1. sports
2. walking

VOL. 19,
1968
30c
Terms and Conditions of Use
Copies of Walk magazine are made available under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike copyright.
Use of the magazine.
You are free:
•
•
To Share- to copy, distribute and transmit the work
To Remix- to adapt the work
Under the following conditions (unless you receive prior written
authorisation from Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc.):
•
•
•
Attribution- You must attribute the work (but not in any way that
suggests that Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc. endorses you or your use
of the work) .
Noncommercial- You may not use this work for commercial
purposes.
Share Alike- If you alter, transform , or build upon this work, you
may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar
license to this one.
Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitations on Liability.
Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc. makes no warranty as to the accuracy or
completeness of any content of this work . Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc.
disclaims any warranty for the content, and will not be liable for any damage
or loss resulting from the use of any content.
SLEEP WARM ••• Wake Up Refreshed
REMEMBER • • • there is nothing like DOWN
FOR WEIGHTLESS WARMTH IN
MADE BAGS ON
* SLEEPINGREQUEST.
BAGS-TAILOR
* EIDERDOWN QUILTS .
*
FEATHER AND DOWN PILLOWS .
The Eiderlite ''Arctic " Bag
FOR SUPPLIERS CONTACT :
KIMPTONS FEATHER MILLS PlY. LTD.
KIMPTONS NOW MAKE IN
AUSTRALIA UNDER LICENCE
THE FAMOUS . .
MOUNTAIN MULE RUCSAC
AS USED BY SIR EDMUND
HILARY ON HIS SUCCESSFUL
MT. EVEREST EXPEDITION
AVAILABLE IN 3 SIZES; ALSO
WITH MANY LUXURY EXTRAS
LIGHTWEIGHT TENTS MADE TO ORDER
5 • 11 Budd Street
-PHONE 41-5073-
Collingwood
No. 19- 1968
WALK
Post Distribution enquiries to: C/- Distribution Manager, Melbourne
Bushwalkers, Box 17.'510. G.P.O., Melbourne, 3001.
Editor:
A. Schafer.
Advertising Manager: G. Kenafacke, C/- Riley Dodds (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.,
636 Swanston St., Carlton, Vic. Phone 34-4651, ext. 26.
WALK is a voluntary, non-profit venture published by the Melbourne Bushwalkers in the interests of bushwalking as a healthy and
enjoyable recreation.
CONTENTS
Walking-A Way to Health ..
Moroka Gorge and Snowy Bluff
South of Bryce's Gorge
Between the Kiewa and the Mitta
A Walking Menu
New Zealand's Milford Track
Our Mountains in Winter
Wildflowers of the Autumn and Winter
24 Hour Walk
Yambla and Tabletop
Tasmanian Newsletter
Mountain Muster
New Maps
Why Adventure?
Alma Strappazon
F. W. Halls
A. Schafer
Doug and Robyn Pocock
Marion Siseman
John Brownlie
Rex and Sue Filson
Shirley Treloar
Tyrone T. Thomas
3
4
10
18
24
26
31
33
37
53
58
59
62
63
Robert Taylor
WALKS SECTION
Wilson's Promontory (Northern Half)
Mount Cole State Forest (2 and 3 days) .
Neerim Junction-Glen Nayook-La Trobe River (1-day)
Tecoma-Sherbrooke Forest-Belgravc (1-day)
Bear's Head Range-Lerderderg River (1-day)
COVER PHOTO by John Brownlie.
39
48
54
.55
56
"Bushwalkers in Barmah Forest."
If you are interested in
DAY WALKS
WEEK-END WALKING
EXTENDED TOUR WALKING
Then write for details to the Hon. Secretary, Box 1751Q, G.P.O.,
Melbourne, 3001, or CALL AND SEE US any Friday (8 to
10.30 p.m.), at 161 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
MELBOURNE
BUSHWALKERS
VISITORS are always WELCOME on our walks.
80 Walks a year are listed on our Walks Programme!
Page Two
WALK
WALKING-
A Way to Health
In recent years, much concern has been voiced over the low level
of physical fitness in the community at large. It is agreed that people
of all ages are not as fit as they should be; while with the middle-aged
and elderly there is. an increasing incidence of degenerative diseases,
the beginning of the run-down can often be found among those of
youthful years-a fact which has been highlighted by the official
admission that large numbers of 20-year olds, called up for compulsory
military service, are rejected on account of their bad health or poor
physical condition.
Most of the blame has been laid obviously and correctly on the
increasing mechanization of daily life where arms, legs, hands and
feet have become increasingly less active agents. This is especially
true in the fields of transport and communication where the wheel has
ousted the leg.
To counter the loss of forced but beneficial physical activity, some
kind of voluntary exercise must be undertaken to avoid too much
muscular atrophy. In this regard scientifically designed sets of progressive exercises, such as the 5BX series and the Australian "Keeping
Fit" campaign, have been given widespread publicity, sometimes with
full official sanction.
However, although many may start the exercises, relatively few
practise them consistently for the length of time necessary to achieve any
lasting benefit. Call it lack of self-discipline-or mere laziness-there
appears to be a perfectly understandable reluctance to perform on a
voluntary basis too many mechanical chores in a world already full of
dull routine.
If, as an alternative to a prescribed set of exercises, an interesting
recreation is taken up, there is every chance that the effort will be
kept up for a longer period and not so readily abandoned. Doctors
have long recommended walking, and more walking, as the simplest
and, indeed, the best recreational exercise in which the human frame
can achieve a modicum of health and physical fitness.
The great advantage of walking is that the pace can be varied to
suit the walker, according to age, condition, wish or temperament.
Walking, too, can be made more than a mere exercise, especially when
shared with companions of similar bent of mind. Certainly, following
a track through pleasant, natural surroundings can be more exhilarating
than following a set of room exercises.
Urban areas with smog, noise and monotony have little to offer
walkers. The benefits of recreational walking are best realized out in
the quietness and clean air of the countryside, and at fullest in the
unspoiled bush.
WALK
Page Three
MOROKA GORGE
& SNOWY BLUFF
Alma Strappazon
Moroka Gorge, the very name brings to my mind the tumbling
waterfalls, and that isolation so dear to the heart of the bushwalker.
Boxing Day 1966 found four enthusiastic members of the Club
en route to McFarlane's Plain in Felix's car, stopping on the way to
hide a store of food at the foot of the spur coming down from The
Crinoline. This was for the last day of the walk, and knowing how
hungry one becomes after days of walking in mountainous country, we
sincerely hoped no wandering huntsman would find and devour it.
After this most important chore had been seen to, we drove to
McFarlane's Plain to set up camp while Felix continued on to Doolan's
Plain, leaving the car there with food supplies on board, to be picked
up by us after our first six days. He then hitch-hiked back to camp.
Next morning our walk began with a steady climb over Trapyard
Hill, unsuccessfully searching there for the spring marked on one of
our maps. Walking in a north-easterly direction, we also climbed
Cromwell's Knob, and later Little Cromwell.
From then on, our
pace slowed considerably through the dry growth clothing the ridges.
Lack of water on this high ridge made it almost imperative to reach
the Moroka River that evening, so we held to a compass course a
little east of north, and after some slow weary miles, the ridge
dropped away sharply, and clinging to the vegetation for support, we
found ourselves at last at the junction of the river and Lummican Creek.
Surprisingly there had been an earlier camp, and there was just room
for our four little tents. We pitched camp, and fell into our sleeping
bags with sighs of relief after a difficult day.
With the cry from Felix "Moroka Gorge, today!" we were up very
early, and, feeling fit again, we left our tents and began our way
downstream, keeping to the left bank of the river where an animal
pad of sorts made the going easier. It may have been because we
carried no packs, or because we were so close to our objective, but
whatever the reason, we found the scrub not quite as unfriendly as
the day before, and soon we came to the first waterfall where we spent
some considerable time.
We soon passed Kent Creek, which flows in a southerly direction
into the river, and before long came to the second waterfall. The
river had a magical effect, leading us ever onwards, forgetful of time,
to a place where rocks divided the water into two falls. Here a
creek falls steeply down the mountainous banks into the same pool
below.
The whole setting with the three falls tumbling far down, was
really beautiful, and we stayed a long time gazing in admiration. Some
thought that a view from below looking upwards would be even better.
Page Four
WALK
Falls on Moroka River.
Photo by Ed Lawton.
From our high point there was no direct way down, so it appeared that
it would have to be a long climb up and a rocky scramble below. This
was attempted, but alas for our view from below! The undergrowth
grew so thickly along the river and up the walis of the gorge, that
penetrating it to reach the pool would have involved many hours of
really hard work. However, some day, we will try it again, making
the approach from downstream, though this is reported to be even
harder.
Our return to camp gave us a choice of either a very steep climb
out, a swim in the swiftly flowing Moroka, or a bash through the
ubiquitous scrub. We chose the last and made little progress, finding
no pad, despite our struggles, so it was decided that climbing could
hardly be much worse. There folJowed much scrambling around rock
faces, panting, sweating, and holding on to anything that promised
support, until we reached the top.
After a much appreciated night's rest, we crossed the swamp on
the way to the Horse Yards. Although we didn't see any there was
plenty of evidence that the brumbies were about the Yards.
WALK
Page Five
Although tired we pushed on to reach the road, making for the
bridge at Little River. Nobody used the hut there, considering it to
be too civilized, but set up camp in the bush. That night it rained,
of course!
Next morning the sun was shining as we set out along the road
to Stonehenge, whose rocks now bear no resemblance to their namesake,
the site having been bulldozed out of recognition.
We followed the jeep track until it petered out. Meantime a
dense fog had descended, and though we searched, we were unable
to find the track to Dairyfarm Flat and Castle Hill. A visit to the
Pinnacles also proved a disappointment because of the obscuring fog.
Still, it is this damp, foggy weather which is beloved of the lyrebirds,
and there were plenty of them about, as Felix's imitations soon produced
a rousing chorus from the males, ostensibly defending their territory
from the newcomer!
In the afternoon we reached the foot of Mt. Little Kent whose
tops were still in cloud. Camp was made on a meadowy flat, spoiled
only by a lack of water, so our young leader, Ed, was despatched into
a steep gully south of the camp, and after an hour or so returned
with one canvas bucket of the precious liquid which we carefully
divided among us. The shadows gathered around the camp, the
fog settled lower, and later in the darkness we heard the lonely howl
of a dingo.
A jeep track bypassed Mt. Little Kent and made delightful
walking next morning. It ended at the foot of Mt. Kent, and, after
a long climb, that summit was reached at 9 a.m. A considerable
time was spent admiring the beautiful views surrounding us.
Several rocky outcrops between Mt. Kent and Shanty Hollow
forced us to keep close to the northern side of the ridge on our
way down. Water was found south of Shanty Hollow, in a creek
coming off Mt. Kent.
A hot afternoon was spent climbing Mt. Dawson on our way to
The Bluff. The rocky walking along the top of the Dawson ridge,
and the heat, made for slow going, as did the many pauses to admire
the views of the Wonnangatta Valley below on our right. Camp
that night was in thick bush on Snowy Bluff Saddle. After some
searching, a small but clear flowing spring was found in a deep
gully west of the saddle.
After climbing Snowy Bluff we vowed not to be outdone by the
early morning fog, so we stayed at the top until the clouds began
to lift, and we dashed hither and thither to see the views as the
clouds parted and the vistas opened up below us.
A 3,000 foot drop faced us, but the south side of the Bluff was
most refreshing, especially after the dryness of the Dawson Ridge.
Short green grasses and a profusion of wild flowers grew, and we
seemed to be in a garden, with fringe lilies in abundance, and orchids
and lesser flowers trying to outdo each other in colour and form. It
was delightfully cool and we left it behind reluctantly as we began
the hot work of rock scrambling and sliding down.
After two days of carefully rationed water, what a sight to see
the swiftly flowing Moroka River again! There was a rush for the
water, and on finding a deep pool, it was all in together for a most
enjoyable swim.
Page Si1
WALK
Higgins Yard was an attractive campsite, and after our days of
hard going, we decided that an afternoon of rest would be in order
in this cool place, but a glimpse of a distant waterfall coming off
Snowy Bluff proved too enticing. So Felix and Alma spent the time
climbing and scrub bashing, to be rewarded by finding three lovely
waterfalls, each at least 100 feet in height, cascading down the
mountainside.
At 7.30 p.m., New Year's Eve was celebrated with chocolate
biscuits which one self-denying member of the party had carried for
the past five days.
Moroka Gorge.
Scale: 1 inch =
6 miles.
The first day of 1967 began in an appropriate manner (for
bushwalkers) with a long 3,400 foot climb to Doolan's Plain. Here
the car and our food was found intact. We then drove back to
McFarlane's Plain, and then to the Little River bridge which we used
as a base in another attempt to find the track to Dairyfarm Flat.
Again there was much searching and backtracking, this time in pouring
rain, hail and thunder, and with little avail, and so we were glad on
our return to the hut to find that Bill, who had remained behind
nursing a twisted ankle, had a welcoming fire blazing and a billy of
tea just right. We stayed in the hut that night!
Morning brought better weather, so another trip was made to
the Pinnacles, one of the few places where a 360 degree view is
possible, and magnificent it was-mountain tops bathed in sunshine,
a vast sea of white cloud below-giving the sensation of being apart
from this world. On the pretext of keeping the young fire watcher
company in his tower (and using his binoculars to advantage) a
long time was spent there, the beginning of a day of breath-taking
views.
At last we left, deciding to take the road to Doolan's Plain, but
a signpost marked "Neilson Crag" could not be resisted and we drove
as far as possible along a timber track. From the Crag itself there
was a glorious valley view of distant waterfalls cascading down
Mt. Lookout.
Reluctantly leaving, we returned the car to Doolan's Plain and
continued on foot to Kelly's Hut, climbing Mt. Arbuckle on the way
WALK
Page Seven
("we can't miss it when we are so close") from where we could see
our old friend Snowy Bluff. At length, tired, but with hearts and
minds full of the day's beauty, we reached Kelly's Hut on Holme's
Plain.
Duly signing the visitors' book, in which two of the party found
their signatures dating back several years, we made cosy camp in the
hut. Some time was spent reminiscing about earlier walks in the
region. This led to some funny stories about walks and walkers.
Lightheartedness became the order of the day, or rather, night, for
as we lay in darkness trying unsuccessfully to sleep, someone's voice
would raise itself in rhyme, and another "there was a young walker"
jingle would start up the hilarity again. Two of the party had names
which did not lend themselves to rhyme, so that Ed and Bill became
the butt of the jokes, the more impolite ones being the cause of
much noisy laughter, surely unseemly in that serene beautiful place.
Fire Lookout on The Pinnacles.
Photo by Ed Lowton.
Mt. Reynard beckoned us next morning, and we found a jeep
track going uphill to where there were views all round, Mt. Howitt
and The Divides seemingly quite close. Wandering as we willed
about the flattish topped mountain we returned by way of the hut
for our packs which we carried along the Bennison Plains track past
Higgins and Chesters' Huts.
Late in the afternoon we found that a logging road leaves the
main road to go east and north of Mt. Tamboritha towards Dry Hill,
while a branch of the logging road skirts the northern spur of the
mountain and on towards Long Hill. The roads were not marked
Page Eight
WALK
on any of our maps, so some time was spent reconnoitring. Lack
of water made it necessary to retrace part of the walk to camp on
a tributary of Shaw's Creek.
The Crinoline (or Mt. Ligar) was next on our list, but first a
stop at another high waterfall and voices raised to make the echoes
ring again and again in the early morning's freshness.
It was a
rocky walk, ever upwards, and on the way we found many Silver
Daisies of at least three inches in diameter, the biggest we had seen
so far, and also, much to our surprise, the bright pink flowers of
Rosy Storksbill, or Wild Geranium, blooming in abundance on the
stony ridge. This was the only place where we had seen these
brilliant native plants, apparently well adapted to the higher altitude.
The scrambling and stumbling, the views on our right of the
Bull Plain Spur and the Macallister River below, hands and knees
scraping rock, hot sun, bracing air, and at last we were again kings of
the castle. From our vantage point we admired the frills of The
Crinoline while our leader decided which was the best spur to take.
Then began the long walk down, skirting Bruni's Knob, feeling tired
and hungry, but uplifted by the thought of our cache of food below.
