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-CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
+===== Central Australia - Part 3. =====
-PART 3. by Tom Wilhelm.
-Garden Canyon. We spent two nights here. I climbed a huge pinnacle
+by Tom Wilhelm.
-that rose just beside the camp, the base of which formed the cleft or narrowing of the canyon, and was surprised to find it a perfect whistling
-spot. The echo was just long enough that you could whistle two parts!
+=== Garden Canyon. ===
-I was also astonished to find a huge pile of wallaby turds at the very top, a place where no food grew. They must have come there, as I did, just for the view!!
-This campsite for me was one of the most comfortable of the trip, and had about the best view of the stars. We had plenty of cooking time here - it was always the case when we spent more than one night in a location, we just had that extra time. The aches and pains of continuing walking were
+We spent two nights here. I climbed a huge pinnacle that rose just beside the camp, the base of which formed the cleft or narrowing of the canyon, and was surprised to find it a perfect whistling spot. The echo was just long enough that you could whistle two parts! I was also astonished to find a huge pile of wallaby turds at the very top, a place where no food grew. They must have come there, as I did, just for the view!!
-starting to manifest themselves, and some of us were suffering from overexposure to spinifex!!
-Singing was strong at the first night in garden canyon camp, and we all sat,up till quite late. I don't know why this area was untrodden by horses and consequently was beautiful. The pools of water just above camp in the
+This campsite for me was one of the most comfortable of the trip, and had about the best view of the stars. We had plenty of cooking time here - it was always the case when we spent more than one night in a location, we just had that extra time. The aches and pains of continuing walking were starting to manifest themselves, and some of us were suffering from overexposure to spinifex!!
-'cleft' were inaccessible to hoofed animals, but not to wallabies. The native animals do not spoil the water, perhaps because they drink less and drop less; whatever the reason, it is true - the native animals do not ruin the country.
-Day 8. On the morn we headed off back toward the west, but the country is so convoluted here that we didn't get into the Standley system, but rather some smaller intermediary system that turned out to be exquisite. We found a magnificent pool in a pristine canyon for lunch.
+Singing was strong at the first night in garden canyon camp, and we all sat up till quite late. I don't know why this area was untrodden by horses and consequently was beautiful. The pools of water just above camp in the 'cleft' were inaccessible to hoofed animals, but not to wallabies. The native animals do not spoil the water, perhaps because they drink less and drop less; whatever the reason, it is true - the native animals do not ruin the country.
-Some more exploration after lunch and finally I had had enough. My left Achilles tendon was quite sore, from overworking, I suppose. I wanted
-to go back to camp. David pointed out the direction and off I went. What a panic. A few minutes after leaving the others I crossed up and over a small saddle, and the country is so turbulent and confused that I immediately
+=== Day 8. ===
-felt lost! Nothing looked familar and I had to cross heaps of spinifex, big
-spinifex, ridiculous but true - I felt momentary panic! After I calmed down
+On the morn we headed off back toward the west, but the country is so convoluted here that we didn't get into the Standley system, but rather some smaller intermediary system that turned out to be exquisite. We found a magnificent pool in a pristine canyon for lunch.
-and just proceeded things sorted themselves out and I finally reached a big creek which I did not recognise, and I hoped that that was because I was so far below camp that it was just unfamiliar. Fortunately that turned out to
-b., true or I don't know what I should have done. Presently I was back in camp, and doing a 'Spiro' getting the evening fire started and water on for tea and barley rum. As I sat and rested my foot, I considered that there was but one more night after this one. We had seen so much country, almost
+Some more exploration after lunch and finally I had had enough. My left Achilles tendon was quite sore, from overworking, I suppose. I wanted to go back to camp. David pointed out the direction and off I went. What a panic. A few minutes after leaving the others I crossed up and over a small saddle, and the country is so turbulent and confused that I immediately felt lost! Nothing looked familar and I had to cross heaps of spinifex, big spinifex, ridiculous but true - I felt momentary panic! After I calmed down and just proceeded things sorted themselves out and I finally reached a big creek which I did not recognise, and I hoped that that was because I was so far below camp that it was just unfamiliar. Fortunately that turned out to be true or I don't know what I should have done. Presently I was back in camp, and doing a 'Spiro' getting the evening fire started and water on for tea and barley rum. As I sat and rested my foot, I considered that there was but one more night after this one. We had seen so much country, almost overwhelming. David was proposing one more move to a final camp just into the next system to the east.
