197712
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197712 [2019/03/21 17:11] – vievems | 197712 [2019/03/21 18:18] – [SUCKED UP'] vievems | ||
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by Clare Kinsella | by Clare Kinsella | ||
- | Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. I was the fool this day | + | Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. I was the fool this day but many a time, as I hung over a breathtaking drop, or slipped, shuddering, across a slimy rock, I felt that I might at any moment |
- | but many a time, as I hung over a breathtaking drop, or slipped, shuddering, across a slimy rock, I felt that ,I might af ny mament | + | |
- | How I fell for the trip even now I cannot understand. Some one said, "How about coming to Blackheath next weekend. We're going on Friday night. It'll be an easy trip." My rabbit mind registered the ward " | + | |
- | On Saturday evening we were joined by other folks most of them sensible people who knew they were of the earth and were quite content to keep their feet on it. Up to this time I had really not given any thought to Sunday' | + | |
- | be able to manage it. Alex, with reckless confidence el:claimed, Oh, | + | |
- | As Jack Debert was one of the party it is superfluous to say we were awake early and had. breakfasted and were ready to leave long before respectable people had opened their eyes to the Sabbath. alma Galliot, Edna Garrad and I set off before the others and waited for them where the creek narrowed to a waterfall which plunged into a wide, rockbound pool. When the others joined us we left the creek and struck up the ridge. Although it was so early, it was already hot and I puffed and panted considerably as I struggled on, and secretly congratulated myslef when I found I was not the last arrival at the top. (I was the rabbit out with the tigers which is just about the same as the fox trotting along with the hounds.) Here we had to clamber along single file at the foot of a tall cliff face with a considerable drop to the creek below on our left. There were a few slippery places where Gordon Smith warned us to be careful but I felt that it was quite easy and went on unconcerned. | + | |
- | We qt last came to a halt and Dot, who was in the lead, said we could go no further. Our track along the-cliff face was broken by a waterfall (Arethusa Falls) which came in on our right. At the extreme edge of it was a small but stout tree with wide spreading branches, We waited here while Dot, with consummate ease, skinned up to reconnoitre. After some little time she returned and said we would have to follow suit, it would | + | |
+ | How I fell for the trip even now I cannot understand. Someone said, "How about coming to Blackheath next weekend. We're going on Friday night. It'll be an easy trip." My rabbit mind registered the ward " | ||
+ | On Saturday evening we were joined by other folk, most of them sensible people who knew they were of the earth and were quite content to keep their feet on it. Up to this time I had really not given any thought to Sunday' | ||
- | be easy going once we scaled the tree. | + | As Jack Debert was one of the party it is superfluous to say we were awake early and had breakfasted |
- | Easy! It didn't take me long to realise that Dot's definition | + | |
- | shook each of us by the hand, bade us farewell | + | |
- | . There was no earth in the canyon, only rocky slimy slippery rock. About 15 feet above us, there were ledges where ferns and small bushes- | + | |
- | ' | + | |
- | We went for a few yuids along the side of the stream, stepping most carefully on the slippery surface, slinking along narrow shelves with a hand that was a mre ripple in the rock. We came to a rock face lying | + | |
- | at an angle of 450and skidded up this onto a shelf where shrubs | + | |
- | back and swim the creek. On the way down I was overcome by an overwhelming panic. My teeth began to chatter | + | |
- | I know that I slipped and slithered over slimy rocks feeling that the next moment I might be walking up the Golden Stairs. I know that I scrambled and jumped, swam through icy cold water, pushing my pack wrapped in a ground sheet before me. I know that we laughed and joked and ate chocolate with considerable relish. I remember once jumping onto Gordon' | + | |
- | aged by Dot, who drawled comfortingly above the constant tumult of the water, "Come on, you're doing splendidly" | + | |
- | We had lunch on a rock the size of a pocket handLerchief and it was | + | |
- | Page 11*. THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1977. | + | |
- | decided that we could go no furter and would have to return. We had advanced about 700 yards in 7 hours. | + | |
- | The sun had gone and it was Oxtromely cold, ,the water icy and the canyon seemed | + | |
- | At last we reached the tree Doris and. Hilma were already down. Dot Popped her head up and said, "Come on, we'll show these men we can get down without | + | |
- | The Horse Track was never ending to me? the tigers of course took it . like an early morning stroll* We just caught the last train at Katoomba after ledk to neck race in a car from Blackheath. The trip was officially over but it wasn't over for me for many a long day or night. For long after I had only to close my eyes and pictures would rush before me with kaliedescopic variety, precipitous drops, hurtling falls, forming and reforming, always different, always the same. But now I have settled down to a quiet life. I feel that I have " | + | |
- | ===="SUCKED UP'==== | + | We at last came to a halt and Dot, who was in the lead, said we could go no further. Our track along the cliff face was broken by a waterfall (Arethusa Falls) which came in on our right. At the extreme edge of it was a small but stout tree with wide spreading branches. We waited here while Dot, with consummate ease, skinned up to reconnoitre. After some little time she returned and said we would have to follow suit, it would be easy going once we scaled the tree. |
