OCTOBER 2001 Amongst the vast array of day packs that decorate the shelves of outdoor shops, it's difficult to pick something with the right features, what with 101 different types of nylon, all sorts of different canvases, airflow systems, expanding pockets and neon colouts. So it's nice to know that if your the type of person that wants simple robust functionality that reflects years of local bushwalking experience with solid locally made material . TS then the BLUE MOUNTAINS TRIASSIC could 0) ~ be your best companion for many years to come. ' Pack Review by David Noble Its good to see a pack made in the Blue Mountains for use in the Blue Mountains. The Triassic features two i i shoulder strap sizes so that the pack can be properly hip 40 litre capacity . loaded, sitting down comfortably in the lumbar region of Proper hip loading with 2 shoulder strap sizes the back. This is sometimes difficult especially if you are a for walking comfort taller person. The harness system also includes a thick Australian 1202 canvas Made in Katoomba the old traditional way >> p> b> waist belt and chest strap enabling a tight fit which is 4 Wide throat for easy loading and unloading great when climbing over rocks. 4 Buckle up front pocket with internal divider The volume is large enough to allow a 50m rope and & Top lid pocket wetsuit to easily fit in and the top is made larger so that : . your stuff slides in and out with ease. The pack has a A Extendable lid for overloading large front pocket for those essential items such as a 4 Padded hip belt with 38mm buckle torch, ane atop pocket for the map ancamers. The & Hip belt retainer for city use (conveniently holds pack is large enough to be used as a weekend pac! . when no ropes etc. are neaded. This can keep the bulk the hip belt back and out of the way down and stop you from packing too much on those 4 Padded back (removable) al Sawa. ne 12 & Thumb loops on shoulder straps for more e Triassic is made from durable 1202 canvas which can withstand tha abuse given to it in canyons and when comfortable walking ; walking through scrub. All the seams are double stitched & Internal compression strap for holding down and sealed to prevent failure. {t is also very water proof, your canyon rope on a recent trip down Hole in Tha Wall canyon, no . . es es water entered the main compartment despite a number Side compression straps for minimising volume Storm throat to keep out the rain of lengthy swims. The pack is bush green in colour making the walker Hard wearing Cordura base almost invisible in the bush. This is handy for sneaking u . on wildlife with a camera or just blending in to the ane Price $159.00 wilderness as you walk along. Good for those who like to keep the visual impact minimal too. ONLY AVAILABLE AT A quality Blue Mountains pack for our tough conditions, the Triassic carries a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and materials. Overall an excellent pack for either short or tall with the 2 shoulder strap options. And great for canyons or short ew weekend trips. ew ; NB: David Noble is a keen canyoner and fA DSpol i bushwaiker. He Is also the discoverer of the rare ~ Wollem! Pine (WOLLEMIA NOBILIS) found in 1904. 1045 VICTORIA RD, WEST RYDE Ph 9858 5844 >> > > THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER is a monthly bulletin of matters of interest to members of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc PO Box 431 Milsons Point 1565. To advertise in this magazine, please contact the Business Manager. Editor: Bill Holland Telephone: 9484 6636 Email: billholi@hotkey.net.au Fax: 99805476 (phone 9484 6636 first) Business Manager: Gretel Woodward Telephone: 9587 8912 Production Manager. Frances Holland Printers: Kenn Clacher, Barrie Murdoch, Tom Wenman, Don Brooks THE SYDNEY BUSH WALKERS INCORPORATED was founded in 1927. Club meetings are held every Wednesday evening at 8 pm at Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, 16 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli (near Milsons Point Railway Station). Visitors welcome, General Enquiries: phone 0500 500 729 SBW WEBSITE www.sbw.org.au COMMITTEE President: Wilf Hilder Vice-President: Peter Dalton Public Officer: Fran Holland Treasurer: Carole Beales Secretary: Judy OConnor Walks Secretary: Carol Lubbers Social Secretary Gemma Gagne Membership Secretary: Barry Wallace New Members Secretary: Kay Chan Conservation Secretary: David Trinder Magazine Editor: Bill Holland Committee Member:. Pam Morrison Delegates to Confederation: Jim Callaway Tom Wenman Wilf Hilder, Geoff Bradley OCTOBER 2001 Issue No. 803 INDEX: 2. A Note from the Editor 2. President's Report 3. September Generai Meeting Barry Wallace 4. The Club Questionnaire Letter to the Editor Pam Morrison Andy Macqueen Conservation Report Davis Trinder Book Review Owen Marks 8,9. Protecting Australias Wild Places Kate Fitzherbert 9. Visiting Chile or Argentina? Gerry Leitner 10. Bathurst to Blayney and Back by Bike 12,13 Odins Last Rune Barbara Bruce Almis Simankevicius 13 Walks and Activity Planning Night 14. Cinch Creek Don Brooks Mike Perryman 15. My Ettrema Experiences 16. New Members Page Maurice Smith The Prospective Membership Process 