195607
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revisionLast revisionBoth sides next revision | ||
195607 [2018/09/18 09:33] – tyreless | 195607 [2018/09/18 16:04] – tyreless | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 216: | Line 216: | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ===== Federation Report - June. ===== | ||
- | |||
- | FEDEILLTION REPORT JUNE. | ||
The June Meeting of the Federation was attended by 25 delegates and 4 visitors - a record number by recent standards. | The June Meeting of the Federation was attended by 25 delegates and 4 visitors - a record number by recent standards. | ||
- | The adjourned discussion on the motion that :.nnual REUNIONS | + | |
- | of FEDEW, | + | The adjourned discussion on the motion |
- | GOOD NEIGHBOUR COUNCIL: The secretary, explained that this Council aimed to help a number | + | |
- | DECLINE IN Vi,", | + | __Good Neighbour Council__: The secretary explained that this Council aimed to help a number |
- | Messrs. F.:,.. Pallin (Convenor), S.A Cottier (C.M.W.) | + | |
- | T.Moppett (S.D.W.), R. North (S.U.B.W.), L.Richards (W.E.A.Rambler4 | + | __Decline in walking club membership__: A sub-committee was appointed to work out ways and means to circumvent this decline. It is made up as follows:- Messrs. F.A. Pallin (Convenor), S.A Cottier (C.M.W.), T. Moppett (S.B.W.), R. North (S.U.B.W.), L.Richards (W.E.A. |
- | It seems obvious that there is generally a much wider anddeeper | + | |
- | The president congratulated delegates on the excellent attendance and appealed for a similar-response to the AnnualGeneral | + | It seems obvious that there is generally a much wider and deeper |
- | CONSERVATION: The Caloola Club advised that they are preparing a booklet on tno National | + | |
- | PHOTOGRAPHY ? ? | + | The president congratulated delegates on the excellent attendance and appealed for a similar response to the Annual General |
- | You press the button, wefll do the rest t | + | |
- | Finegrain | + | __Conservation__: The Caloola Club advised that they are preparing a booklet on the National Parks and Faunal Reserves of this State. |
- | Your | + | |
- | Developing | + | __Federation Ball__ |
- | Rollfilms | + | |
- | s' | + | __Honorary Treasurer__: The office has remained vacant for some time and may interfere with ths presentation of the Financial Statement at the Annual General Meeting. Are there any volunteers, please? |
- | or | + | |
- | Leica films | + | ---- |
- | *I Sparkling | + | |
- | Prints | + | === Photography!? |
- | deserve the | + | |
- | best SERVICE | + | You press the button, we'll do the rest! |
- | Perfect | + | |
- | Enlargements | + | Finegrain Developing. Sparkling Prints. Perfect Enlargements. Your Rollfilms or Leica films deserve the best service. |
- | LEICA PHOTO SERVICE | + | |
- | 31 Macquarie Place | + | Leica Photo Service. |
- | SYDNEY N.S.W. | + | |
- | FEDER=ION BALL will take place on 6th October at Hotel Australia, Tickets | + | 31 Macquarie Place, Sydney, N.S.W. |
- | 0 110NOR;;LRY TREASURER: The office has remained vacant for some time and may interfere with ths presentation of th3 Financial Statement | + | |
- | at the Annual General Meeting. Are there any volunteers, please? | + | ---- |
- | I. I. 1 11 1. M. 1. ..1.1 IN | + | |
- | SOCIAL NOTE: | + | === Social Note: === |
- | The Flannel Flower Badge has often been to the top of Mount Olympus in Tasmania, but now we are proud to record that it was recently taken to thetop | + | |
- | 10. | + | The Flannel Flower Badge has often been to the top of Mount Olympus in Tasmania, but now we are proud to record that it was recently taken to the top of the original Mount Olympus in Greece by our own member, Peter Antoniades. Peter gave a most interesting slide lecture in the clubroom on 20th June when he showed us a host of shots taken in Greece, dating from relics from about 6000 B.C. up to the most modern and streamlined innovations in his native land. A great deal of research was undertaken by Peter to deliver a most interesting |
- | WALKS PROGRAMME REPORT FOR MAY, 1956. | + | ---- |
- | ( This report was compiled from information obtained from the leaders of Official Walks for the period mentioned. To assist the Walks Secretary it is earnestly requested that all leaders hand the Walks Sec. a written report immediately after their trip, giving details of number of members and prospective members, highlights of the trip, and any information of general interest. If trips didnIt | + | |
- | There were nine trips listed for May, and six of these started. 50 walkers, including 8 prospectives. attended these trips. However since the same people attended different trips the number of members walking on programmed trips in May was probably nearer 30. | + | ===== Walks Programme Report For May, 1956. ===== |
+ | |||
+ | (This report was compiled from information obtained from the leaders of Official Walks for the period mentioned. To assist the Walks Secretary it is earnestly requested that all leaders hand the Walks Sec. a written report immediately after their trip, giving details of number of members and prospective members, highlights of the trip, and any information of general interest. If trips didn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | There were nine trips listed for May, and six of these started. 50 walkers, including 8 prospectives, attended these trips. However since the same people attended different trips the number of members walking on programmed trips in May was probably nearer 30. | ||
