193506
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revisionNext revisionBoth sides next revision | ||
193506 [2014/10/02 15:16] – [Exploring Unclimbed Mountains] emmanuelle_c | 193506 [2014/11/01 05:39] – [Why Wear Winter Woolies When Weather Wax Wery Wintry? A Personal Parley With Paddy Pallin.] emmanuelle_c | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
Once again we are right in the heart of the best walking season, and rarely have we had finer weather for May and June, crisp cool mornings, and fine starry nights, albeit rather chilly, making big camp fires -very welcome. | Once again we are right in the heart of the best walking season, and rarely have we had finer weather for May and June, crisp cool mornings, and fine starry nights, albeit rather chilly, making big camp fires -very welcome. | ||
- | Various long trips have been undertaken | + | |
- | With all this activity there should be many experiences worth publishing, also a large selection of photographic gems from which to choose illustrations for the Annual, which is definitely being published in Octoler, in place of the ordinary issue. | + | Various long trips have been undertaken |
- | But time is now very short, and much work remains to be done, so please let the Publishing Committee have your contributions at the earliest possible moment, and thus help to make our second printed Annual a .record one. | + | |
+ | With all this activity there should be many experiences worth publishing, also a large selection of photographic gems from which to choose illustrations for the Annual, which is definitely being published in October, in place of the ordinary issue. | ||
+ | |||
+ | But time is now very short, and much work remains to be done, so please let the Publishing Committee have your contributions at the earliest possible moment, and thus help to make our second printed Annual a record one. | ||
Several members who recently visited Victoria were, as usual, well entertained by our friends of the Southern capital, where we also have in residence some old and valued members of the Club, who, by all accounts, seem to enjoy life as much as they did while living in Sunny New South Wales. | Several members who recently visited Victoria were, as usual, well entertained by our friends of the Southern capital, where we also have in residence some old and valued members of the Club, who, by all accounts, seem to enjoy life as much as they did while living in Sunny New South Wales. | ||
+ | |||
Judging by the latest programme, the newly-formed Social Committee seems to have been putting in some very good work, with promise of more to come. | Judging by the latest programme, the newly-formed Social Committee seems to have been putting in some very good work, with promise of more to come. | ||
- | The Dramatic Club is in full swing, and, not having heard of any free fights, we assume that the General | + | |
+ | The Dramatic Club is in full swing, and, not having heard of any free fights, we assume that the General | ||
===== Exploring Unclimbed Mountains ===== | ===== Exploring Unclimbed Mountains ===== | ||
Line 30: | Line 36: | ||
(continued from last issue) By Marie B. Byles. | (continued from last issue) By Marie B. Byles. | ||
- | As we sat beside our brand new cairn on the top of our first peak there loomed through the mist on our left a rocky aiguille which looked suspiciously higher than the summit we were on. Frank declared it was not, and Frank would probably be the better judge, but Marjorie and I had our suspicions, and still have, Anyhow, higher or not, we thought we might as well climb it. | + | As we sat beside our brand new cairn on the top of our first peak there loomed through the mist on our left a rocky aiguille which looked suspiciously higher than the summit we were on. Frank declared it was not, and Frank would probably be the better judge, but Marjorie and I had our suspicions, and still have. Anyhow, higher or not, we thought we might as well climb it. |
- | So off we set along the snow ridge and dumped our rucksacks and ice-axes at the foot of the rocks. We soon found that the arrete | + | |
- | a thin slab with a sharp tilt on one side and nothingness on the other, with the disconcerting sound of surpressed | + | So off we set along the snow ridge and dumped our rucksacks and ice-axes at the foot of the rocks. We soon found that the arrête |
- | reason seemed to find my posture amusing. After a frantic struggle to get up the steep tilt without handholds or foot-holds, I did eventually reach the upper end, but merely to hear Frank call out, " | + | Marjorie, we can't get any further this way!" All my struggles in the middle of airy space, gone for nothing! |
