198308
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198308 [2016/03/24 11:25] – (maximum 7<sup>0</sup> C) and were met by the leader (who had arrived ten days eimated that they were carrying 40 lbs each. Mark was advised to leave his leggings and hard hat behind but he would not part with the briefcase. His excuse was that he might h kclacher | 198308 [2016/03/24 11:34] – [The Sydney Bushwalker] kclacher | ||
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|**Editor**|Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695.| | |**Editor**|Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695.| | ||
|**Business Manager**|Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | |**Business Manager**|Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | ||
- | |**Production Manager**| Helen Gray | | + | |**Production Manager**| Helen Gray| |
|**Typist**| Kath Brown| | |**Typist**| Kath Brown| | ||
|**Duplicator Operator**|Phil Butt| | |**Duplicator Operator**|Phil Butt| | ||
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| The Franklin River Verdict |by Jim Brown | 2| | | The Franklin River Verdict |by Jim Brown | 2| | ||
| Social Notes for September | | 2| | | Social Notes for September | | 2| | ||
- | | Arthur and Us - Part 1 | Bill Gamble | 3| | + | | Arthur and Us - Part I | Bill Gamble | 3| |
| For the Love of the-South-West | Peter Harris | 6| | | For the Love of the-South-West | Peter Harris | 6| | ||
| Notes of the June & July General Meetings | Barry Wallace | 6| | | Notes of the June & July General Meetings | Barry Wallace | 6| | ||
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===== The Franklin River Verdict ===== | ===== The Franklin River Verdict ===== | ||
- | by Jim Brown | + | (13th July, 1983) by Jim Brown |
| The Wise Men sat in judgement and they found | | | The Wise Men sat in judgement and they found | | ||
Line 72: | Line 72: | ||
Arthur' | Arthur' | ||
- | "The park is a rugged and mountainous area of about 100,000 hectares situated in the centre of the South Island (about 150 km west of Christchurch). It is a land of jagged skylines, tall snowy peaks and snowgrass-clad ridges, deep gorges, steep, bush-covered hillsides, sheer cliffs of angular black rock, high waterfalls, wide shingle riverbeds and rushing torrents. The park is traversed by large rivers - on the east the Waimakariri and Poulter and their tributaries, | + | "The park is a rugged and mountainous area of about 100,000 hectares situated in the centre of the South Island (about 150 km west of Christchurch). It is a land of jagged skylines, tall snowy peaks and snowgrass-clad ridges, deep gorges, steep, bush-covered hillsides, sheer cliffs of angular black rock, high.waterfalls, wide shingle riverbeds and rushing torrents. The park is traversed by large rivers - on the east the Waimakariri and Poulter and their tributaries, |
"... the area of mountain ridges above bushline approximately equals the forested area. From valley floors at about 700m on the east the peaks rise to 1800m or more, but the western valley floors lie at only about 300m or slightly more. From any of the high peaks there are views over ridge upon ridge of broken rock, with snowfields lying beneath them and deep-cut valleys below. Ten named peaks over 2100m in height and twenty-one over 1800m lie within the park. | "... the area of mountain ridges above bushline approximately equals the forested area. From valley floors at about 700m on the east the peaks rise to 1800m or more, but the western valley floors lie at only about 300m or slightly more. From any of the high peaks there are views over ridge upon ridge of broken rock, with snowfields lying beneath them and deep-cut valleys below. Ten named peaks over 2100m in height and twenty-one over 1800m lie within the park. | ||
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Instead of going straight into the walk as programmed, our introduction to the park, as a party, was two days spent above Arthurs Pass itself, firstly on the east side in the Temple Basin and in the upper Mingha Valley, and then an the west side on the slopes of Mt. Rolleston, 2271m. The leader had spent two days in the park on the previous weekend and proposed this change as a way of widening the scope of the walking to be done by the party. It proved to be an excellent beginning, in brilliantly fine weather immediately after snowfalls. The change was also partly due to recent alterations in the timetable for trains to and from the park, which had made impractical the use of public transport if full use was to be made of the days allotted for walking. The use of the leader' | Instead of going straight into the walk as programmed, our introduction to the park, as a party, was two days spent above Arthurs Pass itself, firstly on the east side in the Temple Basin and in the upper Mingha Valley, and then an the west side on the slopes of Mt. Rolleston, 2271m. The leader had spent two days in the park on the previous weekend and proposed this change as a way of widening the scope of the walking to be done by the party. It proved to be an excellent beginning, in brilliantly fine weather immediately after snowfalls. The change was also partly due to recent alterations in the timetable for trains to and from the park, which had made impractical the use of public transport if full use was to be made of the days allotted for walking. The use of the leader' | ||
