CA NBERRA BUSH WALKING CLUB INCNEWSLETTER GPO Box 160, Canberra ACT 2601 VOLUME 33 NOVEMBER 1997 NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER GENERAL MEETING Speaker: Allan Mikkelsen, on his wanderings in Burma, the Himalayas, and the Andes in 1995 and 1996 8pm Wednesday 19 November Dickson Library Community Room (entrance at rear of library) Make the most of the evening and join other members at 6.00pm for a convivial (BYO) meal at the Pho Phu Quoc Restaurant in Cape Street, Dickson. Try to be early to ensure there will be ample time to finish and still get to the meeting in comfortable time Walks to Allan Mikkelsen Ph: 6278 3164 World Wide Web: http:l/www.pcug.org.auI-amikkelS/Cbchome.html 80 Century Courts, 4 Beetaloo St, Hawker ACT 2614 Articles etc. for publication to Paul Edstein Ph: 6271 4514(w) 6288 1398(h) Fax: 6271 4613 (w) E-mail: cozzia3©aec.gov.au 19 Gamor St, Waramanga ACT 2611 PRESIDENT'S PRATTLE Apologies for the omission of the insert in last September and October issues of It. If anyone wanted month's It of a proforma letter concerning the to write a letter of their own then Doug had supplied proposed developments for the Perisher Radge and ample "ammunition" for a submission. The skifields in the Kosciuszko National Park (Snowy Committee sent a letter on behalf of the Club, which Mountains). This was due to a chain of events that is summarised at the end of this article. led to the letter not being produced in time for the The Committee has also sent a submission October It collation. Copies were made available at responding to the Draft Public Access Strategy the October General Meeting. Discussion Paper for NSW National Parks, issued by Considering this "hiccup" I am extremely the NSW NPWS. Unfortunately we didn't receive grateful to Doug Wright who explained the subject of enough notice on this paper to offer discussion at a the Perisher Valley development in both the General Meeting and the closing date for submissions was 31 October. The same also applies the infrastructure to provide services for larger to our submission to the Tinderry Nature Reserve numbers of visitors. - Plan of Management. As users of the Park, mainly during the non- Our membership numbers have suffered a snow season, we are aware there is likely to be far slump in recent weeks and in most cases this seems less demand for the proposed facilities outside of the due to members forgetting to renew their ski season. To create such a demand in a National membership. I know of one current Committee Park is highly inappropriate. The Perisher Valley has member who forgot but was fortunately (for us) little potential as a summer resort as it doesn't financial at the time of the AGM. So if you know of compare with the superior physical settings of any members who have not received their It for a Thredbo or Jindabyne. month or so, ask them to check with the Membership Thredbo provides relatively easy walking Secretary if their membership is still current. access to Mt Kosciuszko. Perisher Valley, a car drive In this issue there should be (he says with away from Charlotte Pass and a longer walk to Mt some trepidation!) an insert for Jurkiewicz Kosciuszko, has little to offer the casual or Adventure Sports who are providing a special sale enthusiastic bushwalker. Each provide a different evening on the evening of 20 November. So if you're experience of the mountains. looking for some new gear at special prices, then To talk of the Perisher Valley as providing a make sure you get there. "sense of arrival" is nonsense when visitors have Finally I would like to mention the owners of already stopped at or passed through Jindabyne - and the Pho Phu Quoc Restaurant, where members have encouraged to stop at the excellent new visitor centre been dining prior to monthly General Meetings for built at a cost of millions of tax payers dollars. Why the past year. Apart from their excellent meals at not consider free or cheap shuttle transport between reasonable prices they came to the rescue at the Jindabyne and Bullocks Flat to encourage greater use October Meeting by providing something different - of the more environmentally friendly Ski Tube built an electric extension cord - essential for the use of at high cost? projection equipment. We believe the above plans of the NPWS Chris Roper, President P should be withdrawn and revised plans put forward with consideration to the above. PERISHER VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE VACANCY PROPOSALS - I I POINTS RAISED IN CBC SUBMISSION Vice-President/Treasurer We believe that the plan to develop further Gary Trevean, our recently re-elected Vice- accommodation, including