- | Maim4anie, we can't get any further this way!" All my struggles in the middle of airy space, gone for nothingt | + | |
- | contortions. It looked no thicker than cardboard on the top, and there were no hand - or foot-holds below the top. I am confident that it would not have stood Marjorie' | + | However, we at least intended to return by a different way, and make a traverse of the mountain, though which particular species of traverse, I leave to Frank and Marjorie. We started down a rocky gully, and with us also started |
- | care to return by Frank' | + | we found it ended in a precipice capped by blind, or hanging, glaciers. So that even had we survived the gutter, we should still eventually have had to return. |
- | start - after seven in the morning the afternoon was far advanced, and we thought it wiser to return. | + | |
- | I | + | Such was the ascent of our first virgin peak. We then thought |
- | However, we at least intended to return by a different way, pad make a traverse of the mountain, though which particular species of traverse, I leave to Frank and Marjorie. We started down a rocky gully, and with us also started | + | |
- | one started the barrage. Then we reached a " | + | Frank set the alarm for 1-45 the following morning and we were off by lantern |
- | descend in turn, that is, too long for the length of rope between each person, and too dangerous for all to be in together. So once again we had to return having left the route much safer by removing many of its superfluous rocks. But, as a matter of fact when we viewed our route from Mount Butzbach at a later date, | + | |
- | we found it ended in a precipice capped by blind, or hanging, glaciers. So | + | We were glad to reach the Zora Glacier, about a thousand feet below. Our objective was Mount Fettes on the other side, the mountain Frank and I had discussed the day before. We crossed the glacier, hearing on the way a splendid glacier-stream, |
- | that even had we survived the gutter, we should still eventually have had to return. | + | |
- | Such was the ascent of our first virgin peak. We then thought and for identification it passed under various cognomens from New | + | The day had dawned with a lovely alpine glow on our first peaks, but it now belied its promise; a bitter wind sprung |
- | Sunrise Mountain. But later, when we saw it from Mount Butzbach mist, we considered that it was probably the Mounts Query and/Or r map, but of this more anone | + | |
- | it was unnamed, Year Peak to uncovered by oubtful of the | + | "Fine view, that!" said Frank ironically, waving his arm over the white nothingness. "I ask you, have you ever seen anything finer?" |
- | Frank set the alarm for 1-45 the following morning and we were light before 3 a.m. It was a starlit, dewy night, and we were the knees in the long grass lying between our camp, about 3500feet Mueller Pass, 4500 feet, From the Pass we descended down a slopeoff by lantern soon wet above | + | |
- | , and the | + | It was true that we had not seen anything finer, but it was a view that was: getting a little too familiar! |
- | of mixed sekree | + | |
- | and grass, most unpleasant going. A steep slope of good scree is just fun, for you can put your faith in the Lord, and run, but when it is mixed up with grass and | + | But, apart from the cold and the mist, the climb continued to be easy. The snow-slopes led upward at a gentle grade. And Frank tried to persuade us to take off our crampons. But Marjorie and I, being lightweights, |
- | plants, you cannot run and are always sitting down unintentionally on the most pointed of the stones. For some reason the schist does not seem to make good | + | |
- | scree; it appears to powder into soil without first turning into stones, with the result that what ought to be a scree slope supports a partial vegetation | + | Once over the snow-ridge beyond the intermediate peak we saw a thing that made my heart sink into my crampons - foot-steps in the snow! That was the sequel to the proud boast of the day before. And who was it who had sullied the maiden purity of the snow? Who had for stalled us at our chosen peak two days before at most? We followed the foot-steps up to the little rock arrête |
- | between fair-eized loose rocks. | + | |