- | Anyway, three of the party members arrived in Christchurch late on Wednesday afternoon, 16 March, on a cold, wet day ad assumed that we would get lost because of "poor leadership, inadequate maps and equipment" | + | Anyway, three of the party members arrived in Christchurch late on Wednesday afternoon, 16 March, on a cold, wet day (maximum 7< |
+ | |||
+ | All the way from Christchurch the Southern Alps were a line of white against blue sky, looming larger all the time. The storm of the previous day had dumped an impressive covering of snow. However, over the foothills | ||
+ | at Porters Pass. we found that the warmth of the day was melting the snow rapidly and, much the same as a rainbow, it seemed to recede the closer we got to it. It was the following day before we indulged in sliding around on steep slopes of compacted snow with its fresh cover. | ||
+ | |||
+ | About 4:00 pm we walked away from the parking area on Arthur' | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the gathering chill of the early evening the pot belly stove in the centre of the room was soon alight. It provided a little warmth, but was really quite inadequate to heat a room of hall-like proportions designed | ||
+ | to shelter many day-use skiers. Piped water and flush toilets seemed luxuries, but were really necessities to cope with numbers in winter if the place was not to become a health hazard. Party members slept either on the floor or on the wide benches built in around the walls; and were awoken the following morning to the cacophony of Keas sliding down the metal roof of the shelter. Steve was soon outside trying to make contact with the locals, but without a great deal of success. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Away on a day walk, we traipsed through the debris and scattered ski-tow equipment on what is essentially a downhill ski area, to the upper part of the Temple Basin; and, after a brief inspection of the other park shelter, we scrambled up the steep scree alongside the last ski-tow to the Col itself. In a few steps we were out of a chill breeze. and into the sun on the lee slope looking down into the upper Mingha Valley. Packed snow slopes offered glissading opportunities as we slowly made our way down. The way was fairly clear and there were probably a number of routes which we could have taken. Tn fine weather, all very easy. A waterfall of about 20m falling on rocks and then tumbling on through a large snowcave enticed us to inspect before we settled down to lunch in the snowgrass alongside a small side stream. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our route back was to follow the rocky watercourse of the side stream which brought us out on a ridge spur about 500m above. For the next hour or so we walked and scrambled our way along the ridge and confirmed the description in the park handbook of ".... ridge upon ridge of broken rock.... deep-cut valleys below", | ||
+ | |||
+ | Early on Saturday morning we went back to the car to move it down the highway about 500m and start another day walk, this time up on to Rome Ridge leading to Mt. Rolleston. By late morning we were back on a level with the shelter which we had left in Temple Basin opposite; that is, after a short taste of scrub-bashing to reach a ridge spur clear of the bushline - it gave us a healthy respect for the sort of foliage one can encounter by moving away from acknowledged routes. An ascent of Mt. Rolleston was not contemplated - although one could say that Sreve had higher expectations than the rest of us - and after a generous break in the sun, reasonably sheltered from a chill breeze and with sweeping views into the Bealey Valley, we took the plunge down a scree slope which dropped us about 400m to the head of the Bealey Valley. The upper slope of the scree in fine shingle enabled giant steps, although lower down the size of the rocks slowed the pace - we still descended though in about 10-15 minutes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After lunch, it was a pleasant half-hour walk out alongside the fledgling Bealey River to the highway, after which we repaired to Arthur' | ||
+ | |||
+ | (Map reference: Arthur' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Advertisement ===== | ||
+ | ==== For Sale ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | __One only__ " | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Two only__ " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Phone Bronwyn Stow - 81 1257 (H) 789 9242 (B) after 4 pm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== For the Love of the South-West ===== | ||
+ | by Peter Harris | ||
+ | |||
+ | I am not alone with my thoughts. I used to be, but all of the unanswered questions have been answered. There is another voice inside me which calls for freedom, and weeps for my love of the South-West won. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mine is a burning life-force borne in peaceful lofty crags, and in the silent heathlands with their carpets of button grass and cushion plant. Mine is a satisfied want surpassing spiritual rebirth. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I hear my name being beckoned in the high-pitched squeal of a cold wind, and creation beckons me from meaningless blank photograph, denuded of natural colour. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Talk to me no more about joyful experiences of the South-West. Praise instead the many hearts that are looking for the light, to see God in creation itself. And many are the hearts that are dying in the night, to see God in creation itself. Come back with me to the South-West to see my God of peace on the campground of life amongst those rocky mountains; stalwart pillars of solemn fortitude, and in the tranquil enduring bliss of silent lake and quiet stream. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lift your voices. Can you hear the call of the wild? Can you feel its burning caress of tender love - the driving force of life? | ||
