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====No.243 February, 1955 Price 6d.==== | ====No.243 February, 1955 Price 6d.==== | ||
- | |**Co-Editors**|Dot Butler, Boundary Road, Wahroonga (JW2208). Geof Wagg, 19 Mary Street, Blacktown| | + | |**Co-Editors**|Dot Butler, Boundary Road, Wahroonga (JW2208). Geof Wagg, 19 Mary Street, Blacktown.| |
|**Business Manager**|Alex Colley (XAl255)| | |**Business Manager**|Alex Colley (XAl255)| | ||
|**Sales & Subscriptions**|Jess Martin| | |**Sales & Subscriptions**|Jess Martin| | ||
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- Jim Brown. | - Jim Brown. | ||
- | A popular song of perhaps 15 years ago contained the happy thought, make hay while the sun shines, we Y11 make love when it rains" | + | A popular song of perhaps 15 years ago contained the happy thought, |
- | At the end of September | + | |
+ | At the end of September | ||
Up to the Wednesday preceding the trip, it looked as though it might be cancelled for lack of starters, then Alex Colley decided he would definitely like to walk the connecting link between the two trips aforementioned. It says much for Alex's imperviousness to scrubby going that he was game to venture it again. On the Thursday came another starter in prospective Ted Smith. | Up to the Wednesday preceding the trip, it looked as though it might be cancelled for lack of starters, then Alex Colley decided he would definitely like to walk the connecting link between the two trips aforementioned. It says much for Alex's imperviousness to scrubby going that he was game to venture it again. On the Thursday came another starter in prospective Ted Smith. | ||
- | - Walking out from Hazlebrook on a mild Friday evening,- we camped at about 10 o' | + | |
- | 10. | + | Walking out from Hazlebrook on a mild Friday evening, we camped at about 10 o' |
- | mountain towns scattered along the ridge. Around the trig fine pink boronias dotted the rocky top. | + | |
- | A little after 8 o' | + | A little after 8 o' |
- | After I had been persuaded that all was well we persevered through several more dense saddles and up on to the knolls, which wel. sufficiently open to allow us to look down into the cliffy defile of Wentworth Creek. The sky was darker, some grey cloud clung about the summit of Mt. Hay. It was 12.40 when we came to the pre-selected | + | |
- | A very shallow overhang with half a dozen large boulders for a floor provided us with shelter during lunch, and the rain continued. The steep hill across the creek didn't look attractive, but we were virtually at the point of no return. We'd come some seven miles along the ridge, five of 'em through scrub worse than Ild ever met in the Labyrinth: to the end of the track beyond Mt. Hay was only another six miles or so. Bush-pushing was going to be rather evil ir rain, but surely the miles before us couldn' | + | After I had been persuaded that all was well we persevered through several more dense saddles and up on to the knolls, which were sufficiently open to allow us to look down into the cliffy defile of Wentworth Creek. The sky was darker, some grey cloud clung about the summit of Mt. Hay. It was 12.40 when we came to the pre-selected |
- | Leaving the doubtful shelter of our overhang at 2.309 we started the crawl up the dripping slope opposite. I question if the term "slope fairly applies to something so nearly vertical, and I believe I would have spent the rest of the afternoon creeping along the ledges if Alex hadn't aided me in a couple of the stickiest places. A wet ground-sheet which persistently dragged its Press- studs apart as one wrestled through wet brush wasn't helpful. After we'd climbed 500 feet the gradient eased to 45-degrees, the vegetatioL | + | |
- | quite,miraculously we broke into a patch of open heathy scrub, with reedy grasses and flat weathered slabs of sandstone underfoot. There were literally thousands of sun orchids there, but in the absence of the sun they had their blue eyes firmly closed to our sufferings. For five minutes or so we could actually stride along in the drizzle, with a view out over a great stretch of weeping country, lonely, broken gorges. Then we were back in the scrub agai | + | A very shallow overhang with half a dozen large boulders for a floor provided us with shelter during lunch, and the rain continued. The steep hill across the creek didn't look attractive, but we were virtually at the point of no return. We'd come some seven miles along the ridge, five of 'em through scrub worse than I' |
- | 0 | + | |
- | 11. | + | Leaving the doubtful shelter of our overhang at 2.30, we started the crawl up the dripping slope opposite. I question if the term "slope" |