Unerring navigation led us direct to the hidden store, and we fell
upon it with cries of delight. Felix, being of stronger stuff, left us
to it, and hitched a ride to Doolan's Plain to pick up the car. We
spent the rest of the day alternately resting and swimming in the
Wellington River, Tea that night was another gorge. Added to the
usual fare, four different desserts were made and shared. Did I say
we were hungry?
Next day saw us on the way home, but a stop was made at
Heyfield where the milk bar and fruit shops were most popular,
a fine ending to a hard but rewarding walk. Yes, we missed Castle
Hill, and there is also that other approach to Moroka Gorge, but
next year . . .
•
••••
WATERS OF THE LERDERDERG
Of easy access from Melbourne, the Lerderderg River has for long
been a popular place to go walking especially where it courses through
the rugged Blackwood Ranges.
This has been particularly so during the warm summer months when
the river settles down to a more gentle flow from one waterhole to the
next deep within the secluding gorges. However, a proposed water diversion scheme will certainly have some affect on this flow.
The proposal is that tunnels will divert water from the Lerderderg
and Goodman's Creek to a new storage to be built on Coimadai Creek.
A 135-foot high dam wall will hold back 40,000 acre-feet of water, yielding 10,000 acre-feet per annum for irrigation production and anticipated
industrial development in the Bacchus Marsh area.
The new storage will be known as Lake Merrimu. One result will be
the flooding of the small hamlet Coimadai.
WALK
Page Nine
SOUTH OF BRYCE'S GORGE
By F. W. Halls
Three old timers thought that they'd like to take a good look at
the alpine heights of the Mount Darling Range, the Carey Country,
Bennison Plains and Long Hill. I was one of the group and my two
companions on this Christmas-New Year jaunt were Fwankie and Long
Alec, and quite a happy team we made on this enjoyable high
plains ramble.
Fwankie, a bushlover from way back, is keen on the study of
orchids, indeed of all native plants as well as the birds and wild
creatures of the bush. Long Alec is a real water-lover. At every
opportunity during the long summer days he would dive into some
clear cold mountain stream, and lather up while standing in a brisk
cool breeze, merrily yodelling excerpts from light opera.
Early in the morning of our first day on the Snowy Plains there
were some magnificent views over the dark-blue, mist-filled valleys
of the Carey. After a false start following a jeep track down into the
woollybutt wilds of the Carey, we scrambled and sidled steeply down
into Mt. Darling Gap.
Moving eastwards steeply out of the Gap we climbed over the
range, through down timber and tall woollybutts to a grassy campsite
on Mt. Darling Creek. Next morning swiftly scudding clouds filled
valleys as we stood on the most south-easterly rock outcrops of the
Mt. Darling Range. Clouds were swirling into the Moroka, the Carey
and Wonnangatta valleys. Seething mists filled the deep valley below
our feet, obscuring the red cliffs of Snowy Bluff, the Mt. Kent Range
and Wonnangatta's "Happy Valley" river flats. Strange it was then,
that the upper reaches of the Carey Country were bathed in bright
sunshine.
This was the weather pattern for the morning of our first day
on the Mt. Darling Range.
Later, brilliant sunshine replaced the
thick morning cloud.
Wandering north we passed into a shallow
grassy valley at the head of the Mt. Darling Creek, an exquisite little
valley as yet unspoilt by man or his animals. Because of its isolation,
this small high plain remains in superb condition, the sphagnum moss
being deep, spongy and untrampled, the surrounding grassy meadows
and snowgum slopes ablaze with countless wildflowers, and the water
is crystal clear, cold and plentiful. Along the course of Mt. Darling
Creek and all the small side creeks entering the mainstream, the
sphagnum moss appears to he far deeper and springier than in any
other valley I've seen, while the watershed is in almost perfect condition for the vital purpose of water storage.
What a contrast to some other neighbouring watersheds! These
others are badly cut up and gouged by milling activities, and eroded
by an upsurge of the rabbit menace.
Because of its relative isolation and difficulty of approach, the
Darling Creek watershed appears to have supported little cattle
grazing in the past, so there appears little damage caused by trampling
Page Ten
WALK
A Distant View of Snowy Bluff.
Photo by Ed Lowton.
of the sphagnum bog areas which results in a slower release of water
in the early summer. Consequently more water would be flowing
from the bogs in late summer and early autumn when it was more
urgently required. This highlights the necessity of conserving and
regulating stream flow by drastic restriction of cattle grazing in the
high-plain region, because, generally speaking, cattle graze selectively
on the sphagnum, with consequent miring and eventual drying out
of bogs. Cattlemen have stated emphatically that stock causes no
watershed damage or erosion, but there have been dramatic changes and
damage in the Shaw's Creek and Snowy Plains region during the last
few years.
In the afternoon there was enjoyable walking through open
snowgum forest, along a narrow ridge with occasional rocky knolls
serving as grandstands for splendid views across the Wonnangatta
Valley. It was a day of freedom, good companionship and breezy
walking on the rocky backbone of Mt. Darling Ridge.
Returning to Darling Creek valley, the leader turned the wrong
way-down instead of upstream. The silvered woolybutt on the far
bank was getting taller, the tea-tree scrub thicker, and the sphagnum
moss deeper. So we retraced out footsteps and arrived at camp just
on nightfall.
Southwards along the ridge we scrambled, searching for the rocky
causeway down to the Mt. Darling Gap. Too late we realized that
we had left the ridge too far south, and now we were heading down
into Carey Country just south of the Gap. We scrambled down through
a tangled mess of woolybutt undergrowth, over a jumble of down
timber mingled with hickory saplings, ferns and trailing wild raspberry
WALK
Page Eleven
vines. After a short distance of pushing through this rubbish we
returned to clear forest at Mt. Darling Gap.
We arrived hack at the rocky scarp of Snowy Range at a high
sandstone knoll overlooking the divide between Conglomerate and
Carey Creeks. A cool updraught swept the face of the scarp, tempering what would otherwise have been quite a hot day. From this
point the view was magnificent overlooking the Conglomerate and
Carey watersheds, with the red-brown tiers of Bryce's Gorge visible
in a western niche of the Snowy Range.
Should you wish to see the glorious Sun Orchids and other wildRower gardens behind Bryce's Gorge, you had better go there some
January soon-before the whine of the chain-saws starts to penetrate
the timbered depths of the deep gorge between the red-bronze ramparts.
(!)
Ml.D••t•.,.
Area South af Bryce's Gorge.
Scale: I inch =
10 miles.
The whispering waters of the Conglomerate and Pieman's Creeks,
tumbling over some of the State's finest waterfalls, are still vigorously
carving out the great howl further westwards into the Snowy Range.
What had we gained from our three-day roughly triangular
ramble on the Mt. Darling Range when such fine panoramas were readily
available from the easy contours of the Snowy Range summit? We
had the pleasure of seeing some alpine country practically untouched
by white man, and the favourable comparison of the present state
of its upland valleys as compared with the eroded condition of
neighbouring valleys such as Shaw's, Conglomerate and Pieman's
Creeks. We were privileged to view small areas of primitive woolybutt forest, grassy uplands and sphagnum moss bogs at the peak of
perfection.
Next day, from a base camp at the head of Holme's Plain, we
wandered the upland valley, through an old stockyard and into the
Page Twelve
WALK
peace of a woollybutt grove, before continuing along the Plain to the
well-known haven-Kelly's Hut. The slow return to camp was by
way of the flower-decked red-rock terraces of the Divide between
Tin Bucket and Shaw's Creeks, then down through The Gorge.
There was appalling erosion in places along the upper reaches
and bog areas of Shaw's Creek. Particularly bad was the damage
to bogs, creeks and tracks in the Gorge Creek section, which was
accentuated by the movement of terrain in the building of the Snowy
Range Road. As well as the miring and drying out of the sphagnum
bogs on the Snowy Plains, large scour marks and headward stream
erosion were plain in many places where jeep tracks crossed streams.
Kelly's Hut.
Photo by L. Barr.
The way to Carey Creek Falls northwards is down the high
plain valley from Holme's Plain head. A mile or so down, a noisy
creek, tumbling down from mossy red heights on the left, joins the
main creek, by now a fairly large stream cascading down over several
fine waterfalls.
Through ferns and ancient club mosses it drops,
before that last spectacular leap into Carey Creek valley.
From a rocky crag south-east, where the blue valley yawned
below our feet, was one of the finest views on the Carey Country-red
and gold gum tips of nearby trees below were a perfect foil for the
blue folds of high ranges north and west of the Watchtower (Neilson's
Crag).
W A L K
Page Thirteen
Next morning found us tramping southwards over Holme's Plain
to Kelly's Hut, McMichael's Hut and the Bennison Plains. Walking
south over the sod tussock grasslands and sphagnum bogs was mostly
pleasant, particularly in the vicinity of Higgins Hut in its peaceful
snowgum setting.
After crossing the free-flowing deep waters of Bennison Creek
(Shaw's Creek) on a log bridge, we tramped the grassy flower-strewn
meadows of Bennison Plains, searching for a comfortable campsite.
This we soon found on a lush bench sheltered by bronze-barked Black
Sallees. Tents were pitched on a spot giving views across the wide
Bennison valley, beautiful in its setting of evening tranquillity. But
soon came the high-pitched buzz of a myriad of mosquitoes. Fwankie
was in dire trouble at his spot, because the vicious "mozzies" seemed
to be twice as thick there. Smoke, blowing through his tent from a
smudge-fire of dry cattle dung seemed to solve the problem.
Snow Gums on the Bennison Plains.
Photo by K. Gront.
Meanwhile, Long Alec was happily wallowing in the cool depths
of a waterhole in the fast flowing creek. Tomorrow we would miss
his merry carolling and splashing, for he would return to the lowlands
via Bennison Spur, while Fwankie and I continued on to the redbanded alpine meadows of Long Hill.
As we farewelled him next morning, he was-guess where?-once
more churning the waters of Shaw's Creek; a real water sprite and the
cleanest bushwalker this side of the black stump.
Heat haze next day tended to obscure the view from Tamboritha's
wooded summit, so we moved on, following the marked walking track
westwards through the dry rocky forest of Long Spur (burnt in the
Page Fourteen
WALK
huge '64 mountain fire). Although it was generally hot and hazy north
of the ridge, we sometimes benefited from the cooling effect of a lazy
southerly while on the often sharp spur.
In the Long Hill, Bennison and Wellington River country, there
are countless signs of irreparable damage caused by the disastrous
192,000 acre fire of 1964. There are square miles of precipitous
mountain terrain where, although the trees are coppicing, the bare
hard red slopes show through the scant forest cover. There is little
shelter from the scorching sun, and the heat reflects back from
jumbled piles of bare red sandstone. Sheet erosion caused by the
burning of holding vegetation, needle-ice erosion, and the scuffing
action of bovine hooves is rife along the Long Spur and Long Hill,
particularly along the line of the old cattle pad adjacent to the
Caledonia River fall.
Most of the alpine meadows of the Long Hill region were in
good condition and ablaze with wildflowers; the Blue Pincushion, Rosy
Storksbill, and particularly the Clusted Everlasting predominating in
thousands of clumps, dotting the steep slopes above the red rock
gorges and cliff faces. Of trees there were really not very many, just
a few twisted snowgums scattered on the crest of the ridge. Indeed
it seemed that were it not for the root systems of the various herbsparticularly the ubiquitous everlastings-holding the soil, some of
these self-same rocky ledges would finish 3,000 feet below as a reddish
stain in the waters of the Caledonia.
A strange region is this Long Hill area, where grassy meadows
slope down to overhanging cliffs of Devonian sandstone some thirty
to fifty feet high, followed by a succession of further alternate alpine
slopes and red rock cliffs. On some slopes of the southern fall of
Long Hill, much higher red cliffs curve in an arc at the various heads
of Long Hill and Breakfast Creeks.
These amphitheatres often
resemble Tasmania's glacial cirques, but I am sure these circles of
cliffs have not been formed by glacial action, but purely by headward
stream erosion in the red Devonian sandstone.
Some of these colourful cliff overhangs extend for long distances;
one deep overhang on the eastern approach to Long Hill is over
100 yards long, making quite a distinctive shelf just below the
mountain summit. The approach from the east is, in places, along
a very narrow rocky spur where the way is sometimes barred by
jumbled layers of the red stone.
Still further west, tiny soaks near the lower edge of an alpine
meadow seeped downward through interstices in deep-red sedimentary
layers, finally dripping rapidly in several streamlets from the underside
of a frowning overhang at least 15 feet deep by 8-10 feet high, and
100 feet long. An excellent shelter exists with adequate wood nearby,
and would be a comfortable campsite as it is protected by the overhang, and has a water supply in the roof.
Where Long Hill turns the corner from a west to south direction,
we had some difficulty finding the waterhole near the head of Long
Hill Creek. First we were too far south-east among cliffy bays, and
the water couldn't have been there, as the summer run-off was much
too fast. Further south again the terrain dropped steeply surrounded
by dark-red banded cliffs, but in a flatter gully just to the north we
found the waterhole with clear, grassy campsites close by the barklined soak.
WALK
Page Fifteen
Overnight a heavy fog shrouded the high tops with the result that
the start next morning was not as early as planned. Half-an-hour
after our start, brilliant sunshine dispelled the last mists from the green
and red chasms high above the Caledonia, and the views were far
superior than when seen in the hard hazy light of the previous day.
Our Christmas tramp concluded at the eastern end of Bennison
Plains, where the Plains jeep-track joins the Moroka/Bennison SpurLicola Road.
Rabbits seemed to be increasing in numbers again, at least on
the Bennison Plains. On the slopes just above the valley bottom are
areas of lush grass, and just at the inward edge of these grassy benches,
facing the valley and sheltered by spreading Black Sallees, we found
the extensive warrens of an increasing rabbit population.
It is quite depressing to recount the damage to these high plains
and to see the destruction of the alpine habitat, but one must speak
out for there is no discounting the fact that erosion is considerable and
accelerating, that entrenchment of streams is increasing, and that water
run-off in late summer is decreasing.
The types of damage observed in the Snowy Plains region is
typical of all other high plain districts seen during the past twelve
years. Our observations on this trip only served to confirm opinions
formed on other alpine trips over the past decade.
What will be the picture in yet another generation? I shudder
to think!
•••••
OUTFITTING THE MOUNTAINEER
Whether it's for strolling in the hills or wintering in the Tasmanian
south-west, a walker needs his gear to see him in safety and comfort
on his way. As a guide to the choice of equipment for the bushwalker,
the rock-climber, the caver and the mountaineer, the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club has issued a new and enlarged edition of
"Equipment for Mountaineering".
By being able to draw upon the experience and recommendations of
a large number of their competent and seasoned members, as well as
the help from other clubs and individuals from all over the country, they
have been able to generally expand the contents of the book, adding
information concerning the performance of several new items of equipment which have made their appearance since the publishing of the
first edition in 1961.
The fourteen chapters are: Clothing, Personal Gear, Camping Equipment, Food, First Aid Kits, Maps and Aerial Photographs, Lightweight
Walking, Equipment for Caving, Home-made Equipment, Trip-planning
and Preparation, Camping Techniques, and Recommended Books. Five
appendices tell where to buy, price ranges, addresses of clubs, calorific
values of food, and a checklist. Altogether, an up-to-date reference, guide
and hand-book. "EQUIPMENT FOR MOUNTAINEERING". Melbourne
University Mountaineering Club, 1965. Price 45 cents.
Page Silteen
WALK
FOR RECOMMENDED
WALKING
EQUIPMENT
AUSKI
PTY.
LTD.
The only Bushwalking
Specialists.
Victorian Agents for
* Ground-sheets,
Paddymade Equipment, Rucksacks, Sleeping Bags,
Tents and all Accessories.
* Blacks' Good Companion and Tinker Tents.
* Food,
Jackets, Anoraks, Shorts, local and imported
Boots, Socks, Stoves, Mess Kits, Maps, Compasses,
Carbide Lamps etc.
* Stubai
Rope.
Rock Climbing Gear, Candle Lanterns,
See our full range af SILVA compasses.
"YES" WE DO HIRE
Hike Tents, Sleeping Bags and Rucksacks
AU SKI PTY. LTD.
9 HARDWARE STREET, MELBOURNE
( 2 doors from Bourke Street, facing City Parking)
Phone: 67-1412
WALK
Page Seventeen
BETWEEN THE KIEWA & THE MITTA
A. Schafer
A week's walking over the High Plains had gone by and at
last we were standing on Mt. Bogong's summit, gazing into the hazy
distance on a midsummer afternoon.
