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--- 193802 [2015/07/07 13:03] – [Members Generally] emmanuelle_c
+++ 193802 [2015/12/04 14:35] – [Bush Walkers in New Zealand] emmanuelle_c
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 By M.B.B.
-Most people would reply emphatically, "yes", and in a democratic society the
+Most people would reply emphatically, "yes", and in a democratic society the opinion of the majority goes. Most of us are delighted to admit to a streak of madness, merely pointing out that the only difference between us and ordinary madmen is that we know we are mad; ordinary madmen don't.
-opinion of the majority goes. Most of us are delighted to admit to a streak of
-madness, merely pointing out that the only difference between us and ordinary madmen is that we know we are mad;. ordinary madmen dontt.
+I mention this because one of our members told me he did not think it was quite nice to suggest that the Melbourne people and our own "Tigers" who seek to walk 84 miles in two days, were mad. I am sorry that anyone should misunderstand an intended compliment. I can only say that mountaineers, to my mind the cream of society, are just a little madder.
-I ment3on this because one of our members told me he did not think it was quite nice to 111grest that the Melbourne people and our on "Tigers" who seek to walk 04
-milo3 in 1;wo days, were mad. I am sorry that anyone should misunderstand an intended comp12. I can only say that mountaineers, to my mind the cream of society, are
+It is the people who do something a little out of the ordinary who make life interesting. How terrible to contemplate a society where everyone was sane and orthodox!
-(7 just a lIttle madder.
-It is the people who do something a little out of the ordinary who make life interesting. How terrible to contemplate a society where everyone MRS sane and orthodoxI
 ===== Bush Walkers in New Zealand =====
@@ Line 49: / Line 47: @@
 Dear Mob,
-This letter is going back per Ada and she leaves us to-day, so having stodged
+This letter is going back per Ada and she leaves us to-day, so having stodged ourselves on Pompalonas (a species of fried scone about the size of a pancake) I have a brief lull in which to write. Bertie is just approaching his 19th. pompa. thereby surpassing all his previous records, as 2 are considered a fair meal. Gordon is a close second, but realises that he hasn't much of a chance.
-ourselves on Pompalonas (a species of fried scone about the size of a pancake) I have a brief lull in which to write. Bertie is just approaching his 19th. pampa0 thereby
-surpassing all his previous records, as 2 are considered a fair meal. Gordon is a
+We are all congregated in a mall one-roomed hut about 12 x 16 - fifteen of us, eleven in our party and 3 other lads. We slept last night packed in like sardines. The hut is situated up above the Rees River with great snow-capped peaks 7 and 8 thousand feet high all around. The river is a green milky flood rushing along at a vast speed - you can hardly stand against it knee deep. Gordon is just reading out a notice pinned up on the hut wall - the wrapper from a Palmolive Soap cake. It says "Successful Men are Well Groomed." The one called Smith has a dusky ziff about a fortnight old. When he crouches in his bunk in the dusk Bertie says he looks like the wanted man. Boy, is he tough!! Not so tough on the feet though. He excelled himself the night before last by stamping on an upturned crampon in the dark, and spiked himself severely losing about a pint of gore.
-close second, but realises that he has/lit much of a chance.
-We are all congregated in a mall one-roomod hut about 12 x 16 - fifteen of ur,
+(Picture of a crampon spikes)
-eleven in our party and 3 other ie ds. We slept 1.ae'e night packed in like sardines.
-The hut 5s situated up above the Res River with groat snow-capped peaks 7 and 8 -bhousand feet high all around, The river is a green milky flood rushing along at a
+We had a wet day yesterday - the first so far. Tell Marie this and make her weep, We had another wet afternoon last week and showers at night, but the days have been perfect - bright sunshine and fresh breezes off the snow fields. We are all sunburnt to an unrecognisable hue. Yesterday three of us had to dash back to the nearest township 25 miles sway to get more food for the mob as we have been short for 2 or 3 days. Bert, George and Dot volunteered and got a lift for 14 miles each way in a lorry and so got back with the food in the one day. The party leaped on it like hungry dogs. Says Gordon, with honey and other foodstuff all over his beard "What a glorious feeling to be full."
