User Tools

Site Tools


195105

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Last revisionBoth sides next revision
195105 [2018/06/19 12:59] tyreless195105 [2018/06/20 12:42] tyreless
Line 55: Line 55:
 ---- ----
  
-AT THE APRIL GENERAL MEETING.+===== At The April General Meeting=====
  
-It was Friday 13th: two or three "B" grade wars were in progress on the planet Earth: President Truman had just precipitated a first-class squabble by sacking MacArthur: a Federal +It was Friday 13th: two or three "B" grade wars were in progress on the planet Earth: President Truman had just precipitated a first-class squabble by sacking MacArthur: a Federal election campaign was boiling up in Australia: Sydney had its worst day of blackouts ever. Astrologists would probably tell us that the turbulent planet Mars was in the ascendant. At all events the April General Meeting, with the President in the chair and some 60 members present, was probably the most dour debate since the famous Annual General (Deferred Re-Union) Meeting of 1949.
-election campaign was boiling up in Australia: Sydney had its worst day of blackouts ever. Astrologists would probably tell us that the turbulent planet Mars was in the ascendant. At all events the April General Meeting, with the President in the chair and some 60 members present, was probably the most dour debate since the famous Annual General (Deferred Re-Union) Meeting of 1949.+
  
-We welcomed two new members Geoff Boucher and Geoff Gumm to the arena, and dealt with minutes and correspondence in short order. The Victorian Mountain Tramping Club had donated to us a set of their blue-print maps of the Howqua-Mt.Howitt-Mt.Wellington area - +We welcomed two new members Geoff Boucher and Geoff Gumm to the arena, and dealt with minutes and correspondence in short order. The Victorian Mountain Tramping Club had donated to us a set of their blue-print maps of the Howqua - Mt.Howitt - Mt.Wellington area - a most welcome gift. Blue Mountains Council advised that repair work had been carried out on the Govett's Leap Track. A letter from the Local Government Department to the Wild Life Preservation Society (copy to us for information from the latter body) denied that there was any risk of infection in the Hacking River by reason of the sanitary depot at Helensburgh. 
-a most welcome gift. Blue Mountains Council advised that repair + 
-work had been carried out on the Govett's Leap Track. A letter from the Local Government Department to the Wild Life Preservation Society (copy to us for information from the latter body) denied that there +George Spicer enquired why we had written the Sydney University Bush Walkers declining to advocate our members joining in their annual marathon and the President explained Federation's objections on the score of accident hazard and possible adverse publicity. 
-was any risk of infection in the Hacking River by reason of the sanitary depot at Helensburgh. +
-George Spicer enquired why we had written the Sydney University +
-Bush Walkers declining to advocate our members joining in their annual marathon and the President explained Federation's objections on the score of accident hazard and possible adverse publicity. +
  
 Federation Report pointed to a vacancy in the Information Bureau and called for delegates to the Re-union Committee and helpers and entertainers for the Camp Fire. Federation Report pointed to a vacancy in the Information Bureau and called for delegates to the Re-union Committee and helpers and entertainers for the Camp Fire.
Line 77: Line 73:
 Len Scotland voiced the opinion that a decision could be made then and there. He thought the whole scheme too ambitious, and called attention to an earlier project to buy shares in the Lake Albina hut on behalf of the Club. George Spicer deprecated such pessimism and thought that the best in the club would come out when an appeal was made: we would be unified in the purpose. Gil Webb (speaking as Treasurer) said we were apparently thoroughly unified already judging from his perpetual appeal for funds. Len Scotland voiced the opinion that a decision could be made then and there. He thought the whole scheme too ambitious, and called attention to an earlier project to buy shares in the Lake Albina hut on behalf of the Club. George Spicer deprecated such pessimism and thought that the best in the club would come out when an appeal was made: we would be unified in the purpose. Gil Webb (speaking as Treasurer) said we were apparently thoroughly unified already judging from his perpetual appeal for funds.
  
-Alex Colley felt there was much merit in the idea. It cost anything from Z15'to 35 for accommodation in the snow country during the season, and the most enjoyable snow holidays were to be had with bushwalking company. We had in the Club craftsmen and experts in almost all the classifications needed for the construction work itself, and surely we could expect as much aid from the Kosciusko Park Trust as the other clubs who were building there. Anyway, that was the purpose of establishing a sub-committee, to review the whole project.+Alex Colley felt there was much merit in the idea. It cost anything from £15 to £35 for accommodation in the snow country during the season, and the most enjoyable snow holidays were to be had with bushwalking company. We had in the Club craftsmen and experts in almost all the classifications needed for the construction work itself, and surely we could expect as much aid from the Kosciusko Park Trust as the other clubs who were building there. Anyway, that was the purpose of establishing a sub-committee, to review the whole project.
  