Unhurried clouds drifted by,
their shadows dappling an intricate pattern of webbed ranges running
northwards to where an arm of the Lake Hume could be easily discerned. This contrasted with the intervening dark slabs of plateaux,
separated from other mountain systems by the cultivated valleys of
the Kiewa River and the Mitta Mitta River. The former in the west;
the latter in the east.
Kiewa River/Mitta Mitta River Divide.
Scale: l inch
8 miles.
Thus in the north lay the next stage of our walk-the KiewaMitta Mitta Divide. Directly across the intervening Mountain Creek
valley was Mt. Emu, a little less in altitude than half of Bogong's
6,516 feet. For the next dozen miles, a ridge of bumps and gaps
From then onwards other
rising up to Mt. Tawanga's 4,161 feet.
ranges, averaging 3,000 feet, dipped gently away from the northern
side of the Lockard Gap down to the Murray River.
Twenty-four hours later found us at Trappers' Creek Gap, a
crossway of mountain road and track. Here the main road commences
back along the left branch of Mountain Creek and then continues as
a dry-weather route to Granite Flat on the Mitta Mitta. At the Gap
this road is crossed by a track following the main watershed. Southwards it ascends Mt. Bogong by way of the Eskdale Spur while to
the north-west it goes over Mt. Emu and beyond.
For us, "beyond" was not very far. After the ridge track ended
a few miles north of Mt. Emu, we entered a land of scrub and granite
until reaching Mt. Yorke with its slopes of densely packed, snowdamaged ash saplings.
Suffice it to say, that, after a day of soaring temperatures at the
lower altitude, aU thought of proceeding had vanished, and we were
Page Eighteen
WALK
Mt. Towongo-From Keegan's Bridge.
Photo by Lonce Mobbs.
soon sliding the two-thousand feet down into the Kiewa valley, where,
as night fell, dogs were set on us by a local who had mistaken us
for a pack of dingoes about to descend upon his chickens. Fortunately
the domestic dogs were called back in time, and we all finished up
by joining the family for a late supper in a farmhouse kitchen only
a few miles out from Mt. Beauty.
Last summer came as another opportunity to revisit the area.
But this time we would reverse direction and start from the north.
Our party set off from Keegan's bridge, where the Gundowring
road spans the Kiewa River. It was early morning, and everywhere
the cicadas shrilled. From the levee, one took in a landscape of lush
pasture sown on the rich alluvial fans, which are really the open feet
of the forested ranges. Five and a half miles south-west rose Mt.
Tawanga, our first mountain.
In order to take the most direct climb to the top, we turned down
a back road running between the range and the river. For three
miles, this road passed a number of small dairy farms, sometimes
dipping down to small watercourses, which, after rising in the hills,
cut the road on their way down to join the main stream. Soon our
road narrowed, twisted, then climbed to a little knot of isolated hills
from where there was a fine view of the Kiewa Valley, and also one
of the Running Creek settlement directly across the river.
Leaving the road here, we cut across paddocks and skirted
timbered slopes to find a rough vehicular track which petered out
at the foot of the mountain. Animal pads then took us further up
the spur we had chosen, away from the shrilling cicadas and the
jingling mountain creeks, until the high humidity and heat forced
us to seek the shelter of one of the cooler gullies where we rested until
the evening thunderstorm cleared the air.
WALK
Page Nineteen
Although the summit was only a mile distant as measured on the
map, it took almost four hours determined climbing up three-thousand
feet of rough ground. The upper heights eased out into a little
plateau of open forest, mainly Candlebark Gums and Alpine Ash,
through which wound a leafy track.
The summit (4,151 ft.), marked by the remains of an old trigonometrical station, turned out to be a good spot for lunch, and an
enjoyable outlook. Falling abruptly away from our feet began the
deep basin of Little Snowy and Back Creeks, their dark forests
relieved by splashes of lighter greens denoting long strips of clearing
along these streams.
Looking generally eastwards, one could see the far away Snowy
Mountains spread out in line along the blue horizon, as thus: far
right the Big Cobbera sixty miles distant and unmistakably recognized,
even so far away, by the huge scallops of rock; to the left came The
Pilot, the Ramsheads, then the long wall of Kosciusko with its head
lost in cloud; yet, the furthermost discernible peak, recognized as
Mt. Jagungal (6,764 ft.) seventy-five miles distant, had its sky clear.
From the trig. the old track plunged into the coolness of the
mountain's shadow, losing height for almost a mile until reaching a
saddle where a new forestry road climbed into sunlight out of one
of the heads of Back Creek. The new road was taken for a few miles
to where it again met the old track. The latter dropped steeply,
offering some impressive views of Mt. Bogong which IDled the
southern scene with its twenty miles of mountain wall.
At the bottom of the descent was The Gap, a brackeny saddle
dividing a tributary of the Kiewa, Bay Creek, from the head of Saxy
Creek which feeds the Little Snowy Creek and eventually the Mitta
Mitta River. An hour's exploration of nearby gullies revealed no
water, so it was decided to camp at huts shown on the Lands Dept.
map.
The intervening distance of half-a-mile was achieved in a
roundabout course involving a seven-hundred foot climb and a
thousand foot drop, all in two hours. At the bottom of the spur an
old horse track, cut in slaty rock, led past all that remained of the
huts-the concrete floors. Still, the terraced surroundings and an
old orchard made a pleasant enough campsite.
Immediately below the old site wide-spreading tree-ferns shaded
a double fording, the start of the morning's walk along a track bright
with wildflowers. In a mile or so, Saxy Creek joined the main stream,
the valley now widening into grassy flats dappled with the shade of
scattered cover. Here was also a track junction where a set of
wheel-tracks marked the way upstream along the Little Snowy Creek
whose waters ripped and roared down the stony rapids.
The southward track led past some old mine shafts, a reminder
that once the valley also echoed the clang and clatter of the goldseekers. In the Victorian "Prospectors' Guide", it is noted that the
"valley of the Little Snowy Creek carried numerous small reefs, of
good value", the head of the creek being known as the Mt. Elmo
gold-field.
As seems to be the rule in old mmmg areas, the brambles had
An hour's
taken over in many places nearly closing the track.
walking from the junction ended at a crossing, the track on the far
Page Twenty
WALK
DID YOU KNOW THAT OVER
40,000 SILVA COMPASSES
ARE IN USE THROUGHOUT
-
~~~~A~A~
a good enough
recommendation for you to have
one too!
IF NOT, PERHAPS THESE FEATURES WILL HELP:• Protractor, rule and compass in one instrument. • Transparent baseplate.
• Liquid filled for steady and accurate readings. • Fully guaranteedreplaced free if any faults should develop. • Magnifying glass. • Made
in Sweden-typical of that country's high standard of quality. • Officially
recommended by Boy Scout and Youth Organizations.
SILVA makes mop
and compass work
automatic.
Plastic belt
loop carrying
case is now
available
to
protect
your
SILVA
compass.
AVAILABLE FROM:Ask for it.
Auski Pty. Ltd.-All Scout Shops-Robertson 6 Mullens-John Donne 6
Son-Myers-Waltham Trading-and leading camping and sports stores
throughout Australia.
IN SYDNEY-Paddy Pallln Pty. Ltd., 109A Bathurst Street.
WALK
Page Twenty-one
side branching; left-into the Dorchap Range wilderness; rightfurther up the main valley. The start of the latter, our track, was
found behind another relic of the mining days, probably a crusher.
The impenetrable barrier of thorn and brush made it impossible to
inspect the old structure closely.
As we forded the steam, it struck us that the name "Little
Snowy" couldn't be more apt. With its icy tingle, the stream was
probably fed by snow-melt waters now issuing from natural storages
secreted higher upstream. Although a number of miles from its gully
heads, the stream was shaded from any warming influence of the sun
by a tunnel-like canopy of bough and leaf.
Winding along grassy flats, or under the shade of lightly timbered
slopes, a faint horse-track led through a summery landscape of high,
blue hills. While setting up camp in such surroundings, we estimated
that some of the trees, the Narrow-leafed Peppermints, had their
first branches up to eighty feet above ground level.
From early dawn, the whole of the next morning was occupied
in the strenuous climb out of the headwaters of the Little Snowy
Creek. It was very rough country with wombat holes everywhere,
but soon after mid-day the main ridge was regained a few miles north
of Mt. Emu.
As this mountain was approached by way of the ridge the settlements of Tawanga and Mt. Beauty came into view below. Directly
across the Kiewa Valley, the Bright road climbed to Tawanga Gap,
and, to the south, spread the expansive bulk of Mt. Fainter, behind
which loomed the high twin peaks of Mt. Feathertop.
Of course, the best view of all was that of Mt. Bogong especially
from where the ridge swung to the east from Mt. Emu for the next
six miles, along to Trappers' Creek Gap. Its attendant spurs dropping
away steeply into the depths of the intervening Mountain Creek valley,
the massive mountain seemed amazingly close, but must have been a
good five miles away.
Halfway along this ridge we came to a flattish saddle, which at
one time had been cleared for a hut still standing but being reclaimed
by the bush, as the regrowth of tall saplings pressed hard on the walls
in a slow but relentless increase in girth and numbers. There also
appeared to be no water, apart from one or two rain puddles, along
the ridge until we came to a second hut and an earth tank that on
the previous occasion had been bone dry; but this time was full
of water.
Seven o'clock, next morning, we were down at the gap ready to
commence the day-long climb of three-and-half thousand feet up
the Eskdale Spur, a longer though easier alternative way to Mt. Bogong
than that of the Staircase Spur. At first we climbed one of the
steepest jeep tracks every cut. After the first five-hundred feet, the
track then went over a series of high knobs, swinging away from the
mountain for a while. But there were some fine views of mountainous
country around Mt. Wills to please the eye before the track again
swung round the great arc of the spur.
About halfway we dropped to a nice grassy saddle where the
jeep track ended. Then it was a two-and-a-half hour climb to the
top. Soon after lunch, we were back on familiar ground, again
looking over the northern ranges we had traversed in the last five days.
Page Twenty-two
WALK
Clear a space
of ten feet
around
and
above the fire.
Keep the fire
small.
Be sure it is extinguished be.
fore you leave.
and smokers • • • make
sure your cigareHe or
match is OUT before.
throwing it away.
FORESTS
WALK
COMMISSION
OF
VICTORIA
Page Twenty-three
A WALKING MENU
Doug and Robyn Pocock
Keen readers of walking literature will often read advice of what,
and how much to carry in the way of food. In this article we do not
intend to go into lists of weights and calorific values, but, as people
who think meals are to be enjoyed and not just eaten to keep the body
going, we intend to give our views on cooking.
Undoubtedly, many people will disagree with us, as, especially with
walkers, one man's meat is another man's poison. We are also referring
to extended walks, not weekends when weight doesn't matter so much.
For us, breakfast is usually porridge made from rolled oats. Easy
to make, water is simply boiled, salt to taste and oats added, left to
simmer a few minutes at the consistency preferred and, presto! a very
satisfying meal. If a small stove is used for the porridge making, it
can easily be prepared when lying in a sleeping bag on a cold wet
morning. A small plastic shaker, useful also as a cup, is ideal for
mixing milk.
Raw sugar, rather than white, and a few sultanas added to the
porridge make a tasty variation. Oats can be left to soak overnight. In
the morning add a little flour and egg-powder, and fry the mixture in
small cakes.
If porridge tends to pall, another good breakfast dish is "Granbits". These take some getting used to, but have the advantage of
less bulk than other cereals.
Lunch is a meal that is best kept small with high energy concentration, as lunch tends to be near a creek, and, hence, a climb out
which is not good on a heavily filled stomach. Biscuits of the crisp-bread
variety are universally used, though mainly as a medium for transferring
spreads from container to stomach. We find the best spreads are honey
and peanut butter, both highly nutritious and easily carried. Air-sealing
plastic containers are readily available.
Cheese and cabana sausage play a great part in our lunch, though
many people don't care for the latter. A handful of scroggin is also
excellent at lunch time. This dessert usually varies with the maker's
whim; from sultanas alone to a mixture of dried fruits, nuts, glucose,
brown sugar, wheat hearts etc. Finished off with a few squares of
chocolate, and a fruit-saline drink, we find this a very satisfying meal.
The evening meal is our biggest for the day. Dehyd. stew is the
true and tested standby, simple to make by merely boiling for twenty
minutes or so. To this we add cabana, marmite, Oxo cubes, sultanas
or soup powder. Dumplings, made of flour and salt mixed with water
to a fairly stiff paste, rolled into balls, are sometimes boiled together
with the stew.
Another way to eat dehyd. is to cook it in the usual manner, drain,
and then fry it with some sultanas and chopped-up almonds. A pinch
of mixed herbs is very useful here.
As dried meats are readily available now spaghetti-and-meat
sauce often appears on our menu. We find spaghetti spirals best as
they curry well and are more easily eaten than the normal "worms".
Page Twenty-four
WALK
We cook the meat to form a thick sauce, add sultanas and mixed herbs,
and pour over the cooked spaghetti. If we find mushrooms in our
travels these also go into the sauce.
Dried meat can also be cooked with an excess of water, and cooked
dehyd. cabbage added. The mixture can then be thickened with dehyd.
potato to a consistency of normal mashed potato. Curry is an excellent
addition to this dish. We have found this meal to be the best when
working on a "choofer" as it is quick to prepare and needs only one
billy.
We carry three billies between the two of us.
With that number
it is a simple matter to make a meal of stew from dried meat, mashed
potato and other vegetables.
After the first course comes the sweets where an imaginative cook
can work wonders. Pancakes, our favourite, made with wholemeal
flour, and with about half as much in quantity of each of the following:
sugar, milk-powder, egg-powder, together with salt, mixed to a smooth
not-too-runny mixture. The secret of pancake cooking is ensuring the
pan is hot enough before putting in the mixture. If margarine is
used, when it starts to smoke slightly, the pan is hot enough. The
mixture is poured into the pan which should remain hot, otherwise the
pancake sticks. When bubbles start forming on the top, it is then
turned and fried till light-brown, then eaten hot with honey, sugar or
jam. Sultanas or pre-soaked apple rings are excellent additions.
If the flour is self-raising, the same mixture can be made stiffer
and baked to give a cake. Custard powder makes good flavouring. We
are lucky in possessing a small billy with a tight-fitting lid which makes
an excellent oven when buried in coals, especially when a piece of
greased paper is placed in the bottom. This also makes good dampers
without the risk of charring them as when they are cooked straight
in the coals. We find cakes take about twenty minutes to balc:e, and
damper slightly less.
The same basic mixture also makes a beaut steamed pudding. We
favour chocolate (cocoa) flavouring. Once again a fairly stiff mixture
is made and poured into a suitable container and steamed in a billy for
thirty minutes or so. The small pudding steamers are best, but we
use our small billy inside a larger one for steaming. It's marvellous to
have a hot chocolate steamed pudding in the middle of the bush.
Rice also makes a good pudding when cooked with sultanas, dried
apricots or dried apples. For those who like their rice washed, it is
best to wash the rice out with cold water before cooking. Creamed
rice is made by cooking the rice in milk with a little sugar, instead
of water.
Instant pudding is a good addition to rice. Once again the shaker
is invaluable. In the summer this is very tasty as a cool sweet,
especially with some dried fruit. So we often soak fruit in the shaker
while we are walking.
By using the above dishes we find we can have well over a week
in the bush and not have the same evening menu twice, yet not
carrying packs any heavier than if we had an unvaried diet. As
mentioned earlier, probably some people will not agree with our dishes,
but still we hope that we have given some new ideas for more variation
in your cooking. Remember, imagination is the greatest asset in your
epicurean experimentation.
Good cooking!
WAlK
Page Twenty-five
NEW ZEALAND'S MILFORD TRACK
By Marion Siseman
Have you ever been on an extended trip and wished you could
have done it without a heavy pack? Ever wished for a comfortable
hut on a stormy night when you've had to battle with your tent
in the wind and the rain? Ever wished you could sit straight down
to a large dinner at the end of a tiring and energetic day's walk?
Then come with me on the Milford Track-the "Bushwalker's holiday".
What to bring? Besides your usual walking clothes just a toothbrush
and a change of clothes. Don't forget the camera-there'll be some
pretty spectacular scenery.