17. Activities Page 18. Social notes ADVERTISERS: Alpsport Eastwood Camping Paddy Pallin Wilderness Transit Willis's Walkabouts The Sydney Bushwalker: First Edition July 1931 Official publication of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc. Kay Chan Front cover 11 Back cover 7 5 nL = # = | Page 2 ~~ The Sydney Bushwalker October 2001 A Note From The Editor: As we head into the Federal Election on 10 November it is worth noting the policies of our political parties towards the protection of our environment and the preservation of wilderness and natural heritage areas. We should to bring to thew attention our concerns about the environment perhaps by the odd phone call or letter. After all, this would be consistent with our Club's Objects are the words, fo establish a definite regard for the welfare and preservation of wildlife and the natural beauty of this country ... to help others appreciate these natural gifts" In this vein, this issue of your magazine includes articles dealing with conservation, natural heritage and a glimpse back to the late 1950's when much of our walking environment was to a large extent untested and unspoilt. Editor. On Monday, I October Morie Ward died after a long battle with cancer. The Thursday before he died, Morie prepared the message below. Mories funeral was on Friday 5 October. Many of his friends and fellow walkers from SBW were there to say 7% EP Ro Fa SAE A Message from Morie Ward : I would like to let my many friends and . fellow walkers in the Sydney Bush Walkers * . know that I am no longer well enough to . join you "on the track". I really appreciate my many years walking with the club and have wonderful & memories of all the shared experiences and -: close friendships I have made, as well as 5 : being thankful for all your support and good * : wishes during my illness. President's Report With great regret I report that our popular _SBW leader Morie Ward passed away on Monday 1 October. Our sincere sympathy goes to his widow Jenny and family. Mories outstanding leadership will be sadly missed. The SBW Members Survey (proposed by et no Roger Treagus) has had an overwhelming response. The task of processing the Survey Forms was undertaken by Pam Morrison, assisted by her daughter Adele, who prepared a comprehensive report for our club. A special thank to you both for a great job well done. It is now up to the committee to give careful consideration to the thought provoking results and your suggestions for improvements. Part 1 of Pams summary of the Members survey is in this magazine. Dot Butler, a National Bushwalking Treasure, celebrated her 90" Birthday last month. Dot as "Queen Mother of SBW has been a bushwalking icon for decades. A fine article on Dot is featured in our September magazine. Hearty congratulations Dorothy. "The times they are a changing" sang Bob Dylan years ago. Among the recent changes to SBW is the Leader's Walks Report Form, new to SBW but long established in other clubs. Part of a leaders Duty of Care is the briefing of his or her party on the aspects of the walk and compiling a list of participants and their contact phone numbers for emergencies. For legal and insurance requirements you need to do this anyway. The easiest way to compile a list of participants and their phone numbers is to use George Mawers Walks Leader's Report form and get all the participants to fill it in. From 1 July 2001 leaders now need to get all visitors to fill in the Insurance companys disclaimer form to protect you and your club from Public Liability claim. When the walk is finished jot down any significant details and post it directly to George Mawer. This is to help George prepare SBW walks statistics for the club's benefit. Leaders please do the right thing for your club and yourself. The Great River Walk Steering Committee has publicly praised the support of SBW and the dedication of Roger Treagus and myself in leading the two routes for the Great River Walk along the Wollondilly, Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers. It is nice to get favourable publicity for bushwalking and especially for our club. Well done SBW supporters of the Great River Walks. The Sydney Bushwalker October 2001 Page 3 | Th The meeting was called to order at around 2007 with 12 members present. president appeared The unconcemed with the question of a quorum; press ganged Pam Morrison as_ secretary, These there were for Bill and apologies. and called for Fran Holland and Judy OConnor. The minutes of meeting were read and correct record Correspondence i the previous general and accepted as a true ith no matters arising. cluded .a report from Natural Areas Limited indicating that there are accumulated de property Expenditure on appears to have results. A Vv Agreement is under totaling rred land rates on the around $30,000. professional bushcare hot yielded significant oluntary Conservation consideration for the property. Correspondence from ORCA Queensland seems to indicate that Queensland bushwalkers have rejected moves toward a National register of activity leaders. There are amendments to regulations that outdoor activities control. No treasurers rep meeting. Confederation repx sheet consent