- | We were glad to reach the Zora Glacier, about a thousand feet below. Our | + | Clouds swirled round the mountain and occasionally between them we would get a fleeting glimpse of Cook's River or Mount Cook. We tried to get a photo of the latter, but though I lay on my tummy for twenty minutes with my finger on the camera while Marjorie posed uncomfortably on a suitable rock, it was all in vain, the clouds never once lifted to give us a chance. |
- | objective was Mount Fettes on the other side, the mountain Frank and I had | + | |
- | discussed the day before. We crossed the glacier, hearing on the way a splendid glacier-stream, | + | It was bitterly cold, except, curiously enough, on the very summit, and as we had left our rucksacks as well as our ice-axes at the foot of the rocks, we were by now feeling hungry as well as chilly. To sit on the exposed snow-slopes below was impossible, so eventually |
- | directly opposite the Mueller Pass with what we had called Te Keo, or the pointed | + | |
- | peak, on our right, and the peak intermediate between it and Fettes | + | On our return we climbed the summit of the intermediate peak, but alas there were scratches on the rocks. I tried to believe they might be the work of ancient |
- | . ridge. | + | |
- | The day had dawned with a lovely alpine glow on our first peaks, but it now | + | Then we climbed To Keo, not a very high peak, probably only a little over 7000 feet, but it at any rate was virgin, and from the Mahitahi side the most conspicuous peak of the lot, so we built our cairn and put it in the rucksack along with the other virgins. We sauntered down the easy glacier-rounded slopes of To Keo, stopping often to admire the alpine flowers, daisies of almost countless varieties, the largest being the size of small plates, the most striking growing with eight or a dozen blooms on one stalk. Golden rhununculi with black eyes, white gentians in pin-cushion clusters, but loveliest of all were the little rock-gardens of dark-green, mossy plants, starred with golden gems and crystal flowers. What would not the city-dweller give to transport such a rockery to his garden! |
- | belied its promise; a bitter wind spring | + | |
- | "Fine view, thatt" said Frank ironically, waving his arm over the white nothingness. " | + | We had tea on the Muller side of the Zora, watching avalanches thundering |
- | It was true that we had not seen anything finer, but it was a view that was: getting a little too familiars | + | |
- | But, apart from the cold and the mist, the climb continued to be easy. The | + | We reached the bivvy at 5 p.m., fourteen hours, having traversed the whole of Fettes Range and climbed about 6000 feet in all. Now we had to turn to on the far more Herculean task of removing the results of the blow-flies' |
- | snow-slopes led upward at a gentle grade. And Frank tried to persuade us to take off our crampons. But Marjorie and I, being lightweights, | + | |
- | with the kind of strap Marjorie and I had, were a bother to take on and off, and Frank did not consider it worth while our taking them off to climb over the rocks | + | Even after we turned-in to sleep we heard Frank indignantly |
- | of the intermediate peak. Now crampons on rock, anyhow on my feet, always remind me of a cat on tiles, or keas' claws sliding down the iron roof of an alpine hut, | + | |
- | and lacking the bravery of a cat or a kea, I generally end by getting stuck. | + | And now you know why Marjorie |
- | Frank waited patiently while I took an infinity of time trying to get round a corner where there simply wasn't room for my feet and my crampons also. Of course Marjorie being a superb rock-climber does not mind what she wears, and would, I believe, cheerfully scale the most difficult rock-peak in high-heeled dancing shoes. | + | |
- | Ones over the snow-ridge beyond the intermediate peak we saw a thing that made my heart sink into my crampons - foot-steps in the maws That was the sequel to the proud boast of the day before. And who was it who had sullied the maiden purity of the snow? Who had for stalled us at our chosen peak two days before at most? We followed the foot-steps up to the little rock arA, | + | We slept the sleep of the just that night, and heard nothing until the alarm woke us to the sound of a howling tempest. When it grew light we saw the rain sheeting up the Talley at the rate of an express train and the fury of a host of demons. We were well underneath |
- | the South Pole to find Amundsen had got there fi7st, only this time it was Scott who got in first. However, as Mr Johnson was an old boy of Fettes College, Edinburgh, we could not very well grudge them the victory, more especially as he had reverently laid his college hatband on the summit as an offering from the patron god of his college to the patron god of his peak. | + | |
