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--- 198609 [2016/03/14 12:46] – [The Rains Came] kennettj
+++ 198609 [2016/03/14 15:59] – [Survival in a Blizzard] kennettj
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 Returning to the saddle we had a little difficulty identifying the correct point to start down Pass 24, but eventually found it. (We believe Herr Buck's map to be slightly in error at this spot.) The Colo was reached at about 4.30 pm with the light in the gorge already fading. Following the East Bank we had to negotiate a section where the river cut in to form a cliff line, forcing us up high. By the time this was completed darkness was fast approaching. We could see a beach on the opposite shore, with a convenient rapid nearby, so using a stick and linking arms we walked, staggered or otherwise made it line abreast across the river and headed for the aforementioned salubrious campsite, arriving with about 20 minutes of fading daylight remaining.
-With the campfire soon blazing our activities centred on transferring the food from our packs into our stomachs, some of it via the fire, amid more muttering about no afternoon tea. Happy hour was continguous with dinner; someone had some sherry, and after a pleasant little disagreement about the merits or popularity (I forget which) of Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Mozart et al, we had a wee drop of mulberry juice and retired to bed.
+With the campfire soon blazing our activities centred on transferring the food from our packs into our stomachs, some of it via the fire, amid more muttering about no afternoon tea. Happy hour was contiguous with dinner; someone had some sherry, and after a pleasant little disagreement about the merits or popularity (I forget which) of Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Mozart et al, we had a wee drop of mulberry juice and retired to bed.
 We awoke to another brilliant day, and after eating last night's leftovers flavoured with bacon a la Jim, we broke camp at 8.30 and in half an hour reached the Wollangambe junction, our original intended overnight stop. It is possible that our actual campsite was better anyway.
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 by Geoff Grace
-The word 'blizzard' has little meaning until you experience one in its full fury. Last season, on the main range in Kosciusko National Park near the end of a N.P.A. ski crossing from Kiandra, my understanding of the word was given new meaning. I also learnt the value of a survival technique which by request,I recount here.
+The word 'blizzard' has little meaning until you experience one in its full fury. Last season, on the main range in Kosciusko National Park near the end of a N.P.A. ski crossing from Kiandra, my understanding of the word was given new meaning. I also learnt the value of a survival technique which by request I recount here.
-Everybody makes a mistake or two at times. Our crossing party was no exception. The biggest mistake was that after four days out from Kiandra, two of us proceeded up onto the main range from Consett Stephens Pass in changing weather conditions. The weather. that day started out O.K. but from the West, low cloud soon scudded in. We pressed on. We should have gone back. Between Mount Tate and Anderson the weather really closed in.
+Everybody makes a mistake or two at times. Our crossing party was no exception. The biggest mistake was that after four days out from Kiandra, two of us proceeded up onto the main range from Consett Stephens Pass in changing weather conditions. The weather that day started out O.K. but from the West, low cloud soon scudded in. We pressed on. We should have gone back. Between Mount Tate and Anderson the weather really closed in.
-In a very short space of time the wind built to such a force that it was almost Impossible to stand. Unbelievably strong wind gusts with increasingly icy conditions combined with our heavy packs to quickly reduced progress to erratic staggerings. Visibility dropped to a few metres. It became imperative to make shelter for survival.
+In a very short space of time the wind built to such a force that it was almost impossible to stand. Unbelievably strong wind gusts with increasingly icy conditions combined with our heavy packs to quickly reduced progress to erratic staggerings. Visibility dropped to a few metres. It became imperative to make shelter for survival.
 We groped for the lee of the ridge - at times on hands and knees for fear of being blown over the edge.
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 In the lee of the ridge the wind was still impossibly fierce. It boiled over and down the slope in great shrieking, turbulent hurricanes. No chance of shelter. No time to get off the range. No handy rock to shelter behind. Erect a tent? Impossible. The only thing left - dig into the snow - dig a snow cave - a solution made possible only by the foresight of my companion who carried that most essential tool for snow travellers - a shovel.