Dave Brown led the first walk in the absence of Peter Stitt who is still nursing a broken leg. Once they had started out the venue was changed and the seven participants went to Yerranderie and did a little caveing up Colong way. | Dave Brown led the first walk in the absence of Peter Stitt who is still nursing a broken leg. Once they had started out the venue was changed and the seven participants went to Yerranderie and did a little caveing up Colong way. | ||
- | The next two trips could only muster one starter between them an by suitable negotiation the trips were cancelled. | + | |
- | Alex Colley was the leader of the Mt. Solitary - Cedar Crk. trip whiSh he was unable to finish because of GOOD leadership. Six member | + | The next two trips could only muster one starter between them and by suitable negotiation the trips were cancelled. |
- | leaving the remaining six to complete the trip. The basic principles of safety were observed and no one was left to fend for himself. | + | |
+ | Alex Colley was the leader of the Mt. Solitary - Cedar Crk. trip which he was unable to finish because of __good__ | ||
Trip 5 to Blue Gum drew no starters. Could it be that members thought they might have to do a bit of fixing on the dam? | Trip 5 to Blue Gum drew no starters. Could it be that members thought they might have to do a bit of fixing on the dam? | ||
- | Trip 6 led by John Noble drew three members and two prospectiveb The three members included Ron Knightly who will be remembered by quite a few. Ron is back in Sydney and had transferred back to active after some gallivanting around. The trip itself was shortened because of lack of time, but an interesting day-walk has been pioneered. If a few more leaders would set up trips from maps alone and then carry them out some really interesting walks could result. | ||
- | Trip 7 was led by an Associate Member, Garth Coulter, who, incidentally, | ||
- | trouble was encountered and one prospective was left in the care of Taro and Frank Young before the Korowall descent was begun. Garth records that a rope is a necessity to lower packs, etc., on the rock faces of the buttrqss; following trips please note. Also Garth, only an Associate Member at the writing of this report, went to the trouble to furnish a written report on the trip. Would other leaders (with the exception of Alex Colley and John Noble) please note. | ||
- | The Wentworth-Falls-Bimlow trip led by John White drew five starters and one prospective. P. verbal report on the trip tells us that both the bridges across the lower Cox are unusable, and that due | ||
- | 11. | ||
- | to the Water Boar d-ts- mini-strations,: | ||
- | , . . | ||
- | :Snow ,:Brown led the la-at trip on the May programme as Iisted Seven starters, including one prospective, | ||
- | .SOME -NOTES FOR. R0CK: | ||
- | 1_Geof Wagg: has -supplie0:, u-s with this Interesting, | ||
- | . . | ||
- | .A great contribution to climbing is the nylon rope,size being 7/ | ||
- | hefusual | ||
- | _ | ||
- | _ | ||
- | - _Until just before the ware no climber Ivo:42d Consider risking his | ||
- | life on -anything but _a. _120-f manila rope. Nylon rope, | ||
- | which- had, _jus-b c-ome-- on. the_ market,: was regardad, suspicion by | ||
- | Eastern (11.34.--.) -climbers-, :-but, the Sierra- Club de-did.ed to ,try it out | ||
- | - | ||
- | - | ||
- | The nit-hod of _ testing iras-somewha.t unusual. Robinson - Leonard | ||
- | - a Berkley One 2_na.n ..sit down, :bracing, himself s-olidly, | ||
- | - -and pass the, rope --aro-und his_ body f,o-/-= a _b-elay- meaning: a position from which ,he, coul,d a,top- the -fall :of an.othier_ -cl_imber. The ,second man would tie into the rope and jump off the edge -of the ro-ek.-- As he fell., -the ,rope was- allowed to slider,: and then_gradua-11-y- tightened until the --,s,econcl man came _to -a--_stop not far ab_ov-e ground- level. | ||
- | -.Lft er- -tests the mania a rope broke_s, _w_ith- some d.i_s comf or t to | ||
- | the -s-econd ,marre however, - was still go-ing.-s-trongafter -200: The -b: _s_t;crew _grew- so proficient - that at the -end of the amperiment the second_-man. could leap -eighteen feet | ||
- | _into _space he. -was h.a.lted in his flight and then low-ered | ||
- | slcwl-y :to. earth._ - | ||
- | 4 | ||
- | eOr dynamic, belay dies how -virtually. supplanted the | ||
- | -. . _ | ||
- | ,method : | ||
- | - around a proj-, | ||
- | _ | ||
- | . .,. , | ||
- | ' | ||
- | ' | ||
- | -Frequent --s che dUlsd fdrj Jail- IFAh,- --starring Mai,b61m. Pia0egOr and _.Grace jolly.,, has b.40_ PD,..::b_e .130pc4led_ owing, to Grace' | ||
- | . - . , | ||
- | ' | ||
- | _ | ||
- | . PRE.S" | ||
- | ="- | ||
- | Bring - along ' | ||
- | -,: | ||
- | Half: an hd-dr-is alloyed -, | ||
- | - | ||
- | - | ||
- | -. | ||
- | THE, ' | ||
- | - - | ||
- | -Bran G. --Harvey. | ||
- | Back in 1949 the- N..S W. Federation of Bush-I./ | ||
- | pr--a.tis d by a1.lT dnembe-r-s' | ||
- | ersand bushwalking on a higher plane as regards both general | ||
- | practice and behavio_ur_a___This._ .was not regarded as entirely complete in itself, but rather as a, minimum standard to be followed by | ||
- | all who walk, camp. d-r picnic that it s general adoption wo-u.ld add grea.tly -to the, enjoyment of the -bush, assist in | ||
- | the preSer-sr-a-ti-on-of 'and fauris, -and-,c-o-f iiiip6-' | ||
- | and the-- GOVerhrfeMinisters.-" | ||
- | Consequent upon the adoption of the Code, the Federation addres. -d - all ' Fe-de-rated Clubs, 1 Vhdy. e dge the | ||
- | Code "- as their Club sta.n-dar' | ||
- | | ||
- | time. However, at the subsequent Annual General. Meeting, when all | ||
- | _Club BY-laws irere- to the meeting | ||
- | for ratific--ation, | ||