-vast speed - you can harelly et,Lad against it knee cleep. Gordon is just reading out
-a notice pinned up on the hut wall - the mrapper from a Palmolive Soap cake. It says "Successful Men are Well Groomed , The one called Smith has a dusky ziff about a fortnight old. When he crouches in 113.2 bunk in the dusk Bertie says he looks like the
-wanted man. Boy, is he toughII Net so tough on the feet though. He excelled himself the night before last by stamping on an upturned crampon in the dark, and spiked
-himself severly losing about a pint of gore,
-T4 (Picture of a crampon spikes upe--,1,J.' )
-We had a wet day yesterday - the first so far. Tell Marie this and make her weep, We had another wet afternoon last week and showers at night, but the days have been perfect - bright sunshine and fresh breezes off the snow fields. We are all ennburnt to an unrecognizable hue. Yesterday three of us had to dash back to the nearest township 25 miles sway to get more food for the mob as we have been short for 2 or 3 days. Bert, George and Dot volunteered and got a lift for 14 miles each way in a lorry and so got back with the food in the one day. The party leaped on it like hungry dogs. Says Gordon, with honey and other foodstuff all over his beard "What a glorious feeling to be full."
 The others spent the day playing cards, chopping wood, washing up etc.
-The day before yesterday 6 of us climbed Mt. Earnslaw (9,180 ft)-'Bert and Dot were on one rope with one called Jack Aitkin - a bonza chap who gave us' our head and let us go. He's one of the best mountaineers in W.Z.and we had a most exciting time glissading down vast snow fields at an angle of so many degrees."Bertie in his exuberance dashed in a crevass on two occasions and only for the fact that Jack dug his ice axa in and we pulled on the rope, we might have lost our little Bert.
-Gordon VMS on another rope with one called Len (who is carefulness and caution personified - and who incdentslay -prefers to be called Leonard rather than Lenny) and another mountaineer :?1.3.e-ad of Jack kitkin's by name of Roy Stroud, who is ize-;.g and
+The day before yesterday 6 of us climbed Mt. Earnslaw (9,180 ft) Bert and Dot were on one rope with one called Jack Aitkin - a bonza chap who gave us our head and let us go. He's one of the best mountaineers in N.Z. and we had a most exciting time glissading down vast snow fields at an angle of so many degrees. Bertie in his exuberance dashed in a crevass on two occasions and only for the fact that Jack dug his ice axe in and we pulled on the rope, we might have lost our little Bert.
-beautiful and frienCly (e eeeond Dobcrt) 6 ft.317" in his socks, and his
-boots are size lai - almoet bi6 enough for young Bruce to sleep in. This rope load took things easier but I doubt il Gordon enjoyed it as much as we did.
+Gordon was on another rope with one called Len (who is carefulness and caution personified - and who incidentally prefers to be called Leonard rather than Lenny) and another mountaineer :friend of Jack Aitkin's by name of Roy Stroud, who is big and beautiful and friendly  and talkative (a second Debert) 6 ft.3 1/2" in his socks, and his
-A note re Sandflies: We collected and squashed a representative collection
+boots are size 12 1/2 - almost big enough for young Bruce to sleep in. This rope load took things easier but I doubt if Gordon enjoyed it as much as we did.
-on the Milford Track, -which George wants sent on to Billy Mullins. They will be found enclosed. There were very few and we had a job to snare the enclosed specimens. They
-J.,?Il!t attack when you are 111kinL; and don't biJ-,s, - only buzzing around the face while
+__A note re Sandflies:__ We collected and squashed a representative collection on the Milford Track, which George wants sent on to Billy Mullins. They will be found enclosed. There were very few and we had a job to snare the enclosed specimens. They don't attack when you are walking and __don't bite__ - only buzzing around the face while
-YOU ar-c, i,11(1-0 Inakirg 1111-LPfMCO of thorns elves. We have accordingly discarded the mosquito netting ends of the tent as being unnecessary (there is a fight going on
+you are eating and making a nuisance of themselves. We have accordingly discarded the mosquito netting ends of the tent as being unnecessary (there is a fight going on down below, which I can witness from my location on a top bunk. Bert has Gordon by the throat, accusing him of publishing libellous statements. Gordon is saying in his letter that Bertie was sea-sick after his fourth pint of icecream on the Awatea which Bert vigorously denies. Those two have various scars as relics of different brawls along the way. Gordon can demonstrate his Grave-Talbot abrasions, caused by indiscreet scruffing, and Bertie has his Milford bruise, his Homer scratch, his Kinloch contusion, etc. etc.
-down below, which I can witnoss from my location on a top bunk. Bert has Gordon by the
-throat, accusing him of publishing libellous statements. Gordon is saying in his letter that Bertie was sea-sick after his fourth pint of icecream on the Ayvatea which Bert vigorously denies. Those two have various scars as relics of different brawls along the way. Gordon can demonstrate his Grave-Talbot abrasions, caused by indiscreot
-scruffing, and Bertie has his Milford bruise, his Homer scratch, his Kinloch contusion,
-etc. etc.