- | 1 | + | |
- | IMPORTANT TRANSPORT NOTICE. | + | Quite miraculously we broke into a patch of open heathy scrub, with reedy grasses and flat weathered slabs of sandstone underfoot. There were literally thousands of sun orchids there, but in the absence of the sun they had their blue eyes firmly closed to our sufferings. For five minutes or so we could actually stride along in the drizzle, with a view out over a great stretch of weeping country, lonely, broken gorges. Then we were back in the scrub again not quite as dense as before. Once we were off our ridge for a few minutes and, as we corrected our coarse, we noted it was past five o' |
- | BUS HWALKERS REQUIRING TRANSPOR FROM BLACKHEATH | + | |
- | SIEDLECKYIS TAXI AND TOURIST SERVICE, | + | Soon after 7.30 the rain resumed its tapping on the tent, so we hastily turned in. We were about half a mile from the north end of the plateau formation which appears on the map three miles east from Mt. Hay, and only a mile or so short of the anticipated spot for the night' |
- | 116 STATION STREET BLACKHEATH. | + | |
- | 2 4 HOUR SERVIC E. | + | |
- | BUSHWALKERS arriving at Blackheath late at night without transport booking can ring for car from Railway Station or call at above address -- IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.' | + | |
- | 'PHONE BTHEATH 81 or 146. LOOK FOR CARS 3210 or TV270. OR BOOK AT MARK SALON RADIO SHOP - OPP. STATION. | + | |
- | not quite as dense as before. Once we were off our ridge for a few | + | |
- | minutes and, as we corrected our coarse, we noted"it was past five | + | |
- | otclook | + | |
- | Soon after 7.30 the rain resumed its tapping on the tent, so we hastily turned in. We were about half a mile from the north end of the plateau formation which appears on the nap three miles east from Mt. Hay, and only a mile or so short of the anticipated spot for the | + | |
- | o night' | + | |
- | O Pegs were not very secure in the damp sand. | + | |
We were off again at 7.30 an Sunday. There had been no rain for several hours and the scrub was reasonably dry where the wind could reach it, but in the saddles and thicker patches, water clung heavily to the foliage. A few minutes brought us to the north end of the plateau, looking across to the yellow cliffs of Mt. Caley, with the Grose River gorge very deep and sombre under the overcast sky. | We were off again at 7.30 an Sunday. There had been no rain for several hours and the scrub was reasonably dry where the wind could reach it, but in the saddles and thicker patches, water clung heavily to the foliage. A few minutes brought us to the north end of the plateau, looking across to the yellow cliffs of Mt. Caley, with the Grose River gorge very deep and sombre under the overcast sky. | ||
- | 12. | + | |
- | Down off the plateau into the first saddle. Since it wasn't actually raining, we had left off our groundsheets for greater freedom of movement, and in twenty minutes we were thoroughly soaked again. The scrub was as bad as we had struck the day before, and we had only occasional glimpses of the way ahead from higher. points. Shortly before nine o' | + | Down off the plateau into the first saddle. Since it wasn't actually raining, we had left off our groundsheets for greater freedom of movement, and in twenty minutes we were thoroughly soaked again. The scrub was as bad as we had struck the day before, and we had only occasional glimpses of the way ahead from higher. points. Shortly before nine o' |
- | There was Hay, sitting square and huge before us, not much more than a mile distant. We sat down for a breather very close to the point where Parties | + | |
- | We were on the mountain at 11.15, lunched in the saddle | + | There was Hay, sitting square and huge before us, not much more than a mile distant. We sat down for a breather very close to the point where parties |
- | Looking back on it, we're glad we were only three. Given very favourable weather - fine and cool - it would have been a difficult trip for a large party. In the unkind conditions we met, I believe | + | |
- | a large party would have been home on Monday. Maybe I exaggerate | + | We were on the mountain at 11.15, lunched in the saddle |
- | ALPINE ADVENTURE. | + | |
+ | Looking back on it, we're glad we were only three. Given very favourable weather - fine and cool - it would have been a difficult trip for a large party. In the unkind conditions we met, I believe a large party would have been home on Monday. Maybe I exaggerate | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Alpine Adventure.===== | ||