form in areas under NPW Confederations 70" Conservation repo indications of upcoming WS land management could further restrict on lands under their ort was available to the brt indicated that a single for risk taking activities S control is on the way. anniversary is this year. mt revealed that in NSW the EPA and NPWS acts conflict on the matter of mining activities in such a way as to provide little cont A brief outline of membership survey meeting. A similar rol over the activity. the results of the recent was presented to the report has appeared in last months magazine and more detailed information is pla d for a future issue. The first weekend covered by the walks reports was the eekend of 10, 11 ,12 August with Maureen Carter leading a party of 6 on her S Helensburgh. The urday walk out from trip was described as a wonderful walk in glorious sunshine. Charlie Montross was also out there on the Saturday, leading the 4 starters on his e September General Meeting Barry Wallace Katoomba to Wentworth Falls walk in cool conditions. Jim Callaway had 10 starters on his Cronulla to Heathcote walk enjoying spring wildflowers and just a little scrub. Nigel Weaver also had 10 walkers for his Loftus to Bundeena trip on what was described as a glorious day. Saturday 19 August saw Anne McGuire with 13 walkers and a fine but windy day for her walk out from Blackheath. Bill Capon led a party of 12 on his walk in Morton National Park over the weekend of 24, 25, 26 August. There was some murmuring about overcrowded campsites and just a touch of bad weather at the finish. On 1* September Tony Crichtons six-foot track in a day went well, with good weather and 21 starters, of whom at least 19 finished. Tom Wenman was also cut and about the weekend, leading his Cowan to Brooklyn walk. Conditions were sunny, with wildflowers along the way and cappuccino at Brooklyn. Wilf's Great River Walk - Nepean Loop over the weekend of 8, 9 September went, though not exactly to program, with a single starter who used a bicycle. Bob Smythe had a party of 9 walkers out on his Sunday walk out from Leura. Leigh McClintoch was welcomed into membership of the club. The meeting then passed a vote of acclamation in celebration of Dots birthday. There was no_ general business. Announcements brought more sad news with the passing away of Jean Moppett. The meeting closed at around 2115. * * * News Item * * * Better Guides for Bushwalkers Bushwalkers should be safer on the nation's walking tracks with the release of new standards for the classification and signage of routes. Tracks will have a grading and be clearly described to help people understand how strenuous a walk is and give an indication of the skills required to complete it. **The Club Questionnaire (Part 1)** by Pam Morrison. In July this year a 2 page survey was sent out to all members with the club magazine. We have had an excellent response rate of approximately 50% which allows us to interpret the results as reasonably representative of club members (number of surveys returned = 231). The first outcome is that the club is not represented by one type of person who all want to go on "x level walks. The membership is very diverse. Some members want more exploratory, challenging, overnight (or longer) walks, some are happy with the current offering of walks, while others want options of more day walks. While there is general satisfaction with the club, there is also considerable belief that the club could offer activities that differ from the current offerings. Summary of key The profile of very active walkers, in terms of age, gender & years of club membership, is very similar to infrequent walkers. About 50% of respondents went on 4 or more walks in the past 12 months, but this is not carried across to overnight walks. 54% over respondents went on no overnight walks in the past 12 months, however there is an active group (13% of respondents) who went on 4 or more overnight walks. There is a generally held belief by members that the Walks Program can be improved. Only 32% of respondents think it is good the way it is. The diversity of club membership is highlighted in the changes that are desired. There is demand for more mid-week walks (18%), more medium walks (18%), more 2-3 days walks (17%), more easy walks (15%) and more hard walks (9%). There is not a great interest shown in the General Meetings or Social Program with less than 20% saying they regularly attend. The most common reasons given for lack of attendance is don't have time and not interested as joined the club to walk. The newsletter is seen as a good communication tool with 95.5% of respondents reading it regularly. However, a significant number of members (57%) would like to see the content improved, giving suggestions to include more short articles on recent/upcoming walks with photos and tips/advice/recipes/first aid. (1) Profile of the respondents The age of respondents range from 26 to 91, with a mean age of 55. 