193601
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|\\ \\ Phone B 3101.|F.A.Pallin, | |\\ \\ Phone B 3101.|F.A.Pallin, | ||
+ | ===== Kanangra Walls and Kowmung River, ===== | ||
- | KANANGRA WALLS AND KOWMUNG RIVER, | + | November, 1931. Edited M.J.D.\\ |
+ | 20/ | ||
- | November, 1931. Edited | + | Our party - George King, Aubrey Winton and I - left Sydney on the Friday, in Roy Hudson' |
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- | Our party - George King, Aubrey Winton and I - left Sydney on the Friday, in Roy Hudsonls | + | |
Up and over the Mountains we made good time and finally pulled into a clearing on the right of the main road at the Jenolan Road turnoff at River Lett, about 12-30 a.m. | Up and over the Mountains we made good time and finally pulled into a clearing on the right of the main road at the Jenolan Road turnoff at River Lett, about 12-30 a.m. | ||
- | We camped the night without a fire, awing to shortage of fuel, but we had a good sleep and arose at dawn on Saturday. On the road early we set out for Oberon, via Tarana. Here further refreshment and final additions to supplies were obtained, then we set out on the road to Jenolan Caves, via Edith, the same route by 'which we returned from Kanangra in 1929. | + | We camped the night without a fire, owing to shortage of fuel, but we had a good sleep and arose at dawn on Saturday. On the road early we set out for Oberon, via Tarana. Here further refreshment and final additions to supplies were obtained, then we set out on the road to Jenolan Caves, via Edith, the same route by which we returned from Kanangra in 1929. |
- | On this present trip we carried, in addition to our usual survey and photo gear, an altimeter, which proved both instructive and useful. The OberonJenolan | + | On this present trip we carried, in addition to our usual survey and photo gear, an altimeter, which proved both instructive and useful. The Oberon-Jenolan |
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- | building a roadway for the car, for about 60 feet around a fallen tree (this time we forgot an axe). Our 1929 camp at Budthingeroo Creek (Luther' | + | |
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- | the swamps were fairly dry this year, we skidded only once, but from Cunynghamele | + | |
Camped at Morong Creek. While the others prepared camp Aub. and I walked 2 miles to Rocky Top, now heavily foliaged, somewhat obscuring the view, and decreasing that pre-historic effect we noticed previously. | Camped at Morong Creek. While the others prepared camp Aub. and I walked 2 miles to Rocky Top, now heavily foliaged, somewhat obscuring the view, and decreasing that pre-historic effect we noticed previously. | ||
- | On Sunday 8th. November the party separated at Morong Creek. We packed our | + | On Sunday 8th. November the party separated at Morong Creek. We packed our Swags and bade farewell to Hudson and Castles, and as the car set out for Sydney, we disappeared into the bush for the week's adventure. This came soon. Within 1/4 mile we saw our first snake. In less than 2 miles we were at Rocky Top, 4160 feet, taking compass shots to Kanangra, Colong, Burragorang, |
- | Swags and bade farewell | + | Whilst observing the wonderful panorama we received the first drops of rain which proved |
- | we disappeared into the bush for the week's adventure. This came soon. Within 1/4 mile we saw our first snake. In less than 2 miles we were at Rocky Top, | + | After lunch and half an hour's reclining on the wooden dance platform in the Cave, we ascended |
- | 4160 feet, taking compass shots to Kanangra, Colong, Burragorang, Shivering, etc, and to some distant points | + | We saw some marvellous effects of the storms, which were accompanied by lightning and thunder. Standing on the Walls we observed the formation of clouds in the gorges below. Away in the distance near Katoomba the valley was filled with clouds whilst above them was clear atmosphere. Above this again was a second series of clouds, and whilst we watched we saw huge lightning discharges pass from one series |
- | Whilst observing the wonderful panorama we received the first drops of rain which proved | + | We made back to camp, prepared tucker |
- | - 10 - | + | Monday broke fine but cloudy. We spent the day in photography and rough surveying. One photo necessitated my laying on the stomach and holding the camera over the edge of the walls. I looked |
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- | soon the rain ceased. | + | |
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- | After lunch and half ar. h-;T:.1.-; reclining on the wooden dance plr.tform in the Cave, we ascended the steel ladders to see the viaw. At tho top we were caught | + | |
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- | in another storm, so, setting backs to the rain and wind, we watched hailstones bounce on the edge of the walls and pass into the abyss ' | + | |
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- | We saw some marvellous effects of the storms, which were accompanied by | + | |
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- | lightning and thunder. Standing on the Walls we observed the formation of | + | |
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- | clouds in the gorges below. Away in the distance near Katoomba the valley was | + | |
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- | filled with clouds whilst above them was clear atmosphere. Above this again | + | |
