195905
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195905 [2012/12/21 11:41] – Complete colin | 195905 [2012/12/21 12:13] – [Frank Barlow] colin | ||
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with low scrub. A great gorge to the north, the Peak to the east and 2,000' of | with low scrub. A great gorge to the north, the Peak to the east and 2,000' of | ||
cliff and steeps to the south, with Currockbilly beyond bathed in sunset splendour, was the setting for our camp. ALAN ABBOTT somehow couldn' | cliff and steeps to the south, with Currockbilly beyond bathed in sunset splendour, was the setting for our camp. ALAN ABBOTT somehow couldn' | ||
- | to go into rock. In fact, getting in the 82. tent pegs of the party occasioned more than passing comment. | + | to go into rock. In fact, getting in the 82 tent pegs of the party occasioned more than passing comment. |
As we prepared our evening meal a burst of song. arose from, I suspect, | As we prepared our evening meal a burst of song. arose from, I suspect, | ||
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To get off the plateau-like area around The Peak means a drop over a cliff. The gentlest drop is to follow a ridge right out to its end, going about NE. | To get off the plateau-like area around The Peak means a drop over a cliff. The gentlest drop is to follow a ridge right out to its end, going about NE. | ||
MAX GENTLE disappeared with a sizable swathe of the party to find a way much more | MAX GENTLE disappeared with a sizable swathe of the party to find a way much more | ||
- | intrepid. Down below, the route took us over swamps, keeping the same general direction towards " | + | intrepid. Down below, the route took us over swamps, keeping the same general direction towards " |
A ridge to the south took us back on to the escarpment above the trees and in | A ridge to the south took us back on to the escarpment above the trees and in | ||
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slimy rocks in the narrow dark: wet chasm, getting rougher and steeper as we descended. Near the bottom we were stopped by a 15' sheer drop flanked by a deep | slimy rocks in the narrow dark: wet chasm, getting rougher and steeper as we descended. Near the bottom we were stopped by a 15' sheer drop flanked by a deep | ||
cavernous pool in a very narrow cleft; BILL RODGERS battled down and back up with a great effort and relying on matted roots, but the sight of his quivering muscles deterred the party. We managed to get up the cliff on the right with another mighty struggle, and went back to our starting point at the top. Some went down | cavernous pool in a very narrow cleft; BILL RODGERS battled down and back up with a great effort and relying on matted roots, but the sight of his quivering muscles deterred the party. We managed to get up the cliff on the right with another mighty struggle, and went back to our starting point at the top. Some went down | ||
- | in the crevasse and beat out a camp site and the rest camped on top on the odd patches of swamp between:the enormous rock slabs. | + | in the crevasse and beat out a camp site and the rest camped on top on the odd patches of swamp between the enormous rock slabs. |
Towards the end of the evening meal the mist turned to light rain. Everyone | Towards the end of the evening meal the mist turned to light rain. Everyone | ||
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So in the event of six inches of rain, 136,000 gallons would pass through the tent. It did! There was no escape. The plugs were all pulled out above and down it came | So in the event of six inches of rain, 136,000 gallons would pass through the tent. It did! There was no escape. The plugs were all pulled out above and down it came | ||
At the start I knew there was nowhere to move to, so I put clothes in the pack and into the bag in swimming trunks. I managed to get the first part of the usual | At the start I knew there was nowhere to move to, so I put clothes in the pack and into the bag in swimming trunks. I managed to get the first part of the usual | ||
- | nightmare over before being suddenly awakened. BILL COSGROVE WAS WET. In fact he was partially submerged. Then there was a great performance. Fortunately I was rot able to be impugned. Salvation was in the lilos, which were blown up another | + | nightmare over before being suddenly awakened. BILL COSGROVE WAS WET. In fact he was partially submerged. Then there was a great performance. Fortunately I was not able to be impugned. Salvation was in the lilos, which were blown up another |
couple of notches. A wail came from JEAN HARVEY in the darkness. The tide was | couple of notches. A wail came from JEAN HARVEY in the darkness. The tide was | ||