- | Clouds swirled round the mountain and occasionally between them we would get | + | |
- | a fleeting glimpse of Cook's River or Mount Cook. We tried to get a photo of the latter, but though I lay on my tummy for twenty minutes with my finger on the camera while Marjorie posed uncomfortably on a suitable rock, it was all in vain, the clouds never once lifted to give us a chance. | + | |
- | It was bitterly cold, except, curiously enough, on the very summit, and as we had left our rucksacks as well as our ice-axes at the foot of the rocks, we were by now feeling hungry as well as chilly. To sit on the exposed snow-slopes below Was impossible, so eventially | + | |
- | On our return we climbed the summit of the intermediate peak, but alasI there were scratches on the rocks. I tried to believe they might be the work of ancieni | + | |
- | Then we climbed To Keo, not a very high peak, probably only a little over | + | |
- | 7000 feet, but it at any rate was virgin, and from the Mahitahi side the most | + | |
- | conspicuous peak of the lot, so we built our cairn and put it in the rucksack along with the other virgins, We sauntered down the easy glacier-rounded slopes of To Keo, stopping often to admire the alpine flowers, daisies of almost countless varieties, the largest being the size of small plates, the most striking | + | |
- | growing with eight or a dozen blooms on one stalk. Golden rhununculi with black | + | |
- | eyes, white gentians in pin-cushion clusters, but loveliest of all were the little rock-gardens of dark-green, mossy plants, starred with golden gems and crystal flowers. What would not the city-dweller give to transport such a rockery to his gardenI | + | |
- | We had tea on the Muller side of the Zora, watching avalanches thundering | + | |
- | dawn from the hanging glaciers opposite, such a booming thunder for such a tiny | + | |
- | puff of white smokel | + | |
- | of our mountains we saw nothing. | + | |
- | We reached the bivvy at 5 p.m., fourteen hours, having traversed the whole of Fettes Range and climbed about 6000 feet in all. Now we had to turn to on the far more Herculean task of removing the results of the blow-flies' | + | |
- | Even after we turned-in to sleep we heard Frank indignantly | + | |
- | And now you kniir why Marjc.rie | + | |
- | We slept tio lee o cf thc just that night, and heard nothing until the alarm woke us to the sound of a howling tempest. When it grew light we saw the rain sheeting up the Talley at the rate of an express train and the fury of a host of demons. We were wel:. uraderneath | + | |
"What do you do if you find yourself in a tent in rain like this?" I asked Frank. | "What do you do if you find yourself in a tent in rain like this?" I asked Frank. | ||
+ | |||
"You just pack up and go home", he replied laconically. | "You just pack up and go home", he replied laconically. | ||
- | It rained like that for two days, and on the third day I woke to hear the rain still streaming off our rock, and Frank calling out$ | + | |
- | "Someonets | + | It rained like that for two days, and on the third day I woke to hear the rain still streaming off our rock, and Frank calling out. |
- | We lay damn to doze again. It was while trying to doze during the day that I cot dreadful nightmares - or daymares - as to what was happening in my office during my absence. Time and again I found myself struck off the roll of s4licitors | + | |
- | On the third day there were occasionally breaks between the rain clouds; Marjorie and Frank woke up sufficiently to continue the argument about traverses while Harry joined in a discussion on politics. I learned that Australia is a well-governed country; the first time I ever heard such a thing suggested and I was very surprised. One lives to learnt | + | "Someone' |
- | The fourth day was even better. On the strength of a few lucid intervals everyone indulged in a wash, and Frank considered that a shave would nnt be out of place. It was then that the fate of the safety razor was realized. After lunch it had actually cleared and we decided to stretch our legs by going up the Matariki Glacier and traversing the range from the Matariki | + | |
- | the slate and phyllite which served to support Marjorie and MB. In the veins of the rock were perfectly formed quartz crystals growing like plants. We had found much quattz | + | We lay down to doze again. It was while trying to doze during the day that I got dreadful nightmares - or daymares - as to what was happening in my office during my absence. Time and again I found myself struck off the roll of solicitors |