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- | was a second series of clouds, and whilst we watched we saw huge lightning discharges pass from one series to the other, a distance of perhaps 1000 feet. | + | |
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- | While this display was in progress in the distance, white misty clouds were being born in Kanangra Gorge below us, and on facing east, we saw dense white mists come blowing up from the valley there and which, being deflected upward | + | |
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- | by the walls, resembled jets of steam blowing towards us. During all this display thunder rolled and echoed, the whole giving an awe-inspiring spectacle. Towards late afternoon the clouds settled dawn on us, completely obliterating all view beyond 200 yards. | + | |
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- | We made back to camp, prepared tucker of bully beef, rice and bread, dined heartily, and after placing our plates and mugs under drips from the walls, to be washed clean, we yarned around the fire. When later we turned in the mist became heavier, lightning played with increasing frequency, each flash being | + | |
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- | followed later by a roll of thunder. The lightning became more vivid and the time interval between flash and thunder decreased, while the sound increased. | + | |
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- | The storm-centre was rapidly approaching our camp cave. The lightning became | + | |
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- | inceasant and the thunder rolled continuously, | + | |
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- | at the rocks above our bunks, decided I could do nothing, so attempted to sleep. | + | |
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- | Fortunately I succeeded. What happened after, may be known to George and Aub.- I haven' | + | |
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- | Monday broke fine but cloudy. We spent the day in photography and rough surveying. One photo necessitated my laying on the stomach and holding the camera over the edge of the walls. I looked | + | |
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- | or 300 feet, followed by one hugh steep talus to the creek away dawn below. I hope that photo was worth the risk taken. We measured the depth of the gorge by trig. methods. The height from the walls to the creek is 1119 feet. This is also the depth which Kanangra Brook tumbles in a series of waterfalls (the Kalang Falls). Farther dawn Kanangra Creek (the Grand Gorge) the depth beoomes greater, awing to the rapid fall in the creek bed. | + | |
This day we covered practically the whole of the plateau and made a rough survey, to correct existing maps. Whilst sitting on the edge of a wall we were startled by a small hawk which swooped towards us from the rear and rushed past about 10 feet distant. The sound, being unexpected, certainly gave us a start. | This day we covered practically the whole of the plateau and made a rough survey, to correct existing maps. Whilst sitting on the edge of a wall we were startled by a small hawk which swooped towards us from the rear and rushed past about 10 feet distant. The sound, being unexpected, certainly gave us a start. | ||
- | We noted some wonderful lightning effects on the great Thurat Spires; as the sun sank they threw great shadows over the gorge. Towards evening storms were raging in Burragorang, | + | We noted some wonderful lightning effects on the great Thurat Spires; as the sun sank they threw great shadows over the gorge. Towards evening storms were raging in Burragorang, |
- | presented a beautiful pict,are, we being ten 4, c) fifteen miles away, in the late sunlight. | + | On Tuesday, 10th. November, we arose early and had a shower under rock drips and breakfasted on porridge, toast and cocky' |
- | On Tuesday, 10-C1,. Novenbcr, We arose early and had a shower under rock drips and breakfasted cn 7oorridge, tot cad cocky' | + | We traversed the saddle to the junction of Gingra Range, passing on the way a strange conical rise on the top of the range, surmounted by a large rock, aptly named " |
- | Kanangra, we set for Hovirau' | + | Wednesday was spent on the Kowmung. Our campsite was opposite an enormous vertical wall on the river, about 500 feet high. In the morning |
- | We traversed the saddle | + | After lunch we started upstream getting into gorges which continue upwards |
- | on the Kowmung River. Total descent for the day, 2610 feet. | + | Next day, Thursday, owing to a shortage of ready-made tucker George stayed in camp to cook damper, while Aub. and I went hunting for a suitable route out to Kiaramba |
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- | Wednesday was spent on the Kawmung. Our campsite was opposite an enormous vertical wall on the river, about 500 feet high. In the morning we went downstream, disregarding the rain, which ceased about 10 a.m. A few great bluffs stand back from the river, at places starting from the water' | + | |
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- | After lunch we started upstream getting into gorges which continue upwards | + | |
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- | to Christy' | + | |
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- | thick growth along the bases of cliffs. At a late hour we had to turn back. About here we saw a platypus in a deep pool. | + | |
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- | Next day, Thursday, owing to a shortage of ready-made tucker George stayed in camp to cook damper, while Aub. and I went hunting for a suitable route out | + | |
