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--- 193811 [2016/06/29 12:46] – [The Spirit of Garrawarra] emmanuelle_c
+++ 193811 [2016/06/29 13:19] (current) – [Thirteen Over Thurat] emmanuelle_c
@@ Line 231: / Line 231: @@
 by Dorothy Lawry.
-The suggested trip appealed. The party snowballed; ,Hastily I hung out
+The suggested trip appealed. The party snowballed! Hastily I hung out a "house full" sign. Even so, there were thirteen of us (four men and nine women) who left Blackheath at about 10.30 p.m. on Easter Thursday by special car for the Kanangra Track.
-a 'house full" sign. E*en so, there were thirteen of us (four men and nine women) who left Blackheath at about 10.30 p m, on Easter Thursdak by special car for the Kanangra Track.
-It was wet and mistY, but our driver wab undeterred either by the weather or by the heavy mud of the unformed track once he left the Jenolah/Oberon rOad; However, about 2 4 miled along the track the big car was blocked by a humbei- of large rocks which had not then been blasted out of the roadbed. We slithered and walked through the mist for the remaining 3+ miles to Guinlynghamees, and got to bed at about 3 a m.
+It was wet and misty, but our driver was undeterred either by the weather or by the heavy mud of the unformed track once he left the Jenolan/Oberon road; However, about 2 1/2 miles along the track the big car was blocked by a number of large rocks which had not then been blasted out of the roadbed. We slithered and walked through the mist for the remaining 3 1/2 miles to Cunnynghame's, and got to bed at about 3 a.m.
-On Good Friday morning, the last of us left camp at 8.30 a m. It was not raining, but visibility was limited by mist to a hundred yards or so. However, it was quite warm, and our way lay along the old Kanangra Track for five or six miles to the tree blazed "T". When several members of the party reached Morong Creek, they realised they had overshot the tree by more than a mile! While waiting for them to come back, the rest of us provided an unexpected meal for the local leeches. They were out in their hundreds that week-end.
-Leaving the blazed tree, we set a compass course for a spot beside Thurat Rivulet which, we had been told, was the only possible campsite on the plateau, but an excellent one. About a mile and a half from the Track we found a campspot near the one described - which had not come up to expectations - cnd had an early lunch.
+On Good Friday morning, the last of us left camp at 8.30 a.m. It was not raining, but visibility was limited by mist to a hundred yards or so. However, it was quite warm, and our way lay along the old Kanangra Track for five or six miles to the tree blazed "T". When several members of the party reached Morong Creek, they realised they had overshot the tree by more than a mile! While waiting for them to come back, the rest of us provided an unexpected meal for the local leeches. They were out in their hundreds that week-end.
-xive experiended members of the party, and one young but cautious one,decided to spend the afternoon in camp. The leader, obscrving that the mist seemed to be lifting, weakly consented to lead the others through the bush to Kanangra Falls and back. Kanangra Walls, Nhlls, and Gorge - had been the magnet which had brought these youngsters on the trip; imagine, then, their feelings when it was suggested that they should cut out this part of the trip just because there wa6 some mist hanging around! Except where there was no undergrowth available, we had "twigged" our route to camp from the the Track, so I felt that, if necessary, I could walk the party over to the Walls and back to camp by the Track, so, when one of the stay-at-homes asked, before we left, "What time would you like the search party to set out?", he was treated with proper contempt.
-With our one man carrying his rucksack containing our seven groundsheets, about four torches and three cameras, and a packet of raisins and a slab of chocolate, the seven of us set out. 1, of course, had map and compass, snakebite outfit and matches, and Tuggie carried a saltshaker, with which she dealt with leech after leech as they attacked her ankles.
+Leaving the blazed tree, we set a compass course for a spot beside Thurat Rivulet which, we had been told, was the only possible campsite on the plateau, but an excellent one. About a mile and a half from the Track we found a campspot near the one described - which had not come up to expectations - and had an early lunch.