11.4% are in the 20- 40 age group, 62.8% in the 41-60 age group and the remaining 25.8% over 60. The average number years of membership is 14 years. While there are significant numbers of long-standing members it is encouraging to see that 32% of respondents have been members for 5 or less years. There is a strong trend for members to belong to other walking clubs, with 44% saying they do. How active are the members? From the question How many walks have you been on with SBW in the past 12 months? we see that while there is a considerable proportion of non-walkers (22%) there is also an active group (47%) who went on 4 or more walks in the past 12 months. This level of activity is not mirrored in the number of overnight walks in the past 12 months. There is a very large group which is inactive (54.4% went on no overnights), and at the other end there is a smaller group (13% of respondents) of active overnight walkers who went on 4 or more overnights in the past 12 months. (2) Profile of Walkers This section answers the questions, Who walks? and are there any significant differences between active / non-active walkers in terms of their age, years membership with the club, or gender. The general conclusion is that if we look only at active walkers, that is, members who went on at least 1 walk in the past 12 months, then there is no significant relationship between age, gender, and years membership with the number of walks / overnights participated in. PageS | DX Letter To The Editor Wild Magazine (number 82) has published an article by an anonymous author who was one of a party of three who illegally and blatantly tracked down and visited the Wollemi Pines - photos and all. The article entitled ' The Quest ' concerns a clandestine mission, and is described as the story of how three persistent bushwalkers assembled the clues and dared to seek: the forbidden Holy Grail of Australian bushwalking - the elusive refuge of the Wollemi Pine. It is bad enough that some selfish people should attempt such a venture - most of us probably know or suspect that such things have been occurring. However, the publication of the article by Wild, in such outrageous journalistic manner, without even a balancing article about. why one should not visit the Pine, surely destroys any claim the magazine might have had to being environmentally responsible and green. Many misguided readers will no doubt be moved to take up the challenge to pay the Pines a visit themselves. It seems that the article tries to excuse the visit by sort of implying that because the pines are now being commercially propagated, there is no need for preservation of the original stand. From a strict botanical point of view this may or may not be the case - that's up to the experts - but in any case such an attitude is surely abhorrent. If you feel strongly about this, I urge you to write to Wild as soon as possible. Write to Wild Publications Pty Ltd, PO Box 415, Prahran, Vic 3181. Fax 03 9826 3787. Andy Macqueen ba? 2 Bush Music Weekend At Coolana October 27th,28th Music around the campfire Baroalba Hill 420 Circle This walk takes place in the March 17-30 2002 The area includes such an incredible wealth of Aboriginal most ru 9 ged ly specta cu | QI art and occupation sites that walking parties are restricted to a maximum of seven people. Part of the walk la ndscape wh ich iS open to takes you through one of the few places of the Kakadu never disturbed by buffalo. The best time to visit this ~- area js during or immediately after the green season when the DU b | ic in Ka kad U, every creek is flowing and the waterholes are all full. be onecenon The trip includes a climb to the top of Hill 420, the highest point on the entire Arnhem escarpment. The views are magnificent. Worried about the Wet? This area has more rock shelters than any similar sized area in Kakadu. Our first booking arrived in May. We can only take five more pius the guide, Get in soon! Want more information? Go ta our Rs aenenanee website, click on the tour .bushwalkingholidays.com.au | list, then click on the trip m8 See ae and find a special feature! www Page6. - -.. , he Sydney Bushwalker. October 2001 CONSERVATION REPORT by David Trinder Threat to the Six Foot Track On the 1* September twenty two club members walked the 45 kilometre Six Foot Track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves. It has long been a yearly event on our program and a favorite walking area for us. Many other walkers do the track, usually as an overnight trip, in two or three days. In late summer every year long distance runners run The Six Foot Marathon, if you cant finish in seven hours, forget it. Our club does other walks on various parts of the Six Foot Track. The Jenolan caves were discovered in 1838, travel for the public was difficult, even after the western railway was built, it took 24 hours using a train to Tarana and horse and buggy to the caves. In 1884 the premier of New South Wales the Hon Alexander Stuart ordered that a search be undertaken to find a horse track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves. The track was subsequently built and travellers could then travel to the caves from Katoomba in 8 hours by horse (faster than the Sydney Bushwalkers). Later the road from Mt Victoria was built, cars became more popular in the 1930s and use of the track declined. Since 1985 the historic track has been re-marked by the Orange lands