-overwhelming. David was proposing one more move to a final camp just into
-the next system to the east.
 The others were very happy when they returned to find instant hot water! Even though the night was cloudy, the spaces between the clouds held stars so bright that the show was as good as ever.
-Day 9. Morning porridge and some muesli for those who could no longer stand the ritual. Camp routine, cleaning up billies, plates, then packing
-our things was so routine that we seemed like a calm lake as we all prepared
+=== Day 9. ===
-to move. Even though we carried a small amount of water (we still were not
-absolutely confident of finding a supply), my pack was so light. The joy
+Morning porridge and some muesli for those who could no longer stand the ritual. Camp routine, cleaning up billies, plates, then packing our things was so routine that we seemed like a calm lake as we all prepared to move. Even though we carried a small amount of water (we still were not absolutely confident of finding a supply), my pack was so light. The joy in the light weight was counterbalanced somewhat by the pain in my left foot, which was positively bothersome by now!
-in the light weight was counterbalanced somewhat by the pain in my left foot, which was positively bothersome by now!
-We proceeded eastward once again, up toward a little col that was visible from camp, perhaps five hundred metres distant. Up and over this saddle and we were in our last 'system', and lile all previous ones, bone dry. Down
+We proceeded eastward once again, up toward a little col that was visible from camp, perhaps five hundred metres distant. Up and over this saddle and we were in our last 'system', and like all previous ones, bone dry. Down we went, ghost gums and palms but not quite as luxuriant as Garden Canyon at first, then more palms and suddenly water. Not just a pool, but running water, audible water! The first of the trip and our last camp! Our leader claimed that he was only following the suggestions of the local walkers, but we felt he must have planned it all. The water came out of a little side canyon, fell over a big rock ledge and into a beautiful pool, deep and clear, but still only a few metres across. It had an effect on us all out of proportion to its actual size, and we photographed it lovingly from all angles.
-we went, ghost gums and palms but not quite as luxuriant as Garden Canyon at
-Page 14 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER November, 1986
-first, then more palms and suddenly water. Not just a pool, but running
-water, audible water! The first of the trip and our last camp! Our
-leader claimed that he was only following the suggestions of the local
-walkers, but we felt he must have planned it all. The water came out of
-a little side canyon, fell over a big rock ledge and into a beautiful
-pool, deep and clear, but still only a few metres across. It had an effect
-on us all out of proportion to its actual size, and we photographed it lovingly from all angles.
 We made our last camp just above the confluence, as usual in the bed of the dry creek, but here we were surrounded by palms in abundance and large gums. We had lunch and prepared for a day walk to explore the source of the water. Today everyone wanted to go and soon we were all climbing around the 'pool' and to our amazement the water continued out of sight above it. The water made the vegetation especially fine, we found little delicate flowers and grass as green as you could wish! We climbed to a fork and took the left branch and now the canyon was dry. The rock was exquisite, each dry waterfall steeper than the previous one and up we went. I felt in my element, finger and toeholds everywhere, the rock seemed a ladder to me that afternoon.
-A few of the others found the vertical climb onerous and soon dropped
-back a bit. I just went up the centre and eventually climbed right out of
+A few of the others found the vertical climb onerous and soon dropped back a bit. I just went up the centre and eventually climbed right out of the canyon itself till I reached the very skyline. I recall the last fork of the stream where I found beds of wallabies, trampled down spinifex mounds set under fine surreal cypress pines. I stopped. My foot had had enough and I made my way back to the others the way I had come.