We begin at Te Anau in the south-west of South Island, with
a two and a half hour trip up Lake Te Anau to the beginning of the
Track. We are surrounded by mountains as soon as we step ashore,
for this is Fiordland, where ice of past ages has carved the land into
a tangled mass of deep narrow valleys and high rugged walls.
Majestic all right, and we'll have three days walking in it-up one
narrow valley to its head, over a pass, and down into another narrow
valley to the sea at Milford Sound.
We stay the first night at Glade House near the beginning
of the Track.
Here we meet the rest of the party, thirty-six
assorted bodies, none of them bushwalkers but all active people. Some
of them are middle-aged, and the oldest man in sixty-five. Next
morning, after a large breakfast, we set out in perfect weather to
follow the Clinton River upstream. Everyone sets their own pace, as
slow or fast as they like. The Clinton is a beautiful crystal-clear
stream. We can see every stone on the bottom. Look at those huge
brown trout lying motionless there! Delicate dark green beech trees
frame mountain views upstream and down. The beech forest is thick,
and full of birds calling.
A hut appears in a clearing welcoming us with open door and
smoking chimney. It's Six Mile Inn, our lunch stop. The track hand
has the billy on inside but let's sit in the sun to eat our sandwiches.
Watch out for wekas, the bantam-like Maori hens! They'll poke
curiously in your pack or undo your bootlaces given half-a-chance.
Off again. The forest is thinning out now and we can see more
of the valley. On both sides the rock rises sheer to about 6,000 feetat least a mile above us. A number of waterfalls cascade hundreds
of feet down to the valley. One of these drops into Hidden Lake in
a depression at the side of the valley. It is a delightful spot. You
may swim in it if you like-if you can stand the freezing water. Midafternoon we arrive at Pompolona Huts. The valley has narrowed and
there is only flat ground enough for them to be built end on end.
The clear lazy Clinton is now a tumbling stream. A few miles ahead
is its beginning and the sheer wall of the McKinnon Pass-but that's
for tomorrow. Just now we've time to explore some snow-caves cut
by streams into avalanche snow at the foot of the cliffs, and time to
enjoy some of the wildflowers. The many varieties of Celmisia are
rather striking.
Page Twenty-si•
WALK
McKinnon Poss.
Photo by Courtesy of N.Z. Govt. Tourist Bureou.
Before dinner the packhorses arrive from Glade House with the
fresh bread and meat. Once, everything was brought in this way but
now most things are flown in by helicopter at the beginning of the
tourist season. The evening's entertainment is provided by Harry the
Kea, a large olive-green parrot and surely the most mischievous bird
ever created. Harry dances up and down on a railing outside, has his
supper of butter offered on a spoon, then craftily provokes some of
his audience to play. Watch this chap giving Harry his matches.
Harry won't give them back either. He's taking them from rock to
rock down the river with the poor man after him.
Next day we set off for McKinnon Pass. The track is very well
graded and we reach the top easily. Some of the older folk do not
find it so easy though. The view is magnificent. From one side we
look straight down the Clinton valley. It hardly has a bend in it.
Pompolona Huts are tiny red specks. A short walk to the other side
of the Pass reveals a cliff plunging thousands of feet into the Arthur
valley. A little group of orange specks, the Quintin Huts, is our
destination for the night. Jagged peaks rise up on all sides, clouds
swirl about the tops, snowfields glisten on mountains, blue cracks in
the white show where there is ice. We lunch at Pass Hut amid the
grassy hillocks and brown tams on the top. To descend we have
four miles of rocky track skirting around the top of a huge sheer
cirque, crossing wild streams, and descending past tumbling waterfalls.
WALK
Page Twenty-seven
At last we reach Quintin Huts. Don't stop outside. Those minute
biting beasties called sandfties, found everwhere in the New Zealand
bush, are particularly vicious here.
Next day we can explore or rest. There are dozens of attractive
falls but the highlight is the Sutherland Falls. One of the highest in
the world, it drops 1,904 feet in three stages, a plunge, a cascade, and a
plummet into a green pool.
The last stage of the walk is down the Arthur valley. It is not
quite as straight a valley as the Clinton but is alike in its grand
scenery. By mid-afternoon we reach Sandfty Point, most aptly named,
to await the arrival of the launch that will take us across Milford
Sound to the settlement on the delta of the Cleddau River. It is impossible to walk any further. The mountains, some over a mile high,
fall sheer into the Sound. The only flat land is the delta of the Arthur
River and that of the Cleddau.
We have finished the walk, a very easy thirty-three miles in three
days but a wonderful experience, especially for most of the party who
had never done any walking in the bush. What an asset such a track
would be in Australia to enable people to more fully appreciate our
diminishing bush! Perhaps the well-worn track through Tasmania's
Cradle Mountain Reserve would be an ideal one to convert.
••
•••
THREATENED DESTRUCTION OF LAKE PEDDER
In 1955, 59,000 acres in the South-West of Tasmania was declared,
by an Act of Parliament, as a scenic reserve, protecting the natural
scenic beauty and native flora and fauna from unwanted exploitation.
Now this area is threatened by the proposed Gordon River Power
Development which will mean flooding Lake Pedder and most of the
National Park, including a vast area of button grass, to a depth of
fifty feet.
It is interesting to note what the Report of the 1967 Biological
Survey in the Lake Pedder Area has to say. "The uniformity of the
button-grass plains acts as an ecological barrier to the spread of many
species of mammals-for example no introduced species of mammals
such as the rabbit were found in the area. For this reason plus the
lack of agricultural and pastoral usage of the land, the area probably
acts as a stronghold for many native species of mammals and birds
which are rare or in declining numbers elsewhere."
Because so much is at stake the Save Lake Pedder National Park
Committee has been formed. The Committee membership is open to
the general public, and appeals to all responsible people who have an
active interest in Australia's National Parks for their support. The main
aim of the Committee is to preserve the natural character of Lake
Pedder National Park, of which there is no equal in Australia, and to
guard against the wasteful exploitation of that unique scenic region.
Save Lake Pedder National Park Committee, P.O. Box 440, Devonport, Tasmania.
Page Twenty-eight
WALK
NEW
ZEALAND
THICK PURE
WOOL SHIRTS
MOUNTAINEER
EVEREST
MOOSE LODGE
KAIAPOI
Zip or button fronts. a Checks ond Tartans. • Two
Iorge Pockets.
• Some Showerproof.
• Some as
supplied to Antarctic Expeditions.
•
All Shrinkresistant All good for years of hard use.
GREASY WOOL SOCKS AND PULLOVERS,
BALACLAVAS, MITTENS AND CAPS.
OILED PROOFED JAPARA PARKAS, OVERTROUSERS, WOOL-LINED OVERMITTS, SLEEPING BAG COVERS.
MAPS, FREEZE-DRIED FOODS, WALKING AND
CLIMBING EQUIPMENT ETC. ETC.
SHIRTS
land other items in some instances)
available from:
Melbourne-Myers' Fishing Dept., lonsdale St.; Myer
(Northland I
ltd.
(Sporting Goods!; Shooters'
Supplies Pty. ltd., 302 Russell St.; Ski-Hire Pty.
ltd., 431 Bourke St.
Sydney-Mountain Equipment Co.
Canberra-P. Von der Duys. CoelftCI-leormont & Co.
Jindabyne-Mick Simmons ltd. Cabramurra-Spence &
Stewart Pty. ltd.
Or All Items Available Direct from
LOCH WILSON &
co.
Importers Wholesalers Retailers
56 CHAP,STREETJ. KILDA,
ctoria 31
Telephone M
WALK
LOCH WILSO
rne 9
4 (all hours)
AND C.Rg•e Twenty-nine
p.-~~oRTERS. WHOLESALERS. RETAILERS.
692 GLENHUNTLY RD. CAULFIELD VIC. 3161
PHONE MELB. 53 73Sl OR 96 3891
JOHN DONNE & SON
CHART HOUSE
372 LITTLE BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
for
MAPS, COMPASSES AND BOOKS
For the Walker
Included in our Range ore:
• TRANSPARENT PLASTIC FOLDERS, suitable for Map Cases.
• PEDOMETERS, $8. 72.
• See our full range of SILVA compasses.
5TA N
Invites you to inspect the comprehensive range
of WALKING GEAR including SLEEPING
BAGS, RUCKSACKS, TENTS, STOVES, METATABS, SUNGLASSES etc., and also PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT at
SKI & CAMERA HOUSE
IS. SUMMERS)
I 5 Centre Place, (off 259 Collins Street)
Melbourne, 63-3295
5
u
M
M
E
Get all your 1968 Ski Requirements from
S. Summers.
R
Visit us in March and inspect Melbourne's
latest and greatest range of winter equipment.
5
Page Thirty
WALK
OUR MOUNTAINS IN WINTER
John Brownlie
With the first snows many walkers turn their backs on our
mountains and head for the warmer parts of the State. In doing this,
they ignore what should be the height of bushwalking experience-the
testing of their knowledge and capabilities in an element of challenge.
This means, therefore, that a venture into the mountains should not be
undertaken lightly. The risk of accident is ever present, and what
might be considered of minor importance elsewhere can develop into a
major calamity under extreme conditions.
Our mountains are scattered with huts, and a knowledge of their
location and that of the general topography-gained during summer
walking-provide a good basis on which to plan a trip. Access can be
achieved in several different ways: by walking, by snow-shoes, or by
cross-country skis. However, these methods are not equally suitable in
all conditions. Much depends on the terrain and type of mountains.
Snow-shoes or skis are useless in slopes covered with fallen timber and
undergrowth. Likewise, walking is impractical on open country such
as the Bogong High Plains. It is, however, of great importance that
the group be equipped in the same way to enable the party to keep
together.
Equipment must be given the utmost consideration. First and
foremost, hands and feet should be able to function efficiently at all
times. Greasy wool mittens are preferable to gloves, as each finger
helps to keep the others warm; one woollen glove is useful for tasks
requiring use of fingers. Waterproof over-mittens are essential. Two
pairs of thick woollen socks should be worn with waterproof boots.
Spare socks must be carried and these can also serve as extra mitts.
Puttees are valuable, keeping the lower leg warm, and snow out of the
boots.
Long woollen trousers (loose-fitting) with long underpants
should be worn in preference to stretch pants; waterproof overpants
should be carried. A string singlet, T-shirt and thick woollen shirt are
preferable to many jumpers. A good waterproof parka, woollen hat and
snow-goggles complete the minimum list of clothing.
Don't forget the waterbottle, as you become very thirsty in snow.
At no time should a person venture into the mountains alone. A
group of not less than three (ideally four) should be formed. This is
a safety measure in the event of an accident, and allows the sharing
of food and equipment, thus lessening the weight to be carried.
Camping in the snow presents many problems. The snow itself
should be used it its best advantage, and, with care, a comfortable camp
can be made. Time is an important factor when making camp; each
individual must work efficiently and co-operatively. A small fire-shovel
is used to dig out a large hole, in which the tent is pitched, and the
deeper the hole the more protection it provides.
With the tent pitched, a further twelve inches can be dug out of
the floor to give more head room. Skis, stocks, logs, snowgums, and
plastic bags filled with snow can be used to anchor your guys. With
further experience snow caves and igloos can be considered. Fires can
WALK
Page Thirty-one
Winter Scene in the Victorian Alps.
Photo by G. Noddin.
usually be lit amongst snowgums; break the dead branches from the
trees, for these provide ample wood which is dry on the inside and easily
combustible. Split these branches, as sharp corners catch the flames
more quickly than round sticks. Fuel stoves, used with care, are a
handy alternative especially in bad weather.
When the camp is well settled and the evening meal over, attention
can then be given to your clothing which is probably damp from
perspiration and snow. It is a great temptation to dry clothing close
to a fire-socks on a stick, boots on a rock-but tragedy can occur
with the smell of burning socks, or, worse, scorching leather. Your boots
could mean your life; look after them for they are the most important
part of your equipment. Never leave then lying around camp, but
wrap them in your parka on retiring, keeping them near your body
during the night to stop them from freezing. The safest and surest
way of drying your socks and mittens is in your sleeping bag. With
your hands and feet in dry socks, pull your wet clothing over them, and
in the morning all your socks will be dry.
Warmth when sleeping is most important, and so a good sleeping
bag is essential. Insulation from the snow can be provided in several
ways. One of the most efficient methods is to use a length of sponge
rubber, four feet long, one inch thick. Though a little more bulky
than the familiar air mattress it is lighter, and is impossible to puncture.
These are the essentials to bear in mind when travelling in the
snow-country, and only experience will increase your knowledge.
Where to go? The scope is endless: Kosciusko-Bogong-Bogong
High Plains-Snowy Plains to Wellington-then south to Tasmania.
Use these mountains, but always with respect, and in them you will
find great companionship and the treasures of our most beautiful country.
Page Thirty-two
WALK
WILDFLOWERS OF AUTUMN & WINTER
Rex and Sue Filson
Perhaps autumn and winter are not the best seasons to go looking
for wildflowers, but those of us who enjoy walking during these months
will be rewarded greatly by the gems of plant life that can be found.
Together with those that have their flowering time during this period
are many more that bloom from summer into early autumn, and from
the late winter into spring.
The Orchids
We usually think of spring as being the orchid
season, but a large number of our native orchids
flower during the autumn and winter. The
largest group of these are the Greenhoods
( Pterostylis). The first to make an appearance
is usually the Tiny Greenhood, P. parviflora 3,
whilst the Nodding Greenhood, P. nutans 2,
flowers in the late winter and into spring. The
Autumn Greenhood, P. reflexa 1, is also seen in
the autumn. P. nutans grows throughout Victoria;
the other two Greenhoods do not grow in the
North-West. Parsons Bands, Eriochilus cucullatus,
and the Bird Orchids, Chiloglottis, flower in
autumn, whilst the Mosquito Orchids, Acianthus,
and the Helmet Orchids, Corybas, flower in
winter.
The Pea-Flowers
Pea-flowers are not found in great abundance
during this period as they prefer the warmer
weather. However, two may be seen throughout
Victoria in the late winter through to summer.
The Purple Coral Pea, Hardenbergia violacea 4,
is to be found twining around the undergrowth
and climbing over fallen timber, covering everything with its bright purple blossom. The other
plant is the Common Hovea, H ovea heterophylla
5, a small shrub, which also has pale violet to
purple flowers.
The Eucalypts
The Eucalypt is perhaps a little large to be
called a "wild-flower" but as it makes such a
beautiful display during the autumn and winter
a short note should not be out of place.
Eucalyptus sideroxylon 6, occurs in the North
and Central Victoria, South-East Gippsland, and
the You Yangs. It is a tree of moderate height
commonly obtaining 100 feet. The flowers are
creamy white to purplish. The Messmate, E.
obliqua, flowers in the early autumn. It is
widespread in Victoria, particularly in the
Another
Grampians and the Otway Ranges.
widespread tree growing around Melbourne,
Beechworth, the Alps and the Grampians, is the
Long Leaf Box, E. goniocalyx. In the Mallee areas
WALK
Page Thirty-three
of the North-East and North-West, E . microcarpa,
is to be found. Both these Eucalypts have
creamy white blooms.
The Wattles
Wattles ( Acacia) form the largest group of
Australian plants. Their flowers vary in colour
from cream to bright yellow and can be found
in all seasons. Their main flowering period commences in the late winter. Acacia suaveolens has
showy blooms during the winter and autumn.
It grows everywhere except the North-East.
A. diUusa found throughout Victoria, is a small
spreading shrub with stiff narrow leaves. A.
botrycephala 7, is conspicuous in Eastern Victoria
with its large creamy to lemon flowers. A.
stenophylla 8, found only in the North-West, has
narrow leaves up to sixteen inches long and has
a drooping habit.
The Proteads
The Proteads are often called "The Grevillea
family".
Most Grevilleas flower during the
spring, however G. lavandulacea can usually be
seen flowering during the late winter. The
member of the family that makes its show
during the autumn and into the early winter, is
the Banksias. B. integrifolia is the sturdy knarled
tree of the foreshores. B. marginata, found in
the coastal ranges is a smaller edition of the
above. B. spinulosa 9, is a light spreading shrub
growing all over Victoria with the exception of
"' the far North-West.
-M".F"'~ The Heaths
The heaths are a very important constituent of
our flora, particularly in the coastal forests. They
comprise about fifty species in Victoria. The
common heath, Epacris impressa 10, flowers
throughout the autumn, winter and into spring.