- | _ decided NOT - to ' | ||
- | | ||
- | _ . - | ||
- | and that- the -adoftion -of the Co-de - w-as -unnecessary, | ||
- | d-e cis ton iwa:s=-0;, -11-iigh-: | ||
- | the door -Op elf' the -r:j.r-St place,-:=1-t ' | + | Trip 6 led by John Noble drew three members and two prospectives. The three members included Ron Knightly who will be remembered by quite a few. Ron is back in Sydney and had transferred back to active after some gallivanting around. The trip itself was shortened because of lack of time, but an interesting day-walk has been pioneered. If a few more leaders would set up trips from maps alone and then carry them out some really interesting walks could result. |
- | some scorn in the Federation Council | + | |
- | we -h-ava-: .ive an, by: 'olltisi--rdel-'.-SbuT-CTes t w-e are a_in smug" | + | Trip 7 was led by an Associate Member, Garth Coulter, who, incidentally, |
- | ' | + | |
- | pirbve th_at ,stateMent | + | The Wentworth-Falls-Bimlow trip led by John White drew five starters and one prospective. A verbal report on the trip tells us that both the bridges across the lower Cox are unusable, and that due to the Water Board's ministrations, |
- | ehavi o-Ur :II _Ebb nderoev lui!on :and: | + | |
- | in 1949 may not hold good :today. At one time..-It.]-was--taore-ep' | + | Snow Brown led the last trip on the May programme as listed. Seven starters, including one prospective, |
- | recent | + | |
- | custom, a ol i p-aes-e' | + | ---- |
- | in the discretionof | + | |
- | This freedom cuts --G5de-cif-Ethi cs which exhorts walkers | + | ===== Some Notes For Rock-Climbers. ===== |
- | ayo 4. !:d scant attire | + | |
- | _ This place in | + | Geof Wagg has supplied us with this interesting cutting. |
- | attitude. | + | |
- | Incoming | + | A great contribution to climbing is the nylon rope, the usual size being 7/16th" |
- | Pi=6- pe C't Merab tr-P-8"-' vi-hich- i n-cred CdpY Of the ' | + | |
- | Ethics, and ti-_-4.ey | + | Until just before |
- | "lpac: | + | |
- | the Matter | + | The method of testing was somewhat unusual. Robinson, Leonard and Brower found themse1ves a suitable rock, abaut 30 ft. high, in a Berkley Park. One man would sit down, bracing himself solidly, and pass the rope around his body for a belay - meaning a position from which he could stop the fall of another climber. The second man would tie into the rope and jump off the edge of the rock. As he fell, the rope was allowed to slide, and then gradually tightened until the second man came to a stop not far above ground level. |
- | MeMberS,.' | + | |
- | restrictions | + | After 20 tests the manila rope broke, with some discomfort to the second man. The nylon rope, however, |
- | -; Pro sp ectivebn | + | |
- | NOT been ratified by a: general' Me.etin-;,- 1:18 'a , | + | The sliding, or dynamic, belay has how virtually supplanted the method originated by the Swiss, which was to hook the rope firmly around a projection of rock. Too often the rope broke. |
- | members can therefore do as they plea.se, subject to the By-Law that | + | |
- | 13. | + | ---- |
- | dogs must not be brought on Official Walks and that natural observance of the Law is expected. This places the Club in a very invidious and ludicrous position when we have the effrontery to complain to Federation Council about the behaviour of the members of other walking clubs who, for example, deemed it their pleasure and privileg | + | |
- | to kick up their keels in the small hours of the morning at Federation Reunions, or that a party of Wolf Cubs left empty packets of " | + | === Alteration To Social Programme: === |
- | It is quite open to question what is the IP.ccepted | + | |
- | 4 that of one of our Foundation Members - because we have no established written and ratified Accepted Practices. The Hints and General Information imparted to Prospective Members at Instructional Week-end Camps regarding " | + | The play reading, " |
- | whilst in the train - just as he thinks fit. Any nobody has any authority to take him to task, save that a complaint may be lodged with the Committee, which again has no written authority to fall back on as to mode of behaviour, to enable it to reprimand. | + | |
- | The foregoing remarks may have taken -things to the extreme, but I challenge anyone to dispute the statements, which are my own opinion and do not reflect that of the Committee. | + | === Dress the girl as you would see them dressed. === |
- | I hope that some member of good intention will bring the matter forward at the Half-Yearly Meeting and that a suitably framed resolution will be adopted to end our ridiculous position of proclaiming "You do as we say, not as we do" | + | |
- | To the non-Club member who may read these lines I would say that we do, as a body, endeavour to set the example in bushwalking behaviour and practice, and that I have felt it necessaty | + | Bring along 2 " |
- | EDITOR'S EXPLANATION, to save the young members from misinterpreting the above article. To me it appears that the gist of Brian' | + | |
- | Why resist temptation -- there' | + | ---- |
- | C\ | + | |
- | 1/ | + | ===== The Bushwalkers' |
- | - Dot Butler | + | |
- | 1It is two years | + | - Brian G. Harvey. |
- | | + | |
- | ,.. 4, f3e. V fr-7 | + | Back in 1949 the N.S.W. Federation of Bush-walking Clubs, in its wisdom, drew up a Code of Ethics, which, it considered, if practised by all members of the Federated Clubs, would keep bushwalkers and bushwalking on a higher plane as regards both general practice and behaviour. This was not regarded as entirely complete in itself, but rather as a minimum standard to be followed by all who walk, camp or picnic in the bush. Further, that its general adoption would add greatly to the enjoyment of the bush, assist in the preservation of flora and fauna, and of greater importance to us, would earn the acknowledgement and respect of the general public and the Government Ministers. |