-Bill Cosgrove joined Len Scotland in drawing a less cheerful picture. He warned that the cost would probably run into 2,000 to 4,0001 and stated that he had heard another Club building in the Kosciusko area had sunk a considerable amount into erecting a +Bill Cosgrove joined Len Scotland in drawing a less cheerful picture. He warned that the cost would probably run into £2,000 to £4,000, and stated that he had heard another Club building in the Kosciusko area had sunk a considerable amount into erecting a temporary structure which must be replaced by a more elaborate job to meet Park Trust requirements. He supported the Lake Albina contribution. Mention of a temporary hut inspired a few vague suggestions that such a building may be another "Spit Bridge" job - temporary for 20 years or so - and it was resolved to create the the sub-committee. Don Frost was appointed convenor, with Len Scotland, Bill Cosgrove, Alex Colley and Arthur Gilroy as members.
-temporary structure which must be replaced by a more elaborate job +
-to meet Park Trust requirements. He supported the Lake Albina contribution. Mention of a temporary hut inspired a few vague suggestions that such a building may be another hSpit Bridget' job - temporary for 20 years or so - and it was resolved to create the the sub-committee. Don Frostwas appointed convenor, with Len Scotland, Bill Cosgrove, Alex Colley and Arthur Gilroy as members.+
  
-Came General Business and Allan Hardie's motion that the words "The Leader is responsible for the safety of the party and, if he +Came General Business and Allan Hardie's motion that the words "The Leader is responsible for the safety of the party and, if he thinks necessary, may refuse any persons request to attend the walkshould be deleted from future walks programmes. He considered the words offensive, likely to cause ill-feeling, and tended to make official walks into private trips. He contended that any member should be permitted to attend any official walk; that if a leader warned a member that the trip was difficult and the member still joined the party, then the leader had discharged his responsibility, and it was up to the member to stay with the party or find his own way out. The recent inclusion of the words in question in walks programmes tended to filch members rights. He himself had been declined by leaders of two trips recently; the leader of one trip was a comparatively new member and in his opinion an alarmist.
- thinks necessary, may refuse any persons request to attend the walk +
-should be deleted from future walks programmes. He considered the words offensive, likely to cause ill-feeling, and tended to make official walks into private trips. He contended that any member should be permitted to attend any official walk; that if a leader warned a member that the trip was difficult and the member still joined the party, then the leader had discharged his responsibility, and it was up to the member to stay with the party or find his own way out. The recent inclusion of the words in question in walks programmes tended to filch members rights. He himself had been declined by leaders of two trips recently; the leader of one trip was a comparatively new member and in his opinion an alarmist.+
  
 Dorothy Lawry intervened to ask if a leader had not always been entitled to decline, and the President explained that the sentence under discussion had been added to the Walks Programmes about 12 months ago, but it had long been an understood thing that a leader could refuse a members request to join his trip. Dorothy Lawry intervened to ask if a leader had not always been entitled to decline, and the President explained that the sentence under discussion had been added to the Walks Programmes about 12 months ago, but it had long been an understood thing that a leader could refuse a members request to join his trip.
-Jim Hooper, one of the leaders concerned in refusing Allan Hardie, rose and explained that his official Easter trip had been, in fact, a very rugged one. He had noted on a previous walk that Mr. Hardie had lagged well behind the party and was in apparent difficulty at a hazardous spot, and had to be assisted with his rucksack, He read from an article which he intended to submit to the Magazine Editor on the subject of leaders and members on official walks. 
  
-The lengthy debate which followed (lasting over an hour) included comment by Shirley Evans, who had also been refused, that such a severe trip was surely a bad choice for an official Easter trip George Spicer, who had done the Gloucester Tops walks, and +Jim Hooper, one of the leaders concerned in refusing Allan Hardie, rose and explained that his official Easter trip had been, in fact, a very rugged one. He had noted on a previous walk that Mr. Hardie had lagged well behind the party and was in apparent difficulty at a hazardous spot, and had to be assisted with his rucksack. He read from an article which he intended to submit to the Magazine Editor on the subject of leaders and members on official walks. 
-agreed it was very rough - the party had been astray for 27 hours - + 
-(uproar) but Jim Hooper found his way (continued uproar) found +The lengthy debate which followed (lasting over an hour) included comment by Shirley Evans, who had also been refused, that such a severe trip was surely a bad choice for an official Easter tripGeorge Spicer, who had done the Gloucester Tops walks, and agreed it was very rough - the party had been astray for 27 hours - (uproar) but Jim Hooper found his way (continued uproar) ... found his (still continued)..found his ... found his way out admirably in the end.
-his (still continued)..found his To. found his way out admirably in the end.+
  