- | rising! Then came the sounds of Max Gentle 's tent giving way, and his going in with David Ingram. I lay half-awake, submerged to the knees. The lilo and the waterproof pack were invaluable. | + | rising! Then came the sounds of Max Gentle' |
In the morning we had a cold breakfast and drank the water from the ground | In the morning we had a cold breakfast and drank the water from the ground | ||
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A few hundred yards eastward and we pulled out on to a shelf on the right, leading to another great cleft between the cliffs of Mt. Renwick [Mt. Cole] and three great spires as massive as Belougery. After some complicated manoeuvring we came to | A few hundred yards eastward and we pulled out on to a shelf on the right, leading to another great cleft between the cliffs of Mt. Renwick [Mt. Cole] and three great spires as massive as Belougery. After some complicated manoeuvring we came to | ||
- | a saddle in a high valley, | + | a saddle in a high valley, |
a "bread knife" rock thrown in. Here would be the place for a base camp for a few days. It is really impressive. Across on our right, descending from Mt. Renwick [Mt. Cole], was the lover cliff of the crevasse, COLLEY' | a "bread knife" rock thrown in. Here would be the place for a base camp for a few days. It is really impressive. Across on our right, descending from Mt. Renwick [Mt. Cole], was the lover cliff of the crevasse, COLLEY' | ||
Dropping eastward down a creek below the north wall, we descended the roughest | Dropping eastward down a creek below the north wall, we descended the roughest | ||
- | and scruffiest of the gorges so far. An hour or more of descent to the steep waterfall and below T.his came sidling below the cliffs to the " | + | and scruffiest of the gorges so far. An hour or more of descent to the steep waterfall and below this came sidling below the cliffs to the " |
Castle. In rain, mist, and cold and with time running out, we struggled down the | Castle. In rain, mist, and cold and with time running out, we struggled down the | ||
- | great rugged | + | great rugged |
Yadboro Creek and all side creeks were in high flood. But it was great to get among the trees again and get some big log fires going to dry out the Sleeping bags. | Yadboro Creek and all side creeks were in high flood. But it was great to get among the trees again and get some big log fires going to dry out the Sleeping bags. | ||
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Next morning we walked half a mile up the Clyde River to where it was wide and deep and the current less strong and " | Next morning we walked half a mile up the Clyde River to where it was wide and deep and the current less strong and " | ||
- | wet. Some even tried floating the packs upside down but IRENE PRIDHAM floated the right way up, as also the "piece de resistance", | + | wet. Some even tried floating the packs upside down but IRENE PRIDHAM floated the right way up, as also the "piece de resistance", |
The last run into Drury' | The last run into Drury' | ||
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" | " | ||
- | down CRACKS all day :In the rain. See you next Easter, if it's fine!" | + | down CRACKS all day in the rain. See you next Easter, if it's fine!" |
+ | |||
+ | [The Magazine is now in the financial position to use maps and illustrations with published articles. See the Editor or Business Manager if you are interested | ||
+ | to enhance your stories.] | ||
- | The Magazine is now in the financial position to use maps and illustrations with published articles. See the Editor or Business Manager if you are interested | ||
- | to enhance your stories. | ||
=====Theme | =====Theme | ||
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==== Alex Colley ==== | ==== Alex Colley ==== | ||
- | Mount Renwick is a lozenge shaped table-top about a mile long and 3,000 feet high. Its narrow axis is bisected by a fissure running from East to West. The fissure is about 40 feet deep near the centre and runs down through the cliff edges. The top of the mountain is mostly rock, partly covered with a thin layer of soil | + | Mount Renwick |
which supports a knee-high growth of shrubs. The sides of the fissure are rounded | which supports a knee-high growth of shrubs. The sides of the fissure are rounded | ||
at the top and nearly vertical at the bottom. The shallow part is 10 to 20 yards wide and its floor supports a thick growth of small saplings. As it deepens the bottom becomes a slit only a few feet across, slimy, slippery and full of debris | at the top and nearly vertical at the bottom. The shallow part is 10 to 20 yards wide and its floor supports a thick growth of small saplings. As it deepens the bottom becomes a slit only a few feet across, slimy, slippery and full of debris | ||