-the canyon itself till I reached the very skyline. I recall the last fork
-of the stream where I found beds of wallabies, trampled down spinifex mounds
+We all regrouped below the fork at the last signs of water for a fire and some billy tea. I realised that we were all together and took the only photograph of all the party of the entire trip. Others followed suit; we were, after ten days, together. The party as one.
-set under fine surreal cypress pines. I stopped. My foot had had enough
-and I made my way back to the others the way I had come.
+We all descended to camp, and since there was a few hours left the others went to explore yet another canyon below camp. My foot was complaining so much, and the camp so extraordinarily beautiful that I sat it out. I took more photographs of the fine vegetation and some of the canyon we had just explored, which was easily visible from a little hill just behind camp.
-We all regrouped below the fork at the last signs of water for a fire and some billy tea. I realised that we were all together and took the only
-pho tograph of all the party of the entire trip. Others followed suit; we
+Our last dinner was even slower and more drawn out than usual. The sound of water, gurgling, bubbling, all quite unreal. Music to the ears. The sound of life, and fine it is.
-were,after ten days,together. The party as one.
-We all descended to camp, and since there was a few hours left the others went to explore yet another canyon below camp. My foot was complaining so much, and the camp so extraordinarily beautiful that I sat it out. I took more photographs of the fine vegetation and some of the canyon
+=== Day 10. ===
-we had just explored, which was easily visible from a little hill just behind camp.
-air last dinner was even slower and more drawn out than usual. The sound of water, gurgling, bubbling, all quite unreal. Music to the ears. The sound of life, and fine it is.
+Our last morning was more porridge, which still tasted good which surprised me. We said good-bye to 'Grotto' camp and descended the canyon, and soon, all too soon, we found the evidence of horses! Filthy pools and trampled down vegetation only a few hundred metres from our exquisite camp. How small are the paradises of this world! Shortly thereafter the canyon spilled out onto the southern planes of the range, and we were in the real (?) world once again. So dry and unfriendly in appearance, so inhospitable, only memories of the better places we had seen made me feel I could face it. Soon we met the dirt road that was to take us to the highway to Standley Chasm and the preplanned rendezvous with our bus.
-Day 10. Our last morning was more porridge, which still tasted good
-which surprised me. We said good-bye to 'Grotto' camp and descended the
+The country alongside the highway was still quite beautiful, in particular the trees. Cars, people speeding by in cars, after ten days seemed dreadful, so insular and anonymous. We trudged on towards the parking lot and kiosk. We all went to the kiosk to buy something (I had a salad sandwich and an orange). I noticed on the wall a photograph of Mt. Sonder (which we had seen but not come close enough to climb) that appeared covered with snow. I asked the significance, and sure enough, it was snow in 1981!
-canyon, and soon,all too soon, we found the evidence of horses! Filthy
-pools and trampled down vegetation only a few hundred metres from our
+In many respects the trip did not end there. In his wisdom the leader had arranged for us all to spend the afternoon and night at Alice Springs and then fly back to Sydney the next day. A slow transition that I was very grateful for. The sense of quiet within me was great, as only an encounter with raw wild nature can bring about. Sydney direct would have been too much. Alice is very small and is surrounded by mountains and looks like the country we had been travelling through in many respects.
-exquisite camp. How small are the paradises of this world! Shortly there-
-after the canyon spilled out onto the southern planes of the range, and we
+We could see the distant ranges as we rolled along the southern plain towards Alice. Slowly the peaks we recngnised sank out of sight behind us. We made one tourist stop, at another gorge. We were passing quite close to Simpson's Gap, so David had the bus driver pull in for us all to have a look. Nice but not like Amphitheatre Camp, Garden Canyon or the 'Grotto'. I felt very spoiled. Alice, a motel, a warm shower, off with sweaty socks and on with peffectly clean clothes.