It is rarely found north of the Dividing Range.
The bearded heaths, Leucopogon sp., have small
white to pale pink flowers, the insides of which
are filled with dense matted hairs. The broomheath Monotoca scoparia 11, also blooms during
the autumn. It is an erect shrub up to three feet
high, covered with small pink or white bell-like
flowers.
Other Small Shrubs
Correa reflexa 12, grows throughout Victoria.
It is a variable plant but is usually a small shrub
up to six feet high. The flowers are bell-like,
ranging from half to inch and a half in length,
and vary in colour from crimson to green. In
the North-West and drier parts of the state, the
Shrub violet, Hybanthus floribundus, with its
spreading slender stems and small pale blue or
violet flowers is seen.
State-wide Dodonaea
cuneata blooms in the winter with inconspicuous
flowers. This small tree is more noticeable in
the spring when its enlarged seed-pods give it
a reddish hue.
Page Thirty-four
WALK
The Myrtles
The family Myrtaceae includes the largest part
of our bushland flowers, e.g. Eucalypts, Bottlebrushes, and Myrtles. The Bushy Heath-myrtle,
Thryptomene calycina 13, is found at Mt. Arapiles and on the peaks of the Grampians. It
has white to pale pink flowers in the late winter.
Baeckea ramosissima, Rosy Heath-myrtle, with
its small rosy pink flowers and short trailing stems
is also seen blooming in the late winter in the
Grampians as well as in the Alps. Callistemon
citrinus, the Common Crimson Bottle-brush
flowers around Melbourne and Gippsland during
this period.
The Herbs
Small herbs and annuals are Spring flowers,
hut two make their appearance in the late
winter. Drosera whittakeri 14, is a small plant
which is carnivorous. The leaves arc covered
with short hairs that secrete sticky digestive
juices, trapping ants and small flies. The plant
uses the insects to obtain nitrogen which is
deficient in the soil.
Anguillaria dioica 15,
commonly known as Early Nancy, is one of the
first spring flowers to bloom. Its flowers are
white to pink. Both these herbs are found all
over the State in great abundance.
The Daisies
The Daisy family, Compositae, is the largest
family of flowering plants, containing about 900
genera and 12,000 species, which is about onetenth of the whole. Helichrysum elatum 16, varies
from a herb one foot high to a shrub six to eight
feet high, it is confined to East Gippsland. In
the late winter the small perennial, H elipterum
corymbiflorum 17, is seen, and at its best will
cover hillsides in North and West Victoria with
its showy white everlasting daisy flowers. Others
that flower at this time are Olearia ramulosa, 0.
glandulosa, H elichrysum cinereum, and Leptorrynchus linearis.
The Climbers
Of the two climbers that are seen during these
seasons the most showy is Clematis aristata 18,
with its white or cream coloured flowers. It is
widespread in Victoria often near river hanks or
in the humid gullies of the Ranges. Fieldia
australis 19, is confined to South and East Victoria. It can he found in shady spots, often on
the trunks of Treeferns in the gullies of Wilson's
The flowers are greenish-yellow
Promontory.
and are drooping.
As well as looking for wild flowers, autumn and
winter are the best seasons to look for the lowly
plants of the gullies-the Fungi, Lichens, Liverworts and Mosses.
WALK
Page Thirty-five
60 WITH KRAFT*
LIGHT TO CARRY AND QUICK, CONVENIENT USAGE.
KRAFT Chopped Dried
Onions can replace raw
onions in almost any recipe.
Follow pack instructions for
gravies, sauces, hamburgers,
potato salad recipes. Always
fresh.
DEWCRISP* Dried Mixed
Vegetables with Noodles
makes flavoursome soup in
minutes. Also used in stews,
casseroles, savoury mince and
rissoles.
KRAFT Instant Mashed
Potatoes are smoother and
creamier - the granules fluff
up into the whitest potato
ever. Never watery or lumpy.
for good food and good food ideas
*REGISTERED TRADE MARKS
Page Thirty-six
WALK
2.4
HOUR WALK
Shirley Treloar
It was during the month of May, one Saturday afternoon-2 p.m.
to be precise-when, just after we had left the vans, a blast from the
starter's shotgun shattered the peace of the Pyalong countryside. The
alert walkers were off and away immediately, leaving us wondering
how 200 people could disappear so quickly.
Delaying no longer, we visualized the direction to take and
hurdled our first fence. Then carefully watching our footing we came
to a log spanning a dried-up creek bed. On the far side a high barbedwire fence awaited us. It brought one fellow to the ground as he
scrambled over it in an odd fashion. The casualty lay still. His group
rushed to his aid. Fortunately he soon recovered; but one girl didn't
even make the second fence, catching her foot in a rabbit hole and
spraining her ankle.
This was the start of the 24-hours walk, a yearly event run by the
Melbourne University Mountaineering Club. This year the participants
were divided up into 70 groups of three categories-male, female and
mixed. Our mixed group of seven represented the Melbourne Bushwalkers.
Along the route we had to find a series of checkpoints where we would
sign our names, and record times of arrival, all on the half of a raffle
ticket. There were also hash houses set up so as to provide the
necessary calories in the form of pies, soup, fruit etc.
We found the first checkpoint 2.4 miles away over open paddocks,
climbing up to 1,115 feet. Although there were 22 groups ahead,
our leader set a sure and steady pace like the tortoise in the fable. We
lagged miles behind the ''hares" who skipped and ran towards the
second checkpoint at the six-mile point. Further on there were many
barbed-wire fences to climb, creeks to wade, rabbit-holes to avoid, and
chocolates to nibble, while all the way our appointed time-keeper
regularly announced the end of each ten-minutes.
On reaching the fifth checkpoint we found the first hash house
complete with food ready for the eating. As we sat down to the soup
and meat pies, moonlight streamed down from a roof of stars. After
twenty minutes rest we again took up our steady pace-right into a
swamp where the reeds tickled our ears. It was a strange combination
of slippery logs, muddy water and sudden depressions.
The thought of becoming lost was never entertained, certainly not
during the night when each person had a torch flashing up and down,
thereby indicating some interesting positions-a picture-carpet of
moving lights.
The finding of checkpoints required some subtleness from torchbearers: "Quick, out with the light. Someone's coming." Sneaky business
this. From Vickery's Hill a stretch of 31 miles to a small bridge
and then on to the ninth checkpoint which was also hash house the
second. The menu seemed a gourmet's delight. And they saw to it
that none starved. After the best three-course supper in years we
left reluctantly and pressed on.
WALK
Page Thirty-seven
The boots breezed over another 5! miles, reaching a road bend
before approaching Mt. Lookout at 1,598 feet. Again we were at
the hash house where there was oatmeal for breakfast. At sunrise brilliant
reds and orange-colours lit the horizon. Frost glistened in the young
sunlight, the air was fresh and crisp, and there were three miles of
the lush-grass paddocks. Sheep and cattle were grazing. A new bridge
over the railway was the 15th checkpoint. From there the course
followed a road, a slight spur, a track, another road, a ford at Mollison's
Creek-this being checkpoint No. 16. Tired feet in the cool water,
faces now clean, but the eyes glassy and still bloodshot. Something
about the morning after the night before. Then on reaching a small
hut we had an half-hour's rest in the sun. The legs gradually
stiffened and were harder to coax along. From the hut 4! miles of
farm land where sheep and cattle grazed. A small marshy patch,
normally an obstacle, became just part of the fun of frolicking ever
forward.
Although there were 23 checkpoints, the 19th was enough for us
after lasting out the 24 hours. We skipped over a bridge to the vans
and flopped down, very glad to stop and rest after 52 miles.
LIKE TO HIKE?
Special tickets enable
hikers to leave Melbourne
on one line, then walk across
country to join a return
train on another line.
-------
Full particulars available at :
The Victorian Government
Tourist Bureau, 272 Collins St.,
Melbourne (63 0202) or Chief
Commercial Manager, Railway
Offices, Spencer St. (62 0311
ext. 1346)
Page Thirty-eight
WALK
WALKS SECTIONWILSON'S PROMONTORY
(Northern Half)
Wilson's Promontory has been and, it is hoped, will always be a
favourite area for walkers. During the A.N.A. long weekend of last
year a large party of Melbourne Bushwalkers arrived there, bent on
exploring the northern and north-eastern sections of the park which are
illustrated in the accompanying map. All the following observations,
made by different members, are a result of the three-day "invasion".
a••••
CORN£..R INL.U
::····~~~~. H~•
..
d}J!;"
~
_,---~~,~
MtM-,r,_~~
~ ~.~
.
-;~/',~,;l
Scale: I inch =
5 miles.
1. PORT WELSHPOOL-MT. HUNTER-FIVE MILE BEACH
One party arrived about midnight at Port Welshpool where they
had contracted with Mr. Arthur Smith, of that town, to ferry them
across to Chinaman's Beach on Corner Inlet. To make an approach to
the remote side of the park by sea has much to recommend it, but
care should be taken in regard to the economics of the hiring, for
charges are made per boat load, not number of passengers.
The Approach by Sea
It is said that the ways of men of the sea are governed by the
turn of the tide, and this being no less true for Bass Strait than elseWALK
Page Thirty-nine
where, the appointed time of sailing may be at the most unlikely hour.
Our party left at 6 a.m. and made the 2! hours crossing in fair weather.
If it had been rough the crossing could have been postponed, or, more
likely, cancelled and land transport used instead. The cutter made
landfall by the ruined jetty at Tin Mine Point on the eastern shore
of Corner Inlet, directly opposite Granite Island. Conveniently, for
those who liked to eat breakfast, a fresh water stream was found at
nearby Chinaman's Long Beach.
Description of the Route
The walk commences with an immediate climb up through thick
scrub and over Tin Mine Hill (580 ft.) the headland at the northern
end of Chinaman's Long Beach, and down a spur of light scrub and
banksia to a saddle. The hill is an outlier of the granite-crowned
Mt. Hunter (1,142 ft.) rising across the intervening saddle in the southeast. The first ascent is up to the heathy plain surrounding the
mountain, then an easterly course is taken to a conspicuous grouping
of granite tors. From the outcrop head southwards up the spur,
encountering scrub just below the open summit of rough grasses. The
view is good from the S.E., through south, east, to N.E., though the
eastern view is somewhat dimmed by big trees growing on the
sheltered N. E. side. It is said that, on a very clear day, Flinders
Island can be seen to the south-east.
The way off the mountain is down a S.S.E. spur, firstly through
light scrub, then open heath. The country gradually levels out, and
then the route is along an undulating ridge line (S.S.E.) finally
descending to a plain of heath and grasses in the saddle between
Mt. Hunter and Mt. Margaret. A jeep track cuts through this plain,
coming in from the west and climbing to a small hill in the S.E. on
which there is a navigation beacon and light. The track then turns
east for a mile, ending at a second beacon situated on the cliffs at the
northern end of Three Mile Beach. If descending straight down to
the beach from the light, care should be taken not to deviate too far
to the left (E.) because of the cliffs.
From the first mentioned light (inland) there is good walking going
south via the heathlands, over Mt. Margaret, and out along the ridge
line towards Mt. Roundback (1,029 ft.). It is easy to make the mistake
of sidling the sheltered eastern slopes of this latter mountain instead
of going over the top. Very slow progress will be made through the
heavy scrub and fallen logs on the eastern side. However it is possible
to drop to the forestry road which sidles the south-western flanks of
the mountain and eventually joins the main fire access road further
south.
An alternative way south is by the east coast starting with a walk
along Three Mile Beach to its southern end where the brackish water
of Three Mile Creek, which drains the north-eastern slopes of Mt.
Roundback, discharges into the sea. Just south of the creek the coast
is rock-bound for !- mile, but negotiable at low tide to a small beach
at whose southern end rises another headland separating it from
Johnnie Suey's Cove. Again, at low tide it is possible to walk around
the rocks, otherwise it means scrub-bashing over the top.
At the southern end of Johnnie Suey's Cove two creeks discharge
into the sea, the northern one being brackish. Fresh water may be
Page Forty
WALK
VISIT
THE OUTBACK
IN 1968
MA.Y to SEPTEMBER
Make your next holiday a camping coach holiday to Central
Australia.
DA.RWIN-A.LICE SPRINGS . . $11 0. 23 days, via Bourke,
Mt. lsa, Tennant Creek, Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs,
Ayers Rock. Coober Pedy, Woomera and Adelaide.
CA.IRNS-DA.RWIN-A.LICE SPRINGS .. $150. 30 days, via
Gold Coast, Barrier Reef, Cairns, Atherton Tableland.
Normanton, Mt. lso, Darwin, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock,
Coober Pedy and Adelaide.
MT. ISA.-BIRDSVILLE TRACK . . $90.
16 days.
Safari Tour through outback Queensland.
Special
Apply for information to:-
CENTRALIAN TOURS
407 BA.Y ROAD, CHELTENHAM, VICTORIA., PH. 95-6969
or VICTORIAN TOURIST BUREAU, PH. 63-0202
Want to try.
ROCKCLIMBING?
CANOEING?
SKIING?
THE NATIONAL FITNESS COUNCIL OF VICTORIA,
Conducts courses and camps in o variety of outdoor activities
for teenagers and young adults.
Learn the RIGHT WA.Y and the SAFE WA.Y under skilled
leadership.
Accept the challenge of these exciting activities and contact
the Council at:T. & G. BUILDING,
147 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE.
PHONE 63-4936
WALK
Page Forty-one
obtained from the second a short distance upstream. Between the
creeks a jeep track commences, climbing up to the S.W., then over the
southern shoulder of Mt. Roundback, and, in less than 3 miles, meets
the fire access road which runs from Darby River to Five Mile Beach.
About 2 miles from Johnnie Suey's Cove the track divides, but
the two branches reunite in half-a-mile. Shortly after this a branch
road is met on the right (W.) making a short cut to the above-mentioned
forestry road, which meets the cove track at the same point on the
fire access road so forming what may be described as an A-junction.
(See map.)
Approach to Five Mile Beach.
Not to scale.
From this junction the fire access road descends to the east for
about one mile to the swampy Hats which back Five Mile Beach, where
a jeep track continues across Miranda Creek and to the beach. The
campsite is under the high ridge at the northern end of the beach where
Miranda Creek enters the sea. Care should be taken in the choice of
campsite, as at high tide the sandy part of the Miranda Creek inlet is
under water. Fresh water can be obtained from a small tributary on
the northern side of Miranda Creek.
Time: A full day is required to cover the distance of about 13 miles.
2.
FIVE MILE BEACH-THE CAffiEDRAL-SEALERS' COVE
Five Mile Beach is one of the least spoiled beaches in Victoria.
At low tide it is fairly easy for walking, and it is possible to walk
the full length of beach in I! hours. There is fresh water at several
places just behind the high sandy shoreline at whose southern end
Freshwater Lake makes an excellent campsite.
The Cathedral
Start from the first few rocks at the southern end of Five Mile
Beach and follow the ridges all the way up to the summit of The
Cathedral, scrub all the way, thick in places. For the first two-thirds
of the way there is timber and occasional sword and wire grass. The
last section is mainly tea-tree and prickly bushes. About one-third
of the way up, smooth rock slabs, which are visible from Five Mile
Beach, oHer some good views. Above the rocks the climb flattens out
for a while. Keep S.W. for about 200 yards, then climb straight
towards the summit (W.) from where there is a good round view of
the park.
Page Forty-two
WALK
The Cathedral to Sealers' Cove
From the summit take a S.E. course along the ridge on which there
are three smaller rocky knobs, one of them having huge boulders
resembling a castle. The view of Sealers' Cove from the last knob
is the best that can be obtained of it, for it appears to be directly
below the observer. From the third knob the ridge drops steeply S.E.
Do not leave the ridge too early, but continue down to a point (second
small shoulder-see diagram) above large rock slabs sloping down
towards Sealers' Cove. Aim for the rocks-around them the scrub is
not so thick-or walk down on them. Slowly tend towards the right,
but do not come down too close to the beach. The best way is to
descend to rocks about 300 yards from the beach. A fresh water creek
flows down the hill and can be heard under the rocks about 50 yards
from the sand. Clearings in the bushes nearby will be found to take
about 10 tents.
NOTE
Depending on party and weather, from 5 to 10 hours should be
allowed for this section. Dry-carry water all the way.