- | thicket of trees outside | + | |
- | -..., | + | Consequent upon the adoption of the Code, the Federation addressed all Federated Clubs, asking that they ratify and acknowledge the Code as their Club standard of bushwalking ethics. Our then Committee naturally, on behalf of the members, adopted the Code as it was entirely in keeping with out Objects and Club practices at that time. However, at the subsequent Annual General Meeting, when all Club By-laws passed since inception were submitted to the meeting for ratification, the Committee' |
- | 1954 Easter trip to the | + | |
- | the Admiral' | + | This decision, in my opinion, high-handed, smug and left the door open to dnager. In teh first place, it was treated with some scorn in the Federation Council and has not been forgotten, as the matter was mentioned at a Council meeting a few months ago. Further, we have been told by outside sources that we are a " |
- | waiting for a plane that | + | |
- | \Warrumbungles, | + | Incoming |
- | , | + | |
- | JN found he couldn' | + | It is quite open to question what is the ' |
- | so we went elsewhere, promising ourselves that we would do our Warrumbungle trip another time. | + | |
- | EASTER LT THE WARRUMBUNGLES | + | The foregoing remarks may have taken things to the extreme, but I challenge anyone to dispute the statements, which are my own opinion and do not reflect that of the Committee. |
- | \ z | + | |
- | / Came Easter, 1956, and we were on our | + | I hope that some member of good intention will bring the matter forward at the Half-Yearly Meeting and that a suitably framed resolution will be adopted to end our ridiculous position of proclaiming "You do as we say, not as we do!" |
- | / | + | |
- | way, Agin we had looked into the | + | To the non-Club member who may read these lines I would say that we do, as a body, endeavour to set the example in bushwalking behaviour and practice, and that I have felt it necessary |
- | C-1 | + | |
- | possibility of planes for the 350 mile | + | ---- |
- | // | + | |
- | trip, but decided in the end that cars would | + | __Editor's explanation__, to save the young members from misinterpreting the above article. To me it appears that the gist of Brian' |
- | be more reliable, as well as being a quarter the cost. There were 15 of us and 4 cars, and we left on Easter Thursday night at times varying between 4 and 12 p.m. | + | |
- | Midnight found George' | + | ---- |
- | First light was pale and misty-eyed as we pushed our sleeping- bags into our packs aid made our way through the weeds and thistles over a wire fence to the waiting car. There was no water here; we would have breakfast at the first creek we came to. | + | |
- | We had passed the region of eucalypts and had entered into the life of the plains. Flocks of small parrots and galahs were feeding off the bare ground amongst the native pines. As we sped alLng the flat deserted road we saw a Morris Minor parked by a railway culvert and three figures grouped round a small cooking fire. "That looks | + | Why resist temptation -- there' |
- | like Garth," | + | |
- | At a quarter to nine we were at Dubbo with Snow hunting for film for his camera, but no chemists' | + | ---- |
- | 15. | + | |
- | direction, " | + | ===== Easter At The Warrumbungles. ===== |
- | about 12 o' | + | |
- | experienced momentarily a lost sinking feeling. However, at last we were directed towards the farm of Keith Blackman, which looked to be in the right direction, and we said our thanks and got on our way. But we didn't get very far. At the first turn-off was a bridge, and breaking spasmodically on to its approaches was a battered lorry, its tray groaning under the weight of a WHOLE HOUSE' | + | - Dot Butler |
- | Now came a session of opening and shutting gates. George' | + | |
- | the Dalai Lama, threw open the gate for George, then banged it shut before the other car could get through and dashed back to home base. George looked a bit startled at this turn of events but was easily | + | It is two years since we camped in a thicket of trees outside the aerodrome at Bankstown |
- | persuaded to drive on. There was a roar from the occupants of the Watson car and Garth leapt out like a cateract down a mountain side, opened the gate again for his car, closed the gate and dashed for his vehicle which was moving off in pursuit of George - all this before the shocked bewildered gaze of a stolid back-country family on their verandah. | + | |
- | It was a neck and neck race to the next gate with us all laying the odds heavily in our own favour. There was a bit of a dry creek bed which held up the Watson babe and again we made it and slammed the gate in front of its nose. The Greymobile passengers screamed | + | Came Easter, 1956, and we were on our way. Again we had looked into the possibility of planes for the 350 mile trip, but decided in the end that cars would be more reliable, as well as being a quarter the cost. There were 15 of us and 4 cars, and we left on Easter Thursday night at times varying between 4 and 12 p.m. |
- | their delight and sped on. From then on the pace became fast and | + | |
- | furious. Between gates the Dalai Lama hung on to his door handle quivering like a whippet on the leash, George kept his foot on the accelerator and the supressed excitement inside the car nearly blew its roof off. | + | Midnight found George' |