- | Everybody felt more cheerful that evening; Marjorie " | + | |
- | The mists dropped | + | On the third day there were occasionally breaks between the rain clouds; Marjorie and Frank woke up sufficiently to continue the argument about traverses while Harry joined in a discussion on politics. I learned that Australia is a well-governed country; the first time I ever heard such a thing suggested and I was very surprised. One lives to learnt! |
+ | |||
+ | The fourth day was even better. On the strength of a few lucid intervals everyone indulged in a wash, and Frank considered that a shave would not be out of place. It was then that the fate of the safety razor was realized. After lunch it had actually cleared and we decided to stretch our legs by going up the Matariki Glacier and traversing the range from the Matariki | ||
+ | the slate and phyllite which served to support Marjorie and MB. In the veins of the rock were perfectly formed quartz crystals growing like plants. We had found much quartz | ||
+ | |||
+ | Everybody felt more cheerful that evening; Marjorie " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The mists dropped | ||
"Bet, it's going to be a perfect day", said Frank and no one contradicted him. | "Bet, it's going to be a perfect day", said Frank and no one contradicted him. | ||
- | By the time we reached the glacier the mists had disappeared and the deeplytrevassed | + | |
- | All the way up I had been looking fearfully for signs of footsteps in the snow. But there were none. The snows were uncontaminated by man, and the summit rocks (6359 ft.) which we reached at 9.15 a.m., were innocent of any cairn. And to match a first-class climb, a peerless view stretched out around us. Sheltered from the wind we lay in the sun and looked across the Zora Glacier to range upon range of black rook alternating with white ice, rising up tier above tier till they culminated in the crowned head of Mount Cook. Never before did we realize | + | By the time we reached the glacier the mists had disappeared and the deeply crevassed |
- | Clouds floated in the valleys like unsubstantial ranges above which towered the sharp peaks of reality, or like billawstof | + | |
- | Mount Dechan lay further along the range, but separated from us by a yawning gulf, It was this gulf that made us decide to tackle it from the Otoko valley further south. | + | All the way up I had been looking fearfully for signs of footsteps in the snow. But there were none. The snows were uncontaminated by man, and the summit rocks (6359 ft.) which we reached at 9.15 a.m., were innocent of any cairn. And to match a first-class climb, a peerless view stretched out around us. Sheltered from the wind we lay in the sun and looked across the Zora Glacier to range upon range of black rock alternating with white ice, rising up tier above tier till they culminated in the crowned head of Mount Cook. Never before did we realize |
- | After lunch we started back down the glacier, a glacier that will remain in my memory as a foretaste of the white heat of hell. The mocking clouds lay below us instead of above, and nothing broke the fierce rays of the Hun that stre.ani | + | |
- | The wind, too, mocked us like the clouds. At eight thousand feet it was blowing the white, powdered | + | Clouds floated in the valleys like unsubstantial ranges above which towered the sharp peaks of reality, or like billows of silent seas below which on the west we could dimly discern the white breakers of the real ocean breaking on the shoreline whence we had come, ages past, it seemed. The soft murmuring of the mountain winds communing with the sea alone broke the stillness and seemed to make manifest the spirit of beauty floating among the high places. |
+ | |||
+ | Mount Dechan lay further along the range, but separated from us by a yawning gulf. It was this gulf that made us decide to tackle it from the Otoko valley further south. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After lunch we started back down the glacier, a glacier that will remain in my memory as a foretaste of the white heat of hell. The mocking clouds lay below us instead of above, and nothing broke the fierce rays of the sun that streamed | ||
+ | |||
+ | The wind, too, mocked us like the clouds. At eight thousand feet it was blowing the white, powdered | ||
