Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- 198608 [2016/03/10 13:11] – kennettj
+++ 198608 [2016/03/10 13:19] – [The Snow Bowl] kennettj
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 Page
-A Queen's Birthday Experience in the West Budawangs by Bob Younger 2
+|A Queen's Birthday Experience in the West Budawangs, by Bob Younger |2|
-New Members 4
+|New Members |4|
-The Snow Bowl Frank Rigby 5
+|The Snow Bowl, Frank Rigby |5|
-Advertisement - Blackheath Taxi 6
+|Advertisement - Blackheath Taxi| 6|
-Conservation Corner Ainslie Morris 7
+|Conservation Corner, Ainslie Morris |7|
-Lost in the Bush R. W. French 8
+|Lost in the Bush, R. W. French | 8|
-Advertisement - Eastwood Camping Centre 12
+|Advertisement - Eastwood Camping Centre |12|
-Whew! Whadidisaywrong? Ronald Knightley 13
+|Whew! Whadidisaywrong? Ronald Knightley |13|
-Letter from the Friends of the Hacking River 14
+|Letter from the Friends of the Hacking River |14|
-Advertisement - Canoe & Camping, Gladesville 15
+|Advertisement - Canoe & Camping, Gladesville |15|
-General Meeting on 10-7-86 Ainslie Morris 16
+|General Meeting on 10-7-86, Ainslie Morris |16|
-R S I of the Tongue Dr. Mac 17
+|R S I of the Tongue, Dr. Mac |17|
-Just a Minute 18
+|Just a Minute |18|
-Social Notes 18
+|Social Notes |18|
-Report of the Committee Meeting of 6th August 18
+|Report of the Committee Meeting of 6th August |18|
-Special Notice re the CONSTITUTION 18
+|Special Notice re the CONSTITUTION |18|
@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 The afternoon was advancing and my thoughts, as leader, turned to the more mundane question of finding a campsite for the evening. The chances were not bright. The route ahead along the crest of the range looked
 similar to that which we had already traversed: rugged, rocky, stark, treeless and completely dry, difficult although exciting to walk but impossible to camp.
-I can't remember who saw it first but suddenly we were all looking with some interest. Just a short distance away, below the summit, the boulder-
-strewn crest cradled a small basin whose floor was covered by a bright green
+I can't remember who saw it first but suddenly we were all looking with some interest. Just a short distance away, below the summit, the boulder-strewn crest cradled a small basin whose floor was covered by a bright green carpet. Silvery threads wove meandering ways across the carpet. What made the basin seem so improbable, yet so inviting, was the unrelenting harshness of its lifeless surroundings. To me, even at that distance, the place looked so enchanting that I would not have been surprised if a troupe of fairies had made a dainty entrance while I watched.
-carpet. Silvery threads wove meandering ways across the carpet. What
-made the basin seem so improbable, yet so inviting, was the unrelenting
+We hurried down off the summit, perhaps worrying whether such a pleasant and unexpected vision could possibly exist in reality. And why had we not heard of it before from walkers who had previously passed this way? But the basin was indeed real even if the fairies failed to materialise. The green carpet resolved into a dense grassy sward of fine lawn length and quality, admittedly damp in some places but eminently campable in others. The floor of the basin was dotted here and there with shallow tarns
-harshness of its lifeless surroundings. To me, even at that distance, the place looked so enchanting that I would not have been surprised if a troupe of fairies had made a dainty entrance while I watched.
+connected by narrow serpentine channels of flowing crystal-clear water. And here was another strange thing: there was no outlet for all this flowing water, at least no conventional outlet. At the Lowest point of the basin the water simply disappeared into a hole in the ground, never to be seen again. From whence the water originated was also something of a mystery because the rocky rim seemed utterly dry.
-We hurried down off the summit, perhaps worrying whether such a pleasant and unexpected vision could possibly exist in reality. And why had we not
-heard of it before from walkers who had previously passed this way? But
+Of course it was not really a snow bowl at all, not when we were there in that late December. In truth there was but one snowdrift still defying the summer sun. But in my imagination I tried to visualise the place as it would surely be in winter; and I saw a saucer-shaped bowl half-filled with the purest virgin snow. The surface would be unblemished because no human being would dare to approach that rugged mountain fastness in that season; the terrain and the climate would protect this sanctuary from even the hardiest adventurers.
-the basin was indeed real even if the fairies failed to materialise. The
-green carpet resolved into a dense grassy sward of fine lawn length and quality, admittedly damp in some places but eminently campable in others. The floor of the basin was dotted here and there with shallow tarns
+After three small tents had been erected I climbed to the rim to observe the effect. Somehow, the tents did not degrade the scene, rather they seemed to belong. To me they symbolised the temporary presence of intelligent and receptive beings who could appreciate Nature's masterpiece. I suppose I was reminded of the night sky when the stars are brilliant - would it be quite the same if there were no one to gaze up in wonder?