-We used up valuable time and energy looking, without success, for a drift with a vertical face in which to dig straight in. In desperation, with only limited daylight left, the life-saving implement - the large, lightweight, snow shovel - was put to work straight into the steep snow slope. A vertical face about one metre square was dug out. An entrance hole about three quarters of a metre diameter was driven into this face for about a half metre. Then, further in, the main enlargement for the cave was hacked out at an angle to the entrance. Hard, freezing cold work, crouched on the knees. Several actions required for each shovelfull of snow - chop the walls - dome the roof - push spoil to entrance - shovel out. Once in, the digging was easier.
+We used up valuable time and energy looking, without success, for a drift with a vertical face in which to dig straight in. In desperation, with only limited daylight left, the life-saving implement - the large, lightweight, snow shovel - was put to work straight into the steep snow slope. A vertical face about one metre square was dug out. An entrance hole about three quarters of a metre diameter was driven into this face for about a half metre. Then, further in, the main enlargement for the cave was hacked out at an angle to the entrance. Hard, freezing cold work, crouched on the knees. Several actions required for each shovel full of snow - chop the walls - dome the roof - push spoil to entrance - shovel out. Once in, the digging was easier.
 Within an hour, a life-saving shelter for two. Another half hour, a cosy retreat with enough room for packs and sleeping bags. Pitch black howling freezing darkness descends. Frozen death stalks outside. Light the choofer, cups of tea, hot food, the muted howling wind outside not even flickering the candle. Snug. Incredible. What a relief.
-That night we nearly suffocated. Snow drifted over the entrance. We dug out twice.
-Next day, impossible to move. The blizzard a shrieking nightmare. To avoid drifting up again, in the late afternoon we dug a huge hole immediately in front of the entrance. Our mistake was to throw the spoil down-hill. That second night we really were buried alive. The drift built-up from well down the slope and while we were asleep, covered the entrance with about two metres of snow. How we got out of that in the small hours of the morning makes a story in itself.
+That night we nearly suffocated. Snow drifted over the entrance. We dug out twice. Next day, impossible to move. The blizzard a shrieking nightmare. To avoid drifting up again, in the late afternoon we dug a huge hole immediately in front of the entrance. Our mistake was to throw the spoil down-hill. That second night we really were buried alive. The drift built-up from well down the slope and while we were asleep, covered the entrance with about two metres of snow. How we got out of that in the small hours of the morning makes a story in itself.
 After two nights and a day in the cave, we had used up practically all of our fuel, mostly from melting snow for hot drinks and meals. We were reasonably dry, warm, and knew where we were. We studied the map and decided to get off the range via a route down to the Snowy River, find a snow bridge, then Charlottes Pass and the Chalet.
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 **Day 3.** In the morning, after the ritual porridge, we packed and moved up the Gorge. We only went for a few hours, enough with such heavy packs, to a beautiful campsite I immediately called 'Amphitheatre Camp'. The river-bed ran north-south here and to the west was a huge amphitheatre, perhaps seven hundred metres wide and deep, and some two hundred high with fantastic red cliffs all around. What cliffs! We found a suitable riverbed site, had lunch and prepared for another afternoon day walk.
-First we all walked up to see the actual Gorge, a kilometre or two upstream. There was some hope of having a swim and a wash, but in the event the water was so cold that few of us availed ourselves of the opportunity - it was more comfortable to be dirty! The Gorge, one of the largest in the
+First we all walked up to see the actual Gorge, a kilometre or two upstream. There was some hope of having a swim and a wash, but in the event the water was so cold that few of us availed ourselves of the opportunity - it was more comfortable to be dirty! The Gorge, one of the largest in the Macdonnells, was impressive. The large pools, only passable by a long swim, were contained by mighty rock walls, not very colourful in the shade, but so big, and with such a profusion of plants, macrazamia palms, river and ghost gums, a veritable garden in the wilderness. We retreated to camp, the washers to the sunshine to warm up, and we made preparations for an afternoon walk.