 Kath Brown agreed that such a severe trip was unfortunate for Easter, but pointed out that it was a case of that walk or none at all, and indicated that Walks Secretaries often found it difficult to find any leader willing to conduct an official trip on holiday week-ends. Claude Haynes considered it was a bad thing that leaders could discriminate so widely - as he understood it, the Easter trip had been an entirely male party, all women had been excluded - and that surely approached a breach of the Constitution which decreed the sexes equal. Kath Brown agreed that such a severe trip was unfortunate for Easter, but pointed out that it was a case of that walk or none at all, and indicated that Walks Secretaries often found it difficult to find any leader willing to conduct an official trip on holiday week-ends. Claude Haynes considered it was a bad thing that leaders could discriminate so widely - as he understood it, the Easter trip had been an entirely male party, all women had been excluded - and that surely approached a breach of the Constitution which decreed the sexes equal.
Line 103: Line 93:
 Max Gentle remarked that if he were ever declined he thought he would just drop out, taking it in good part, and ascribing it to his advancing years, while Bill Cosgrove asked if it were not an unwritten law that official walks should be reconnoitred first (cries of "Jim Hooper went over it at Christmas time"). Roy Bruggy commented if it were a pre-requisite that the leader should have been over the route, it would be even more difficult to get walks for the programme. Ken Meadows suggested, if the motion were adopted, that the Membership Secretary should be instructed in the calibre of members to be admitted - very rugged, or very frail. Roley Cotter rejoined that the standard was to be that of the pattern test walks. We were simply wasting time, he added. Max Gentle remarked that if he were ever declined he thought he would just drop out, taking it in good part, and ascribing it to his advancing years, while Bill Cosgrove asked if it were not an unwritten law that official walks should be reconnoitred first (cries of "Jim Hooper went over it at Christmas time"). Roy Bruggy commented if it were a pre-requisite that the leader should have been over the route, it would be even more difficult to get walks for the programme. Ken Meadows suggested, if the motion were adopted, that the Membership Secretary should be instructed in the calibre of members to be admitted - very rugged, or very frail. Roley Cotter rejoined that the standard was to be that of the pattern test walks. We were simply wasting time, he added.
  
-Members continued to hop up and down, calling for point of order". The writer, the other leader to decline Allan Hardie (for a walk across the Blue Labyrinth) said that, printed or not, the leader had a moral responsibility for his party. Take away the +Members continued to hop up and down, calling for "point of order". The writer, the other leader to decline Allan Hardie (for a walk across the Blue Labyrinth) said that, printed or not, the leader had a moral responsibility for his party. Take away the clause which protected the leader and he must either bear all the burden, or the Club must protect him by reducing the standard of official walks to an absurd level. His reason in this particular case was that the country was tangled, and he could not risk taking anyone who may lag.
-clause which protected the leader and he must either bear all the burden, or the Club must protect him by reducing the standard of +
-official walks to an absurd level. His reason in this particular case was that the country was tangled, and he could not risk taking +
-anyone who may lag.+
  
-Phil Hall supported this view, saying that probably 30 per cent of official trips would have to be deemed too severe, and the standard of the programme would have to be lowered to that of the +Phil Hall supported this view, saying that probably 30 per cent of official trips would have to be deemed too severe, and the standard of the programme would have to be lowered to that of the frailest members. Jack Wren pointed to a risk in the clause, in that it could be used to debar members from attending a trip purely because of personal bias. Allan Hardie made a lengthy reply, but the motion was lost
-frailest members. Jack Wren pointed to a risk in the clause, in that it could be used to debar members from attending a trip purely because of personal bias. Allan Hardie made a lengthy reply, but the motion was lost.+ 
 +Claude Haynes continued to be worried by the apparent discrimination against the female of the species, and moved that the Club publish in the magazine all its by-laws; it was pointed out by several speakers that this would be a prodigous job, and the motion was lost. Alex Colley succeeded, however, with a motion that the Pattern Test Walks should be made known.
  
-Claude Haynes continued to be worried by the apparent discrimination against the female of the species, and moved that the Club publish in the magazine all its by-laws; it was pointed out by several speakers that this would be a prodigous job, and the 
-motion was lost. Alex Colley succeeded, however, with a motion that the Pattern Test Walks should be made known. 
 With all this ado, it was 10.20 p m. before we adjourned. With all this ado, it was 10.20 p m. before we adjourned.
  
 +----
 +
 +Whether it is an indication of how seriously members are taking the Fancy Dress Dance, we can't say. It has come to our ears, and eyes, that the ghost of Gregory Blaxland still lives. In the club a few weeks ago was a rugged pioneering type, which, when the whiskers were parted, turned out to be none other than Kevin Ardill. The report of the expedition will appear concurrently in the "Gazette" and the Bushwalker.
 +
 +----
 +
 +===== Social Notes For May. =====
  
-Whether it is an indication of how seriously members are taking 
-the Fancy Dress Dance, we can't say. It has come to our ears, and eyes, that the ghost of Gregory Blaxland still lives. In the club a few weeks ago was a rugged pioneering type, which, when the whiskers were parted, turned out to be none other than Kevin Ardql. The report of the expedition will appear concurrently in the Gazette and the Bushwalker. 
  