-We went up on to 'Murat Broad, but soon the fact that all distant landmarks were hidden in the clouds, and the presence of extra creeks not shown on the map, brought us back into Thurat Rivulet, and we followed down its right bank through fairly thick bush, and thin mist, for miles and miles and miles, so it seemed. Ail the way we twigged industriously, at first for our own return trip, but afterwards to give the search party every assistance. Towards 4 p m. we must hive been within a couple of hundred yards of the edge of the Gorge although we had found no sign of the Falls. Then we gave up the search, for the mist came over like a blanket, reducing visibility to about ten yards.
-The map showed that the Kanangra Track dhould be runuing roughly east-west somewhere to the south of us, so to the south we went, by compass alone, and
+Five experienced members of the party, and one young but cautious one, decided to spend the afternoon in camp. The leader, observing that the mist seemed to be lifting, weakly consented to lead the others through the bush to Kanangra Falls and back. Kanangra Walls, Falls, and Gorge - had been the magnet which had brought these youngsters on the trip; imagine, then, their feelings when it was suggested that they should cut out this part of the trip just because there was some mist hanging around! Except where there was no undergrowth available, we had "twigged" our route to camp from the the Track, so I felt that, if necessary, I could walk the party over to the Walls and back to camp by the Track, so, when one of the stay-at-homes asked, before we left, "What time would you like the search party to set out?", he was treated with proper contempt.
-- 12
-reached the Track at 4.50 p mi approximately half-a-mile on the Rocky Top side of the Mud Hut. Rejoicing at the track under our feet, we set out for camp, but,although we made quite a fair pace, it was dusk by the time we had covered the four miles to Morong Creek, and the mist was just as thick as ever. We decided to do without our dinners, and the comforts of camp.
+With our one man carrying his rucksack containing our seven groundsheets, about four torches and three cameras, and a packet of raisins and a slab of chocolate, the seven of us set out. I, of course, had map and compass, snakebite outfit and matches, and Tuggie carried a saltshaker, with which she dealt with leech after leech as they attacked her ankles.
-Tucked away, only about a quarter of a mile from Marong Creek, is Relay Whalen's Hut, and we reached this shelter at 6.15 p m. where we found dry firewood, tealsugar, a billy and a cup, a plate, and some flour but, though Grace made a damper, all we had to at that night was the chocolate and the raisins there were too many weevils in that damper!
-About 7.15 p m. we feared we were rescued already, but the shouts proved to be those of a member or the Rucksack Club and his mate. The two men had decided that the hut would be a good place on a miserable night. So it was -- for cooking and eating their tea -- but it is only a small but and we seven were in possession, so they had to pitch their tent after all. No, to their surprise, we would not take any of their food, but some of us did use some of their spare clothing, very gratefully.
+We went up on to Thurat Broad, but soon the fact that all distant landmarks were hidden in the clouds, and the presence of extra creeks not shown on the map, brought us back into Thurat Rivulet, and we followed down its right back through fairly thick bush, and thin mist, for miles and miles and miles, so it seemed. Ail the way we twigged industriously, at first for our own return trip, but afterwards to give the search party every assistance. Towards 4 p.m. we must have been within a couple of hundred yards of the edge of the Gorge although we had found no sign of the Falls. Then we gave up the search, for the mist came over like a blanket, reducing visibility to about ten yards.
-The hut had a dirt floor and slab walls, with the usual wide cracks, but the roof was fairly watertight. It was furnished with a table, a box to sit on, an old piano- case with a little chaff in the bottom, and a double bed complete with straw mattress and a very ragged old patchwork quilt. As three of us stood surveying the room speculatively, the four nearest the fire chorused,
-"We would not go anywherb near that bed"
+The map showed that the Kanangra Track should be running roughly east-west somewhere to the south of us, so to the south we went, by compass alone, and reached the Track at 4.50 p.m. approximately half-a-mile on the Rocky Top side of the Mud Hut. Rejoicing at the track under our feet, we set out for camp, but, although we made quite a fair pace, it was dusk by the time we had covered the four miles to Morong Creek, and the mist was just as thick as ever. We decided to do without our dinners, and the comforts of camp.