- | The Watson baby bounced and whirled along in pursuit, Garth | + | |
- | almost falling out the doorwith | + | First light was pale and misty-eyed as we pushed our sleeping-bags into our packs and made our way through the weeds and thistles over a wire fence to the waiting car. There was no water here; we would have breakfast at the first creek we came to. |
- | with cheers and jeers and yells of exultation. The only gate we | + | |
- | found open was one with the inscription "Keep this bloody gate shutlI" | + | We had passed the region of eucalypts and had entered into the life of the plains. Flocks of small parrots and galahs were feeding off the bare ground amongst the native pines. As we sped along the flat deserted road we saw a Morris Minor parked by a railway culvert and three figures grouped round a small cooking fire. "That looks like Garth," |
- | As we found it open we left it open, but I still think we should. have left it bloody shut.' | + | |
- | 16. | + | At a quarter to nine we were at Dubbo with Snow hunting for film for his camera, but no chemists' |
- | The next bit of excitement was crossing creeks. We had managed a number of these quite successfully but finally it had to happen - | + | |
- | George drove into a creek with a sandy bottom, and the car stopped dead in a couple of feet of water. We pushed and we pulled and the | + | At about 12 o' |
- | car churned up the sand and sputtered water and exhaust fumes from it submerged pipe and sank deeper. Eventually we got it out, on the wrong side, with the aid of a section of wire netting and a oanningly | + | |
- | disposed | + | Now came a session of opening and shutting gates. George' |
- | take and a mug of beer from the'Watson' | + | |
- | three more creek crossings to Blacknan's farm. Here we were told that Col Ferguson, Digby and Dot Barr has passed through about half an hour before us, so we hurried on hoping to meet up with them. | + | It was a neck and neck race to the next gate with us all laying the odds heavily in our own favour. There was a bit of a dry creek bed which held up the Watson babe and again we made it and slammed the gate in front of its nose. The Greymobile passengers screamed their delight and sped on. From then on the pace became fast and furious. Between gates the Dalai Lama hung on to his door handle quivering like a whippet on the leash, George kept his foot on the accelerator and the supressed excitement inside the car nearly blew its roof off. |
- | Down through an orchard and over lush paddocks where the grass | + | |
- | grew waist high and was peppered with blue gentians, and then we followed up the creek for an hour or so. We didn't meet the others, | + | The Watson baby bounced and whirled along in pursuit, Garth almost falling out the door with eagerness. Whenever they managed to get through with us before the gate was shut they filled the air with cheers and jeers and yells of exultation. The only gate we found open was one with the inscription "Keep this bloody gate shut!!" As we found it open we left it open, but I still think we should have left it bloody shut. |
- | and by 4 o' | + | |
- | a narrow valley, and said "This is the Hurley Base Camp." It looked the sort of camp you might make half way down Murdering Gulley, but | + | The next bit of excitement was crossing creeks. We had managed a number of these quite successfully but finally it had to happen - George drove into a creek with a sandy bottom, and the car stopped dead in a couple of feet of water. We pushed and we pulled and the car churned up the sand and sputtered water and exhaust fumes from it submerged pipe and sank deeper. Eventually we got it out, on the wrong side, with the aid of a section of wire netting and a cunningly |
- | it was undoubtedly " | + | |
- | and the tent at the other end housed our seven packs the targets). All the rest of the bode occupied the space in between, mostly under the roof of Snow's tent as it was proofed with Digby Waterproofing and was supposed not to leak. (Mirthless laughter). | + | Down through an orchard and over lush paddocks where the grass grew waist high and was peppered with blue gentians, and then we followed up the creek for an hour or so. We didn't meet the others, and by 4 o' |
- | About half an hour after our arrival we heard coo-ees and Col, | + | |
- | Digby and Dot appeared from up another creek. They put up a tent and soon preparations for tea were under way. But Garth had a caribiner, and what is tea compared with a caribiner? He took the rope and climbed to an adjacent rock face to try out his new toy. Wady and I went with him as you can eat any time but you don't often | + | About half an hour after our arrival we heard coo-ees and Col, Digby and Dot appeared from up another creek. They put up a tent and soon preparations for tea were under way. But Garth had a caribiner, and what is tea compared with a caribiner? He took the rope and climbed to an adjacent rock face to try out his new toy. Snow and I went with him as you can eat any time but you don't often get the chance to dance down a rock face on a rope. We had good fun but the others couldn' |
- | 6 , | + | |
- | the chance to dance down a rock face on a rope. We had good fun | + | That night it rained, steadily and unhurriedly. The arsenal roof leaked |
- | the others couldn' | + | |
- | That night it rained, steadily and unhurriedly. The arsenal | + | There had been mutinous murmurs when I had suggested rising at 6.30, but strange to say they did actually get up early and we were off by 8 o' |
- | roof leaked | + | |