Sealers' Cove-Telegraph Saddle
Track commences halfway along beach, and is easy to follow
being in very good condition. Strong walkers should complete this
section in 2! hours.
FURTHER READING: An account of a walk around Corner Inlet and over
The Cathedral is given in the article "The Toe of the Promontory"" which was
published in '"Walk" 1952, vol. 3. Copies are still available.
3.
CORNER INLET-VEREKER RANGE-YANAKIE ISTHMUS
There is a choice of two or three overland routes to the northeastern parts of the promontory. The reverse of what has just been
described, i.e. taking the overland track to Sealers' Cove and then
working northwards, would probably appeal only to those with the
necessary capabilities, and patience, required for the rough terrain. An
alternative route is via the Fire Access Road (F.A.R.) which runs in
an east-west line across the widest part of the promontory-where the
countryside is more gentle. It is an earth road leading to the more
remote and little visited areas of the park, and has very little motor
traffic, as private vehicles are normally denied access to it. A further
advantage is that the F.A.R. may be joined at several places along the
Tidal River-Foster road, thus allowing the walk to be varied as desired.
WALK
Page Forty-three
The main vehicular turn-off is just south of a major west-to-south
bend in the main road 4! miles north of Darby River. About a mile
south of this point will be found the start of an older track, and can
be seen marked on the survey map. Both old and new roads join at
a gate, an entrance to the national park, 11 miles north-west of the
bitumen.
On the other (eastern) side of the gate a northern track descends
in one mile to the southern most bay of Corner Inlet, while a southern
extension of the F.A.R. taking a seven mile circuitous course links
up with a track leading to Darby River. (Described later.)
After leaving the gate, the F.A.R. climbs over the shoulder of a
spur which runs W.N.W from the Vereker Range towards Corner Inlet,
and then sidles along the lower slopes of the range until, 3~ miles
from the gate, a branch of Barry's Creek is reached. At this point
there is a second gate, and a hundred yards further on is a locked
hut. Continuing on, the second and third branches of the same stream
are crossed, and in a further 2 miles a tributary of Chinaman's Creek
is also crossed. All these streams contain fresh water. For the next
4! miles the road follows a low undulating ridge, through an area where
there is every chance of seeing kangaroos, wallabies and emus, until
it comes to the earlier mentioned A-junction. From here it is 2 miles
to the Five Mile Beach campsite as previously described. A person
wanting to make the return trip in one day should allow 10 to 12
hours for the 27 miles. The long daylight hours of summer would
probably be the best time for such a trip.
However, there are a number of interesting shorter walks out along
the road. A day's walk of medium exertion could be undertaken by
climbing to the lookout rock on the Vereker Range. The turnoff for
the lookout has been obliterated by the making of the new road. As
already mentioned, the F.A.R. climbs over the shoulder of the spur
after leaving the first gate. By continuing to climb along this spur,
the track should soon be picked up. The lookout is almost in the
centre of the northern part of the promontory and commands a fine
view of Corner Inlet and Bass Strait as well as Mts. Roundback and
Hunter, and in the distance, the Strzelecki Ranges. It would be
inadvisable to continue past the lookout as the ridge soon becomes
very rough and covered in dense scrub.
Instead of returning to the gate, the walk could be varied by finishing at Darby River. Returning from the lookout, drop S.W. off the
ridge when the southern extension of the F.A.R. can be seen ~ mile
away. Make for this road which traverses the foot of the Vereker
Range by swinging in a pronounced easterly arc. Fresh-water creeks
cross the road. After 3 miles the road turns west to cross a large
swampy plain with scattered and stunted cover.
The track is white sand, black clay, then red sand as correspondingly it traverses the range, crosses the rain shadow area, and then
climbs along the sheltered side of bracken-covered sand dunes. As the
coastal dunes are approached some fascinating rock formations can be
discerned on the scrubby slopes of the distant Latrobe Range where it
rises from the fiat country in the south. One group of triangular shaped
tors bears a startling resemblance to that terrifying prehistoric creature,
the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex, advancing down the mountainside.
Page Forty-four
WALK
H. MARTYR PTY. LTD.
WARBURTON- LILYDALE- MELBOURNE
PASSENGER SERVICE
•
Warburton- Melbourne
3 Times Daily
For Timetables, Fares, etc., contact Booking Offices:
Melbourne OHice:
Whight's Tourist Bureau,
100 Flinders Street,
Phone: 63-5311.
Warburton Office:
Martyr's Office,
Main Street,
Phone: Warb. 66-2035.
MODERN COACHES AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER
PHONE WARBURTON 66-2035
RELIABLE TRANSPORT-Business or Pleasure
GRONOW'S
FURNITURE REMOVERS
and STORERS
PICNIC VANS AVAILABLE HOLIDAYS
AND WEEK-ENDS
287 INKERM.AN STREET, ST. KILD.A
Tel.: 94-6464, 94-6465 (all hours)
WALK
Page Forty-five
Nearer to Darby River the vegetation thickens, and on a late afternoon in summer perhaps the gleam of blady grass will dazzle the eye.
After passing through an avenue of tea-tree, the track finishes l mile
north of the Darby River Bridge. These last few miles follow more
or less the foot track marked on the survey map.
Another route to the eastern side of the promontory takes in part
of the Yanakie Isthmus and then follows round the shores of Corner
Inlet. About 10 miles north from Darby River the main road has been
remade leaving a section of old road unsealed and sandy. Go down
this old section looking for a narrower side road (E.) Beginning as
wheel tracks, and later becoming cattle pads, the way winds in and out
for a mile through fixed dunes and hummocks forming "cups". It
ends at the edge of a sparsely vegetated open area, 2 or 3 square miles
in extent and composed mainly of migratory sand dunes, of which the
highest rises up to about 150 ft. Because of their vast size and light
reflecting properties, the dunes are a conspicuous landmark for miles
around. A thin belt of scrub, swampy underfoot, separates them from
the shoreline where fresh water will be found trickling down in little
flows to the sea.
The walk is then south along the shoreline of Corner Inlet, over some
magnificent beaches, until after 2 miles, the tidal estuary of the creek
draining Telegraph Swamp is reached. Here it is a choice of either
keeping to the coastline and wading through mud and mangroves, or
of taking a narrow pad heading the creek, and then following a somewhat reedy and watery path about l mile inland.
After a mile the "inland" pad rejoins the shore near the national
park fence. A ! mile further east a rocky headland is passed, beyond
which there is a beach fronting a tree-clad cliff. On the highest part
of the cliff-top the start of two tracks will be found. The right (W.)
track is the one mentioned earlier, joining the F.A.R. near the first
gate. The left (E.) track joins the same road about l mile west of
Barry's Creek.
Continuing coastwise the way is mainly over meadowy flats and
clay-pans, and a number of estuarine crossings. It is probably extremely
wet after heavy rain or very high tides. The water of the creeks is
very brackish but by going inland a little distance. It is sometimes
possible to scoop fresh water off the top of the streams.
The hinterland south of Barry's Creek makes for good crosscountry walking, up slopes of blackboy and heath and over lightly
timbered hills to where the eastern sector of the F.A.R. may be joined.
Corner Inlet is extremely shallow, and at low tide it is difficult
to find water deep enough for a satisfactory swim. As one walks
around the Inlet the view is dominated by the ranges of South Gippsland and those of the promontory's north-east.
Important
When planning a trip to Wilson's Promontory, always inform the
ranger of your intended campsites and obtain his permission. Don't
forget to see that all camping fees are paid, as the maintenance of the
park is largely dependent, at present, on that source of revenue.
Page Forty-sil
WALK
4.
DARBY RIVER TO TIDAL RIVER VIA WEST COAST
This is a coast walk, much of it along graded and well maintained
footpaths, and takes a full day if time is spent visiting the various
features of interest along the way.
At the entrance of the national park there is a small camping
ground with fire places just south of the Darby River bridge. Behind
the camp rises a high hill, at the foot of which are the ruins of the old
Darby Chalet. Just past these ruins the footpath starts, firstly by
climbing steeply over the hill and across to the sea front. In less
than a mile the first diversion will be met-a side trip to the little
beach of Fairy Cove. A few yards from the turnoff a second side
path also leads off. This is out to Tongue Point, a miniature peninsula
in itself, jutting a mile or more into the troubled waters of Bass Strait,
and an excellent viewpoint for Shellback and Norman Islands. Two
hours or more could easily be spent on these two side trips.
From the tum-off the track climbs high above the coastal cliff-scrub
to enter a sheltered gully which is headed for ! mile, still climbing,
until a lookout rock is gained at an altitude of nearly 500 feet.
There is also a second high point, Sparkes Lookout, a further mile
south. Between the two lookouts there is a fairly deep saddle. However,
the top tor of Sparkes Lookout is reached by a 1 mile-long side track
which leaves the main footpath as the latter passes through sheoak
forest before descending through sheltered eucalypt forest to the motor
road at Darby Saddle. Here begins what is probably the most trying
part of the trip-a mile's roadbash. The roadwork can be shortened
by following the telephone line track, and also by cutting across the
heath after sighting the next beach-Whisky Bay. The beach, which
is not marked on the survey map as such, has a small freshwater creek
flowing into it.
At the rear of some rocks at the southern end of the bay, a pad
of sorts climbs over the sandy headland to drop down to a tiny bay,
beyond which there is a further headland that has to be climbed or a
way found around the rocks below.
Halfway along the next beach (Picnic Bay) a prominent gap in the
sand hummocks faces the sea. Here, tum inland (E.) and follow a line
of sand ridges for l mile. A scrub-choked gully on the right is crossed
and a higher line of ridges climbed. The highest dunes are badly
eroded, and, at this point, the route then swings in a southerly direction
to descend the steep northern end of Leonard Bay, thus short-cutting
Leonard Point. At Squeaky Beach, the southern end of the bay, a
200 ft. climb over the spur that descends to Pillar Point leads to the
footbridge over Tidal River.
NOTES COMPILED:
January, 1967.
WALK
MAP REFERENCE:
Yanakie, military, 1:63,360.
Wilson's Promontory, military, 1:63,360.
Wilson's Promontory, Algona Guides.
Page Forty-seven
TWO & THREE DAY WALKS
MOUNT COLE STATE FOREST
Mt. Cole-Fern Tree Waterfalls-Long Gully-Lookout Hill-Victoria Mill Reserve-Ben Nevis-Sibbrett's Point-Elmhurst.
Transport
Private. Follow the Mt. Cole Road from Raglan. Three miles
out a jeep track leaves on the left climbing uphill westerly. (Free's
Point Road.)
Description of Route
Leaving the Mt. Cole Road, the jeep track soon reaches a gate
where another track leads along the fence to the left. Follow jeep
track and spur west through a second gate (! mile.) Continue climbing
along a rocky spur past large granite boulders and open timber, the
later increasing in height and density. Before entering the timber
there are good views in an eastern arc across the wooded valley of
Fiery Creek and towards Beaufort.
At lk miles keep straight ahead (W.N.W. to N.W.) and avoid the
road to the right (N.) In a further 200 yards avoid another track on
the right. The road turns left; climb south-west to the shoulder of
the spur, leave the road and follow spur through granite boulders
west and north-west to Mt. Cole. (2 miles.) Look for blazed tree on
summit. Follow the ridge west into a grassy saddle and on to another
top (21 miles) where it swings north. Follows ridge through timber and
boulders; cross a jeep track, then, after a further half mile, cross an
unmade road running east-west and continue north reaching the main
Mt. Cole Road (3~ miles.)
Turn left and follow road west past Dairy Maid Creek Road on left
(3! miles) then north-west past Cave Hill Road (4~ miles) which is
also on the left, reaching Camp Road Link on the right. (4! miles.)
From this point there are at least two available routes of the same
distance.
For an easy trip turn right for 50 yards, then left (N.) on to a
walking track going through stands of Blue Gum and Ribbon Gum until
meeting the Sugarloaf Road. Turn right (E. then N.W.) to reach a
junction of jeep tracks amid Ribbon Gums and Messmate. Lunch
spot at creek nearby.
Turn left; follow jeep track upstream along the creek course
through timber to Long Gully Road. Turn right and In 100 yards
follow the Big Rock Road for half-a-mile to a junction with Lookout
Hill Road.
From the Camp Road Link the route has led through some of
the best stands of tall timber in the Mt. Cole State Forest.
Look for a foot track heading W.S.W. to Old Mt. Cole Road;
turn left and 50 yards reach main Mt. Cole Road. Turn left and in a
few yards turn right into Mugwamp Road. Climb steeply and cross
Middle Creek head just before reaching Mugwamp Hut, a shelter in
very good condition. (8! miles.)
One hundred and fifty yards past the hut turn right on to Dawson's
Rock Track; climb past a very large flat rock (NOT Dawson's) on the
right.
Page Forty-eight
WALK
Come Outdoors with YHA!
YOUTH HOSTELS ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA
YHA-"To help all, but especially young people to a greater knowledge,
care, and love of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels
or other simple accommodation for them in their travels . . "
YHA-Has Youth Hostels at:-Broadford, Steiglit:z,
Bow Bow, Mt. Buller, Warrandyte.
Warburton,
Mt.
YHA-Members may use over 60 hostels in other States of Australia
and over 4,000 hostels in some 40 countries overseas.
YHA-Activities in Victoria include :-Bushwalking, Canoeing, Sailing,
Horseriding, Snow Skiing, Water Skiing, Camping.
YHA-Annual Membership Fees are :-Senior (over 21 years), $3. 00;
Junior (under 21 years), $1.50; School, $0.75; Family, $4.50.
YHA:-161
FLINDERS LANE, MELBOURNE, 3000.
PHONE 63-3754
A
PLEASE POST THIS COUPON FOR MORE DETAILS
r
To the Honorary Secretary,
Youth Hostels Association of Victoria,
161 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, 3000.
•
Please send me further information about YHA, plus ............................. .
membership application forms for myself and friends.
NAME. ........................................................................................................ .
ADDRESS........................................................................................................................... .
I am interested in TRAVEL
L
WALK
0·
ACTIVITIES
0·
"Walk" 68.
--- J
Page Forty-nine
THE
SCOUT SHOP
The recognized place to purchase your Bushwalking
and lightweight camping equipment.
See THE SCOUT SHOP range af:
Sleeping Bags ( 27 models),
Hike Tents,
Hike Boots or Shoes,
Australian and New Zealand
Parkas,
Mess Kits,
Light-weight Gas Cookers,
Flinders Ranges Camping Gear,
H-Frame and A-Frame Packs,
Paddymade Bushwalking Gear,
Ground Sheets and Capes,
Knife, Fork and Spoon Sets,
Canteens,
Food Containers,
Compasses,
Pedometers.
Far All Hiking and Camping Equipment call at
THE SCOUT SHOP first, and ask far the latest
catalogue:
City Shop
384 ELIZABETH ST., MELBOURNE,
PHONE 34-5171
Bayside Shop
134 MARTIN ST., GARDENVALE,
PHONE 96-1033
East Suburban Shop
Somers Shop
Page Fifty
4 WOODS ST., NUNAWADING,
PHONE 874-4058
125 STATION ST., MALVERN,
PHONE 50-1878
WALK
Description of a more diiRcult route
From the junction of the Mt. Cole Road and the Camp Road Link
drop steeply westwards to the picnic ground at Fern Tree Waterfalls
Reserve. Climb steeply north on the east side of Middle Creek, keeping
out to the right until an old and very faint track is crossed; turn left
and climb steeply out of the valley of Middle Creek.
There are many beautiful trees in the Reserve, mainly Messmate
and Blue Gum.
Climb on to Freeman's Track near the head of the valley and follow
it to the junction with Mugwamp Road. Turn left and follow the
latter to its junction with Dawson's Rock Track (8l miles.)
Leaving the vicinity of Dawson's Rock, continue north to the main
Mt. Cole Road (9! miles). Turn left along the road, avoiding the
Sapling Bridge Road. Leave packs at the junction of Harvey's Flat
Road. (9~ miles.) Walk east to television tower on the summit of
Lookout Hill (3,178 ft.) where there are good views over the southern
section of Mt. Cole Forest.
Return to packs (11 miles) and continue north-west one mile to
the point where the road swings sharp right (N.E.); follow jeep track to
the left (W.) to Reservoir Road. Turn right (N.) and reach Sandy
Pinch Road in quarter-of-a-mile (Victoria Mill Reserve.) Turn left and
in a few yards turn right on to a track leading into the Reserve camping
area, passing a hut just before crossing Buckingham's Creek. Campsite.