-SOCIAL NOTES FO R MAY. 
 There are two most important social events during the month of May :- There are two most important social events during the month of May :-
 +
 +=== 1. May 18th. ===
 +
 A slide night for members. These nights are becoming increasingly popular and judging by some of the work I've seen around the Club lately, this should he an excellent night. A slide night for members. These nights are becoming increasingly popular and judging by some of the work I've seen around the Club lately, this should he an excellent night.
-1. MAY 1STH. + 
-2. MAY 25TH. Social Night. Not much information about this except that the entertainment is of very high standard. There will also be some Pun and games. +=== 2. May 25th=== 
-FANCY DRESS DANCE. 22ND JUNE+ 
-This dance is real lz a fancy dress one, so be in it. Come along heavily disguised. Bring your own tucker. Soft drinks and coffee will be supplied. +Social Night. Not much information about this except that the entertainment is of very high standard. There will also be some fun and games. 
-PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION 29TH JUNE.+ 
 +=== Fancy Dress Dance - 22nd June=== 
 + 
 +This dance is __really__ a fancy dress one, so be in it. Come along heavily disguised. Bring your own tucker. Soft drinks and coffee will be supplied. 
 + 
 +=== Photographic Exhibition 29th June=== 
 Organisation for this function is well under way. See Peg Bransdon and Roley Cotter for information. Organisation for this function is well under way. See Peg Bransdon and Roley Cotter for information.
-- Ed. Stretton, + 
-Social Secretary. +- Ed. Stretton, Social Secretary. 
-Mr. E. Gaines (Ted) Phillips, Convenor, Mapping Section of the River Canoe Club of N.S.W., has advised that the following canoeists' map has now been completed and is available for inspection + 
-by those interested 1+---- 
-No.51. Moruya and Duea ivers (Merricumbene to Moruya Heads Section) including all tidal and canoeable creeks.+ 
 +Mr. E. Gaines (Ted) Phillips, Convenor, Mapping Section of the River Canoe Club of N.S.W., has advised that the following canoeists' map has now been completed and is available for inspection by those interested :- 
 + 
 +No.51. Moruya and Duea Rivers (Merricumbene to Moruya Heads Section) including all tidal and canoeable creeks. 
 Regretfully Mr. Phillips also advised that the following two maps were destroyed in Paddy's fire :- Regretfully Mr. Phillips also advised that the following two maps were destroyed in Paddy's fire :-
-Map No.20 (Warragamba and Nepean Rivers - Cox's River 
-junction to Penrith section), and Cruising Canoe Club's 
-Map No. 3 (Tuggerah Lakes and-Creeks, including Wyong River). 
  