-were in the real (?) world once again. So dry and unfriendly in appearance,
-so inhospitable, only memories of the better places we had seen made me feel
+You could spend your whole life in Sydney and never, ever encounter an aboriginal. It was wonderful to find them en masse on the streets of Alice. Part of our walk had been on private lease holdings and part of it on Jay Creek Aboriginal Reserve. I felt I owed something to the locals for the trip had been so good.
-I could face it. Soon we met the dirt road that was to take us to the highway to Standley Chasm and the preplanned rendezvous with our bus.
-The country alongside the highway was still quite beautiful, in
+Wilderness as a tonic. I feel I need a dose of it now and again to keep me sane, hence my presence on this wonderful trip.
-particular the trees. Cars, people speeding by in cars, after ten days
-seemed dreadful, so insular and anonymous. We trudged on towards the
+We completed our return to civilization with a smorgasbord dinner at a local hotel. Salads, fresh meat, fresh fruit, and wine - it was all quite overwhelming. Bob was almost unrecognisable; he had not shaved during the trip and had grown a baby beard. When he appeared at dinner freshly shaved I almost didn't know whb he was! The meal seemed excellent for such a provincial outpost. I treated myself to a brandy after dinner and it came in a silver holder with a candle under it - a bit extravagant for one just in from lying in dry river beds, and accustomed to sipping barley rum from a tin cup!
-parking lot and kiosk. We all went to the kiosk to buy something (I had a
-salad sandwich and an orange). I noticed on the wall a photograph of
+After all courses, and toasts and a gift for the leader for a job magnificently done, a night in a bed. Not so good. The room felt cramped, I claustrophobic, the ciling too close, the sky too far, but eventually I slept.
-Mt. Sonder (which we had seen but not come close enough to climb) that
-appeared covered with snow. I asked the significance, and sure enough, it
+----
-was snow in 1981!
-November, 1986 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Page 15
+===== In The Matter Of Archives. =====
-In many respects the trip did not end there. In his wisdom the leader
-had arranged for us all to spend the afternoon and night at Alice Springs and then fly back to Sydney the next day. A slow transition that I was
-very grateful for. The sense of quiet within me was great, as only an
-encounter with raw wild nature can bring about. Sydney direct would have been too much. Alice is very small and is surrounded by mountains and looks like the country we had been travelling through in many respects.
-We could see the distant ranges as we rolled along the southern plain towards Alice. Slowly the peaks we recngnised sank out of sight behind us.
-We made one tourist stop, at another gorge. We were passing quite close to Simpson's Gap, so David had the bus driver pull in for us all to have a look.
-Nice but not like Amphitheatre Camp, Garden Canyon or the 'Grotto'. I felt
-very spoiled. Alice, a motel, a warm shower, off with sweaty socks and on
-with peffectly clean clothes.
-You could spend your whole life in Sydney and never, ever encounter an aboriginal. It was wonderful to find them en masse on the streets of Alice.
-Part of our walk had been on private lease holdings and part of it on Jay
-Creek Aboriginal Reserve. I felt I owed something to the locals for the
-trip had been so good.
-Wilderness as a tonic. I feel I need a dose of it now and again to
-' keep me sane, hence my presence on this wonderful trip.
-;
-We completed our return to civilization with a smorgasbord dinner at -a local hotel. Salads, fresh meat, fresh fruit, and wine - it was all quite
-overwhelming. Bob was' almost unrecognisable; he had not shaved during the
- trip and had grown a baby beard. When he appeared at dinner freshly shaved
-I almost didn't know whb he was! The meal seemed excellent for such a
-provincial outpost. I treated myself to a brandy after dinner and it came
-in a silver holder with a can-JEe under it - a bit extravagant for one just in
-, from lying in dry river' beds, and accustomed to sipping barley rum from a tin cup!
-After all courses, and toasts and a gift for the leader for a job magnificently done, a night in a bed. Not so good. The room felt cramped,
-I claustrophobic, the ciling too close, the sky- too far, but eventually I slept.