 The 2nd. batch of boys are just cooking their breakfast. Bert has been banished outside by Gordon to wash up, lest he become hungry again and so disgrace us.
-We have had swims in all the lakes and rivers and the sea encoun+,ered on our
-way. The water is absolutely frigid - the sea no less than tho snow fed lakes and rivers - its current sweeps up direct from the South Pole. We dived in pink nn1s),']pr3
+We have had swims in all the lakes and rivers and the sea encountered on our way. The water is absolutely frigid - the sea no less than the snow fed lakes and rivers - its current sweeps up direct from the South Pole. We dived in pink and supple and come out blue and stiff without our breath. "In and out" is the order of the bath.
-and come out blue and stiff wi-hhout our breath. "In and out" is the order of the bath.
-There's a biz disenssion s.,oing on below about dangerous climbers - and the varioylcao/kJtios and fna]ihins ocrsioned by such. I must ceaso writing for a while as I can't eonocnbi-ate
+There's a big discussion going on below about dangerous climbers - and the various casualties and fatalities occasioned by such. I must ceaso writing for a while as I can't concentrate.
----(indicaing that time has elapsed).
-George has been -HI:Ds iljs-013scs photographs - just wait till you see
+-------- (indicating that time has elapsed).
-them - you /11 alJ be ool2liv r'r3y n3 PGT. holiday.
-The beech forestl, hez e arc: tImazinsLy - a soft green light filters
+George has been some high-class photographs - just wait till you see them - you'll all be coming over here for a  holiday.
-through the tiny dots of ,Q1(1. the pjeun(1 undefrfoot is carpeted thick with brcwn and fawn and vivid rod f,fi.12cn lcavs,s - as brLghtly coloured as onristmas apples.
-This is s lard L.2 stress and ferns and mosses, There is the dainty little
+The beech forests here are amazingly beautiful - a soft green light filters through the tiny dots of leaves, and the ground underfoot is carpeted thick with brown and fawn and vivid red fallen leaves - as brightly coloured as Christmas apples.
-fern-like moss which clo-shes every tree trunk and brannh and every fallen limb underfrmt, while groy ghostly 1;leho.::, boards the gnarled trees and sways in an eerie fashion
-wb1). ,r\Rry k:j ightest bresthof Up 011 tho high mountain passes grow the pfncushion mosses aimos:'; circular in shape, smooth and cushiony and dotted all over with
+This is a land of stream and ferns and mosses. There is the dainty little fern-like moss which clothes every tree trunk and branch and every fallen limb underfoot, while grey ghostly lichen beards the gnarled trees and sways in an eerie fashion with every lightest breath of air. Up on the high mountain passes grow the pincushion mosses almost circular in shape, smooth and cushiony and dotted all over with tiny white flower heads, giving the appearance of pins.
-tiny white flower heads, giving the appearance of pins.
-In the yet and dripping watercourees grows the feather'-bed moss 4 or 5 feet
+In the yet and dripping watercourses grows the feather-bed moss 4 or 5 feet thick. You can leap on it and bounce up and down. It would be marvellous to sleep on if it were not full of water.
-thick. You can leap on it and bounce up and dorm. It would be marvellous to sleep
-on if it were not full of water.
+Gordon and Bert and I (Dot) climbed a hill overlooking Milford Sound, so as to get a view of the waters of the Sound. The hill was about 2,500 ft. and this we expected would take us at the most a couple of hours, which we had to fill in before tea. So we set out, following up a watercourse then cut off into the bush. Gee, did you ever imagine bush could be so dense and matted - it grew up almost perpendicular slope so that we practically climbed up from tree to tree. We slipped up perpendicular rock faces - erstwhile waterfalls - burying our hands and toes in the thick featherbed moss to which we clung, (We think this must be a misprint! Ed. ) then followed a steep tree-clad ridge where the ground underfoot was feet thick with fallen trees and branches so moss-covered that we couldn't see whether we were walking on terra firma or six feet above it on rotten wood. It was inevitable that we slipped through on numerous occasions, Gordon going through up to the waist-line, cursing and swearing and nearly breaking his legs and Dot frequently vanishing from sight all of a sudden down a green mossy hole. Nevertheless it was the best bush I have ever climbed in - nice and soft on the bare feet and nothing to cut or scratch the flesh. I wish we grew such in good old N.S.W.