-We three investigated the bed; carefully shook the guilty and turned the mattress, then spread two groundsheets over it, and decided to take the risk of sleeping on the bed,witti the third groundsheet over our bodies and the guilt over our legs. With the horrible predictions of the other four ringing in our ears, we three settled to sleep. Fortune favours the bold; the bed was clean! A wind arose and blew through the chinks in the walls;the other four were cold and uncomfortable most of the night and got very little sleep. About 11 p m. there was a thunderstorm and heavy rain; we were glad we were not parked out by the creek with only groundsheets and a fires
-At 5.35 a m. on the Saturday we left the hut, in brilliant moonlight,and dawn came as we walked along the Kanangra Track towards the blazed tree. Or ce, being one of those who had slept (?) by the fire, was just about walking in her sleep. It was full daylight on a glorious morning when we left the Track, but again the compass had to be used because of the difficulty in finding the broken twigs in the very open bush. At 7.15 a m. we surprised the others by reaching camp. We told our tale as we cooked and ate a large meal, then turned in for a couple of hours' sleep. Only one of the stay- at-homes had worried about us at all, even though they thought we woro out in the rain, but, they were all delighted that we had returned before 8.30 a m. - the time they had decided to start searching for us. A side trip to Gentle's Sheerdown had been planned for that morning, but they decided not to go without us, so, after an early lunch, the whole thirteen of us left camp at about 12.50 p m. to go along the Thurat Plateau and down the East Paralyser to the junction of the Kanangra River and Kanangra Creek.
+Tucked away, only about a quarter of a mile from Morong Creek, is Rolay Whalen's Hut, and we reached this shelter at 6.15 p.m. where we found dry firewood, tea, sugar, a billy and a cup, a plate, and some flour - but, though Grace made a damper, all we had to at that night was the chocolate and the raisins - there were too many weevils in that damper!
-It was a glorious afternoon, and we did take photos at Thurat Trig.(4,200ft)but we did not dawdle much. However, a party of thirteen moves much more slowly than one of only two or three people. It was 4.15 p m. when we left the top of Paralyser, with about 3,000 ft. to descend to the river, after a preliminary descent across a saddle followed by a pushing up through very thick undergrowth to a slightly, lower knob from which various spurs lead off, including the East Paralyser. This bit of scrub shoving annoyed us very much, as did all the loose stones and mountain holly of the descent, but we simply had to carry on.
-e 13 -
+About 7.15 p.m. we feared we were rescued already, but the shouts proved to be those of a member of the Rucksack Club and his mate. The two men had decided that the hut would be a good place on a miserable night. So it was -- for cooking and eating their tea -- but it is only a small hut and we seven were in possession, so they had to pitch their tent after all. No, to their surprise, we would not take any of their food, but some of us did use some of their spare clothing, very gratefully.