-*#.********
-IN THE MATTER OF ARCHIVES.
 by Jim Brown.
-During October the Committee appointed a sub-committee conpisting of Barbara Bruce, Ainslie Morris, Barry Wallace, Phil Butt and Jim Brown (convener) to look into the proper handling of the Club's old records.
- Subsequently there have been two developments. On October 11/12
+During October the Committee appointed a sub-committee consisting of Barbara Bruce, Ainslie Morris, Barry Wallace, Phil Butt and Jim Brown (convener) to look into the proper handling of the Club's old records.
-four Club members, Dot Butler, Ainslie Morris, Lorraine Bloomfield and JimBrown attended a "Workshop" conducted by the Australian Society of Archivists and held at Lane Cove Municipal Library. The lectures and discussions covered the four essential steps in establishing a system of Archives - acquisitiop, assessment, arrangement and preservation and provided a valuable foundation on which the sub-committee can operate.
+Subsequently there have been two developments. On October 11/12 four Club members, Dot Butler, Ainslie Morris, Lorraine Bloomfield and Jim Brown attended a "Workshop" conducted by the Australian Society of Archivists and held at Lane Cove Municipal Library. The lectures and discussions covered the four essential steps in establishing a system of Archives - acquisition, assessment, arrangement and preservation and provided a valuable foundation on which the sub-committee can operate.
 On October 22 the sub-committee met for an initial meeting and arrived at some basic decisions on measures necessary for the preservation of the Club's records. A report has been sent to the General Committee.
-****4-*****
-CANOE CAMPING
+----
- VICTORIA ROAD GLADESVILLE, 2111 PHONE (02) 817 559,0 HOURS - MON.-FRI. 9-6
-THURS. 94
+=== Canoe & Camping. ===
-SAT. 9-4
-(PARKING AT REAR OFF P/TTWATER ROAD)
+ Victoria Road, Gladesville, 2111. Phone (02) 817 5590. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-6, Thurs. 9-8, Sat. 9-4. (Parking at rear off Pittwater Road).
-A LARGE RANGE OF LIGHTWEIGHT, QUALITY, BUSHWALIONG Et CAMPING GEAR
- LIGHTWEIGHT FOOD FOR BACKPACKERS AND CANOEISTS
+A large range of lightweight, quality, bushwalking & camping gear:
- COLD WEATHER PROTECTION CLOTHING AND RAINGEAR
- MAPS, BOOKS AND LEAFLETS
+  * Lightweight food for backpackers and canoeists
- INFORMATION SERVICE FOR CANOEISTS AND WALKERS
+  * Cold weather protection clothing and raingear
- KNIVES  COMPASSES  SURVIVAL GEAR
+  * Maps, books and leaflets
-WE STOCK THE LARGEST RANGE OF CANOEING GEAR IN N.S.W.
+  * Information service for canoeists and walkers
-QUALITY TOURING CRAFT OF ALL TYPES HIGH QUALITY PERFORMANCE COMPETITION CRAFT
+  * Knives
- A HUGE RANGE OF PADDLES FOR ALL TYPES OF CANOEING 10 WEISUITS  SURF SKIS
+  * Compasses
- ALL TYPES OF SPRAY COVERS  WIDE RANGE OF JACKETS & C AGS  FACE MASKS
+  * Survival gear
- FOOTWEAR  MANY TYPES OF BUOYANCY & LIFE VESTS  HUIMETS
-November, 1986 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Page 17
+We stock the largest range of canoeing gear in N.S.W.
+Quality touring craft of all types. High quality, performance competition craft.
+  * A huge range of paddles for all types of canoeing
+  * Wetsuits
+  * Surf skis
+  * All types of spray covers
+  * Wide range of jackets & cags
+  * Face masks
+  * Footwear
+  * Many types of buoyancy & life vests
+  * Helmets
+----
 THE OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING.
 by Barry Wallace.