasChristmas party ad what I’d said. It reinforced a healthy 6 Black-AllanBlack-Allan LiLinene skepticism toward much of what I matters 7 ReturnReturn to the Annapur-Annapu read in newsprint. Subsequently I was approached again for similar nas;nas; a place of changechang comment and declined; I’d learnt New members: 8 Obit:Obit: HowardHoward CrockfordCrock my lesson! Peter Bink, Penelope Jenkin, Angela 9 Durras weekend On a recent walk we heard mention Magill, Kathryn Smith. 10 From the Archives of Operation Raleigh in the mid Allan Mikkelsen 11 Activity program 1980s and its patron Prince Charles. It brought to mind a story. Prince Membership Secretary Page 2 – Canberra Bushwalking Club it November 2008 Meg didn’t mention that her knowl- RReview:eview: DDroughtrought edge, planning and experience in the area were essential in ensuring iinn tthehe WWestest that both weeks were successful. When we were any distance from MMacdonnellsacdonnells the starting and fi nishing points we 1155 OOctoberctober 22008008 never saw another soul. eg McKone’sMK ’ presentation tti Chris Roper Mof this trip brought back a memorable trip for me as I was one This review (above) is of Meg’s talk of the group who joined her in Cen- on her trip to the West Macdon- tral Australia. Meg provided maps nells earlier this year, presented with routes taken and many photos, at the CBC General Meeting on starting off with the low water situ- 15 October. ation at Ormiston Gorge where we Meg has also written an article on commenced the first week. The her trip. Part 1 was published in the drought conditions were the worst October it. Part 2 is included in this Meg had encountered, having led issue on page 4. a number of trips in the area over Setting up camp en route to the Ochre the past couple of decades or more. Pits Editor Her previous trip was only 2 years Meg’s trip report in last month’s earlier when conditions were some- and this issue of the ‘it’ provides what better. Normally there would plenty of detail of the nature of have been numerous fl owers to be the walks but it was the photos of Hakea prickles seen but this was not the case this trip members that are not so easy year, although one photo of a purple to relate, such as someone fi lling a ‘daisy’ on a canyon wall showed bottle with the diminishing putrid Up the spur panting, how plants can cling to life in such water (not actually used) and the holding on to the regrowth, adverse conditions. agility of one member to avoid the A number of the photos demon- icy cold water of a canyon. The twenty nine in line! strated the dramatic variation in the short movie of Giles Yard Springs colours of the rocks from the almost may have seemed to be just ‘another fl uorescent yellow/orange when the water hole and creek’ but in the Stark burnt alpine ash sun fi rst struck the cliffs and moun- context of the drought conditions it at thirteen hundred metres, tains in the mornings to dull purple/ was a unique sight on this trip. desolate and fierce. grey later in the day. Very similar to Meg recalled the fi rst night of the the range many would be familiar second week where we stayed at with of Uluru. Then there was a shot the Ellery Creek Big Hole campsite. of contrasts with a white gum and Very different from our other camp- High on Mount Tennant, dark brown dead trees in front of sites as most campers had driven bright orange cliffs and azure sky. dark grey clouds massing, rain in with various necessities such as falls This unique landscape looks every radios/CD players. There was one bit as ancient as it actually is. modern comfort at the campsite beyond the beyond. that I was happy to make use of – a Party approaching the north side of fl ushing toilet! A change from dig- Chewings Range ging a hole in Wandering high tors, the sun-baked curving granite cuts blue sky,sky desert surface. I eat my sardines.nes. Unfortunately there were no photos of cam- On TidbinbillaTidbiinbbillla hilltop,hillltoop, els or brum- bies. We heard listen toto silence,sis lence,e, them at night, bask in winterwiinnterr sun.suun. particularly the brumbies who came uncom- fortably close, Hakea pricklesickles and one mem- tired legs ass we stumblestumblee ber even seeing a camel but far down Nurseryry Hill.Hill too elusive to photo.