-Gordon and Bert and I (Dot) climbed a hill overlooking Milford Sound, so as to get a view of the waters of the Sound. The hill was about 2,500 ft. and this we expected would take us at the most a couple of hours, which we had to fill in before tea, So we set out, following up a watercourse then cut off into the bush. Gee, did you ever imagine bush could be so dense and matted - it grew up almost perpendicular slope so that we practically climbed up from tree to tree. We slipped up perpendicular roc?. faces - erstwhile waterfalls - burying our hands and toes in the thick featherbed moss to which we clung, (We think this must be a misprint: Ed. ) then followed a steep treeclad ridge where the ground underfoot was feet thick with fallen trees and branches so moss-covered that we couldn:t see whether we were walking on terra firma or six feet above it on rotten wood. It was inevitable that we slipped through on numerous
- occasions, Gordon going through up to the waist-line, cursing and swearing and nearly breaking his legs and Dot frequanny vanishing from sight all of a sudden down a green
+You should see our cooking arrangements over here. We started out with a knife, spoon plate and mug apiece, but have now little by little lost various items of cutlery so that we take it in turns with spoon for our porridge and Dot eats from the pot with a knifes, while, Brenda  acts her best to dispose of soup with a crust of braad and a fork. The day before yesterday Jack Aitkin surpassed us all in economical cooking. He warmed up the tinned sausages in a billy of water and then made tea with the said water. All would have been well if the tin had not been varnished on the outside. Even Gordon, thirsty as he was, declined to drink the varnish flavoured beverage.
-mossy hole. Nevertheless it was the best bush I have ever climbed in - nice and soft on the bare feet and nothing to cut or scratch the flesh. I wish we grew such in
-good old N.S.W.
+There is a poor lone lad with an enormous pack down in the valley unable to cross the flooded river. Bert and Roy have just gone down with the rope and ice-axes to help get him over - great excitement.
-You should c cuz- o7.-,,r 1ire, We started out with a krLICL.
+They carry enormously heavy packs here - having no Paddy Pallin to advise and direct them. If this boy falls in and wets his pack I pity him he won't be able to rise from the ground. Imagine a 60 lb pack dry - and then imagine it wet. Hell! said the Duchess!
-poon pli eula uu w9 bqh hc,vc, row by little lost various items of
-ci,14.,1e oz- so that wc1 taku it im -arns with sponui for our porridge and Dot eats from
+The high alpine meadows here are unsurpassed by anything I have ever seen. The grass is thick and soft and green and when the wind blows over it, it ripples like the surface of the sea. Big white and purple clover flowers grow in profusion and their strong sweet perfume permeates the air. Big fat lazy bumble bees buzz from flower to flower weighing down the clover heads where they settle with a louder and more persistent buzz. There are bushes of wild briar roses whose keen strong scent remind me of the old home town and the friends we left behind. I generally wear a rose in my shirt so I won't forget you. My word you'd all like it over here. No doubt ours will be the fore-runner of other S.B.W. parties in the future. Gordon is keeping an accurate diary of times and dates and trains, boat and car arrivals and departures, not to mention places where food supplies can be obtained, for the benefit of future S.B.W. visits. This trip is a marvel of organisation and good old Smith gets all of our congratulations. The people over here are 100% helpful and kind and considerate and friendliness itself. Their hospitality is almost overwhelming. I had better not start to enlarge on this subject or I will be writing all day.
-i;c, 'Jou with a knifes whilt, bol3t to dispose of soup with a crust of" broad and a fork. The day before yterday jack Aitkin surpassed us all in eoonomica:L cooking. He warmed up the timed sausages in a billy of water and then made tea with the said water. All would have been well if the tin had not been varnished on the
-outside. Even Gordon, thirsty as he was, declined to drink the varnish flavoured beverage.
+The birds here are all very different from ours. There are big heavy game fowl ones called wekas which are so tame they will come right up to the doorway of the huts (incidentally huts are a great idea here. When it rains __it rains__ and to try to cook outside on a wet day would be impossible.)
-There is a poor lone lad with an enormous pack down in the valley unable to cross the flooded river. Bert and Roy have just gone down with the rope and ice-axes
-to help get him over - great excitement.
+Up in the mountain passes and on the peaks are the keas, a symbol of the untamed rocky peaks as they rasp (?) defiance at our approach. They are of a grey-brown colouring, with a flash of pink underparts when in flight, like a sunset tinged cloud (Brenda thinks I said they had pink underpants - we are __not__ amused).