Altogether it was a glacier such as Geoffrey Windthrop Young described in that poem about the plunge into the glacier pool afterwards. Here there was no glacier pool, but we did gradually descend into the shadow of those gentle clouds and reach the relief of soft, green, grassy slopes where a peaty rill sang sweet, mellow songs, luring us to drink its waters nearly dry. | Altogether it was a glacier such as Geoffrey Windthrop Young described in that poem about the plunge into the glacier pool afterwards. Here there was no glacier pool, but we did gradually descend into the shadow of those gentle clouds and reach the relief of soft, green, grassy slopes where a peaty rill sang sweet, mellow songs, luring us to drink its waters nearly dry. | ||
- | Arrived back at camp we had a late lunch, packed up and proceeded | + | |
- | in. I record this as a warning to others, but I know no one will Ile warned. | + | Arrived back at camp we had a late lunch, packed up and proceeded |
- | I never am myself, so I cannot expect others to be. | + | |
- | Next day I felt ghastly, and perhaps it was as well that rain drove us hack from our climb when we had ascended only a couple of thousand feet or so up the dry gully behind our camp onto the grass slopes above the tree-line. The bell birds sang to us from the crimson rata trees as we ate breakfast the following | + | Next day I felt ghastly, and perhaps it was as well that rain drove us back from our climb when we had ascended only a couple of thousand feet or so up the dry gully behind our camp onto the grass slopes above the tree-line. The bell birds sang to us from the crimson rata trees as we ate breakfast the following morning, which shows we were decidedly late in getting up, I heard Frank calling out earlier, but I thought, or pretended to think, for I was still feeling most unwell, that he was calling keas, and Marjorie nothing loath agreed with me; we both snuggled down again until the rising smoke made the previous explanation impossible. It was 4.20 a.m. before we left, too late when you realize that though our peak would not be as much as 7500 feet, yet as our camp was only about 2500 feet, we had a 3000 foot climb before us, and unless we were at the summit by 9 a.m,, it would be too late, for the inevitable clouds that grow to life in the valleys as the day advances, would already have risen up and shut out the view. |
- | morning, which shows we were decidedly late in getting up, I heard Frank calling out earlier, but I thought, or pretended to think, for I was still feeling most unwell, that he was calling keas, and Marjorie nothing loath agreed with me; we 1, | + | |
- | though our peak would not e as muoh as 7500 feet, yet as our camp was only about 2500 feet, we had a 3000 foot climb before us, and unless we were at the summit by 9 arm" | + | |
This time we chose the baby glacier, the source of the stream beside our camp, instead of the dry gully. It proved an excellent route until the rising sun, loosening the rocks, changed it from a mountaineers highway to a shoot for stones, which we watched in safety from the grass-slopes, | This time we chose the baby glacier, the source of the stream beside our camp, instead of the dry gully. It proved an excellent route until the rising sun, loosening the rocks, changed it from a mountaineers highway to a shoot for stones, which we watched in safety from the grass-slopes, | ||
- | From the baby glacier we went up the shingle | + | |
+ | From the baby glacier we went up the shingle | ||
The view from the summit not only solved the nature of the head of the Makawhio valley, but cleared up many other problems relating to the geography of the district. For after all it was only the second time we had obtained any view worth mentioning. We discovered that it must be Mount Butzbach we were on, and that the peaks of our first climb must be the Mount Query and Doubtful of the map, placed somewhat out of their true position in relation to the Zora Glacier. It also removed the last doubt that the source of the Mahitahi river is at the Mueller Pass and not as shown on the map. | The view from the summit not only solved the nature of the head of the Makawhio valley, but cleared up many other problems relating to the geography of the district. For after all it was only the second time we had obtained any view worth mentioning. We discovered that it must be Mount Butzbach we were on, and that the peaks of our first climb must be the Mount Query and Doubtful of the map, placed somewhat out of their true position in relation to the Zora Glacier. It also removed the last doubt that the source of the Mahitahi river is at the Mueller Pass and not as shown on the map. | ||
+ | |||