-SNOWY GRAND GORGE TO KOSCIUSKO+Map No.20 (Warragamba and Nepean Rivers - Cox's River junction to Penrith section)and Cruising Canoe Club's Map No. 3 (Tuggerah Lakes and Creeks, including Wyong River). 
-7576-777Ed JaH7-11%,-17777177 + 
-By Alex Colley. Party: Bill Cosgrove and self. +---
-The Kosciusko country is popular round Christmas, but, an in most of the other walking country, nearly everybody follows a few Well worn routes. We had been around most of these before, some of them both in summer and in winter, and decided we would like to see + 
-something new, while avoiding the tedium of summer walking in new +===== Snowy Grand Gorge To Kosciusko. ===== 
-+ 
-country with heavy packs. So we planned four days loaf on the easy part of the Snowy, followed by a few days easy walking above the 4,000 foot level. +(Dec. 22nd - Jan. 1st, 1950/1.) 
-Being experienced travellers in New Australia we knew how to get out of Coo ma in reasonable time. I had travelled up in the day train and camped the night on my private camp site just out of the town. I was installed in the R.R.R. before the train came and Bill rushed straight out of the train to join me. Breakfast over, the two of us boarded a horribly expensive looking black car, and after a couple of purchases in the town we were on our way. We stopped at the butchr's shop at Jindabyne, where we took our turn after another customer's request for "bacon from zee reeg" had been satisfied. Then we turned off to Ingebyra, about 17 miles distant. The car only just made Ingebyra, because of a boggy patch on the way, and thereafter our progress was in the lap of the godsMany years ago, when road- building was a more popular occupation, a good road had been built from Ingebyra right down to the Jacobs River, some eight miles away and 2,000 or more feet below. The road just went to the River and stopped. Nobody lived there, nor did there appear to be any reason on earth why it should be maintained. But it had been open a year before, and we fervently hoped it was still negotiable, though we hardly expected it after the wet season. Sure enough there were landslides a-plenty, but our driver somehow wove hi n way through the obstacles and eventually ran the car up the little incline in the middle of the bush by the side of the river where the road that led to nowhere stopped. We got out, wished the driver luck in getting through the bog on the way back, and, as our last means of transport droned up the mountain again, we started to convert ourselves from passengers to bushwalkers. I think that the pulses of all bushwalkers must beat a little faster as they realise that they must rely entirely on their legs, their intelligence, and what they have in their packs, for the next week or so. Is everything there? + 
-Is there enough? Then the doubt as to how one can possibly walk for day after day with such a lump on one's back. +By Alex Colley. 
-Below vs the Jacobs River flowed strongly. Though only a short stream it carried as much water as the Cox in a good season, so that it took us some time to get over the rocky stream bed with our heavy packs. Then we resigned ourselves to some hard going. But we soon + 
-became accustomed to our packs, and we were pleased to find that it +Party: Bill Cosgrove and self. 
-9. + 
-14,ALE +The Kosciusko country is popular round Christmas, but, as in most of the other walking country, nearly everybody follows a few well worn routes. We had been around most of these before, some of them both in summer and in winter, and decided we would like to see something new, while avoiding the tedium of summer walking in new country with heavy packs. So we planned four days loaf on the easy part of the Snowy, followed by a few days easy walking above the 4,000 foot level. 
-O 4 $ MILES + 
-tt +Being experienced travellers in New Australia we knew how to get out of Cooma in reasonable time. I had travelled up in the day train and camped the night on my private camp site just out of the town. I was installed in the R.R.R. before the train came and Bill rushed straight out of the train to join me. Breakfast over, the two of us boarded a horribly expensive looking black car, and after a couple of purchases in the town we were on our way. We stopped at the butchr's shop at Jindabyne, where we took our turn after another customer's request for "bacon from zee peeg" had been satisfied. Then we turned off to Ingebyra, about 17 miles distant. The car only just made Ingebyra, because of a boggy patch on the way, and thereafter our progress was in the lap of the godsMany years ago, when road-building was a more popular occupation, a good road had been built from Ingebyra right down to the Jacobs River, some eight miles away and 2,000 or more feet below. The road just went to the River and stopped. Nobody lived there, nor did there appear to be any reason on earth why it should be maintained. But it had been open a year before, and we fervently hoped it was still negotiable, though we hardly expected it after the wet season. Sure enough there were landslides a-plenty, but our driver somehow wove his way through the obstacles and eventually ran the car up the little incline in the middle of the bush by the side of the river where the road that led to nowhere stopped. We got out, wished the driver luck in getting through the bog on the way back, and, as our last means of transport droned up the mountain again, we started to convert ourselves from passengers to bushwalkers. I think that the pulses of all bushwalkers must beat a little faster as they realise that they must rely entirely on their legs, their intelligence, and what they have in their packs, for the next week or so. Is everything there? Is there enough? Then the doubt as to how one can possibly walk for day after day with such a lump on one's back. 
-0 + 
- c +Below us the Jacobs River flowed strongly. Though only a short stream it carried as much water as the Cox in a good season, so that it took us some time to get over the rocky stream bed with our heavy packs. Then we resigned ourselves to some hard going. But we soon became accustomed to our packs, and we were pleased to find that it was almost cool down in the valleyThat day we covered some seven miles to a grassy camp site by the hurrying waters of the Pinch River. The next day we set about making a food depotin which we stored six day's food. We found some old tins and billies which we scraped with sand and washed, put our spare rations into them, then pushed everything into hollow logs and blocked them with stones. That night we camped a few miles above the border. We left our tent and made another depot next morning, taking nothing but our lunch. This too we cached before midday and, feeling like Scott on his way to the Pole, set off to attain our furthest South. As we had now run off the map into the wilds of darkest Victoria we couldn't say just how far we were along the River, but at least we were somewhere over the border. 