- | and vegetation. About 4 p m. on Easter Saturday, as mist settled over the mountain, | + | and vegetation. About 4 p m. on Easter Saturday, as mist settled over the mountain, |
- | of :,3 15's had found it negotiable. After about half an hour of scrub-pushing, | + | of S.B.W.'s had found it negotiable. After about half an hour of scrub-pushing, |
- | serrd.: | + | scrambling |
we did get down we still mightn' | we did get down we still mightn' | ||
camping down there was impossible and we wouldn' | camping down there was impossible and we wouldn' | ||
there was enough space to camp. On the top we met Paul Driver, whose party had made | there was enough space to camp. On the top we met Paul Driver, whose party had made | ||
camp there. This decided most of the party to stay on top, while some made down to the cleared patches where five of us had camped two years before. | camp there. This decided most of the party to stay on top, while some made down to the cleared patches where five of us had camped two years before. | ||
+ | |||
The rain came just as we started tea. Having spent many a wet season weekend | The rain came just as we started tea. Having spent many a wet season weekend | ||
at Jamberoo not far from Peter Page's rain gauge, I think I can estimate precipitation fairly well. For long stretches the rate of fall must have been at | at Jamberoo not far from Peter Page's rain gauge, I think I can estimate precipitation fairly well. For long stretches the rate of fall must have been at | ||
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Very soon the thin layer of soil on the top was saturated and water ran over | Very soon the thin layer of soil on the top was saturated and water ran over | ||
- | it an almost continuous sheet. As the Slope increased towards the fissure rivulets were formed which cascaded over the rock into the trough. Before long the soil in the fissure too, although much deeper, was saturated, and water flowed over its surface. | + | it an almost continuous sheet. As the slope increased towards the fissure rivulets were formed which cascaded over the rock into the trough. Before long the soil in the fissure too, although much deeper, was saturated, and water flowed over its surface. |
As the deluge intensified I recalled Frank Barlow' | As the deluge intensified I recalled Frank Barlow' | ||
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cleared a space on the crest of the rise, and if we moved camp we should at least have no further trouble with water rushing through the tent. We stuffed our gear into our packs, which were swirling round in deep pools, uprooted the tent, and fought our way back through the wet scrub to the cleared space. Alex and Alan | cleared a space on the crest of the rise, and if we moved camp we should at least have no further trouble with water rushing through the tent. We stuffed our gear into our packs, which were swirling round in deep pools, uprooted the tent, and fought our way back through the wet scrub to the cleared space. Alex and Alan | ||
re-erected the tent, and did a wonderful job. It was a most awkward business to say | re-erected the tent, and did a wonderful job. It was a most awkward business to say | ||
- | the least, as the cords had all become hopelessly tangled, and had to be cut and retied. The rain was still not too heavy, we thought, but the trees dripped endlessly and the water ran off us in rivulets. Looking from a little distance through the saplings, I was amused at the sight. Two grotesque figures (my apologies, sirs) crawling round in the mud, making strange noises and passing an evil-looking knife from one to the other. Five feet from our front door one of the dozens of waterfalls roared down the rock-face, but as our leader had forecast, it ran down-hill and let us be. The rain started again in earnest. Alan returned to our first tent-site to recover a square of plastic which had been overlooked during our packing. He told us that the crew of the next tent had built themselves an island each and they were stretched straight out on these, while the briny lapped round the edges. We mopped up the groundsheets and crawled back into Sleeping | + | the least, as the cords had all become hopelessly tangled, and had to be cut and retied. The rain was still not too heavy, we thought, but the trees dripped endlessly and the water ran off us in rivulets. Looking from a little distance through the saplings, I was amused at the sight. Two grotesque figures (my apologies, sirs) crawling round in the mud, making strange noises and passing an evil-looking knife from one to the other. Five feet from our front door one of the dozens of waterfalls roared down the rock-face, but as our leader had forecast, it ran down-hill and let us be. The rain started again in earnest. Alan returned to our first tent-site to recover a square of plastic which had been overlooked during our packing. He told us that the crew of the next tent had built themselves an island each and they were stretched straight out on these, while the briny lapped round the edges. We mopped up the groundsheets and crawled back into sleeping |