+ | |||
+ | Easy! It didn't take me long to realise that Dot's definition of the word and my own were just a little different! | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was no earth in the canyon, only rocky slimy slippery rock. About 15 feet above us, there were ledges where ferns and small bushes began while far above towered the great trees and the sky was blue and serene. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We went for a few yards along the side of the stream, stepping most carefully on the slippery surface, slinking along narrow shelves with a hand that was a mere ripple in the rock. We came to a rock face lying at an angle of 45 degrees and skidded up this onto a shelf where shrubs and a few flowers grew. We couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | I know that I slipped and slithered over slimy rocks feeling that the next moment I might be walking up the Golden Stairs. I know that I scrambled and jumped, swam through icy cold water, pushing my pack wrapped in a ground sheet before me. I know that we laughed and joked and ate chocolate with considerable relish. I remember once jumping onto Gordon' | ||
+ | |||
+ | We had lunch on a rock the size of a pocket handkerchief and it was decided that we could go no further and would have to return. We had advanced about 700 yards in 7 hours. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The sun had gone and it was extremely cold, the water icy and the canyon seemed to be enveloped in a stygian gloom. Once I tied my pack carelessly and as it turned over and over when swimming it through the creek, the water seeped in adding pounds to its weight. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At last we reached the tree - Doris and Hilma were already down. Dot popped her head up and said, "Come on, we'll show these men we can get down without a rope". Edna went first and as I waited I was for the second time overcome with panic, my knees shook and my stomach turned like a paddle wheel, I felt an overwhelming desire to burst into tears. Instead I burst into song and pitted my puny voice against the tumult of the falls. Then the thought came to me that I at least could hear my own voice weak though it might be, I could control my actions but the waterfall rushed on insentient; this reflection calmed me and an "I am the captain of my soulish" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Horse Track was never ending to me; the tigers of course took it like an early morning stroll. We just caught the last train at Katoomba after a neck to neck race in a car from Blackheath. The trip was officially over but it wasn't over for me for many a long day or night. For long after I had only to close my eyes and pictures would rush before me with kaleidoscopic variety, precipitous drops, hurtling falls, forming and reforming, always different, always the same. But now I have settled down to a quiet life. I feel that I have " | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====SBW Magazine 1947: " | ||
by Sixpenny Bob | by Sixpenny Bob | ||
Have you been to Kanangra and back in a weekend? If not, one sound word of advice, don't ever attempt it. | Have you been to Kanangra and back in a weekend? If not, one sound word of advice, don't ever attempt it. | ||
- | It was one of those spinebashing | + | |
- | Immediately the trip was suggested we were eager to be off on the road. The next few weeks were filled with. preparations for the -trip and discussions of routes to be taken, gear needed, etc. | + | It was one of those spine-bashing |
- | Page 12 TfM SYDNEY BUSPIWALKER. Doerr 9.1977 | + | |
+ | Immediately the trip was suggested we were eager to be off on the road. The next few weeks were filled with preparations for the trip and discussions of routes to be taken, gear needed, etc. | ||
At last the great night arrived and a slight panic was created. by one of the party, Stan, vaa,p turned up about 10 minutes later than the scheduled meeting time. However, all were present when the train departed | At last the great night arrived and a slight panic was created. by one of the party, Stan, vaa,p turned up about 10 minutes later than the scheduled meeting time. However, all were present when the train departed | ||
We arrived at Katoomba and departed from the station by other means than the barrier (to save time of course) and straight into a car which took us out to the beginning of the Narrow Necks. After peeling off we set out for Splendour Rock, wearing shorts and boots only. Our first stop was at Diamond Falls, and we set off again laughing, joking, and talking of past experiences to pass the time away- - walking along the Narrow Necks being very monotonous, as most bushwalkers know. We had chosen this particular week-end because of the full moon, so torches were seldom used. We dropped off Clear Hill and then rounded the bottom of Mt. 7e!ouin, arriving at Spendour Rook at 12.30 a m. and so to bed. | We arrived at Katoomba and departed from the station by other means than the barrier (to save time of course) and straight into a car which took us out to the beginning of the Narrow Necks. After peeling off we set out for Splendour Rock, wearing shorts and boots only. Our first stop was at Diamond Falls, and we set off again laughing, joking, and talking of past experiences to pass the time away- - walking along the Narrow Necks being very monotonous, as most bushwalkers know. We had chosen this particular week-end because of the full moon, so torches were seldom used. We dropped off Clear Hill and then rounded the bottom of Mt. 7e!ouin, arriving at Spendour Rook at 12.30 a m. and so to bed. |
197712.txt · Last modified: 2019/03/22 10:41 by vievems