The Reserve is a superb example of open Messmate forest and is
well worth the exploring. Near the hut a foot track leaves to the left
to go through a specimen area of Messmate, 150-200 feet high, mixed
with occasional Ribbon Gums-making for some magnificent forest.
Next day follow the jeep track to the main Mt. Cole Road (! mile.)
Turn left and walk north-west past Water Race Road and Black Creek
Road to McGuiness Road (1~ miles.) Follow this road north one mile
to a junction with CoJlier's Road. Look for the ruins of an old hut
nearby. A good lunch spot amid Blue Gums and Ribbon Gums.
Before lunch a side trip without packs may be made to the Ben
Nevis fire tower. From the McGuiness hut-site walk west i mile,
passing two waterholes. 100 yards beyond the second, which is on
Quartz Reef Creek, come to a track junction. Cowan's track continues
west; turn right and climb north along Lookout Road to fire tower.
Continue westerly 200 yards along ridge to Ben Nevis Trig. (2,876 ft.)
Return to packs for lunch. (5l miles.)
FoJlow Collier's Road north, crossing several heads of Hickman's
Creek, and climb steadily out of Collier's Gap to Sibbrett's Hill. Near
the crest of the long climb out of the gap, and where the road turns
west, look for a jeep track heading downhill. Follow this track, looking
on the right for a large rocky outcrop from where there is a good view
of the Wimmera VaJley-the wide open spaces with the Pyrenees in
the background.
Returning to the rough jeep track the way is down to the timber's
edge at Sibbrett's Point (8 miles.) Head down the steep spur across
paddocks towards Elmhurst seen distantly in the north-east. Follow a
creek course and a jeep track to farm roads, eventually reaching
Ehnhurst on the Pyrenees Highway. Rejoin transport. (Distance for
the day, 10! miles. Total distance, 23 miles.)
WALK
Page Fifty-one
Route Directions for a Long Weekend Walk
Transport
By motor to the junction of Long Gully Road and main Mt. Cole
Road.
Leave transport and follow Long Gully Road half-a-mile; turn right
and follow jeep track to Sugarloaf Road; turn right, thence to main
Mt. Cole Road (2 miles.) Cross road, head west along ridge to The
Sugarloaf itself and Firebreak Road, continue west to Mugwamp Road
(31 miles.) Turn north along road to Dawson's Rock Track, reaching
Mt. Cole Road (5 miles.) Turn left along Sapling Bridge Road to
Sapling Bridge (6 miles.) Cross bridge and climb out of Spring Creek
valley on the Reservoir Road. Continue north-east along Reservoir
Road to Sandy Pinch Road. Turn left and in a short distance turn
right on to jeep track into Victoria Mill Reserve. Cross creek to
camping ground. (Distance for the day, 8! miles. This short walking
day should allow time to explore the reserve.)
Some Eucalyph of Mt. Cole State Forest: (L. to R.) Victorian Blue Gum,
Monno (or Ribbony) Gum and Messmate.
Second Day
Leave the camping ground by following the valley of Buckingham's
Creek down to Captain's Track (21 miles.) Turn right, cross creek and
follow the track to Telephone Track; turn right and follow to Eversley
Sugarloaf Road (4 miles.) Turn left and climb to Cowan's Track, then
turn right to Lookout Road and Ben Nevis (61 miles.) Return to
Victoria Mill Reserve via McGuiness Road (7! miles) and Mt. Cole
Road. (Distances for the day, 10! miles.)
Third Day
Rejoin Mt. Cole Road. Walk south to junction with Harvey's Flat
Road (l:f miles.) Turn left and climb Lookout Hill (21 miles.) Follow
ridge eastwards for about a quarter mile, leaving it by dropping E.S.E.
to reach Lookout Hill Road (2f miles.) Turn right (S.W.) and continue
down to cross Long Gully and join Big Rock Road. Turn left on to
Long Gully Road; cross Long Gully (41 miles.) Walk steeply downhill
Page Fifty-two
WALK
to Glut Road (5 miles) along the Firey Creek valley. Turn right and
follow Glut Road to Sanderson's Road (6! miles.)
Turn right and climb south-west to the heights by way of the
Camp Road and Camp Road Link. Follow the foot track west of the
Mt. Cole Road northwards to Sugarloaf Road (91 miles.) Turn left and
rejoin the Mt. Cole Road; turn north, returning to transport. (Distance
for the day, 10 miles. Total distance for 3 days, 29 miles. The second
day's walking could be deleted from the long weekend route to make
a two-day's walking distance of 19 miles.)
MAP REFERENCE:
Mt. Cole Forest, F.C.V., 2 inches
NOTES COMPILED: June, 1967.
YAMBLA &
1 mile.
F.W.H.
TABLETOP
Tyrone T. Thomas
Victoria's Grampians and the Blue Mountains of New South Wales
inspire many a walker to linger and see nature in all her grandeur.
But few venture to the impressive Table Top Range just north of
Albury. Like its massive counterparts, Table Top, although smaller,
thrusts great escarpments skywards and provides excellent walking and
climbing.
Although at first sight the range appears merely as two mildly
abrupt rises set back from the Hume Highway further inspection reveals
much more. It is actually a part of the Yambla Range which stretches
twenty miles along a north-south line, in a triangle bounded by Albury,
Culcairn and Holbrook. Part of the region is controlled by the New
South Wales Forestry Department, the remainder being pastoral
properties and a small reserve.
The rock formations are of conglomerate sedimentary type and the
cliffs rise up to 400 feet in many places. The overall impression is
one of buttes and an internal cliff-rimmed basin rather than tilted
sedimentary beds.
These formations naturally provide spectacular views and although
the surrounding district is mainly flat grazing land, the views inspire a
feeling of the wide open spaces.
Recently a weekend walk by a group of Melbourne Bushwalkers
revelled in this new found walking area. Starting at the northern end
of the Yambla Range they climbed in easy stages and eventually followed
the ridge southwards. Water was lacking for much of the distance,
however a supply was found for the overnight campsite between the
south end of the Yambla Range and the north end of the Table
Top Range.
It was on the Sunday that the walking became far more strenuous
and certainly called for the reassessment of the previously labelled
"easy" walk to be graded as medium. For it is the southern part of
the journey along the Table Top Range where the cliffs and steep rises
are met before the drop down through the pastoral properties along
Table Top Creek to the Hume Highway, that is so scenic.
WALK
Page Fifty-three
ONE DAY WALKS
NEERIM JUNCTION-GLEN NAYOOK-LA THOBE RIVER
Distance IO miles
Features
Gippsland hill country, part cleared, part forested.
A visit to
"Glen Nayook" scenic reserve. Best walked September to April.
Transport
By road. (Nearest railway is at Warragul, 17 miles distant.) Leave
transport one mile south of Neerim Junction along the Warragul-Noojee
road. Finishing point is one mile north-east from White's Corner along
the Noojee-Powelltown road.
Description of Route
Commence by following the old permanent way from where it runs
along side the Warragul-Noojee road (958213). The line is followed
north for H miles until meeting the Neerim Junction-Glen Nayook Road
(953232); turn left (W.) to reach the latter place ~ mile down the road.
A circular walking track winds through the reserve which is characterized
by a fine regrowth of mountain ash, sassafras, blackwood etc. (A
detailed description of the reserve is given in "The Melbourne Walker"
of 1967.)
After lunch descend to the lowest footbridge in the gully and take
a course west out of the glen until meeting a track which is followed
in a general N.W. direction for ~ mile where it is crossed by a bulldozed
farm track leading on the right to a gate. Walk on the other side
of the gate W. for 200 yards to a junction (935235). Take the west
road which then immediately turns south. At this corner follow the
fence leading west. A N.-S. fence is crossed and, finally, a jeep track
is reached on the bend where the track turns from south to west
(929235). Follow this track, here widened for logging, west, until on
top of a rise a new forestry track is met running N.-S. The old jeep
track appears to bear left (N.W.) from this new track which is followed
for the next 2 miles until a fork is reached, also on a rise. Here there
is an old hut and clearing; one track descends north (Davis Road which
goes to mill at 915277); an overgrown jeep track descends south from
the side of the hut; and another logging track going N.W. to W. Take
the last-mentioned track and look for an overgrown jeep track on the
right, which is then followed generally N.E. to the road (908275).
If a point is reached on the logging track where it turns sharply
south and descends, then the jeep track has been passed. There is
another jeep track leading N. from this sharp bend, but it is the wrong
one, turning N.W. after a while. Also avoid any other track turning
N.W. and take an easterly course until meeting the above N.E. track.
It is possible to scrub-bash if on the wrong track.
Follow the Noojee-Powelltown Road E. for l mile to the mill, where,
on the north side of the road, two tracks will be seen, one leading
oH at an angle, the other to the right of this heading N. Take the
latter until, on the right hand of a bend, a cleared area will be seen
below. Drop to and cross clearing and, avoiding the blackberries, find
Page Fifty-four
WALK
the way through to the La Trobe River, following it E. along its
southern bank and crossing a tributary. Keep by the river until forced
to climb the bank, shortly reaching a mass of brambles through which
a hole has been made. Pass through and continue E., following a
faintly defined track to a once-ploughed clearing (923289). A farm track
on south side of clearing leads for f mile to the finishing point (935278).
MAP REFERENCE:
Gembrook, Quarter Sheet Section, D.
Lands Dept., 2 inches to I mile.
NOTES COMPILED: January, I967.
••
•••
M.G .
TECOMA-SHERBROOKE FOREST-COLE'S RIDGE-BELGRAVE
(LYREBIRD WALK)
Distance 7 miles
Best Season
Mid-winter. Wet and misty weather seems to be favoured by the
birds for mimicry and display.
Transport
Train to Tecoma, returning from Belgrave.
Description of Route
Walk north from Tecoma station to main road, turn left for 100
yards, then enter Sophia Grove on the right, following it to its end.
Take street obliquely on right, cross bridge, and look for a right-of-way
between two houses, leading to an unmade street. Turn left for 100
yards to where a similar Janeway on the right leads into a made road.
Turn right for a few paces to entrance of Gordon Grove which climbs
uphill to Terry Avenue, the southern boundary of Sherbrooke Forest.
(ll miles from station.)
Turn right and walk downhill for ! mile and join forestry road
crossing Pound Creek. The track then passes forestry school annexe
to enter plantation halfway up hillside. Shortly after coming to a
junction take the right-hand fork (Ridge Track) swinging back to the
eastern side of plantation. Here, listen for lyrebirds which should be
heard below in native scrub on valley slopes of Sherbrooke Creek.
After coming to junction near falls, follow the track going to
Ferny Creek, leaving it in 1 mile to join side track leading to Ambrose
Pratt Memorial Cairn. Go through gap in felled tree and walk southeast along firebreak, listening and looking out for Lyrebirds from now on
until reaching Kallista. About l mile past cairn, a foot track on the
left connects with Clematis Avenue which, in turn, leads to a bitumen
road 3/8 mile out from the Kallista picnic ground. (Lunch.)
Coles Ridge track commences at the far southern end of the picnic
ground. ll miles from Kallista the ridge track turns abruptly west for
l mile, then south for ! mile, descending to "Puffing Billy" level
crossing at Belgrave.
MAP REFERENCE:
Monbulk. military. 1:50.000.
Broadbent's, No. 200E.
NOTES COMPILED: July, 1967.
A.S.
WALK
Page Fifty-five
BEAR'S HEAD RANGE-LERDERDERG RIVER
Distance 9 miles
Features
A circular trip over rough and scrubby country, crossing the
Lerderderg River twice and The Old River once. A hard walk,
especially so if undertaken in hot, summer conditions, but a rewarding one.
Transport
The nearest railway station is at Bacchus Marsh, 12 miles distant,
from where a hire car may be taken to the starting point, the road
junction at the base of Mt. Blackwood. Finish at same spot.
Equipment
Wear long trousers for the scrub and carry a water bottle for the
long dry spurs and ridges. In summer take bathing togs for a cool-oH
in the river.
Description of the Route
Note that Mt. Blackwood is observable at various points along the
route, thus making a prominent landmark. Mileages given are distances
from start.
Commencing at the junction (411660) take the road heading east.
Shortly after passing through a gateway, the road skirts a farmhouse
and ends at another gate. Go through to follow a track turning south
and reach a third gate, the track forking shortly afterwards. (I mile.)
Take right hand fork generally south, ignoring any tracks going oH right.
In one mile track again forks, one branch heading south, the other
swings east. (2 miles.) Take the eastern track, ignoring a track to the
south, and follow it until it peters out on the edge of the Bear's Head
Range, overlooking the Lerderderg River. (3! miles.) Descend N.E.,
swinging round to the S.E., to about 200 yards north of a left bend
below a cliff-face. A pleasant lunch spot should be found on the
east bank. Here there is a single large rock mid-stream where the
water is deep enough for swimming.
After lunch ascend the spur behind you, first skirting the mass of
rock at the bottom. The spur is very narrow at first and climbs in
a northerly direction for 1000 feet. As soon as the top is reached
(4~ miles) take the spur descending in a N.W. direction and drop
down to The Old River, a few hundred yards north of the Lerderderg.
(5 miles.) The spur is generally well defined but is not readily recognized
from the top. However it can easily be found if a N.W. course is
maintained. From The Old River (the water is superior for drinking
to that of the Lerderderg) climb straight up the other side, heading
W., and follow the spur to the edge of the top. A clump of rock
marks the beginning of a spur descending W.S.W. to the Lerderderg.
The spur is narrow but it makes enjoyable walking, ending in a steep
section at the bottom. (6 miles.) Cross the river and climb steeply N.W.
to meet a well defined spur leading out of the gorge. There is a faint
track most of the way and this should be followed W. once the top is
reached. Soon a jeep track leads W., then S.S.W. until it is joined
by the track followed in the morning. (8 miles.) From here retrace
footsteps back to road junction. (9 miles.)
MAP REFERENCE:
Balian, military, 1:63.360.
NOTES COMPILED: December, 1966.
Page Fifty-six
M.G.
WALK
You'll Love TASMANIA
for Your Next HOLIDAY
Frenchman's Cap, Tasmania.
In Tasmania you will find majestic mountains and tranquil lakes • • .
secluded bays and sundrenched beaches . • . cool green bushlands and
sparkling mountain streams .•. in fact, all the holiday maker could wish for.
FOR FULL DETAILS CALL OR WRITE
THE TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT TOURIST BUREAU
MELBOURNE: 254 COLLINS STREET, Tel.: 63-6351.
SYDNEY: 129 King Street.
LAUNCESTON: Cnr. Paterson/St. John Sts.
ADELAIDE: 32A King William Street.
DEVONPORT: 41 Stewart Street.
BRISBANE: 194 Adelaide Street.
BURNIE: 11 Wilson Street.
HOBART: Cnr. Mocquorie & Murray Streets.
WALK
Page Fifty-seven
TASMANIAN NEWSLETTER
During the aftermath of the tragic fires of February, 1967, most
walking activities were suspended as walkers set to helping neighbours
and clearing debris. "Operation Rucksack" was fund set up with the
object of helping to replace walking gear lost or damaged. There was
much damage to the walking routes in the Mt. Wellington area and
generally a great loss of scenic value. However, in the eyes of the
mainlander it was the earlier Frenchman's Cap National Park fire of
November, 1966 which seemed a great calamity. This fire resulted
from a buring-off which got out of hand in a period of laxity,
destroying a good deal of the vegetation west of Barron Pass. In order
to speed up regeneration, walkers helped collect seeds to enable seedlings to be planted in patches of good soil.
While visiting the Reserve last year, some of our members made
their first acquaintance with the Scott Kilvert Memorial Hut named after
the two walkers who perished during a snowstorm in May, 1965. The
Launceston Walking Club of which Ewin Scott was a member, and the
Riverside High school of which David Kilvert was a pupil decided to
build the hut, choosing a site at the western end of Lake Rodway, near
the foot of Cradle Mountain. A number of interesting possibilities in
walking routes can now be considered. Finally it is hoped that the
hut will prevent a like tragedy occurring again.
Schouten Island, once part of the Freycinet National Park, was
re-instated as a Scenic Reserve, and it has been announced that
expiring leases on Maria Island will not be renewed, and the island
will eventually become a National Park. An area featuring a wealth
of heathland vegetation and a Aboriginal cave has been gazetted as a
National Park at Rocky Cape, on the north-west coast.