+ | |||
+ | There are times when I am alone that I can communicate with nature itself, when I sit upon a rock and see the place of which I've dreamed, and know without a single doubt it is exactly as it seemed. The cold bitter wind speaks to me in whispers of intimate love, enveloping and caressing my body. My eyes reflect the awesome power of creation. I am not dying in the night. I am not looking for the light. I have found the light in the South-West. It is the tie that binds me to my Maker. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Notes of the June and July General Meetings ===== | ||
+ | by Barry Wallace | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== June ==== | ||
+ | There were about 30 members present by 2018, so the President, in the chair, gonged the gong (this time with a wooden spoon, you will all be relieved. to know) and called the meeting to order. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As is sometimes the way of things there were no apologies and no new members, so we went straight to the reading of the Minutes. This was accomplished with no business arising, so we passed to Correspondence. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It seems our membership is becoming mobile for there was a spate of change of address notices. Apart from these there was a letter from the Wildlife Preservation Society advising of a three week bus tour to South Australia and environs planned for later this year; and a copy of a letter which Ray Hookway has sent to the N.S.W. Minister for Sport and Recreation supporting the provision of facilities for cross-country skiing in the areas around Kosciusko National Park. The only business arising was deferred to General Business. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Treasurer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | We began with Tony Marshall' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The following weekend, 20,21,22 saw Barry Wallace and a team of 10 dedicated experimenters conducting rainwear tests in the drizzle and swirling mists of Bonnum Pic. Steve and Wendy Hodgman had 11 people on their Goulburn River National Park trip that same weekend. The remark that the trip "has potential as a summer walk" is to be taken at face value only. Of the day walks, Roy Braithwaite reported 7 starters on a very wet and cold coastal walk which was slightly re-arranged to go from Bundeena to Audley rather than Otford. Sandy Johnston had 10 people on his Hawkesbury River walk, reported as " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The weekend of 27,28,29 May saw various parties struggling with the aftermath of the wet weather. Don Finch and his party of 6 found the Capertee in flood, so they walked over to the Wolgan and back. Bob Hodgson (just call me Dad!) had an interesting but different experience coping with excess waters on his Krungle-without-Bungle walk. The report of Peter Christian' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bill Capon' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Federation Report concerned a proliferation of Helipads in the Kanangra area. It seems that once you have a chopper you then have to produce uses for it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | General Business brought a motion that we write to the N.S.W. Minister for Sport and Recreation urging that he support the provision of facilities for cross-country skiers in areas adjacent to Kosciusko National Park. After an extensive but rather confused debate the motion was carried. | ||
+ | |||
+ | So then it was just a matter of the announcements, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== July ==== | ||
+ | The meeting began at around 2013 hours with 20 or so members present andthe President in the chair. There were apologies from Bob Sames and John Newman. New members Bronny Niemeyer, Jan McLean, Edith Townsend and Daksh Baweja were present to receive badge, constitution and applause, but Wendy Allan was not there to answer the call. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and received, with the only business arising being a follow-up on the proposal to levy member clubs of the South West Tasmania Coalition. It seems Federation plans to offer support for the Coalition as well. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Correspondence brought letters out to new members and to the N.S.W. Minister for Sport and Recreation urging support for the provision of facilities for cross-country skiing in the Kosciusko area. There were also letters in from Sutherland Bushwalkers regarding a planned trip to Barrington Tops and from the Beswick family fund donating $200.00 toward the Coolana property costs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Treasurer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | David Rostron began the Walks Report with his Axe Head Range high camps extravaganza. They began with 11 starters on a snow-swept Kanangra Walls and picked up an extra bod along the way. That same weekend 10,11,12,13 June saw Ian Debert and 8 others on a base camp at Yerranderie. They reported a very snowy Friday night, but were able to climb Yerranderie Peak and Chiddys Obelisk over the weekend to retain their license. Bill Burke had 16 people on his Sofala to Hill End walk. They reported beautiful, but cold, weather. There were no day walks programmed for that weekend. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The following weekend 17,18,19 June saw Gordon Lee with 20 people on his Ski Touring Instructional, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Over the weekend of 24,25,26th June Tony Marshall led his party of 7 through Jenolan Canyon - - twice, just to make sure. George Walton' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ainslie Morris' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The following weekend, 8,9,10 July Bill Capon had 3 starters on a Somewhat modified Yalwal-Leighton Creek-Corroboree Flat-Yalwal walk, and Bill Holland reported 16 people, beaut weather and lots of water on his Shoalhaven River walk. Roy Braithwaite' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Federation Report brought news that the Barrier Ranges Bushwalkers have been accepted as members of Federation, that there are conservation concern over stock routes in the Kosciusko National Park, and that information is sought regarding the establishment of a Nattai National Park. There will be S. & R. exercises on 22,23 October 1983, 24,25 March 1984 and 23,24 June 1984. | ||
+ | |||
+ | There was no General Business and the meeting closed at 2106 hours. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Letter to the Editor ===== | ||
+ | Dorothy Lawry | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1332 Pacific Highway, Turramurra. 2074. | ||
+ | Dear Evelyn, | ||
+ | |||
+ | We haven' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bill Gamble' | ||
+ | |||
+ | I remember one S.B.W. one-day walk from Heathcote via Karloo Pool and Uloola Falls to Waterfall. As it was such an easy walk of course we had a large party that was well strung out. When we at the head reached the flat above the Fails it was evident picnickers had been there. It was filthy with sheets of newspapers blowing across it etc. etc. By the time the tail of our party reached us we had it all cleared away and the place looking as it should again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Best wishes to you and all the present active members of the Sydney Bush Walkers. | ||
+ | From Dorothy Lawry. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Reprinted from The Ramblers Handbook, Southern Federation, 1938 Edition, official year book of The Southern and the West of England Federation of the Ramblers Association. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====A Fable ===== | ||
+ | by F. W. Thomas | ||
+ | |||
+ | | Frederick Foljambe Fotheringai | | ||
+ | | Went for a picnic one fine day. | | ||
+ | | Under the trees he ate his meal | | ||
+ | | Leaving a lot of banana peel, | | ||
+ | | Empty tins and a paper bag, | | ||
+ | | Tidying up was too much fag. | | ||
+ | | | In course of time he went and died, | | ||
+ | | | Crossed the Styx to the other side, | | ||
+ | | |Heard the Devil politely say, | | ||
+ | | | " | ||
+ | | | Here's a job that will suit you fine, | | ||
+ | | |Tidying up this place of mine." | | ||
+ | | Frederick Foljambe Fotheringai | | ||
+ | | For ever and ever and aye, | | ||
+ | | Spends his time and pays for his sins | | ||
+ | | Pursuing elusive banana skins, | | ||
+ | | Armed with a stick without a nail, | | ||
+ | | He chases litter in half a gale, | | ||
+ | | Shoving the pieces when he's got 'em | | ||
+ | | Into a basket without any bottom. | | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Trekking Through The McPherson Ranges, November 1982 Part II ===== | ||
+ | by Wal Liddle | ||
+ | |||
+ | __At O' | ||
+ | The many birds that raided our larder made our breakfast the next morning a sheer delight. Our light blue ground sheet was covered with red and blue rosellas, black and white magpies, and a couple of scrub turkeys feeding on scraps of bread. The cheekier birds would eat the cereal from our bowls if not shooed away. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The walkers then packed for a 3-day hike without the benefits of a support vehicle. Pat and Mark shared the main load, consisting of food and tents, for the whole group. I estimated that they were carrying 40 lbs each. Mark was advised to leave his leggings and hard hat behind but he would not part with the briefcase. His excuse was that he might have time to finish his thesis for the New England University. Before leaving we visited the Botanical Gardens which consisted of terraced gardens behind the Guest House, laid out with native and exotic plants. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The party left O' | ||
+ | |||