but they kept us warm for the rest of the night. About 4 hours, I think, had passed since we had first crawled into our sleeping bags. During the trip, I had tried to | but they kept us warm for the rest of the night. About 4 hours, I think, had passed since we had first crawled into our sleeping bags. During the trip, I had tried to | ||
impress on people the many good points of this mountain. It would be diplomatic to | impress on people the many good points of this mountain. It would be diplomatic to | ||
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Having completed this diversion we surveyed our sodden bags and, to our amazement, | Having completed this diversion we surveyed our sodden bags and, to our amazement, | ||
Brian suggested we get out of them and spend the night sitting up. As it was not yet | Brian suggested we get out of them and spend the night sitting up. As it was not yet | ||
- | midnight Irene and I protested volubly against such folly, preferring pneumonia recumbent, enclosed in bag, to pneumonia sitting up, without bag. After much seeking we found some not so wet portions of our bags, twisted these round to our backs, and lay back hopefully | + | midnight Irene and I protested volubly against such folly, preferring pneumonia recumbent, enclosed in bag, to pneumonia sitting up, without bag. After much seeking we found some not so wet portions of our bags, twisted these round to our backs, and lay back hopefully wooing |
but we did sleep, fitfully. With the dawn came a very wet Alex, adjuring us to pack up as quickly as possible and get going. After hastily eating some cold rice and apple we wrang ourselves, and our gear, out, hoisted up rucksacks, and squelched off, after our leader, into the mist. | but we did sleep, fitfully. With the dawn came a very wet Alex, adjuring us to pack up as quickly as possible and get going. After hastily eating some cold rice and apple we wrang ourselves, and our gear, out, hoisted up rucksacks, and squelched off, after our leader, into the mist. | ||
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Having failed in our efforts to get down through the central crevice of Mount | Having failed in our efforts to get down through the central crevice of Mount | ||
- | Renwick, on our way to The Castle, and as we were fast running out of light, and as | + | Renwick |
it was going to rain, we returned to the centre of the mountain top. Stumbling along the steeply Sloping southern side of the crevice we came upon an extra bare | it was going to rain, we returned to the centre of the mountain top. Stumbling along the steeply Sloping southern side of the crevice we came upon an extra bare | ||
-patch with about two or three inches of soil or moss every here and there in small patches on otherwise steeply sloping rocks. | -patch with about two or three inches of soil or moss every here and there in small patches on otherwise steeply sloping rocks. | ||
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they can both swim because, in the morning, they were both seen fast asleep, floating at the end of their anchor lines. | they can both swim because, in the morning, they were both seen fast asleep, floating at the end of their anchor lines. | ||
- | I couldn' | + | I couldn' |
sleepless night I dozed off and dreamt I was pouring myself out of my water-bag | sleepless night I dozed off and dreamt I was pouring myself out of my water-bag | ||
(fantastic thing to dream). Waking from the nightmare I realised that the reason for feeling cold was that my sleeping bag was full, and I mean full, of water. Anyhow, after pouring myself out, I found that Brian had got a fire going and that the rain had stopped. On examination, | (fantastic thing to dream). Waking from the nightmare I realised that the reason for feeling cold was that my sleeping bag was full, and I mean full, of water. Anyhow, after pouring myself out, I found that Brian had got a fire going and that the rain had stopped. On examination, |
195905.txt · Last modified: 2012/12/21 12:19 by colin