- Dot Butler. | - Dot Butler. | ||
- | We had been five weeks in New Zealand, covering the lakes and valleys and mountain | + | |
- | 13. | + | We had been five weeks in New Zealand, covering the lakes and valleys and mountain |
- | soon settled in comfortably for the night. | + | |
- | Leaving the Hermitage | + | Leaving the Hermitage |
- | We waited at the Ball Hut till the cool about 4 p.m. we struggled into our packs and Glacier 6 miles to De la Beche Hut. It took the 6 miles', over icehummocks | + | |
- | . | + | We waited at the Ball Hut till the cool of the afternoon, then about 4 p.m. we struggled into our packs and set off up the Tasman |
- | We reached the hut about 7.30. Here we and weighed our packs and impedimenta. Mine both the boys had over 100 lbs. | + | |
- | We had made plans to climb the Hochstetter Dom (9,179 feet), which is the great mound of snow lying at the head of the Tasman Glacier. This would necessitate an early rising of 3 a.m. on the morrow, but it was going on for 11 p.m. when we finally retired and we didn't wake up till 4.45 a.m. when the glow in the sky, which should have been the moon but was annually the sun, awoke Gordon. He and Bert had slept outside among the boulders, it being reputed to be cooler outside, while I enjoyed the comfort of a bunk inside, but | + | We reached the hut about 7.30. Here we found a spring scale and weighed our packs and impedimenta. Mine was a mere 53 lbs., but both the boys had over 100 lbs. |
- | was soon rudely awakened and mechanically struggled into my clothes and pulled on the hobnailed:boots, the while we consumed lukewarm porridge, slightly overdone,.in the murky light of a candle while dawn endeavoured to break outside. | + | |
- | One of the hardest parts of Mountaineering | + | We had made plans to climb the Hochstetter Dom (9,179 feet), which is the great mound of snow lying at the head of the Tasman Glacier. This would necessitate an early rising of 3 a.m. on the morrow, but it was going on for 11 p.m. when we finally retired and we didn't wake up till 4.45 a.m. when the glow in the sky, which should have been the moon but was annually the sun, awoke Gordon. He and Bert had slept outside among the boulders, it being reputed to be cooler outside, while I enjoyed the comfort of a bunk inside, but I was soon rudely awakened and mechanically struggled into my clothes and pulled on the hobnailed boots, the while we consumed lukewarm porridge, slightly overdone, in the murky light of a candle while dawn endeavoured to break outside. |
- | We were ready to set out by 5.55 a.m. It was now quite light. We followed | + | |
- | The glacier now gave way to vast undulating | + | One of the hardest parts of mountaineering |
- | found a spring scale was a mere 53 lbs., but | + | |
- | 14. | + | We were ready to set out by 5.55 a.m. It was now quite light. We followed |
- | light. As we gained the higher levels the crevasses decreased in number but increased in width, some of them being over 50 feet wide and deep in proportion. They are fascinatingly beautiful. | + | |
- | There were no great hazards to try our skill on this climb, | + | The glacier now gave way to vast undulating |
- | Bert and Gordon now prepared for a good meal, about the fourth since breakfast, and it was hardly yet midday. I felt that I was noi yet in need of nourishment, | + | |
- | It was further. than I thought to the level of the glacier, and when I had filled the bottle, and myself, with ice water I looked back to where the boys were still eating - mere little black dots on a great expanse of white. | + | There were no great hazards to try our skill on this climb, |
- | It was quite hot walking, but one soon became chilly with inacti, so I decided to continue on m3i. way down the glacier and the boys would catch up later. The sun had been shining fiercely on the snow all the morning and in consequence quite a lot of it had melted and was running in cheerful gurgling little channels down all the cracks in the glacier. The surface snow too, in contrast to its morning hardness, was now quite soft and yielding, and many times I broke through the surface into the water below, but it wasn't very deep and as I only wet my boots and socks I didn't mind much, it was such a pleasure to see the happy little runnels of water all rushing and leaping along their separate ways in an intricate network, pouring | + | |