-They ca1q7. enormously heavy packs here - having no Paddy Pallin to advise and direct them. If this boy falls in and wets his pack I pity him he won't be able to
-rise from the ground. Imagine a 60 Ito pack dry - and then imagine it wet. HellI
+The mountain passes are dotted with millions of Alpine daisies and snow lilies - very beautiful and dainty.
-said the Duchess1
--
-The high alp1i mojvc Lr are unsurpassed by anything I have ever seena
-The grass is -thick and soff. siC !,.(,n-(1 and when the wind blows over it, it ripples Ine
-the surface of the sea,. Big milito and purple clover flowers grow in profusion aT1.1
-their strong sweet perfume permemc[i tha air. Big fat lazy bumble bees buzz from
-flower to flower weighing down the clover heads where they settle with a louder and more persistent buzz. There are bushes of wild briar roses whose keen strong scunt remind me of the old home town and the friends we left behind. I generally wear a
-rose in my shirt so I won't forget you My word you'd all like it over here. No
-doubt ours will be the fore-runner of other S.B.W. parties in the future. Gordon is xeeping an accurate diary of times and dates and trains, boat and car arrivals ant".. departures, not to mention places where food supplies can be obtained, for the benefit of future S.B.W. visits. This trip is a marvel of organisation and good, old Smith gets zAlL of our congratulations The people over here are 100% helpful and kind and con-
-z idi'vate and friendliness itself. Their hospitality is almost overwhelming. I had bel;ter not start to enlarge on this subject or I will be writing all day.
-The birds here are all very different from ours. There are big heavy game
-fowl ones called wekas which are so tame they will come right up to the doorway of the huts (incidentally huts are a great idea here. When it rains it rains and to try
-to cook outside on a wet day would be impossible.)
-Up in the mountain passes and on the peaks are the keas, a symbol of the
-untamed rocky peaks as they rasp (?) defiance at our approach. They are of a grey-
-brown colouring, with a flash of pink underparts when in flight, like a sunset tinged cloud (Brenda thinks I said they had pink underpants - we are not amused).
-The mountain passes are dotted with millions of Alpine daisies and snow lilies -
-very beautiful and dainty,
 This letter is necessarily patchy as I am just jotting down things as they are recalled to mind, and time is short. Ada will be ready to go very soon.
-Our next address will be c/o The Hermitage, Mt. Cook till 28th. January)
-after which it will be c/o G.P.O. Wellington.
-Hoping to hear from some or all of you, and kin regard and the Compliments of the Seasot to the Mob,
-From the VIlhole Pack,
-Per D. ENGLISH.
+Our next address will be c/o The Hermitage, Mt. Cook (till 28th. January) after which it will be c/o G.P.O. Wellington.
+Hoping to hear from some or all of you, and kin regard and the Compliments of the Seasot to the Mob.
+From the Whole Pack,\\
+Per __D. ENGLISH.__
 ===== Wading Harry's River. =====
@@ Line 236: / Line 210: @@
 ===== It's a Terrible Strain. =====
-Paddy begs leave to congratulate the Editor on the much improved appearance of the S.B.74 Magazine and makes bold to say that the monthly appearance at a reduced price of the publication is a welcome innovation.
+Paddy begs leave to congratulate the Editor on the much improved appearance of the S.B.W. Magazine and makes bold to say that the monthly appearance at a reduced price of the publication is a welcome innovation.
 But believe it or not folks, thinking up something bright to say in Paddy's Page every month is a terrible strain.
 Nevertheless Paddy will do his best each month to advise, amuse, instruct, inform or at any rate remind you that he is still in business and still makes good camp gear for walkers.
-'PHONE B.3101,
-...... ammIMWF.A. PALLIN,
-George St., SYDNEY. Opposite Palings.
+__PHONE B.3101__
+F.A. PALLIN,\\
+George St.,\\
+SYDNEY. Opposite Palings.\\
 ===== Campfire Chatter. =====
@@ Line 303: / Line 281: @@
 ==== Live Wires. ====
-- Whenever one reads a number of "Into the Blue", the official organ of the Coast and
+Whenever one reads a number of "Into the Blue", the official organ of the Coast and Mountain Walkers, one always has the feeling that they are a very live lot. This issue contains account of two first class trips, one from Ginkin via Morong Falls to Katoomba, and the other over Mount Colboyd and the Gangerangs.
-'Mountain Walkers, one always has the feeling that they are a very live lot. This issue - contains account of two first claue trips, one from Ginkin via Morong Falls to Katoomba, ,1$ and the other over Mount Colboyd and the Gange rangs.
 ==== Ferocious Aunts ====