--*; + 
-+The Snowy Grand Gorge is a fascinating place, unlike any other Australian river gorge. The River bed itself is usually between one and three hundred yards wide - to take the great flow that comes with the spring thaw. The stream is usually clear with a faint greenish tinge, though on this occasion there was a strong fresh and it was grey with mud. Unfortunately it bears the dismal tokens of erosion - great stretches of sand and mud engulfing the once clear-cut rocks and stones of the river bed. One of our problems was to find stretches flowing slowly enough for swimming. During one of our evening swims I set out to swim the river, but had gone only a few yards when I ran aground and was able to walk all the rest of the way - well over 100 yards - on the sand which had silted up the channels. Above the banks the "pine-clad ridges" which were the setting for the exploits of the "man from Snowy River" started. On these slopes and mountain sides there are only two species of trees - Cypress pines and one of the boxes. The lower slopes are covered with dark pines, amongst which grow a few scattered box trees, and higher up there is mainly box. It is very barren country, with little grass cover. This puzzled us quite a lot. Had it been burnt out, or eaten out by travelling stock? or had the rabbits destroyed the cover and then died out themselves? We were inclined to think thct it was probably fairly near its natural state, and that steep gravelly slopes and low rainfall accounted for the lack of grass. The cypress pine and box association is typical of parts of the Western slopes and plains somewhere round the 15 inch rainfall belt. The high mountains round the Grand Gorge probably caught most of the rainfall before it ever reached this great inland trough. As a result there was little wild life. Reptiles couldn't exist in the sandy wastes of the river bed, while there was not enough grass to support kangaroos or wallabies. Here and there were rabbit warrens.  
-0e+ 
-Iticebyro,+The distant scenery was magnificent, as the gorge is fairly open. We could see great vistas of ridges and peaks rising up from the wide valley. The walking too was most enjoyable. When we learnt enough to ignore the survey pegs which some pre-war hopefuls had used to make out their projected road, and looked instead for the remains of an old stock route, we had easy walking, almost free of obstacles, without undergrowth, and with beautiful views round every bend and over every saddle. The weather was delightful - warm and dry without being hot. 
 + 
 +The journey back was just as enjoyable as the down trip, though the last day was hot. As we approached our base depot we imagined a queue of possums, goannas and echidnas gnawing their way into our rations. However we found all as we had left it. We had half the afternoon left to do our washing and prepare for the next stage of the trip. We had the hardest part of the trip to do the next morning the 3,000 odd foot climb up the Pinch Pass. As the ridge we were to follow had little tree cover, the morning sun, shining across the gorge, would be pretty fierce. An early start wouldn't do much good because it feels just as hot, or hotter, at 7 or 8 a.m. on a dry summer's day as it does at noon. However we decided to start at 7 and hope for a cloud. 
 + 
 +Next morning dawned clear, but as we breakfasted we were pleased to see a thin cirrus cloud starting to form high above. It protected us from the full heat of the sun as we toiled up the pass and converted the morning from a "plug" into a most interesting climb. As we rose up the narrow ridge, which forms a natural embankment leading to the tops, the Grand Gorge of the Snowy took shape beneath us. There are probably steeper and deeper gorges to be seen in our State, but I doubt whether any afford more extensive and varied views, because they are usually narrow and flanked by tablelands rather than mountains of varying shapes. The river here is about 800 feet above sea level, while the mountains rise to over 4,000 feet. The distances, the depth, and the sombre hues of the pine ridges, created a truly "grand" scene. As we mounted the ridge the bare pine slopes gradually gave way to box, then box and dark green kangaroo grass. After about two hours we left the ridge top and went into a little gully through which flowed a clear alpine streamlet. As kangaroo grass gave way to wallaby and snow grass and box yielded to mountain ash we knew the top would not be far. The valley heat was now below us and before long we were on the crest of the Suggan Buggan Range, from where we had our first glimpse of the nobbly crown of the Ram's Head, some 25 miles to the North. 
 + 
 +That afternoon and the next morning we walked along through the open forest country alongside the Ingegoodbie. Sometimes we found clear remnants of the old track, but most of the time we were probably following Brumbie tracks. There are a great number of these animals through this country. Many like them, but to my mind these heavy pounding, hooved animals spoil the quiet of the bush. I suspect too that they are displacing much of the beautiful native fauna. They may also be responsible for the heavy tussock growth on most of the flats often the result of over-grazing. We saw only four head of cattle along the river. 
 + 
 +Soon after lunch the next day we came to the Tin Mines and inspected the workings. We were puzzled by the long narrow deep trenches - up to about twenty feet deep and only six inches wide at the bottom - it must have been a thin miner who cut them. The winch used for raising the dirt was just like an illustration from an early history of N.S.W. - a sapling with one of the roots as a handle. We were just about to pass the hutwhich we have thought empty, when the miner himself (Mr. Carter) emerged. He was one of the old school - 74 years of age he told us - and evidently one of those whose heart ever warms to the lure of a rich find. He invited us in for a cup of tea, which we were glad to accept. He was surely one of the oldest inhabitants of the district and would explain several mysteries - why weren't the stock routes used? where were the cattle? what were the trenches for? Mr. Carter did give us some interesting information. The trenches were his own special method of mining - the dyke method - and the Park Trust had not renewed many of the leases - but we found that his real interests lay in Cancer, Finance, and Communism. We could only wait to hear about the first topic, but left equipped with his booklets covering all three subjects. We had one of them each night round the campfire for the next three nights. 
 + 
 +=== Photographs. === 
 + 
 +1. Snowy River above junction with Jacobs-River.
  