- | There had been mutinous murmurs when I had suggested rising at 6.30, but strange to say they did actually get up early and we were off by 8 o' | + | The whole party came, up a scree slope and round to an obvious cleft up which we climbed. Then we came to the really steep stuff. |
- | " | + | |
- | experience has showed that returning to base camp for lunch generally means a wasted afternoon. | + | We discarded footwear and got out the rope. George, Snow, Garth and myself |
- | _ The whole party came, up a scree slope and round to an obvious cleft up which we climbed. Then we came to the really steep stuff. | + | |
- | 17. | + | |
- | We discarded footwear and got out the rope. George, Snow, Garth and myself | + | |
Having got our tow-line up to a good belay George and Garth followed, but when they untied themselves off the rope and we tried to throw the end down for Snow, the updraught of wind was so terrific it blew the 120 ft. of rope up to waver in the air as in an Indian rope-climber' | Having got our tow-line up to a good belay George and Garth followed, but when they untied themselves off the rope and we tried to throw the end down for Snow, the updraught of wind was so terrific it blew the 120 ft. of rope up to waver in the air as in an Indian rope-climber' | ||
- | As George, Garth and I proceeded upwards we could see the others had gone over to a hill opposite to get a grandstand view of the proceedings. A long view of the whole face, as seen from opposite, reveals it as completely and utterly impossible, but with our noses only a couple of inches from the damp rock we couldn' | + | |
- | The chimney was practically vertical all the way to the top, but being a chimney it was climable so we all got up it and so to the top- at last. Here was the usual cairn, and in it we found Pat Sullivan' | + | As George, Garth and I proceeded upwards we could see the others had gone over to a hill opposite to get a grandstand view of the proceedings. A long view of the whole face, as seen from opposite, reveals it as completely and utterly impossible, but with our noses only a couple of inches from the damp rock we couldn' |
- | Then down we went again to the windy corner. A cold sleet-like' | + | |
- | rope which we intended to pull down after us but the perverse thing stuck and no amount of pulling or flicking would dislodge it. 1 wap rather dismayed at the thought of having to go back up to release it but also felt guilty about. going down and leaving it. "I should go back for it,". said I,. not very convincingly, | + | The chimney was practically vertical all the way to the top, but being a chimney it was climable so we all got up it and so to the top at last. Here was the usual cairn, and in it we found Pat Sullivan' |
- | We returned to camp about 3 o' | + | |
- | 18. | + | Then down we went again to the windy corner. A cold sleet-like wind was biting at our exposed hands making rope work far from cheerful. George and Garth were belayed down. I followed on a double rope which we intended to pull down after us but the perverse thing stuck and no amount of pulling or flicking would dislodge it. I was rather dismayed at the thought of having to go back up to release it but also felt guilty about going down and leaving it. "I should go back for it," said I, not very convincingly, |
- | had just arrived and were waiting to have my blood. I had given | + | |
- | them a sketch map drawn by someone who had done the trip previously - which, incidentally, | + | We returned to camp about 3 o' |
- | which foged up the Admiral' | + | |
- | What added fuel to the flames of their wrath was the fact that I had: | + | They told us that Bob Binks and family were camped about one hour back down the creek so we downed a cup of tea and ran back to greet them. The field spread out like the Grand National as we galloped |
- | not gone on this wild goose chase myself but had cosily and comfort- | + | |
- | ably followed George who knew a quicker way straight up the creek. I tried to plead Not Guilty and told them that anyhow they needed a | + | Rain and thunder, home we chunder.\\ |
- | bit of extra exercise to get them into training for a forthcoming | + | Fine and gay here we stay." |
- | Marathon, but that sort of talk gets you exactly nowhere with Stitt and the 1, | + | |
- | take place at the next Reunion, so I was all a-tremble with apprehension. | + | |
- | They told us that Bob Binks and family were camped about one hour back down the ci, | + | |
- | greet them. The field spread out like the Grand National as we gallo pcd with long-legged Stitt in the lead, but we arrived all in a bunch at the finishing tape. The Binks were comfortably established | + | |
- | and decided to stay where they were as it was now 4 p.m. The next | + | |
- | hour was spent instructing Pete and the Admiral on the conditions of their return, should they decide to travel back to Sydney in Bob's car. The gist of it seemied | + | |
- | If it's. ..,and they proceeded to argue the conditions of the | + | |
- | third clause when the Dalai Lama interrupted; | + | |
- | Rain and thunder, home we chunder. | + | |
- | Fine and gcy here we stay." | + | |
That seemed to cover the situation, so they left it at that. | That seemed to cover the situation, so they left it at that. | ||
- | We left them at 5 and so back to our camp. That night we lit a candle and all twelve of us packed into the Shooting Gallery for talk and fun. George spent a very profitable evening anihillating with a lighted candle the mosquitoes which swarmed into the tent to join the | + | |