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- | to KiaraMba | + | |
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- | which led to a grassy, ti-tree flat just beyond certain bluffs. We climbed | + | |
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- | higher to 450 feet in order to get a photograph of the country, and on the way back Aub. caught a rather rare specimen of mountain grasshopper, | + | |
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- | reposes in Sydney Museum. | + | |
After our morning' | After our morning' | ||
- | While resting in camp during the afternoon, preparatory to the morrow' | + | While resting in camp during the afternoon, preparatory to the morrow' |
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- | tramp to Yerranderie, | + | |
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- | tea we yarned. He said he had come from Yerranderie by the shortest route, which did not agree with that planned by ourselves. We decided to track his horse back. He, true son of the mountains, stated the journey could be done in an hour and a half, provided no stops were made, but as he had taken his time he | + | |
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- | had occupied three hours on the journey. This was from Yerranderie to the river, mainly downhill. We allowed double this time, that is, six hours to do the reverse journey. However, this man was a bushman, not an engineer, and his estimate proved most inaccurate, as we found next day. We yarned an hour. He recalled meeting George and I in Yerranderie, | + | |
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- | Jack Zucchetti there. His dog became restless, so finding his horse, he | + | |
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- | mounted, bade us good-bye and vanished downstream around a bend. | + | |
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- | Next day, Friday, 13th. November, we breakfasted early and broke camp, with | + | |
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- | much lightened swags we crossed the river. Here we delayed and co-ordinated | + | |
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- | our efforts in catching a young wild duck. After photographing him we released the little fellow. As he swam away his tail wagged so violently with the joy | + | |
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- | of freedom, that we almost feared physical disaster would result. | + | |
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- | We now turned to the serious work ahead. To be brief, we certainly tracked the horse, whose rider seemed to have no idea of grades. We traced the tracks | + | |
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- | straight up steep spurs, through rough gullies, over broken stones, and, in | + | |
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- | short, over a most adjectival, unmentionable sort of track! Only two happenings relieved the awful climb. We saw two lyrebirds playing on the mountain side, and again, when we were resting, two black cockatoos with red-spotted tails, amiably pulled nuts from the twigs of a tree we were reclining under and playfully dropped them down upon us. | + | |
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- | We left the Kaumung River at about 8-30 a.m. and climbed continuously, | + | |
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- | the top of KiaraMba Range. Here we made observations for position and rested (altitude 2000 feet). | + | |
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- | Soon we were on a good stock route track, making for Byrne' | + | |
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- | colour and taste we decided to have afternoon tea on Black Hollow Creek. Tucker being now dawn to one damper, a pound of oatmeal and half a pound of treacle we contemplated some porridge, quite a novelty for afternoon tea. Unfortunately, | + | |
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- | Made good time to Yerranderie, | + | |
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- | Jack found an old spring-mattress which we successfully installed in a shed, already occupied by a paddy calf and an 0.3. spider. We killed the spider. | + | |
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- | On Saturday, after breakfast we took some photographs, | + | |
- | we set out for the local hostelry, Jack accompanying us. We found that the | + | Next day, Friday, 13th. November, |
- | main building of this oft-occupied house had been burned down. The side rooms in which we have slept on several occasions are now the bar and living quarters. | + | We now turned to the serious work ahead. To be brief, |
- | We went out with Jack and his mate Ryan to do a survey job of a mining venture | + | We left the Kowmung River at about 8-30 a.m. and climbed continuously, |
- | they were interested in. After a hot morning | + | Soon we were on a good stock route track, making for Byrne' |
- | thunderstorm approached. Over a mug of beer we said farewell | + | Made good time to Yerranderie, |
- | departed in the mail-car in pouring rain and in due course arrived safely at Camden, and later at our homes, after a wonderful trip. | + | On Saturday, after breakfast we took some photographs, |
Oliver Glanfield. | Oliver Glanfield. | ||
- | - 13 - | + | ---- |
Dere Hedditor, | Dere Hedditor, |
193601.txt · Last modified: 2015/07/30 13:36 by sbw