a village centre and high President/Treasurer for the past year has had to give rise development, at resorts on the Perisher Range up the position due to competing personal and work should be rejected as unnecessary and inappropriate. commitments. Gary's contribution to the Committee With forecasts of global warming, resulting will be missed. in reduced of snowfalls in the mountains, the Gary's departure also means that we are now proposed increase in the amount of accommodation looking for a replacement. The basic job description and number of chair lifts is economically short- (from the September It) is: sighted with the attendant risk of long term Deputizes for the President and manages the environmental damage. Club's finances. Maintains the account The planned development would be books, advises the Committee and Club detrimental to the environment and indigenous flora members on financial matters, pays and fauna. The setting of the Perisher Range is accounts, banks money, provides receipts suitable as a winter resort only and further and drafts the budget for the following year. development of accommodation, more likely to detract from any natural attraction rather than A good head for figures is important and enhance it, should be concentrated at Jindabyne and access to a PC running Excel (VS or later) would be Bullocks Flat, outside the National Park. Jindabyne, an advantage. with established facilities including commercial Does this sound like you? If so, give Chris accommodation, shops and food outlets, already has Roperaring on 6287 1243 (h) or 6272 5151 (w). Canberra Bushwa!king Club IT November 1997 page 2 TRIP PREVIEW Schlink, Whites R, Diane, Valentine, Mawson, I Tin, Boltons, Horse Camp, Disappointment The 75 (or more) Koseiuszko Huts Spur. Maps: Kosciuszko, Khancoban. Burrungubugge, Kidmans, Daveys, Botherum Most walkers who have stayed in a hut in the Plain. Maps: Khancoban, Berridale, Kosciuszko NP are aware of the efforts of the KHA Kosciuszko. in preserving these huts. However, 1 think few people Doctor Forbes, Geehi, Old Geehi, Keeble, realise there are 75+ habitable huts in the park, not Doctors. Map: Kosciuszko. counting those in adjoining Namadgi. Some of these Seamans, Cootapatamba. Map: Kosciuszko. 75 I have lumped together, (e.g. Currango, which Cascade, Tin Mine, Stockwhip. Map: Thredbo. consists of about 3 main buildings and 26 others). The last few huts are either by the road or do Thanks to the efforts of the Park's service, the not fit in to a coherent trip: Vickerys, Sandy Creek, KI-IA and other groups, most of the huts are being Bullocks, Illawong (locked?), Cesjacks, Grey Hill maintained, (CBC painted Boltons Hill Hut a few Cafe, Major Clews, Hoggs, and many huts at years ago), but huts are still being lost - mainly to Kiandra, and the SMA huts Siren Song and Opera fire. In the last few years Rowleys Orroral (1994), House. Montagues (86), Cool Plain (88), Rutledges (86) Harris (96), Slaughterhouse, Oldfields No. 2 (92) Murray Dow P have been burnt, and Dr. Phillips (87), Ingeegoodbee Fax: 6279 8199 Phone: 6249 5028 and Little Thredbo (84) have been removed. E-mail: [email protected] Over the next few years I am going to attempt to visit most of the huts, mainly the ones WALKS PLANNING EVENING away from roads (because I appreciate peace). At a I I rate of2 huts a day this will take me about 40 days of There will be a Walks Planning Evening, walking to do. Some of the huts are not marked on preceded by a byo BBQ, at the home of Janet and the maps but most are listed in the KHA hut list. The Paul Edstein, 19 Gamor Street, Waramanga, on list is partly reproduced in Klaus' book 'Huts of the Monday 14 November. Come along for the BBQ High Country' which, despite its name, lists only huts from 6pm, or come later for the walks planning part of Koscuiszko and not those of Victoria or ACT. of the evening. This evening should fill some holes in the summer program and lay the groundwork for a I would appreciate your help in notifying me balanced autumn program of walks. Even if you have of any omissions or additions, as I have visited very not I do not want to lead walks, it can be worthwhile few of them myself. I have attempted to list the huts attending one of these evenings. It is an opportunity grouped according to the trips in which I intend to to talk to the leaders and suggest the types of walks visit them, but not necessarily in the order in which I you want on the program. propose to visit them. I do not intend to visit locked huts or sheds built for the Snowy hydro scheme and I If you're thinking of leading your first trip, may not get to some of the solitary huts.