- | fun. Pete's New Zealand experiences gushed out in a bright and | + | We left them at 5 and so back to our camp. That night we lit a candle and all twelve of us packed into the Shooting Gallery for talk and fun. George spent a very profitable evening anihillating with a lighted candle the mosquitoes which swarmed into the tent to join the fun. Pete's New Zealand experiences gushed out in a bright and sparkling tide, and with the pick of the Club's wits there in the shape of Digby, the Admiral and the Dalai Lama, backed up by Snow, Garth and the rest of us, screams of mirth issued forth to make the mountains ring, and we felt sorry for Bob and Noel and their little girl all alone down the quiet creek. |
- | sparkling tide, and with the pick of the Club's wits there in the | + | |
- | shape of Digby, the Admiral and the Dalai Lama, backed up by Snow, | + | At last sleep called. Brian tied a bottle of mosquito lotion by a tape to the roof of the tent for use during the night and we all packed in. Pete and the Admiral had to be housed too, and with six bods now in Snow's tent I knew what the sardine puts up with in its tin. What with somebody snoring in my ear and somebody' |
- | Garth and the rest of us, screams of mirth issued forth to make the mountains ring, and we felt sorry for Bob and Noel and their little girl all alone down the quiet creek. | + | |
- | At last sleep called. Brian tied a bottle of mosquito lotion | + | After breakfast next morning we moved off early to collect the abandoned rope and reconnoitre Crater Bluff. It wasn't so difficult to climb back up the rope now the wind wasn't blowing a gale. I released it from behind the stone, and double roping over a small tree I sat myself in a boss's chair and tossed the other end down to Pete and Snow who were going to carry out the lowering operation. |
- | by a tape to the roof of the tent for use during the night and we all | + | |
- | packed in. Pete and the Admiral had to be housed too, and with six bods now in Snow's tent I knew what the sardine puts up with in its tin. What with somebody snoring in my ear and somebody' | + | |
- | gouging out my eye I gave up the unequal struggle and mooched out at midnight to find a better hole. It was raining, which ruled the gr& | + | |
- | lying so heavily on my ground sheet I couldn' | + | |
- | them. | + | |
- | e | + | |
- | After breakfast next morning we moved off early to collect the abandoned rope and reconnoitre Crater Bluff. It wasn't so difficult to climb back up the rope now the wind wasn't blowing a gale. I released it from behind the stone, and double roping over a small tree I sat myself in a bos's's chair and tossed the other end down to Pete and Snow who were going to carry out the lowering operation. | + | |
"Come on," yelled Peter. "Down you come." | "Come on," yelled Peter. "Down you come." | ||
- | " | + | |
- | 6wiz!" yelled back Pete, and I supposed that meant he had caught on becuase the lowering process commenced. As I jerked down the rock face past an overharg | + | " |
+ | |||
+ | "Swiz!" yelled back Pete, and I supposed that meant he had caught on becuase the lowering process commenced. As I jerked down the rock face past an overhang | ||
"Keep on coming," | "Keep on coming," | ||
+ | |||
" | " | ||
- | They let the rope slack but I still dangled motionless over aeons of space. | + | |
- | ing was mountaineering such a sport after all, and sat down to think. | + | They let the rope slack but I still dangled motionless over aeons of space. |
- | But Garth came to the rescue by sending up his caribiner loop of rope, I looped this round the tree, hoping Garth' | + | |
- | Snow and Stitt to lower away - and this time it worked. They were | + | Then we came down and rejoined the others and went over to the short face of Crater Bluff and had lunch in sunshine. "You never forget a mountain," |
- | blythely viewing the far scenery as I descended. "See that creek | + | |
- | down ther Dot," called Pete as I dangled 30 ft. above his head, " | + | Monday saw us early astir on a nice fine day and off we all set direct |
- | Then we came down and rejoined the others and went over to the | + | |
- | short face of Crater Bluff and had lunch in sunshine. "you never forget a mountain," | + | We crouched under a slight |
- | out looked suitable for the party, so we went down to have a look at the steep face, which was where Dr, Dark and I had made our virgin | + | |
- | 0 climb years before. Garth had cut his foot during the barefoot | + | As we headed back to camp up the ridge Snow and I started a wonderful argument which lasted most of the way over the top. Someone |
- | doings on Belougerie the previous day and was hors de combat, so George, Snow and I had a short climb on the ledges and decided to | + | |
- | 6 | + | Garth, limping along on his injured foot, lugged the rope over the countryside, |
- | come back again tomrrow. Then we all went down to the creek and | + | |
- | followed up the ridge to the base of Belougerie and so back to camp. | + | Tuesday, and it's tine to pack up and set off for home. The proposed early start got later and later. We didn't want to go. When we did finally get moving we made good pace and got from the camp to the cars in 1 1/2 hours. And here the Watsons discovered they still had a number of bottles of beer left, so out came the mugs. |
- | Here we had to give our attention to food troubles. The humidity had | + | |
