VOWME 26 AUGUST 1990 NUMBER 8 AUGUST MONTHLY MEETING WHERE? Dickson Library Community Room WHEN? Wednesday 15 August 1990, 8.00pm WHO? John Feint, Manager, ACT Heritage Unit, ACT Parks & Conservation Service WHAT? John will speak on the Aboriginal cultural heritage of the ACT. This talk will be of particular interest to all those who joined Mike on his walks this year to local Aboriginal sites. Before the meeting, join Club members at 600pm for dinner (BYO) at the Vietnam Restaurant, O'Connor (the one on the corner). The items I bring before you this month have to do with what we do as a club and how we do it. The first item is - the Club now has a minimum impact bushwalking code. The code has come about through the efforts of John Thwaite and his subcommittee, the help of other Club members and a bit of plagiarism from the codes of other organizations. I see the Code as a guide for us in our activities: I do not see it as being inflexible or absolute. While I would like all of our members to be aware of the code and the philosophy behind it, I ask you to make transgressors of the code aware of their transgressions with as much thought for them as of the environment. On the weekend of 25-26 August you have a great opportunity to experience the most spectacular of scenery in beautiful Morton National Park, in an exercise which is guaranteed to make you feel morally superior to those who are not with us at the time. Yes, it's the second Monolith Valley work weekend! We got a little over half of the work done on the first weekend and with a good roll-up we shall get it all completed this time. In September we will have our annual general meeting and the election of a new Club committee. It is time now to start thinking about who you would like to see serving you on the committee and to give some thought to whether you would like to extend your own activities with the club to serving on the committee. Participation on organizational committees such as this, is a great experience and an opportunity for learning and developing skills which are readily transferable to other situations. Finally, I thank Roger Edwards for stepping forward on short notice to take over as our equipment officer. Mike Gauci has been forced to give up the position of equipment officer because of other commitments. Thanks Mike for your assistance to the Club in this position. David Campbell CBC MINIMUM IMPACT BUSHWALKING CODE At the July club meeting the draft Minimum Impact Bushwalking Code was considered. The final code, incorporating suggestions from that meeting, is outlined below. All members are strongly encouraged to adopt the code and to encourage others to follow. John Thwaite MINIMAL IMPACT BUSHWALKING CODE The need for long tracts of duckboard in the popular walking areas of Kosciusko 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 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 or buried them. Now it is different. There are so many more people using wilderness areas. The code below, compiled from several sources, gives positive steps that we can take to minimise our impact on the resource that provides us with so much pleasure. 1. CAMPSITES 1.1 Use an existing campsite rather than make a new one in the same area. Setting up camp will be easier and additional ground cover will not be damaged. Leaders should limit the size of their party, especially in sensitive areas. 1.2 Bring your own tent poles or use dead timber. Never cut live trees for poles. 1.3 Use of sensitive areas requires special care. Do not camp in the catchment of glacial lakes. a CAMPFIRES 2.1 Fires should not be lit in sensitive areas, such as sub-alpine regions. Stoves must be used in high-use areas (note: in some areas, for example Tasmania, legislation prescribes "stove only" areas). 2.2 Use established firesites wherever possible. Distribute ashes and unused firewood. Spread leaf litter or soil over the firesite. In sandy soil bury ashes. 2,3 Use only fallen, dead wood for fires. 2.4 Don't make fires near trunks of trees, on roots, on peaty soil, or where the fire could spread. 2.5 Quench the fire completely. Keep water handy to control the fire should it spread. 