office, stiles were constructed and signposts erected so the track could be used by walkers. The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that an offer had been accepted on the sale of 16.2 hectares of land that straddles the Six Foot Track in the Megalong Valley. The sale amount jis $125,000. The Colong Foundation is concerned that it will lead to the development of rural residences, the construction of a sealed road to serve them and restrictions on the use of the area. The foundation wants the land to be bought by the Catchment Authority or the National Parks and Wildlife Service as a step towards incorporation into the Blue Mountains National Park. The Minister, Mr. Debus, is anxious fo preserve the track for walkers and he has ordered a review of land holdings in the surrounding area. The track is one of a few Australian heritage walks. It passes through a diverse range of climate, geology, aspect and vegetation types, is used by walkers, runners and campers and offers a unique and exciting challenge to novice overnight bushwalkers. If the track is turned into a road it will no longer be of value to walkers and campers. In addition the uncontrolled spread of cattle and weeds pose a threat to the ecological integrity of the area. Acquisition of the threatened areas and effective management of the track is needed to retain the areas natural beauty and ensure that it is be preserved as a walking track for our children, grand children and other people who might want to use the area in the future. David Trinder C Ih a * From the Web * === The End of Adventure? News Groups and emails have been targeted this month with a rather hysterical message about NPWS regulations restricting activities in certain National Parks and having the power to enforce fines if people are apprehended with so called restricted items in a restricted area. An extract from this message quotes the regulation. "A person must not in a park carry, possess or use any equipment that is required for abseiling, base jumping, bungy jumping, rock climbing, caving, parachuting, white water boating, paragliding, parasailing or hang gliding. " Maximum Penalty: 30 Penalty Units (this currently equates to $3,300)" and concludes by saying " if the new Regulations pass through the Parliament unchanged, and are enacted as legislation, National Parks and Wildlife Service officers will be, technically, empowered to impose penalties on people merely for possessing a single piece of equipment deemed to be required for a large range of offending activities." What do you think? The Sydney Bushwalker October 2001 Page7 | BOOK REVIEW Odens Last Rune. * Almis Simankevicius, fellow SBW member, has written another poetical book. This time, of a walk across the entire width of Northern England, and is an interesting compote of Viking history, Norse mythology, and English history, in more or less equal parts and all garnished with pleasant asides. You may remember that his last travel book was across Spain following the old Pilgrims Way to Santiago de Compostella. This is entirely different in style and for the retired walker like myself; it is a good and varied read, which should be enjoyed by all. And a wonderful first chapter for a walking book. The real stars of the book are the quaint names of the villages and towns through which he and his partner Carol pass. They meander through the Lake Country and the Yorkshire Moors, and come across unusual memorials, dolmens of strange form, simple rustics with Range Rovers, churches ancient and modern and the everlasting pubs with endless cider on tap after a days walk. The book covers a walk of 190 miles over the hills and dales of England from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay, with stays at Bed and Breakfasts every night. Their 18-day walk must have been tiring at times, as they once slept through a church tower chiming the quarter hour. As usual for walkers in this part of the world, the whole aim in life seems to be getting to a warm, dry bed at the end of every day. Now that would be nice walking around the west coast of Tasmania, wouldnt it? It seems he and Carol both have a weakness for large hearty breakfasts and dinners to match. Their hosts never fail, although they give wide berth to B& Bs run by bachelors! : The book has maps, some photographs, has practical advice, A Recommended Reading, a Chronological list of Dates and Events and even some pictures of some Runes which are mentioned in the book, from which I recognized only one, the thorn, it being used in the Icelandic alphabet to this very day and pronounced th as in think or thorn. Almis quotes from many sources, including Icelandic Sagas to the Saxon Chronicles. His knowledge is wide and varied. And I hope another book is on the way. Owen Marks * Copies of Odens Last Rune will be available during the presentation at the Club Rooms on Wednesday November 21 for $20, or from Almis Simankevicius at Goodwalking Books P.O. Box 1112 North Sydney for $24 including postage. Nsw WELDERNESS TRANSIT JENOLAN Caves. KANANGRA WALLS. YERRANDERIE GHOST TOWN . STARLIGHTS TRACK. BUNGONIA CAVES. Woo Woa. NERRIGA Departs from Sydney's Campbelltown Railway Station Via Penrith,