-Macdonnells, was impressive. The large pools, only passable by a long swim,
-were contained by mighty rock walls, not very colourful in the shade, but so big, and with such a profusion of plants, macrazamia palms, river and ghost gums, a veritable garden in the wilderness. We retreated to camp, the washers to the sunshine to warm up, and we made preparations for an afternoon walk.
-The party divided. A few remained in camp while some went downstream and up a side canyon to the west. With the leader's permission I went up the ridge next to their side canyon, with the thought of climbing to the head of the amphitheatre. The foot of the ridge was not far from camp,.a hundred metres at the most, and soon I was on my own, ascending over
+The party divided. A few remained in camp while some went downstream and up a side canyon to the west. With the leader's permission I went up the ridge next to their side canyon, with the thought of climbing to the head of the amphitheatre. The foot of the ridge was not far from camp,.a hundred metres at the most, and soon I was on my own, ascending over delightful rock toward the distant skyline. The rock is incredible; everywhere it looks fractured and shattered, yet when you take hand and footholds nothing, absolutely nothing, was loose! It must be the age.
-delightful rock toward the distant skyline. The rock is incredible; everywhere it looks fractured and shattered, yet when you take hand and footholds nothing, absolutely nothing, was loose! It must be the age.
-The rock is so old that it has jiggled, settled, vibrated and shaken into stable positions. Cracks, splits and gaps everywhere but at the same time firm footing. It never ceased to amaze me. My rock ran out into spinifex, and I cursed as I crossed this patch to yet another rock ridge. At this point, in plain view of camp, I could just make out people at this distance. I realized that just to the south was a hanging valley. It was in fact the upper end of the canyon that the rest of the party had decided to explore. They would be stopped by a fifty metre cliff, which was now above, and would head back to camp, but I descended from my ridge into this beautiful little level watercourse. I decided to follow it to its head. Beautiful little cypress pines, up this tiny skyhigh valley I proceeded. Soon it became a canyon, narrowed, solid sculpted red rock, and sure enough water! Moss, wetness, only enough for a cupful, but how good it tasted. This was probably the highest water found on the entire trip.
+The rock is so old that it has jiggled, settled, vibrated and shaken into stable positions. Cracks, splits and gaps everywhere but at the same time firm footing. It never ceased to amaze me. My rock ran out into spinifex, and I cursed as I crossed this patch to yet another rock ridge. At this point, in plain view of camp, I could just make out people at this distance. I realized that just to the south was a hanging valley. It was in fact the upper end of the canyon that the rest of the party had decided to explore. They would be stopped by a fifty metre cliff, which was now above, and would head back to camp, but I descended from my ridge into this beautiful little level watercourse. I decided to follow it to its head. Beautiful little cypress pines, up this tiny sky high valley I proceeded. Soon it became a canyon, narrowed, solid sculpted red rock, and sure enough water! Moss, wetness, only enough for a cupful, but how good it tasted. This was probably the highest water found on the entire trip.
 Up I went. I noticed a few spots of white bird droppings on the rock near the water, always a sure sign that you were near precious water! In just a few minutes I climbed out of and above the canyon where the vegetation was reduced to just shrubs. In a few more minutes it had shrunk again, soon it was only ankle height. I was in a tiny valley with no view of the distant horizon and I could have been anywhere in the dry regions of the world. I felt lost. I pushed on towards the crest, astounded that in this 'desert' I couldn't put a foot down except to crush a plant!! I finally climbed to the head of my miniature valley, expecting to find myself at the head of the amphitheatre (the stream had curved around in a direction that I felt would place me there). Instead I was lost - I could see the distant horizon but couldn't recognize anything! I calmed myself and had a good look. Far below me I could see the lip of a valley, and I finally decided that I was looking at the top edge of the amphitheatre. To my right ran a ridge which must be the one I had climbed, though high points blocked my view of it. To my left was another high point which I decided to climb before descending the other way. I had my camera and a good windbreaker without which I should have been very cold, and up I went.
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 ====== The August General Meeting ======
- by Barry Wallace.