- | wrought havoc with our meat. The Dalai Lama had already cooked up | + | Through an alcoholic rainbow I viewed the day and its inhabitants. It was a day such as you only get on the plains, dry and sunny and limitless - and I had never seen people who looked so beautiful. There was Brian, dark and compact and finely formed, deftly knocking the tops off bottles, assisted by tall quiet brother Don with the deep dreamy eyes and soft smile of a poet. On the gnarled roots of a river oak sat Snow, golden haired and golden skinned, looking like a section of sun-dappled bushland that had impulsively decided to turn human. And Garth, dark as the coming of sleep and as soft, with his lovely lilting voice music to the ear. And George - quiet steady George who had met me coming back from my separate swim and said, " |
- | all his on the first night, which left him with 6 lbs, of potatoes, | + | |
- | 2 pkts, of cornflakes and a tin of sardines for the ensuing 4 days, | + | And so the long journey |
- | and I had to jettison some suasages and the remains of a cooked sirloin. However we all cashed in on the Watsons' | + | |
- | went hungry. | + | ---- |
- | Monday saw us early astir on a nice fine day and off we all set xlirect | + | |
- | er.,L.19 | + | On reading through this I find it is more about people than mountains, and so it should be; the mountains will always be there to be described another time, but how soon will time take away our friends. |
- | was George Snow and I for it. We left the others down in the creek and made up to our ledges in sunshine. They were the same hair- raising ledges as of yore, and as I wedged myself into the remembered | + | |
- | crack on the sheer face I could see myself, a raw teenager so long and long ago, quivering with excitement, my breath trembling with eagerness as, with my experienced companion, I made my first virgin | + | ---- |
- | climb. I supposed that was how Snow was feeling, and probably | + | |
- | George too. It was a pity we weren' | + | |
- | We crouched under a slight | + | |
- | in the trees, but with not much success. A brief flash of sunshine | + | |
- | didn't do much towards drying out the rock face, and the sight of another gloomy rain cloud sweeping across decided us to make the attempt. So Snow yelled them a final message, "Rain and thunder, off we chunderl" and we braced up our minds aad our muscles for the | + | |
- | ordea/-ahead. Actually it was not so bad as our apprehension had | + | |
- | painted it, and at last we were back to safety. We went down and joined the others and had lunch on the creek, and Snow and George that day gained a valuable bit of knowledge that will stand them in good stead when they go to New Zealand next Christmas, namely that bad weather can kill your diances | + | |
- | As we headed back to camp up the ridge Snow and I started a wonderful argument which lasted most of the way over the top. Someor | + | |
- | without vocal lovable Snow. He actually likes to argue with unreason | + | |
- | able females. The Dalai Lama warned him this was a very dangerous admission to make. | + | |
- | Garth, limping along on his injured foot, lugged the rope over the countryside, | + | |
- | rock-climber had taken to the summit. And so back to camp and tea. | + | |
- | Our last night. As it wasn't actually raining Garth and the Dalai Lama and I slept out by the expiring fire, but it was wet and muddy | + | |
- | and moonless and much of the magic was missing. | + | |
- | Tuesday, and it's tine to pack up and set off for home. The proposed early start got later and later. We didn't want to go. | + | |
- | When we did finally get moving we made good pace and got from the camp to the cars in al hours. And here the Watsons discovered they | + | |
- | still had a number of bottles of beer left, so out came the mugs. | + | |
- | 21, | + | |
- | Through an alcoholic rainbow I viewed the day and its inhabitants It was a day such as you only get on the plains, dry and sunny and limitless - and I had never seen people who looked so beautiful. There was Brian, dark and compact and finely formed, deftly knocking the tops off bottles, assisted by tall quiet brother Don with the deep dreamy eyes and soft mile of a poet. On the gnarled roots of a river oak sat Snow, golden haired and golden skinned, looking like a section of 'sun-dappled bushland that had impulsively decided to turn human. And Garth, dark as the coming of sleep and as soft, with his lovely lilting voice music to the ear. ;,nd George - quiet | + | |
- | steady George who had met inc coming back from my separate swim and said, " | + | |
- | got his pants on," "If you like," said Is thinking that a pair of | + | |
- | 0 | + | |
- | shorts would probably spoil the bronze statuesque line, but he'd | + | |
- | better get them on just the same. George said, "O.K. We got his | + | |
- | pants on him," so we all foregathered down at the river. The moments flowed in a silver stream through Time's careless fingers as we finished off the other three bottles, and I thought, "God, that flesh could grow so beautiful," | + | |
- | floating down the road to the cars - drifting like woodsmoke through the still dry air - and if we get in to Tooraweenah by | + | |
- | 10 o' | + | |
- | and if we don' | + | |
- | nd so the long journey | + | |
- | 11 p.m. we reached Blacktown and the Waggs. | + | |
- | heigh-ho for home by midnight. | + | |
- | 09011 | + | |
- | On reading through this I find it is more about people than | + | |
- | mountains, and so it should be; the mountains will always be there to be described another time, but how soon will time take away our friends. | + | |
THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD | THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD | ||
Goof Wagg. | Goof Wagg. |
195607.txt · Last modified: 2018/09/19 14:09 by tyreless