Once again serried ridges of the Alps rose up one above the other to the crown of Cook, but this time on the west we could see the whole horizon of the ocean above two small peaks that lay between us and it. | Once again serried ridges of the Alps rose up one above the other to the crown of Cook, but this time on the west we could see the whole horizon of the ocean above two small peaks that lay between us and it. | ||
- | We traversed the peak and, descending by the rock arrete, arrived back in camp with plenty of time to wash clothes and remove biddy-biddies from them. riddybiddies | + | |
- | The climb had been as good as a tonic to Mia, but bush-walking for eleven and | + | We traversed the peak and, descending by the rock arrête, arrived back in camp with plenty of time to wash clothes and remove biddy-biddies from them. Biddy-biddies |
- | a half hours with a pack, albeit a light one, undid all the good of the climb. We left camp at 6 a.m. for Condonis farm. Each time we rested I collapsed, and had eventually to submit to being dosed with brandy, vile stuff which made me wonder | + | |
+ | The climb had been as good as a tonic to Mia, but bush-walking for eleven and a half hours with a pack, albeit a light one, undid all the good of the climb. We left camp at 6 a.m. for Condonis farm. Each time we rested I collapsed, and had eventually to submit to being dosed with brandy, vile stuff which made me wonder | ||
At weary last we emerged from the forest, the valley widened out and we reached the cache where we had parted from the horses coming out. Here we parked most of our stuff, and tramped on leisurely with wider views around and | At weary last we emerged from the forest, the valley widened out and we reached the cache where we had parted from the horses coming out. Here we parked most of our stuff, and tramped on leisurely with wider views around and | ||
better able to enjoy the lovely scenery. They say a sick body makes the mind especially sensitive to beauty. Anyhow I shall never forget the loveliness of that rushing, blue-grey river where paradise ducks flopped over the boulders | better able to enjoy the lovely scenery. They say a sick body makes the mind especially sensitive to beauty. Anyhow I shall never forget the loveliness of that rushing, blue-grey river where paradise ducks flopped over the boulders | ||
- | pretending to be lame so as to distract our attention from their babies near by. Crystal-clear rills rippled out from the silvan glades of the forest to join the blue-grey river, Rata flamed against the blue sky, and scarlet lichen painted the grey shingles at the river side. Then the mountains flattened out, grassy | + | pretending to be lame so as to distract our attention from their babies near by. Crystal-clear rills rippled out from the silvan glades of the forest to join the blue-grey river, Rata flamed against the blue sky, and scarlet lichen painted the grey shingles at the river side. Then the mountains flattened out, grassy flats edged the river, a telephone line wandered out, and lastly a house, and we were back in civilization |
- | flats edged the river, a telephone line wandered out, and lastly a house, and | + | |
- | we were back in civinzation | + | |
- | (To be continued in our next). | + | |
+ | (To be continued in our next). | ||
===== Jack Debert Interview' | ===== Jack Debert Interview' | ||
" | " | ||
- | " | + | |
- | "Oh, this is serious, Tom. The editor of "The Sydney Bushwalker" | + | " |
- | "Oh,goodl Well put down the usual opening phrase - "After waiting three hours ir the ante-room I was conducted by a uniformed attendant through miles of corridors and Iffs.A | + | |
+ | "Oh, this is serious, Tom. The editor of "The Sydney Bushwalker" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh,good! Well put down the usual opening phrase - "After waiting three hours in the ante-room I was conducted by a uniformed attendant through miles of corridors and was at length ushered into the chamber of the Presence". | ||
"Look, Herbert, cut out the hooey and try to be presidential" | "Look, Herbert, cut out the hooey and try to be presidential" | ||
- | " | + | |
- | How could I? I wish the tlub mould find some other title for its chief | + | " |
- | executive officer; something more in keeping with the ' | + | |
- | "Ahl - /happy-go-lucky spirit' | + | "Ah! - 'happy-go-lucky spirit' |
"Well, Jack, that's the Club's greatest attraction to me. It' | "Well, Jack, that's the Club's greatest attraction to me. It' | ||
+ | |||
"And how does the S.B.W. attract you more than any other recreational club?" | "And how does the S.B.W. attract you more than any other recreational club?" | ||