+by Barry Wallace
 The meeting began at around 20.15 with the President in the chair calling the 25 or so members present to order with a session of vigorous gong-bashing. Talk about the technological imperative; it seems that Bob Niven has produced a new gong-basher in the form of a flannel flower hammer and it was being given a thorough work-out.
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 The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and received as a true and correct record and there was no business arising.
-Correspondence comprised letters from the N.S.W. Minister for Planning and Environment and the Water Resources Commission acknowledging our letters enquiring about possible future dams on the Colo River; from N.P.W.S. acknowledging our letter regarding the Surf Lifesaving Club new clubhouse development at Burning Palms and confirming that the old clubhouse has now been demolished and removed as required by the original agreement; from North Sydney Council advising that bookings for the new hall are not yet open; from the Office of the N.S.W. Premier regarding woodchipping in the South East of N.S.W.; from the A.N.U. Sports Union thanking the S.B.W. members who were involved in the attempted resuscitation of an injured cross-Country skier at Guthega recently; and an outgoing letter to the Paddy Pallin Foundation applying for a grant of $1000 for organising and preserving the Club archives.
+Correspondence comprised letters from the N.S.W. Minister for Planning and Environment and the Water Resources Commission acknowledging our letters enquiring about possible future dams on the Colo River; from N.P.W.S. acknowledging our letter regarding the Surf Lifesaving Club new clubhouse development at Burning Palms and confirming that the old clubhouse has now been demolished and removed as required by the original agreement; from North Sydney Council advising that bookings for the new hall are not yet open; from the Office of the N.S.W. Premier regarding wood chipping in the South East of N.S.W.; from the A.N.U. Sports Union thanking the S.B.W. members who were involved in the attempted resuscitation of an injured cross-Country skier at Guthega recently; and an outgoing letter to the Paddy Pallin Foundation applying for a grant of $1000 for organising and preserving the Club archives.
 Business arising from the correspondence involved the raising from the table of a previous motion that the Club obtain the services of an archivist to carry out preliminary work on the Club archives. Resolution of this motion was now required in view of the application having been made for a grant from the Paddy Pallin Foundation. After a wide ranging debate the motion was defeated, and a foreshadowed motion that the Club explore the possibility of using volunteers to establish the Club archives was discussed and passed. A following motion that we ask the Paddy Pallin Foundation to set aside our grant application until the Club considered the matter further was also passed.
 The Treasurer's Report indicated that we started the month with a balance of $4332, received $1291, spent $4679 (mostly on rent and insurance) and ended the month with a balance of $946.
-The Walks Report presented by Spiro in the absence of the Walks Secretary began with Peter Christian's skiing trip from 11 to 14 Jdly, for which there was no report. Over the weekend of 11,12,13 July Jim Rennard's Cox River walk had 5 people who were reported to have had a good time. Ainslie Morris' Y.H.A. Bundanoon trip did not go but of the day walks Gordon Lee's rockclimbing/abseiling instructional was reported as successful, Ralph Pengliss' Harbour walk went, but no details were available and Greta Davis' Bluegum walk was relocated to Royal National Park (Bundeena to Otford) to cope with problems caused by the fuel strike.
+The Walks Report presented by Spiro in the absence of the Walks Secretary began with Peter Christian's skiing trip from 11 to 14 July, for which there was no report. Over the weekend of 11,12,13 July Jim Rennard's Cox River walk had 5 people who were reported to have had a good time. Ainslie Morris' Y.H.A. Bundanoon trip did not go but of the day walks Gordon Lee's rock climbing/abseiling instructional was reported as successful, Ralph Pengliss' Harbour walk went, but no details were available and Greta Davis' Bluegum walk was relocated to Royal National Park (Bundeena to Otford) to cope with problems caused by the fuel strike.
