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-AWALK,INTHEMACDONNELL RANGES.
+=====A Walk In The McDonnell Ranges - July 1987.=====
-JULY 1987. by Margaret Niven.
+by Margaret Niven.
 Leaders:  Ainslie Morris & Mike Reynolds.
-The Crew:  Maurie Bloom, Jan Mohandas, Jim Percy, Jo Van Sommers, Judy Mehaffey, Brian Hart,
-Bob Niven, Margaret Niven.
+The Crew:  Maurie Bloom, Jan Mohandas, Jim Percy, Jo Van Sommers, Judy Mehaffey, Brian Hart, Bob Niven, Margaret Niven.
-Such excitement as we all met at the group counter at Mascot at 7 am on Sunday, 5th July. Weighing in our packs was very interesting as they went from 15 kg to 20 kg. Much thought had gone into packing. It had been decided that we would carry and prepare our own food,
-as there were widely differing food preferences. It was quite amazing what an interesting and varied selection of meals were enjoyed each evening around the fire.
+Such excitement as we all met at the group counter at Mascot at 7 am on Sunday, 5th July. Weighing in our packs was very interesting as they went from 15 kg to 20 kg. Much thought had gone into packing. It had been decided that we would carry and prepare our own food, as there were widely differing food preferences. It was quite amazing what an interesting and varied selection of meals were enjoyed each evening around the fire.
 So, onto the aircraft for a very smooth and pleasant flight to Alice Springs. We were met there by a small bus and driven to Arura Lodge, where we left overnight bags with spare clothes for the second week, added 3 litres of water to our packs and were transported out on to the Glen Helen road and after 55 minutes were deposited beside the road to start our trek.
 After the customary "group about to leave" photo, we walked a short distance to the Hugh River bed, boiled a billy and ate our lunch. At 1.15 pm we set off on our big adventure, a few minutes later meeting a man and wife in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle from Alice Springs. "Where are you from?" they enquired. "Oh, we just came from Sydney," we answered. "Hell - you must be very tired if you've walked from Sydney!" exclaimed the man, who was quite relieved when we told him that we had in fact flown in, not walked in!
 Not being familiar with the terrain, and also not being up high, it was not easy to pick the gap that we were intending to walk through, from the aerial photo Ainslie had acquired, so for our first afternoon we walked 18 km instead of 15 km, but it was flat and easy walking and we ended up not quite in the river bed we'd hoped to reach.
-We camped on a large flat area, a bit open to a cool wind which came up at dusk, no water but plenty of wood. Then we discovered "THE BINDIES". They lay on the ground like a carpet and we were sure they could jump. Before we knew it, they were in and on everything, and a sight to see was Judybending over having her shorts combed by Jim. the only way to remove them. Poor Judy, for the whole trip, no matter how careful she was, she always ended up with "the bindies".
-We set off next morning to find our river bed no more than km on, and followed it up to the junction, where we found good water, so boiled a billy for morning tea, packed a lunch and, leavcing our packs, walked and climbed up a spectacular gorge and up a scree slope to a ridge for lunch with the first of our breathtaking views.
+We camped on a large flat area, a bit open to a cool wind which came up at dusk, no water but plenty of wood. Then we discovered "The Bindies". They lay on the ground like a carpet and we were sure they could jump. Before we knew it, they were in and on everything, and a sight to see was Judy bending over having her shorts combed by Jim, the only way to remove them. Poor Judy, for the whole trip, no matter how careful she was, she always ended up with "the bindies".
-Then back down the spur, collected our packs and left at 3.10 pm to head back to the main gorge. After negotiating a tricky bit around a rock face, to avoid a swim, we arrived
-at a super camp spot and made ourselves at home here in Hugh Gorge for two very pleasant and comfotable nights.
+We set off next morning to find our river bed no more than 1/2 km on, and followed it up to the junction, where we found good water, so boiled a billy for morning tea, packed a lunch and, leaving our packs, walked and climbed up a spectacular gorge and up a scree slope to a ridge for lunch with the first of our breathtaking views.
+Then back down the spur, collected our packs and left at 3.10 pm to head back to the main gorge. After negotiating a tricky bit around a rock face, to avoid a swim, we arrived at a super camp spot and made ourselves at home here in Hugh Gorge for two very pleasant and comfotable nights.
 We did day walks up the Chewings Range and also investigated another gorge, finding two large waterholes - one inaccessible and one used by cattle (there were several dead cows in the area).
 Jan's Rossi boots decided to fall apart very early in the walk, so Maurie and Bob got together and evolved a system using a stout darning meedle and a heavy blanket pin and "borrowed" cord from torches to sew the upper to the sole. This became a nightly ritual, along with the telling of jokes, a sing-song, especially enjoyable was Jim's rendition of "The Purple People Eater", and also some yoga for anyone with the will and enthusiasm required.
 Spencer Gorge, our next campsite, proved even more interesting - lovely gums, sheer colourful walls, beautiful and very cold rock pools, the last one blocking the way out, so causing one hour and 40 minutes of climbing and scrambling to get to the other side, a mere 200 metres.