- | "Our Club offers a refreshing haven from jaded work-a-day reality. At the Club you meet and chat with your fellow members. You may talk of airy nothings and you laugh as much as you talk - and what a tonic that isi One big family of happy kids glad to drop the formality and seriousness of things commercial and just bubble over with glee. When wandering in the bushland and mountains the | + | |
- | same merry chaffing | + | "Our Club offers a refreshing haven from jaded work-a-day reality. At the Club you meet and chat with your fellow members. You may talk of airy nothings and you laugh as much as you talk - and what a tonic that is! One big family of happy kids glad to drop the formality and seriousness of things commercial and just bubble over with glee. When wandering in the bushland and mountains the |
- | real name" | + | same merry chaffing |
- | UYou seem to have lived dawn your old nickname of 'Mandelberg. | + | |
- | 71Well, I suppose I deserved the name when it was first applied. To save packing space in my sack I used to hang on the outside of it billy can, mug and anything else with a handle. In addition there might hang sundry items of wet | + | “You |
- | clothing that I wanted to dry and my resemblance to a second-hand shop was greeted with the cry of "MandelbergC | + | |
+ | “Well, I suppose I deserved the name when it was first applied. To save packing space in my sack I used to hang on the outside of it billy can, mug and anything else with a handle. In addition there might hang sundry items of wet clothing that I wanted to dry and my resemblance to a second-hand shop was greeted with the cry of "Mandelberg” | ||
"And what of Club friendships? | "And what of Club friendships? | ||
+ | |||
"Well of course some of them have developed into marriage but they speak for themselves. My experience is that when you make friends out on the track you do so without any illusions. There' | "Well of course some of them have developed into marriage but they speak for themselves. My experience is that when you make friends out on the track you do so without any illusions. There' | ||
+ | |||
"Do the Club's outdoor activities appeal to you more strongly than any one of your other sporting pastimes?" | "Do the Club's outdoor activities appeal to you more strongly than any one of your other sporting pastimes?" | ||
- | "I think the appeal is more lasting. By mountains, rivers and t, | + | |
- | exult in your freedom from restraint and revel in the fresh air, sunshine and scenery and in that priceless companionship of good fellows who are sharing the delights and difficulties of a trip with you. And then there is the camp fire at the end of the day's activity. Having fed well you feel at peace with all the world as you recline before a blazing log fire and yarn and sing and smoke and yarn again. It's at times like these that you can open your heart and talk with freedom to pals who will give sympathetic response. Around a camp fire you listen to and discuss the varying opinions of life and all its complexities with a frankness that another environment would discourage" | + | "I think the appeal is more lasting. By mountains, rivers and bushland |
- | "Well if you have no further questions, that is all I have to say. These are | + | |
- | my personal views on what you might call "The Club and Myself" | + | "Well if you have no further questions, that is all I have to say. These are my personal views on what you might call "The Club and Myself" |
- | to see the views of other members | + | |
"I intend to seek the views of other members, Tom, and I will also invite them to make comments on any of your views" | "I intend to seek the views of other members, Tom, and I will also invite them to make comments on any of your views" | ||
+ | |||
"Go right ahead, Jack. Now will I ring for the uniformed attendant to conduct you out". | "Go right ahead, Jack. Now will I ring for the uniformed attendant to conduct you out". | ||
- | "Goodbyet I'm going before you get frivolous again" | + | |
+ | "Goodbye! | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Cheerio! | ||
===== Why Wear Winter Woolies When Weather Wax Wery Wintry? A Personal Parley With Paddy Pallin. ===== | ===== Why Wear Winter Woolies When Weather Wax Wery Wintry? A Personal Parley With Paddy Pallin. ===== | ||
Line 183: | Line 204: | ||
our interview terminated, but we'll | our interview terminated, but we'll | ||
- | THE KOWMUNG-WITH VARIATIONS. | + | ===== THE KOWMUNG-WITH VARIATIONS. |
(concluded) | (concluded) | ||
SATURDAY - 2nd, FEBRUARY; | SATURDAY - 2nd, FEBRUARY; |
193506.txt · Last modified: 2015/03/28 17:01 by emmanuelle_c