•••••
Readers of bushwalking literature will be interested to learn that the
Adelaide Bushwalkers have been publishing their journal "Tarndanya"
in "little-magazine" format, three issues having appeared since 1965.
Articles by their members describe both walks in South Australia and
beyond, including the popularly known areas such as Flinders Ranges
and Kangaroo Island. Last Issue, June, 1967. Octavo size. Price 30c.
Adelaide Bushwalkers, Box 1273, G.P.O., Adelaide, S.A .
••
•••
The hill road wet with rain
In the sun would not gleam
Like a winding stream
If we trod it not again.
-from "Roads", Edward Thomas.
Page Fifty-eight
WALK
MOUNTAIN MUSTER
Last April, in a mine at Walhalla, a large boulder was dislodged
during a visit by a mine-exploring group which resulted in a near-fatal
accident to one of the party. Such an incident shows how dangerous
old mines can be. Those who desire to enter these places should enquire
at the Mines Department, Treasury Place, Melbourne, who can supply
a report on the condition of old workings in Victoria.
Local interests at Walhalla would like to see the Long Tunnel
Extended Mine preserved and kept open as a tourist attraction, and
also because of its historical worth.
During a working weekend last February the Federation of Victorian
Walking Clubs completed marking the snowpole route from Mt. Baw
Baw to Mt. St. Phillack. The track is now marked by: steel poles
with yellow plastic, strips in trees, paint on rocks and tree stumps,
metal discs.
Rising from Harrietville to Mt. Hotham the Bon Accord Track is
easier to follow since part of it was cleared last Easter. Although the
old bridge still presents a thorny problem, the best way to deal with
the blackberries at the crossing is to find a heavy stick and beat a way
through.
It was during Easter, too, that a party of high school teachers and
students made repairs to the existing Mt. Feathertop Hut. Meanwhile,
at the southern end of the Razorback Range below Mt. Hotham, word
has been given that the C.R.B. Diamantina Hut has been replaced by
an A-type building with concrete floor and central fire-place. Mt. Bogong
also had a new hut. This was built by the Mt. Bogong Club earlier
this year about ~ mile below the tree-line on the Eskdale Spur.
On the Bogong High Plains the S.E.C. have removed the small
shelter huts at Rocky and Pretty Valleys. However, on the Plains, the
snowpole line is at present being repaired. Down at the Old Tawanga
Hut site there are now four huts-one locked and three open. As a
memorial to the late cross-country skier, Charles Derrick, a shelter
hut has been built near the snowpole one on Swindler's Spur.
In the Nadgee Faunal Reserve the old homestead on the banks of
the Nadgee River was demolished during the year 1966.
Recent values of heights for some of Victoria's highest mountains
are: Mt. Bogong 6,516 ft., Mt. Feathertop 6,307 ft., Mt. Nelse 6,181 ft.,
Mt. Fainter 6,157 ft., Mt. Loch 6,152 ft., Mt. Hotham 6,101 ft., Mt.
Niggerhead 6,048 ft., Mt. McKay 6,045 ft., Mt. Cobberas 6,030 ft., Mt.
Cope 6,026 ft., Mt. Spion Kopje 6,025 ft., Mt. Buller 5,919 ft.
A recent development has been the founding of The Public Purposes
and Reserves Protection League (P.P.R.P.L.), a society formed to protect
the rights of access by citizens to river frontages and other areas to
which access is legally allowable. Enquiries and any complaint of
instances of rights of access being denied should be submitted to the
league. The secretary is Mr. K. Lloyd, 109 Swanston St., Melbourne.
WALK
Page Fifty-nine
Ever thought of doing a bushwalking job and being paid for it?
Every year there is a call for experienced bushwalkers who can impart
their knowledge in outdoor and recreational courses. These activities
are usually run by such bodies as the National Fitness Council of
Victoria, the Social Welfare Department, Outward Bound, and sometimes interstate groups. Both men and women are sought as leaders
for the courses whose duration may range from occasional weekends
up to three-week trips. As well as light-weight camping and beginners'
trips, leaders are also required for rockclimbing, canoeing etc. Rates
of pay usually vary accordmg to the experience of the leaders.
There is an old complaint about roads which encroach into areas
formerly the preserve of only the walker or the horseman. This tendancy
seems to have been reversed In the case of the closure of a section of
The Alpine Way between Khancoban and Dead Horse Gap on account
of the high cost of maintaining mountain roads particularly in areas of
severe erosion. The closure also brings to mind that part of this road
was once rebuilt to avoid the steep gradients over The Geehi Walls, a
high range which was regarded as a major and sometimes exciting
stage in a trip, from the Victorian side, to the Snowy Mountains. It
certainly would be interesting to walk over the old section of 2! miles,
as it is quite a few years since it was last used by regular traffic.
Word has been received that bushwalkers who have a high regard
for conservation and safety will be especially welcome to visit the
recently opened up New England National Park, its 60,000 acres making
it the second largest in N.S.W. The climate allows for all-seasons
walking through areas ranging from jungly forests to snow-gum and
snow grass growing on peaks over 5,000 feet high, and a rugged interior
waiting to be explored.
Mt. Bruce (4,056 feet) has long been regarded as the highest
mountain in W.A. Recently a survey party from the Lands and Survey
department discovered a higher peak. This new mountain has an
elevation of 4,104 feet, is situated 42 miles south-east of Mt. Bruce in
the Hamersley Range, and has been named Mt. Meharry after the late
Mr. W. T. Meharry who directed the survey operations.
In Victoria road-building has been going on apace around the environs of the Bogong High Plains. This is particularly so in the Snowy
Creek-Pyramid Hill area. Bridges now replace the fords of the West
Kiewa road which is in the process of being metalled.
Police Search and Rescue request that all persons walking in the
country should not, except in extreme emergency, signal helicopters and
other aircraft. Flying low to investigate, or attempting a landing, can be
a risky, and somewhat fatal, affair.
AN INDUCEMENT.-Bushwalking is the subject matter of a pamphlet issued to intending migrants in one of the European countries and
is promoted as one of the enjoyments and advantages of settling here.
Page Sidy
WALK
MAPPING CENTRE
You are cordially invited to call at:
ROBERTSON & MULLENS
107 ELIZABETH STREET, MELBOURNE
and inspect our comprehensive range of:
Army Survey, Lands Department
and Forestry Commission Maps
New releases of Army Survey Mops of the following areas ore
now available:-
1:50,000
1:100,000
1:250,000
Arcadia
Bendigo
Bolla rot
Murchison
Heathcote
Ouyen
Bendigo
Nee rim
Pya long
Also for your inspection is o complete range of mops (oil
countries) charts, compasses, pedometers, measurers, and books
covering oil aspects of mop reading.
State District and A reo Mops by:
BROADBENTS-ROB I NSONS'-GREGORY
ore also ovoiloble
ROBERTSON & MULLENS
PTY.
LTD.
107 ELIZABETH STREET, MELBOURNE,
PHONE 60-1711
WALK
Page Sixty-one
NEW MAPS
Firstly, a short note about two long-established mapping firms.
Broadbent's who over the last 70 years have become a household word
regarding tourist and road maps, was this year taken over by Robinson's
Maps, a Sydney based firm.
Melbourne University Mountaineering Club has issued a provisional sketch map of Mount Bogong and environs. Map is in two
parts: (a) Stream flow-on 2 inches to 1 mile scale; (b) Summit contours
on 4 inches to 1 mile scale. The same club has also issued a map of
the summit of Mt. Feathertop and environs on a scale of 4 inches to
1 mile, and 100 feet contour lines. These maps sell for about 80
cents each.
Also in the same area is the Melbourne Bushwalkers' "Feathertop/
Hotham Divide". Latest edition shows all new tracks. Two inches to
1 mile. Stream How. Price $1.
Another new map of the Melbourne Bushwalkers is that of the
Mt. Buller/Mt. Stirling area, covering ridge from Timbertop to Clear
Hills. Provisional only. 100 feet contours. Scale 2 inches to 1 mile.
Price $1.
There is also a new edition of the Melbourne Bushwalkers'
"Southern Snowy Mountains", 1 inch to 1 mile, 200 feet contours.
Price $1.
Probably the latest map of Wilson's Promotory is that issued by
Algona Guides. Of foolscap size it shows main walking tracks on a
reduction scale of 1 inch to 2 miles. Price 20 cents. A revised edition
is due to appear in December, 1967.
The army has published 3 more maps at 1:50,000, they are
Murchison, Arcadia (Old Murchison sheet) and have also been brought up
to date. Neerim (east half of old Gembrook sheet) is also now available
but is just a rehash of the Lands Dept Gembrook sheet and has no
new track information on it.
Just issued is the Lands Dept. '"Hotham and Falls Creek Alpine
Area" covering the area which its title implies-i.e. somewhat more
than that shown on "Feathertop C".
Scale 4 inches to 1 mile,
50 feet contours, printed in four colours, four sheets-50 cents each.
A sketch map produced by the Melbourne Bushwalkers in September, 1967, is entitled "Mt. Wombat-Seven Creeks Gorge". On a
scale of 2 inches to 1 mile it covers an area of 44 square miles which
includes Charman falls and Wombat Creek, and pinpoints several
prominent rock formations. Price 30c.
A new issue by Broadbents is Map No. 271A, Seymour Tourist District, with a scale of approximately 4 miles to 1 inch, printed on a foolscap sheet. Notwithstanding the small scale, this should be found a useful
general map of the areas north of Whittlesea reaching up to Euroa. Main
access roads and prominent peaks are clearly marked in such places as
the Mt. Disappointment and Tallarook Ranges, the Strath Creek/Yea
district, and the mountains north of the Goulburn embracing the Switzerland and Strathbogie Ranges. Price 20 cents.
Page Sixty-two
WALK
WHY
ADVENTURE?
A quick look at adventure training.
Robert Taylor.
One of the most important trends in youth work today is towards
adventurous outdoor activities and it would be useful to just stop and
look at how this has come about, the value of it, and some of the
activities in this field in Australia.
One man is largely responsible for this trend. Dr. Kurt Hahn was
a German educationalist who dared the wrath of Hitler and who was
eventually forced to leave Germany for Britain. In 1934, he established
Gordonstoun School in Scotland. The stress at Gordonstoun was on the
development of initiative, self-reliance and resiliance both physical and
mental. Dr. Hahn believed that every boy is an individual and as such
should be allowed to develop his natural talents. The traditional games
of the English Public Schools were dethroned and athletics, sailing, riding
and climbing were given priority.
Then came the war and countless numbers of young Britons lost their
lives because of their unpreparedness for exacting situations such as
occur when a ship is torpedoed - they simply gave in when a bit of
fortitude and self-reliance would have saved them.
Lawrence Holt, a shipowner of the Blue Funnel Line was concerned
enough about this to give financial support to Kurt Hahn's ideas and in
1941 the first Outward Bound school was started at Aberdovey, Wales.
Since then numerous other Outward Bound schools have been established
- there are now six in Britain, and others in America, New Zealand,
Africa, Malaya and Australia. The schools must be founded on the following principles:"They must be residential and the courses must last for a minimum
of four weeks. They must be open to all, based on a spiritual foundation, and must contain a diversity of occupations and nationalities, without political or sectional bias. They must present each boy with a set of
conditions and give him possibly for the first time, the opportunity to
discover himself. These conditions, self-discipline, team work, adventure,
physical hardship and some risk, are normally rarely met with. They must
endeavour to develop character through training with a vocation or
other practical interest."
I have worked as an instructor at the Eskdale Outward Bound
school in the Lake District of England and have seen the wonderful
effect that the course can have on young men. For many, born and bred
in a city like London or Glasgow and destined to spend the rest of their
lives there, it will be the most unusual and exciting experience of their
lifetime, and for all it opens up new possibilities and interests.
At Eskdale there are ten courses of 26 days duration each year.
The average attendance is about 96 lads who come from all over Britain
and sometimes Europe. About 16 days are spent in or around the school(a) basic training for mountain skills-map reading, first aid, etc.;
(b) physical activities which improve fitness and produce self-confidence-rope courses, obstacle courses, steeple chases, cross countries, !-mile uphill run, circuit training, not to mention the famous
(or infamous) early morning run and dip;
(c) discussions and lecturettes.
WALK
Page Sixty-three
The other ten days are spent in the mountains, either walking or
climbing. There are three expeditions and as the lads gain in skill and
fitness, responsibility is gradually shifted from the instructor to them.
The course reaches its climax in the final expedition when groups of 4
or 5 plan and carry out their own trips without supervision. It is not
unknown for a group to cover 70 miles and ascend some 20,000 feet in
such an expedition!
Today there are numerous other organisations which offer courses along
the lines of the Outward Bound movement. In Australia much of this
work is done by the National Fitness Council.
About 1939/40, there was considerable consternation among various
authorities in Australia about the fitness of the average citizen. In 1941,
this concern took the form of the Commonwealth National Fitness Act,
in which each State was required to set up a National Fitness Council to
promote the development of fitness, financed by funds from both State
and Commonwealth Governments.
In Victoria, we interpret fitness in the broadest possible sense that is, to include mental and emotional fitness as well as physical fitness. Our main work is done in the field of recreational and leisure time
activities and in this we assist and develop the work being done by
schools, youth organisations, sporting and recreational clubs.
Our activities in the outdoor field include Adventure Schools for
school children, Ski Schools and courses in bushwalking, rock climbing,
canoeing, water skiing and recently, Catamaran sailing.
As I see it, there are at least four reasons why this sort of training
has value:1. Playing a sport is not in itself a guarantee of physical fitness. In
schools too often it is only the gifted few-the "prima donnas" of ball
games who get the attention and the average performers are left to
themselves. However, activities like walking, climbing, canoeing, rope
courses, if carried out properly do have a tremendous effect on fitnessask any lad who has just finished an Outward Bound Course!
2. Every youngster needs to feel the satisfaction of achievement.
Too many people these days have a sense of failure, are made to feel
they don't matter, simply because they don't excel at anything. Competition is the key word of our present society and competition often
breeds frustration, boredom and despair in the unsuccessful. Adventurous
activities offer experiences which are beyond the imagination of most
youngsters and enable them to tackle challenges they believed they could
never answer-it gives them self-confidence and self-esteem.
3. I think that adventurous experiences are a basic need of most
young people. If we don't allow them these sort of experiences, they will
often take them anyway-but usually in a socially unacceptable form.
Providing outlets for adventure is a good insurance against much of the
social rebellion of young people.
4. It brings young people into contact with nature and all its
wonders and forces, something which is too often lacking in our modern
society. Even when young people do come into contact with nature it
is usually in a form so emasculated and tamed as to have little effect.
Encounters with a raw and powerful nature help to create a healthy
feeling of awe and a less arrogant approach to this world and all its
occupants.
Page Sidy-four
WALK
The KODAK INSTAMATIC 104
CAMERA OUTFIT makes picture·
taking easy, especially at night.
Everything's there, in the Kodak lnstamatic 104 Camera Outfit, for fast
flash photography. You get the famous lnstamatic 104 Camera with a
flashcube - a jewel-like cube that lets you take four flash pictures
without changing bulbs. Flash! flash! flash! flash! Candid camp-fire
scenes can be your specialty! The outfit also contains a drop-in Kodak
black-and-white film cartridge, plus batteries and instruction booklet
Everything you need is there.
Take a Kodak lnsta- riiiiiiiiii:;.;;:; cartridges of Kodamatic 104 Camera Outcolor Film for colour
fit on your next trip.
snapshots and KodaOnly $16.15 from your
chrome or Kodak EktaKodak dealer. The
chrome Film for colour
camera also accepts
slides.
t<M 1266
I
KODAK (Australasia) PTY. LTD. Branches in all States.
Kodak
'
A Reliable Companion
PADDY MADE
CAMP GEAR
Preferred by Bushwalkers for
36 years.
MAKE
AND
THE
WISE CHOICE
OWN
PADDYMADE
WITH YEARS OF BUILT-IN
RELIABILITY.
Available in Melbourne from:AUSKI: 9 Hardware Street, Melbourne.
SCOUT SHOP: 384 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.
and
PADDY PALLIN
l 09A Bathurst Street, ( Cnr. George Street l ,
SYDNEY
Spectator Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd., 20-26 Coromandel Place. Melbourne, 3000.