-WE walked on looking for "Rigby" Gorge, where, Ainslie had been told, we'd find water. We stopped in a small gorge with water for lunch, but later found it was not "Rigby", but a
-THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER
+We walked on looking for "Rigby" Gorge, where, Ainslie had been told, we'd find water. We stopped in a small gorge with water for lunch, but later found it was not "Rigby", but a smaller one, but good to know as there was plenty of good water there. During this part of the walk we sighted quite a few brumbies. We passed the Hugh River Water Guage and found clean water and another super campsite again in the river bed, the only place to avoid "the bindies". Another happy and pleasant evening was enjoyed with a near full moon and clear starry sky.
-Page 12 October, 1987
-smaller one, but good to know as there was plenty of good water there. During this part of
-the walk we sighted quite a few brumbies. We passed the Hugh River Water Guage and found clean water and another super campsite again in the river bed, the only place to avoid "the bindies". Another happy and pleasant evening was enjoyed with a near full moon and clear starry sky.
 Day 6 saw us heading up to Brinkley Bluff, very steep and very rough and oh! that spinifex! Having at last all gathered, by various routes, on the saddle, we had a well earned morning tea and took advantage of the height to get some great photos and also work out where we were and which way to go. Working from an aerial photograph is not the easiest way to navigate and I commend Ainslie, Maurie, Brian, Jan and Jim for their expertise.
 After traversing the slope and negotiating another gully, we came to a deep clear water- hole. Bob climbed down and filled our water-skins and after lunch we had our hardest afternoon. We did a very steep and rough and prickly traverse to find ourselves in a very long, steep and rough gully which brought us up to a narrow ridge above the S.B.W. named "Surprise Waterfall". After scrambling down, finding good water on the way, we set up camp, and after mending Jan's boots again, all retired early.
 Day 7 saw us up early and off on a very pleasant and pretty walk to our last campsite at the back of Standley Chasm. We investigated the chasm, Ainslie, Jo and Brian swimming through the first pool and deciding it would be better to find a way to climb around, which Jan and Maurie proceeded to do very successfully. We spent our last night, reliving our walk, having a sing-song, finishing with Mike's composition (printed further in the magazine). It was such a clear, still night, with a full moon and we were all a bit sad that our trip was nearly over.
 Sunday dawned clear and mild and after breakfast we packed up and left our packs and did a last climb up the ridge overlooking the chasm and soaked up the magnificent views to remember as we travelled home. We negotiated the track around the first pool, only to find that we had to wade out the second pool chest-deep to the amusement of a large group of camera-clicking tourists.
 Oh dear! I think we would all have preferred to go back than to enter the world of buses, cars, kiosks and all the trappings of those poor folk, who didn't get to see the magnificent country "out back in the MadDonell Ranges".
-* * * * * * * * * * *
-SOCIAL NOTES.
+----
+=====Social Notes.=====
 by Wendy Aliano.
-THE BUSH ROCK CAFE.
-We set up the tables and chairs in the Hall like a CafS, and our band "Moonlight"
+====The Bush Rock Cafe.=====
-played us Blue Grass music. Len Newland and Gordon Lee, on the fiddle, played and sang
-beautifully. I wish I could remember the names of the other band members.
+We set up the tables and chairs in the Hall like a Cafe, and our band "Moonlight" played us Blue Grass music. Len Newland and Gordon Lee, on the fiddle, played and sang beautifully. I wish I could remember the names of the other band members.
-We set up a trolley full of goodies (Sara Lee) and drinks, and Margaret Niven played waitress and hostess dressed in a frilly apron made specially for the occasion (worn over
-other clothes of cours). The crowd ate and drank, listened and applauded and chattered
+We set up a trolley full of goodies (Sara Lee) and drinks, and Margaret Niven played waitress and hostess dressed in a frilly apron made specially for the occasion (worn over other clothes of course). The crowd ate and drank, listened and applauded and chattered away. At the conclusion of the evening it was generally declared that everyone had had a great time, and our musicians had excelled themselves.
-away. At the conclusion of the evening it was generally declared that everyone had had
-a great time, and our musicians had excelled themselves.
+====November Social Events - Wednesday Evenings.====
-NOVEMBER SOCIAL EVENTS - WEDNESDAY EVENINGS.
-November 18 - Quarterly effort to do the Club Magazine. Please remember that, for every month that we do it, a small group of dedicated volunteers do the other two months. So come and help. Refreshments will be provided.
+===November 18===
-November 25 - Tasmania Bush Walking. Bob Hodgson will talk about organising Tassy trips,
-what to take, what to wear, and where to go. Bob has a superb collection of
+Quarterly effort to do the Club Magazine. Please remember that, for every month that we do it, a small group of dedicated volunteers do the other two months. So come and help. Refreshments will be provided.
-slides which he will be showing. So if you ever wondered what all the fuss was about the Apple Isle, or if you are thinking of going there, this night
-is a must. See you there!
+===November 25===
-THE SYDNEY BSHWALKER
+Tasmania Bush Walking. Bob Hodgson will talk about organising Tassy trips, what to take, what to wear, and where to go. Bob has a superb collection of slides which he will be showing. So if you ever wondered what all the fuss was about the Apple Isle, or if you are thinking of going there, this night is a must. See you there!
+----
 October, 1987 Page 13
 ASONG -  THE MACDONNELL  RANGES TRIP.