+ | A short distance along the track the group split up. Bill and I took the track to Mt. Echo via Lightning Falls whilst the main party took a longer but less steep route to the lunchtime rendezvous spot. Bill and I had morning tea at Jimbolongerri Falls where we obtained clear pure drinking water. The next resting place on our journey was Bithongabel Falls. The falls were joined to a series of mirror-like pools. The sun that filtered through the trees played with the Shadows on the ground, making ever-changing patterns of light and shade. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At 1:30 Bill and I joined the rest of the group at Echo Lookout for lunch before trekking on to Mt. Wupawn and Mt. Durigan. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Late that afternoon a distinct recurring mee-ow sound was heard by our party. The call was not that of a feral cat but came from a Cathird in the forest on our left. A number of us tried to get a glimpse of the bird by tracing the sound but it was too elusive. Mark said that the plumage is bright, almost iridescent green, spotted with white. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We arrived at Rat-a-Tat Hut at 5:00 pm and divested ourselves of our packs. The hut is a 3-sided roofed shelter sheeted with corrugated iron located in a clearing surrounded by tall trees. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Graham was delegated to fetch our water from a nearby rivulet. As he was filling the water bags he noticed a movement under one of the rocks. Returning to camp he cadged a piece of meat which he placed on a stick and used to coax out a magnificent white yabbie with blue stripes. It was approximately 10" long with two huge claws protruding from its armoured carapace. Graham brought it back to camp and placed it in a corral of stones near the campfire. He then showed different members of the party how to carry the yabbie with safety and without injuring the creature. Eventually we released the yabbie near where it was caught. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the darkness descended an earthen bank at the side of the clearing came aglow with blue-purple pinpoints of light. The light came from thousands of glow worms which lived amongst the green moss and ferns, but were | ||
+ | indistinguishable by day. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Most of the party elected to sleep on the packed earth in the hut whilst two made up their beds in the open, but in the middle of the night the two toughies came inside because of heavy showers. The showers had cleared by dawn and the morning presaged a hot day. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The walkers left Rat-a-Tat at 8:45 and trekked towards Ukai Lookout and onwards to Mt. Throakban. Soon after leaving the mountain on an ever-narrowing path we came to the Roberts Survey Tree which had a large triangle blaze on the trunk. Mark indicated that the tree would have been blazed in approximately the year 1860 by the original Government Surveyor. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We arrived at Kalinya Lookout overlooking the Tweed Valley at noon and partook of lunch. The afternoon proved to be very humid and oppressive with sweat pouring off all the walkers. Most of us were in shorts with some of the men stripped down to singlets or bare tops. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As we traversed a ridge on top of the mountain storm clouds were gathering on the horizon. At 2:30 the dark clouds were moving closer accompanied by lightning flashes and thunder claps. At 3 pm the storm had nearly reached the ridge and most of us stopped to don our rain gear. Shortly after the storm burst upon us with all its fury. First there came heavy torrential rain and lightning accompanied by a strong wind. Although I was protected by a parka my sleeping bag was in the haversack without a waterproof cover. Joyce came to the rescue with a large orange ground sheet which I held over my head and the haversack. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After what seemed hours the rain gave way to a hail storm. The hail pelted down, cutting the leaves and small twigs from the trees, changing the earthen path surroundings into a dark green carpet. Fifteen minutes later the green carpet had changed to a white one with hailstones 2" deep underfoot. In a short time the temperature had dropped from 32< | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mark had been caught by the rain in only singlet and shorts and his clothing was wet under his rain cape. A bout of shivering came on him. He realised that it was a malarial fever attack, a legacy of his earlier years in the tropical north of Queensland. We made room for Mark under the groundsheet and huddled close together trying to keep him warm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The hail ceased after a while but a light drizzle had set in. We decided to push on and I picked up Mark's large haversack which contained our main supplies. Our conversation had turned to aborting the expedition via Xmas Creek because of Mark's condition and the weather. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The track had nearly been obliterated by the leaves and hailstones. The afternoon light was fading as we came to a large clearing. Pat was endeavouring to start a fire boy scout fashion, by setting small twigs and branches upright in the shape or an Indian wigwam with the fire underneath. The prospect looked very dismal for the campers because of a dark overcast sky, a chill penetrating wind and damp ground underfoot. The tents were pitched whilst some looked for suitable firewood and others volunteered to fetch water for the evening meal. These tasks proved to be very difficult as suitable fallen limbs were scarce and the creek was at the bottom of a steep, slippery slope. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After an hour the rain ceased. Mark seemed to have partly recovered. He looked rather odd in Mary's angora jumper. Pat had prepared a delicious tuna mornay which was wolfed down by the whole group. The first course was followed by tinned peaches and cream. Most of the campers slept that night in damp clothes with no chance of getting their belongings or sandshoes dry. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We awoke next morning at 6.30 in misty cold conditions to find that two ringtail possums had raided our muesli supply. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After breakfast the walkers were surprised to see Bill with his haversack on ready for departure. Without warning he bade us all goodbye. He gave no reason for his sudden decision to return home. My assumption from conversation I had with him over a two day period was that he did not feel safe in the Australian bush. He was familiar with the German and Swiss forests where there are well-marked tracks, shelter huts and roads and railways close by. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The party then proceeded down a steep gully to the Stinson wreck, where olive-green tubular steel trusses protruded from the undergrowth. One of the wheel struts lay nearby. Small pieces of broken window glass were found by one of the walkers. A plaque set in concrete marked the scene of the crash. The inscription read:- "This plaque marks the spot where the Stinson Airliner ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | A white wooden cross nearby was marked:- "In memoriam Capt. Rex Boyden died in Stinson crash 19-2-37." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Three passengers survived the crash - Westray, Bunstead and Proud. Westray, a young New Zealander, decided to go for help only to fall over a cliff and die in the bush. The other two survivors lived on the berries from the walking stick palm and water collected from Xmas Creek. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The papers of the day and the aviation authorities had given up the Stinson as lost. People had sighted what they thought to be the plane everywhere from the Queensland border to the Hawkesbury River. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After eight days and differing radio and press reports, Bernard O' | ||
+ | |||
+ | He packed some supplies which consisted of bread and butter, onions, sugar and tea, and mounted his horse ready for the journey to Mount Bethongabel. Here he sent the mare home and proceeded by f6ot through the trackless jungle. On the morning of the second day O' | ||
+ | After returning to camp from the wreck we were able to see the stretcher track, approximately 4 feet wide, which is maintained free from undergrowth to this day. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our party arrived at Tyalgum Valley Lookout at 9:30 where the hailstones on the track were thick underfoot. The track from here on became indistinct and we had to fan out many times to find one of the tree blazes. Wherever a break in the rain forest canopy occurred, the undergrowth was thick and tangled because of the life-accelerating effects of the sunlight. The undergrowth was wet and we had to stop at intervals to extricate ourselves from the lawyer vines that got caught in our clothing and flesh. This proved to be very painful at times, Allegedly lawyer vines were given this name by the early settlers because once they got their hooks into you you would never get them out. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We passed a number of antarctic beeches, a huge gnarled tree with buttressed arched roots that meet the trunk metres above the ground. These trees are thought to be thousands of years old and are a relic from a colder epoch. They usually occur at higher altitudes and are found in Victoria, Tasmania, New Zealand, South America and the New Guinea Highlands. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At one stage we became disoriented and found ourselves heading in the opposite direction to our compass course. The group had just passed through a cleft in two large rocks which Pat recognised from our earlier wanderings. The mistake was confirmed, by reference to the area map. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some time after lunch the track became defined again and at 2:30 pm we arrived at a signpost which pointed to O' | ||
+ | |||
+ | At 5 pm the party emerged from the bush onto Forest Road. Here we were met by Peter Maxwell, a Forestry Commission Ranger. He drew the leaders aside and engaged them in earnest conversation. Pat later told us the story. Bill had assumed that we would get lost because of "poor leadership, inadequate maps and equipment" | ||
That night we camped in cold, overcast conditions in a clearing at the Border Lookout. | That night we camped in cold, overcast conditions in a clearing at the Border Lookout. |
198308.txt · Last modified: 2016/03/25 15:22 by kclacher