-At 6.20 p m. the light had gone, and we were still about a thousand feet above the river,but we were on a comparatively level spot,just about big enough for us all to sit down. Wearily, we subsided to wait for the moon to rise. Meantime we slaked the pangs of thirst and hunger with mw carrots,biscuitsland the like. J7i. cold wind came up before the moon did,and soon after she appeared over Gangerang the evening haze began to thicken, so, about 8 o'clock, we decided that it was no use waiting for the moonlight to get any brighter, and eight of us set off by torch and moonlight to finish the descent. The other five decided,wiselylto camp wherc they were till morning,and they did get a drink when it rained in the small hours. Meanwhiletalthough we had failed to find the right ridge in the poor light and so had descended an even steeper spur, we had succeeded in reaching the creek at about 10 o'clock, and next morning we found we were
-only about 150 yards up from the junction. Down by the creek we were sheltered from
+The hut had a dirt floor and slab walls, with the usual wide cracks, but the roof was fairly watertight. It was furnished with a table, a box to sit on, an old piano-case with a little chaff in the bottom, and a double bed complete with straw mattress and a very ragged old patchwork quilt. As three of us stood surveying the room speculatively, the four nearest the fire chorused,
-the wind and it was a very warm night. We had landed at a lovely campspot, so, after a dip in the creek, supper, tents up, and a long sleep:
-Sunday dawned clear but later there was a hot wind and the air was full of dust. We did not rise early, and we did not hurry about breaking camp as the other five had to rejoin us. However, as they had not appeared when we moved off at 10.25 a m. we guessed they must have found, and come down, the correct ridge. About half-a-mile down the river we found them, just finishing their breakfast. Richardlas leader of that group, said; "As we are so late, we have decided to change our mute. Instead of going to Katoombs via White Dog, Jack's Flat, and Clear Hill, we will continue down the Cox'sRiver to Cedar Creek, then tomorrow go over the Korrowall Buttress Track to Kedumba Valley, and up The Goat Track to the San., where we will get a car to Wentworth Falls."
+"We would not go anywhere near that bed!"
-Richard knew this route, and that the party could do it in the time, but some of the eight wanted to go by the original route,so we said, "See you at lunch-time on the
-Cox and talk about it then.",and went on downstream until we reached the time and the
+We three investigated the bed; carefully shook the guilty and turned the mattress, then spread two groundsheets over it, and decided to take the risk of sleeping on the bed, with the third groundsheet over our bodies and the quilt over our legs. With the horrible predictions of the other four ringing in our ears, we three settled to sleep. Fortune favours the bold; the bed was clean! A wind arose and blew through the chinks in the walls;the other four were cold and uncomfortable most of the night and got very little sleep. About 11 p.m. there was a thunderstorm and heavy rain; we were glad we were not parked out by the creek with only groundsheets and a fires!
-place for a swim and lunch. The other five came along as we were starting to eat, and afterwards we all went on together.
-It was 3.30 p m, when we reached the Cox-Kowmung junctionlso the leader (still me) decided it was too late to ge up tee White Dog, and, like the good bushwalkers they are,
+At 5.35 a.m. on the Saturday we left the hut, in brilliant moonlight, and dawn came as we walked along the Kanangra Track towards the blazed tree. Grace, being one of those who had slept (?) by the fire, was just about walking in her sleep. It was full daylight on a glorious morning when we left the Track, but again the compass had to be used because of the difficulty in finding the broken twigs in the very open bush. At 7.15 a.m. we surprised the others by reaching camp. We told our tale as we cooked and ate a large meal, then turned in for a couple of hours' sleep. Only one of the stay-at-homes had worried about us at all, even though they thought we were out in the rain, but, they were all delighted that we had returned before 8.30 a.m. - the time they had decided to start searching for us. A side trip to Gentle's Sheerdown had been planned for that morning, but they decided not to go without us, so, after an early lunch, the whole thirteen of us left camp at about 12.50 p.m. to go along the Thurat Plateau and down the East Paralyser to the junction of the Kanangra River and Kanangra Creek.
-the whole party continued downstream, reaching the Cedar Creek camp at dusk. Had we
-attempted to reach Jack's Flat, we would surely have been benighted again, and I felt it was time we all had dinnerit all camped together, and all had a campfire: The night
+It was a glorious afternoon, and we did take photos at Thurat Trig. (4,200ft) but we did not dawdle much. However, a party of thirteen moves much more slowly than one of only two or three people. It was 4.15 p.m. when we left the top of Paralyser, with about 3,000 ft. to descend to the river, after a preliminary descent across a saddle followed by a pushing up through very thick undergrowth to a slightly, lower knob from which various spurs lead off, including the East Paralyser. This bit of scrub shoving annoyed us very much, as did all the loose stones and mountain holly of the descent, but we simply had to carry on.