+ | Bert and Gordon now prepared for a good meal, about the fourth since breakfast, and it was hardly yet midday. I felt that I was not yet in need of nourishment, | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was further than I thought to the level of the glacier, and when I had filled the bottle, and myself, with ice water I looked back to where the boys were still eating - mere little black dots on a great expanse of white. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was quite hot walking, but one soon became chilly with inactivity, so I decided to continue on my way down the glacier and the boys would catch up later. The sun had been shining fiercely on the snow all the morning and in consequence quite a lot of it had melted and was running in cheerful gurgling little channels down all the cracks in the glacier. The surface snow too, in contrast to its morning hardness, was now quite soft and yielding, and many times I broke through the surface into the water below, but it wasn't very deep and as I only wet my boots and socks I didn't mind much, it was such a pleasure to see the happy little runnels of water all rushing and leaping along their separate ways in an intricate network, pouring | ||
I followed the hurrying water fascinated, not conscious of the significance that the crevasses were becoming deeper and more frequent, and that the water now rumbled on with an ominous hollow boom. | I followed the hurrying water fascinated, not conscious of the significance that the crevasses were becoming deeper and more frequent, and that the water now rumbled on with an ominous hollow boom. | ||
- | Suddenly, without warning, the great torrenf, | + | |
- | 15. | + | Suddenly, without warning, the great torrent |
- | Iliad glanced back some time ago and noticed that they had finished their lunch and followed down to the glacier where they had been less than half a mile behind me, but now my straining eyes could see no sign of them on that wide white sea of ice hummocks. They mus be there. They couldn' | + | |
- | 0 | + | I had glanced back some time ago and noticed that they had finished their lunch and followed down to the glacier where they had been less than half a mile behind me, but now my straining eyes could see no sign of them on that wide white sea of ice hummocks. They __must__ |
- | 0 | + | |
- | "I must go back and look for them" I thought while my eyes still feverishly sought the glacier in vain for some movement. I called again and again but no voce answered my shouts from the expanse of desolate white, only the ice cracked and shattered and splintered, and the water sucked and gurgled away into the bottomless depths with the noise like a drowning man. | + | "I must go back and look for them" I thought while my eyes still feverishly sought the glacier in vain for some movement. I called again and again but no voice answered my shouts from the expanse of desolate white, only the ice cracked and shattered and splintered, and the water sucked and gurgled away into the bottomless depths with the noise like a drowning man. |
- | I was about to step into a slight depression where the water was running only a few inches deep, when suddenly the sides and floor caved in, the water disappeared with a quiet whispery sigh, and in deathly silence a deep bottomless chasm yawned at my feet. I jumped like a scalded cat. My heart seemed to be beating suffocatingly in my throat and I set off in a wild uncontrolled run for the side of the glacier. What did it matter if I was thus exposing myself to the dangers of falling avalanches! What did it matter if the going was much more difficult and chopped up at the sides: Anything to be off this treacherous accursed glacier! - it was only a shell of hummoel, | + | |
- | I reached the lateral moraine trembling and panting. "Hi, there" called Bert " | + | I was about to step into a slight depression where the water was running only a few inches deep, when suddenly the sides and floor caved in, the water disappeared with a quiet whispery sigh, and in deathly silence a deep bottomless chasm yawned at my feet. I jumped like a scalded cat. My heart seemed to be beating suffocatingly in my throat and I set off in a wild uncontrolled run for the side of the glacier. What did it matter if I was thus exposing myself to the dangers of falling avalanches! What did it matter if the going was much more difficult and chopped up at the sides! Anything to be off this treacherous accursed glacier! - it was only a shell of hummocky |
- | FEDERATION NOTES - JANUARY. | + | |
+ | I reached the lateral moraine trembling and panting. "Hi, there" called Bert " | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Federation News - January.===== | ||
- Allen A. Strom. | - Allen A. Strom. | ||
the death of | the death of |
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