2.6 Don't even think of lighting a fire or stove during a total fire ban! 2.7 Don't dispose of aluminium foil, plastics or cans by burning (note: some containers appear to be made of carboard but can be lined with foiD. When in doubt carry it out! Don't dispose of other material unless the fire is very hot and you are sure that it will be reduced to ash. 2.8 Exercise care with stoves. Do not allow excess pressure which may cause safety valve ignition. a SANITATiON 3.1 Bury human wastes. Take a trowel and dig a small hole well away from any open water. 3.2 if in snow burn toilet paper after use, (or use snowl). 3.3 Disposal of human waste at heavily-used campsites requires more effort. Go much farther away! 3.4 Wash well away from streams and ensure that soap, detergents and food refuse do not enter watercourses. When cleaning utensils use gritty sand rather than soap. 4 RUBBISH 4.1 Apply the "carry in, carry out " rule. This applies to orange peel, fruit cores, sanitary items, seeds and egg shells. Remember to take some plastic bags. 4.2 Before leaving a lunch spot or campsite check that no rubbish is left. & TRACKS AND ROUTES 5.1 Go in small parties and tread carefully to avoid damaging vegetation. Use stepping stones in eroded areas if available. 5.2 Limit walking in areas that have been over-used. 5.3 Minimise walking on loose ground, scree slopes, dunes, marshes and bogs. 5.4 Keep to marked or formed tracks. Do not take short cuts on zig-zag tracks. 8. FLORA AND FAUNA 6.1 Native flora and fauna should be left undisturbed. Do not kill snakes, 6.2 Do not take domestic animals on walks. 6.3 Report sightings of feral animals, illegal forest grazing or illegal use of protected areas (eg. wood cutting or removal of rocks) to park or forest authorities as appropriate. : 7.1 Radios and cassette players should be left at home. IN SUMMARY - BE PREPARED AND BE INFORMEDI MEMBERSHIP MATtERS ProspectS Members Robin Collins 7 Gill St, Lyneham ACT 2602 24731 73(h) 2494769(w) Rachel Fry 17 Gillies St, Curtin ACT 2605 2853081(h) 2733611(w) Jim Thorn P0 Box 3105 Weston ACT 2611 2888047(h) 2881677(w) Gary Trevean 22 Cockburn St, Curtin ACT 2605 2851135(h) 2666087(w) Pauline West 22 Terewah Crct,Kaleen ACT 2617 2413648(h) 2664115(w) Harriette Wilson 27 Forbes St, Turner ACT 2601 2474284(h) 2495994(w) New Members We welcome the following new members: Margaret Belton, Michael Callan, Geoff Davies, Allan Bondfield, Robert Dagworthy, Tritia Evans, Terence Uren. Change of Address/Phone nurabers Mike Comfort, 54 Strickland Ave. South Hobart TAS 7004, phone: 002 240807(w) 002 306160(h). Keith Thomas, 2819488(w) CWB T-SHIRIS AND LOGOS * Bargain basement! The Club still has some CBC T-shirts to sell. Sizes 14 and 16 are available at $6 a piece. A bargain if I have ever seen one! * The new silk screen depicting the club logo has been completed. For $4 you can now have a club logo on any piece of clothing which fits your fashion conscience. Debi Williams 2581 645(h) WALK SECRETARY'S WAFFLE As you can see, our programme is getting rather thin again, particularly . from September onwards. 1 do not propose to hold another formal walks planning evening, partly because experience tells me that either a gimmick or charisma is needed to make it a success, and 1 am uninspired at present, and partly . because Ed hate to be accused of pre-empting the next Walk Secretary's job. Instead, I ask all members to look at the programme and phone me with ideas or offers for trips over the next two or three months. If you are prepared to lead and want ideas, ring me; if you have suggestions, ring me; if you want to 'dob in' a potential leader, ring me (anonymously if you like).... In particular, I plan to be home, with maps on hand, on August 23 - call in if you wish. Finally, have YOU considered standing for a Walks Secretary position at the AGM? I may be a little biassed, but they are clearly the most important jobs on the Committee. If you are at all interested, talk to me or Allan Mikkelsen for more information. Alan Vidler WEDNESDAY WALKING Eric and Pat Pickering intend to lead a Wednesday walk for the club about once a month. The first of these to the Orroral area on August 22nd appears in the Activity Program. To enable transport arrangements to be made, bookings for these Wednesday walks will dose at 8.30 on Monday night. Dear Friends, Howdy from lassie! Yes, it's a voice from the wilderness, or at least far-away Hobart.