-was "clear and cold", but our only campfire for the trip was a good one
-On Monday morning we were up just before 6 a m. and away before 8 a m.-- but not much: During the day a cold wind came whistling round under a grey sky, which probably helped our pace considerably, especially on the climb, and, under Richard's leadership, we reached the San. between 2.30 p m, and 2.45 p m.
+At 6.20 p.m. the light had gone, and we were still about a thousand feet above the river, but we were on a comparatively level spot, just about big enough for us all to sit down. Wearily, we subsided to wait for the moon to rise. Meantime we slaked the pangs of thirst and hunger with raw carrots, biscuits, and the like. A cold wind came up before the moon did, and soon after she appeared over Gangerang the evening haze began to thicken, so, about 8 o'clock, we decided that it was no use waiting for the moonlight to get any brighter, and eight of us set off by torch and moonlight to finish the descent. The other five decided, wisely to camp where they were till morning, and they did get a drink when it rained in the small hours. Meanwhile, although we had failed to find the right ridge in the poor light and so had descended an even steeper spur, we had succeeded in reaching the creek at about 10 o'clock, and next morning we found we were only about 150 yards up from the junction. Down by the creek we were sheltered from the wind and it was a very warm night. We had landed at a lovely campspot, so, after a dip in the creek, supper, tents up, and a long sleep!
-The first arrivals 'phoned for a car, the idea being that they would change while it was coming out for them, and then it would make a second trip to take in the tail of the party. However, two cars came out, so had to wit a few minutes for the last arrival (me) to finish dressing. Still we were early, for we caught a fast train just before 4 o'clock (and had to stand nearly all the way to town) reaching Sydney just before 6 p m.
+Sunday dawned clear but later there was a hot wind and the air was full of dust. We did not rise early, and we did not hurry about breaking camp as the other five had to rejoin us. However, as they had not appeared when we moved off at 10.25 a.m. we guessed they must have found, and come down, the correct ridge. About half-a-mile down the river we found them, just finishing their breakfast. Richard, as leader of that group, said; "As we are so late, we have decided to change our route. Instead of going to Katoombas via White Dog, Jack's Flat, and Clear Hill, we will continue down the Cox's River to Cedar Creek, then tomorrow go over the Korrowall Buttress Track to Kedumba Valley, and up The Goat Track to the San., where we will get a car to Wentworth Falls."
+Richard knew this route, and that the party could do it in the time, but some of the eight wanted to go by the original route, so we said, "See you at lunch-time on the Cox and talk about it then.", and went on downstream until we reached the time and the place for a swim and lunch. The other five came along as we were starting to eat, and afterwards we all went on together.
+It was 3.30 p.m., when we reached the Cox-Kowmung junction, so the leader (still me) decided it was too late to go up the White Dog, and, like the good bushwalkers they are, the whole party continued downstream, reaching the Cedar Creek camp at dusk. Had we attempted to reach Jack's Flat, we would surely have been benighted again, and I felt it was time we all had dinner, all camped together, and all had a campfire! The night was "clear and cold", but our only campfire for the trip was a good one!
+On Monday morning we were up just before 6 a.m. and away before 8 a.m. - but not much. During the day a cold wind came whistling round under a grey sky, which probably helped our pace considerably, especially on the climb, and, under Richard's leadership, we reached the San. between 2.30 p.m. and 2.45 p.m.
+The first arrivals phoned for a car, the idea being that they would change while it was coming out for them, and then it would make a second trip to take in the tail of the party.. However, two cars came out, so had to wait a few minutes for the last arrival (me) to finish dressing. Still we were early, for we caught a fast train just before 4 o'clock (and had to stand nearly all the way to town) reaching Sydney just before 6 p.m.
 In the crush, four of the party dashed off to connecting suburban trains before we could see them, but the other nine of us rounded off our varied trip, and celebrated Mouldy's birthday, by going straight downtown to a restaurant and dining together.