-connected by narrow serpentine channels of flowing crystal-clear water. And
-here was another strange thing: there was no outlet for all this flowing
+Although some sort of a fire would have been possible with the small twisted branches of the heath around the edges, we determined not to light one because its remains would have left a scar. Indeed, there was not the slightest evidence that anyone had ever camped there before, at least not for a long time. Instead, we cooked on stoves until Christine called us over to the south-west side of the bowl. As if our campsite were notenough, Nature now proceeded to mount a display I shall never forget.
-water, at least no conventional outlet. At the Lowest point of the basin
-the water simply disappeared into a hole in the ground, never to be seen again. From whence the water originated was also something of a mystery because the rocky rim seemed utterly dry.
+The sunset seemed to go on and on as if reluctant to shed its glory. I would guess that, from the first tinge of gold to the final fiery red, a full hour must have elapsed. Perhaps that is not surprising in those southern latitudes at midsummer. But it was not just the sky that held our breath; the landscape below more than played its part. From our lofty perch, the tiers upon tiers of peaks and ridges, ever changing with light and colour, formed a superb foreground.
-Of course it was not really a snow bowl at all, not when we were there in that late December. In truth there was but one snowdrift still defying
-the summer sun. But in my imagination I tried to visualise the palce as it would surely be in winter; and I saw a saucer-shaped bowl half-filled with
+According to Nature's law there is a serpent in every paradise. In our Snow Bowl he proved to be the mosquitoes, but this was a small price to pay. Another potential serpent could be its partial exposure to the south-west from which so much nasty weather in these parts originates. Fortunately for us, we had no cause to worry during our one-night stay.
-the purest virgin snow. The surface would be unblemished because no human
-being would dare to approach that rugged mountain fastness in that season; the terrain and the climate would protect this sanctuary from even the hardiest adventurers.
+It is now more than six years since we stumbled upon the Snow Bowl. I have not been back. I hesitate in case it is not the same in which case my memories would collapse in ruins. Have uncaring human beings marred its pristine beauty? Has Nature herself, in some cataclysmic mood, altered it beyond my recognition? I do not know and I may never know. I wonder if that's the way it ought to be.
-After three small tents had been erected I climbed to the rim to observe the effect. Somehow, the tents did not degrade the scene, rather they
-seemed to belong. To me they symbolised the temporary presence of intell-
-igent and receptive beings who could appreciate Nature's masterpiece. I
-suppose I was reminded of the night sky when the stars are brilliant - would it be quite the same if there were no one to gaze up in wonder?
-Although some sort of a fire would have been possible with the small twisted branches of the heath around the edges, we determined not to light one because its remains would have left a scar. Indeed, there was not the
-slightest evidence that anyone had ever camped there before, at least not
-for a long time. Instead, we cooked on stoves until Christine called us
-over to the south-west side of the bowl. As if our campsite were not
-enough, Nature now proceeded to mount a display I shall never forget.
-Page 6 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER August, 1986
-The sunset seemed to go on and on as if reluctant to shed its glory. I would guess that, from the first tinge of gold to the final fiery red, a full hour must have elapsed. Perhaps that is not surprising in those
-southern latitudes at midsummer. But it was not just the sky that held
-our breath; the landscape below more than played its part. From our lofty
-perch, the tiers upon tiers of peaks and ridges, ever changing with light and colour, formed a superb foreground.
-According to Nature's law there is a serpent in every paradise. In our Snow Bowl he proved to be the mosquitoes, but this was a small price to
-pay. Another potential serpent could be its partial exposure to the south-
-west from which so much nasty weather in these parts originates. Fortunately for us, we had no cause to worry during our one-night stay.
-It is now more than six years since we stumbled upon the Snow Bowl.
-I have not been back. I hesitate in case it is not the same in which case
-my memories would collapse in ruins. Have uncaring human beings marred its
-pristine beauty? Has Nature herself, in some cataclysmic mood, altered it
-beyond my recognition? I do not know and I may never know.
-I wonder if that's the way it ought to be.
 Author's Note:
-The Snow Bowl is a real place in an Australian national park. Perhaps some readers may guess its location; perhaps others do not want to know,
+The Snow Bowl is a real place in an Australian national park. Perhaps some readers may guess its location; perhaps others do not want to know, preferring instead to imagine it to be wherever they wish. I hope that my companions of December 1979, four of whom were, and still are S.B.W. members, retain happy memories of a shared experience in a very special place.
-preferring instead to imagine it to be wherever they wish. I hope that my companions of December 1979, four of whom were, and still are, S.B.W. members, retain happy memories of a shared experience in a very special place.