 The following weekend, 18,19,20 July saw Ian Debert leading 10 starters on his Bonnum Pic walk in beautiful weather and thick scrub. Wayne Steele's Jenolan River hillclimb event went, but there were no details. Oliver Crawford had 5 people on his Colo walk enjoying a spot of scrub-bashing with the Colo running well. Malcolm Boadle reported 23 people on his Wahroonga to Berowra day trip, and Jan Mohandas had 16 people on his Faulconbridge to Glenbrook walk.
-September, 1986: THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Page 15
-Over the weekend of 25,26,27 July Ian Wolf. had 5 starters and good powder snow on his cross-country ski trip, Ian Debert reported 11 people on a rather cold weekend for his Grose River walk and Bill Capon, he of the fusible billies, had 16 people enjoying a cold weekend for his Ettrema walk. The only day walk that weekend, Peter Christian's Bluegum walk, went but no details were available.
+Over the weekend of 25,26,27 July Ian Wolf had 5 starters and good powder snow on his cross-country ski trip, Ian Debert reported 11 people on a rather cold weekend for his Grose River walk and Bill Capon, he of the fusible billies, had 16 people enjoying a cold weekend for his Ettrema walk. The only day walk that weekend, Peter Christian's Bluegum walk, went but no details were available.
 George Walton's Kanangra walk of 1,2,3 August had 5 starters and reported a good time and Malcolm Steele had 10 people on his Budawangs trip but no other details were available. There were two day walks that weekend, Len Berlin had 32 starters on his Cowan to Brooklyn walk which was described as a good trip and Gordon Lee reported 6 people and a beautiful day on his Mt. Hay walk.
 Another extended cross-country ski trip, from 9 to 13 August, led by Peter Christian, reported a party of two and of the two weekend trips, 8 to 10 August both David McIntosh's Wollemi Creek trip and Don Finch's Wollongambe Crater trip did not go, probably something to do with still flooded streams following the deluge. The same problem appears to have caused the relocation of Jan Mohandas' Cox River day walk. They went to the Ruined Castle instead. There were 7 people on what turned out to be a fairly brisk walk in the short winter day. Margaret Reid reported 15 people on her Lapstone to Glenbrook historical walk, to bring the Walks Report to a close.
 Federation Report brought news of the Federation Annual General Meeting and the election of officers, together with the usual reports.
-The Conservation Report advised that the draft N.S.W. Wilderness Policy has been released and that progress looks likely with both main political ,parties indicating support.
+The Conservation Report advised that the draft N.S.W. Wilderness Policy has been released and that progress looks likely with both main political parties indicating support.
 General Business brought advice from Peter Miller that the track barrier at Coolana will be stone rather than steel as originally proposed. The meeting was of the opinion that this was an improvement in any case.
 A motion that we send a letter of thanks to Bob Niven for the aforementioned gong-hammer was passed and we were advised that the new Constitution would be mailed out for discussion at the Half-Yearly General Meeting.
-Then it was just a matter of announcements for walks, the F.B.W. Ball and the Old Sydney Town bush dance and the President closed the meeting at around 2147 with a single gong-stroke.
-TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE
+Then it was just a matter of announcements for walks, the F.B.W. Ball and the Old Sydney Town bush dance and the President closed the meeting at around 21.47 with a single gong-stroke.
-Hoyts, Village Cinemas or The Dendy in Martin Place have half-price tickets for most films every Tuesday. I am starting ,a film-going group to
+**TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES**
-take advantage of these cheaper seats, so if you would like to go but have ne one to go with, just check the paper, decide which film you wish to see
-and then contact me. I will be able to tell you who else is going and to
+Hoyts, Village Cinemas or The Dendy in Martin Place have half-price tickets for most films every Tuesday. I am starting a film-going group to take advantage of these cheaper seats, so if you would like to go but have no one to go with, just check the paper, decide which film you wish to see and then contact me. I will be able to tell you who else is going and to which session, either the 5 pm or the 8 pm. Remember that the half-price tickets only apply to the above cinemas. See you at the pictures!\\
-which session, either the 5 pm or the 8 pm. Remember that the half-price
-tickets only apply to the above cinemas. See you at the pictures!
 PETER MILLER- phone 818 1990.