-6 qs 
-Was almost cool down in the valley. That day we covered some seven miles to a 
-grassy camp site by the hurrying waters of the Pinch River. The next day we set about making a food depot, in which we 
-stored six day's food. We found some old tins and billies which we scraped with sand and washed, put our spare rations into them, then pushed everything into hollow logs and blocked them with stones. That night we camped a few miles above the border. We left our tent and made another depot next morning, taking nothing 
-but our lunch. This 
-too we cached before midday and, feeling like Scott on his way to the Pole, set off to attain our furthest South. As we had now run off the map into the wilds of darkest Victoria we couldn't say just how far we were along the River, but at least we were somewhere over the border. 
-The Snowy Grand Gorge is a fascinating place, unlike any other Australian river gorge. The River bed itself is usually between one and three hundred yards wide - to take the great flow that comes with the spring thaw. The stream is usually clear with a faint greenish tinge, 
-10. 
-though on this occasion there was a strong fresh and it was grey with mad. Unfortunately it bears the dismal tokens of erosion - great stretches of sand and mud engulfing the once clear-cut rocks and stones of the river bed. One of our problems was to find stretches flowing slowly enough for swimming. During one of our evening swims I set out to swim the river, but had gone only a few yards when I ran aground and was able to walk all the rest of the way - well over 100 yards - on the sand which had silted up the channels. Above the banks the bpine-clad ridges" which were the 
-setting for the exploits of the aman from Snowy River?' started. On 
-these slopes and mountair sides there are only two species of trees - Cypress pines and one of the boxes. The lower slopes are covered with dark pines, amongst which grow a few scattered box trees, and 
-higher up there is mainly box. It is very barren country, with little grass cover. This puzzled us quite a lot. Had it been burnt out, or eaten out by travelling stock? or had the rabbits destroyed 
-the cover and then died out themselves? We were inclined to think thct it was probably fairly near its natural state, and that steep 
-gravelly slopes and low rainfall accounted for the lack of grass. 
-The cypress pine and box association is typical of parts of the Western slopes and plains somewhere round the 15 inch rainfall belt. The hf_gh mountains round the Grand Gorge probably caught most of the rainfall before it ever reached this great inland trough. As a result there was little wild life. Reptiles couldn/t exist in the 
-sandy wastes of the river bed, while there was not enough grass to 
-support kangaroos or wallabies. Here and there were rabbit warrens. The distant scenery was magnificent, as the gorge is fairly open. 
-We could see great vistas of ridges and peaks rising up from the wide 
-valley. The walking too was most enjoyable. When we learnt enough 
-to ignore the survey pegs which some pre-war hopefuls had used to 
-make out their projected road, and looked instead for the remains ale an old stock route, we had easy walking, almost free of obstacles, 
-without undergrowth, and with beautiful views round every bend and 
-over every saddle. The weather was delightful - warm and dry without being hot. 
-The journey back was just as enjoyable as the down trip, though the last day was hot. As we approached our base depot we imagined a queue of possums, goannas and echidnas gnawing their way into OUP 
-rations. However we found all as we had left it. We had half the afternoon left to do our washing and prepare for the next stage of 
-the trip. We had the hardest part of the trip to do the next morning - 
-the 3,000 odd foot climb ur the Pinch Pass. As the ridge we were to follow had little tree cover, the morning sun, shining across the 
-gorge, would be pretty fierce. An early start wouldn't do much good because it feels just as hot, or hotter, at 7 or S a m. on a dry summer's day as it does at noon. However we decided to start at 7 and hope for a cloud. 
-Next morning dawned clear, but as we breakfasted we were pleased to see a thin cirrus cloud starting to form high above. It protected 
-11. 
-us from the full heat of the sun as we toiled up the pass and converted the morning from a "plug" into a most interesting climb. As we rose up the narrow ridge, which fOrms a natural embankment leading to the tops, the Grand Gorge of the Snowy took shape beneath us. There are probably steeper and deeper gorges to be seen in our 
-State, but I doubt whether any afford more extensive and varied views, because they are usually narrow and flanked by tablelands 
-rather than mountains of varying shapes. The river here is about 
-GOO feet above sea level, while the mountains rise to over 4,000 feet. 
- The distances the depth, and the sombre hues of the pine ridges, 
-6 
-created a truly "grand" scene. As we mounted the ridge the bare pine slopes gradually gave way to box, then box and dark green kangaroo grass. After about two hours we left the ridge top and went into a 
-little gully through which flowed a clear alpine streamlet. As 
-kangaroo grass gave way to wallaby and snow grass and box yielded to 
-mountain ash we knew the top would not be Par. The valley heat was 
-now below us and before long we were on the crest of the Suggan Buggan 
-Range, from where we had our first glimpse of the nobbly crown of the Ram,s Head, some 25 miles to the North. 
-That afternoon and the next morning we walked along through the open forest country alongside the ingegoodbie. Sometimes we found 
-clear remnants of the old track, but most of the time we were probably following Brumbie tracks. There are a great number of these animals 
-through this country. Many like them, but to my mind these heavy pounding, hooved animals spoil the quiet of the bush. I suspect too that they are displacing much of the beautiful native fauna. They 
-may also be responsible for the heavy tussock growth on most of the 
-flats - often the result of over-grazing. We saw only four head of cattle along the river. 
-Soon after lunch the next day we came to the Tin Mines and inspected the workings. We were puzzled by the long narrow deep trenches - up to about twenty feet deep and only six inches wide at the bottom - it must have been a thin miner who cut them. The winch used for raising the dirt was just like an illustration from an early history of N,S.W. - a sapling with one of the roots as a handle. We were just about to pass the hut, which we have thought emp ty, when the miner himself (Mr. Carter) emerged. He was one of the old school - 74 years of age he told us - and evidently one of those whose heart ever warms to the lure of a rich find. He invited 
-us in for a cup of tea, which we were glad to accept. He was surely 
-one of the oldest inhabitants of the district and would explain several mysteries - why weren't the stock routes used? where were the cattle? what were the trenches for? Mr. Carter did give us some 
-interesting information. The trenches were his own special method of 
-mining - the dyke method - and the Park Trust had not renewed many of the leases - but we found that his real interests lay in Cancer, Finance, and Communism. We could only wait to hear about the first 
-topic, but left equipped with his booklets covering all three subjects. We had one of them each night round the campfire for the next three nights. 
-6 
-5 
-1 
-6 
-4 
-PHOTOGRAPHS. 
-I. Snowy River above junction with Jacobs-River. 
 2. Looking downstream from between Jacobs and Pinch Rivers. 2. Looking downstream from between Jacobs and Pinch Rivers.
-3. Typical pine-clad slope near river (below pinch River).+ 
 +3. Typical pine-clad slope near river (below Pinch River). 
 4. Looking upstream from near border. 4. Looking upstream from near border.
 +
 5. Mountain Ash upper Ingegoodbie River. 5. Mountain Ash upper Ingegoodbie River.
 +
 6. Snow Daisies near Mount Stilwell. 6. Snow Daisies near Mount Stilwell.
-(Photographs Nos.1 and 2 taken by Laurie'Rayner in December 1949. + 
-Nos.3-6 taken by Bill Cosgrove +(Photographs Nos.1 and 2 taken by Laurie Rayner in December 1949. Nos.3-6 taken by Bill Cosgrove December 1950.) 
-December 1950.) +
-13.+
 That evening we camped near the headwaters of the Pinch River, having failed in the last hour to find the track beyond. Next morning we found what, by a process of elimination, must be the track; but again it disappeared. However we knew where we were on the map and would inevitably cut it later, so we kept going.  But look as we might we couldn't pick it up, and lost some time climbing through abominable scrub which abounded in snakes, until we crossed over into the valley of Cascade Creek. After this experience we decided to go where the map said the track was, whether we could find it or not, and this method later proved its worth. That evening we camped near the headwaters of the Pinch River, having failed in the last hour to find the track beyond. Next morning we found what, by a process of elimination, must be the track; but again it disappeared. However we knew where we were on the map and would inevitably cut it later, so we kept going.  But look as we might we couldn't pick it up, and lost some time climbing through abominable scrub which abounded in snakes, until we crossed over into the valley of Cascade Creek. After this experience we decided to go where the map said the track was, whether we could find it or not, and this method later proved its worth.
-Our camp that night was in a magnificent spot. We were about 6,000 feet up and looked up the Murray Valle7 almost to its source. This great rift was draped in mist and cloud through which penetrated the rays of the setting sun. We knew it was foolish to camp in such an exposed place with unsettled weather about, but couldn't resist that view. Sure enough a mountain storm with copious rain, thunder, lightning and wind of gale force, broke upon us before dawn. We didn't attempt breakfast in the storm but, just as we finished our packing, the sun struck through and the wind dropped. + 
-That morning we did a side trip to "The Chimneys"Theyp roved to be the nearest thing to a peak that is to be found in the Alps. The last few hundred feet are bare rock with almost vertical stratification. From the top we had a fine backdoor view of the massif of the Ramshead Range and below, to the South, the valley of the Jacobs River leading to the Grand Gorge in the distance. +Our camp that night was in a magnificent spot. We were about 6,000 feet up and looked up the Murray Valley almost to its source. This great rift was draped in mist and cloud through which penetrated the rays of the setting sun. We knew it was foolish to camp in such an exposed place with unsettled weather about, but couldn't resist that view. Sure enough a mountain storm with copious rain, thunder, lightning and wind of gale force, broke upon us before dawn. We didn't attempt breakfast in the storm but, just as we finished our packing, the sun struck through and the wind dropped. 
-As we were ahead of schedule we decided to look over the Upper Crackenback and come up Yerritt16 Spur, tbereby ensuring a good sheltered campsite for the night (it was cold, windy and misty by this time, and we both hated huts)The upper Crackenback proved narrow and rather scrubby at first, due to bad fires which had destroyed the big timber, but as we neared Merritt's it opened out into a typical upland valley with open flats and clumps of black ash. + 
-The mist was still above us when we started our climb up Merritt's next day. Though it blotted out the view we were grateful +That morning we did a side trip to "The Chimneys"They proved to be the nearest thing to a peak that is to be found in the Alps. The last few hundred feet are bare rock with almost vertical stratification. From the top we had a fine backdoor view of the massif of the Ramshead Range and below, to the South, the valley of the Jacobs River leading to the Grand Gorge in the distance. 
-for the coolness and the soft beauty of the Alpine scenery, particularly as we reached the tops and came to magnificent clumps of Snow Daisies and other delicate alpine flowers. That night we camped below Charlotte's Pass, on the Snowy side. We had planned to do the tourist track round the tops the next day, and decided to do the walk, mist or no mist, just in case it cleared on the way. But luck was with us again. As we breakfasted the mist lifted, the sun shone through, and as we started our tour with just a day pack between us the clouds receded giving clear vision to the horizon in every direction. So ended a perfect trip.+ 
 +As we were ahead of schedule we decided to look over the Upper Crackenback and come up Merritt'Spur, tbereby ensuring a good sheltered campsite for the night (it was cold, windy and misty by this time, and we both hated huts)The upper Crackenback proved narrow and rather scrubby at first, due to bad fires which had destroyed the big timber, but as we neared Merritt's it opened out into a typical upland valley with open flats and clumps of black ash. 
 + 
 +The mist was still above us when we started our climb up Merritt's next day. Though it blotted out the view we were grateful for the coolness and the soft beauty of the Alpine scenery, particularly as we reached the tops and came to magnificent clumps of Snow Daisies and other delicate alpine flowers. That night we camped below Charlotte's Pass, on the Snowy side. We had planned to do the tourist track round the tops the next day, and decided to do the walk, mist or no mist, just in case it cleared on the way. But luck was with us again. As we breakfasted the mist lifted, the sun shone through, and as we started our tour with just a day pack between us the clouds receded giving clear vision to the horizon in every direction. So ended a perfect trip. 
 + 
 +----
  
 PATTERN WALKS. PATTERN WALKS.
195105.txt · Last modified: 2018/06/21 13:17 by tyreless

Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki