1. travel
2. tourist destinations
3. national parks

Canberra Bushwalking Club Inc GPO Box 160 Canberra ACT 2601
www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org
GENERAL MEETING
Frog
Corrobore e
it
Canberra
Bushwalking
Club newsletter
Volume: 50
Number: 10
November 2014
8 pm Wednesday 19 November 2014
In this issue
Gadgets night
2 Canberra Bushwalking
Club Committee
2 Are You a Wiz at
Publicity?
2 CBC Xmas Party
3 President’s prattle
3 Walks Waffle
3 Training Trifles
3 Membership matters
4 Politicians walk
5 Review: Alpine Weeds
Project
6 Walk preview:
Currockbilly Mountain
7PRAMulations
8 Are you really prepared if
accidents happen?
9 Things that go bang in
the Budawangs
10 Activity program
10 Wednesday walks
13 CBC Xmas Party
15 Bulletin Board
16 Feeling literary?
Presenter: CBC members
The hall,
Hughes Baptist Church,
32–34 Groom Street, Hughes
(The Hall is accessed via the car park - left side of the building as
you face the main entrance)
Also some leaders of walks in the current and next
month will be on hand with maps to answer your
questions and show you walk routes etc
The ulitmate Swiss knife. The only thing it doesn’t
have is the kitchen sink!
Important dates
19 November
General meeting
26 November
Committee meeting
26 November
Submissions close for
December it
Committee reports
Canberra Bushwalking
Club Committee
President: Linda Groom
[email protected]
6281 4917
Treasurer: Julie Anne Clegg
[email protected]
0402 118 359
Walks Secretary: Lorraine Tomlins
[email protected]
6248 0456 or 0434 078 496
General Secretary: Gabrielle Wright
[email protected]
6281 2275
Membership Secretary: John Evans
[email protected]
6288 7235 or 0417 436 877
Training and Safety Officer: David Dedenczuk
[email protected]
0417 222 154
Conservation Officer: Cynthia Burton
[email protected]
0488 071 203
Web Manager: David Briese
[email protected]
6286 3479
Editor: Alison Milton
[email protected]
6254 0578(h) or 6289 2717(w)
Are You a Wiz
at Publicity?
C
BC is involved in a number of ongoing and new
initiatives to promote bushwalking and our Club.
Examples are the annual Multicultural Festival stall and
the walks led by Club leaders for members of the public
to celebrate Namadgi National Park’s 30th anniversary.
If you have skills in this area, or a desire to see such CBC
activities well promoted, please contact president@
canberrabushwalkingclub.org or Linda via phone.
CBC Publicity Officer
Role
Promote the aims and activities of the Canberra Bushwalking Club in the public arena.
Responsibilities
1. Develop and maintain a network of contacts
(e.g. local media, social media and community
events promoters) willing to promote the Club
and/or specific Club activities
2. Provide advice to the committee on available
promotional opportunities
3. Implement approved advertising with appropriate support from the committee and/or Club
members as needed.
Capabilities sought
We are looking for someone with experience in using
the media to promote community organisations, who
has good team skills, is willing to attend some committee meetings and is keen to help the Club attract
new members.
Assistant Walks Secretary: Keith Thomas
[email protected]
6230 1081 or 0421 607 667
Social Secretary: Cynthia Coppock
[email protected]
0408 266 501 or 6270 9010(w)
Publisher: Tim Wright
[email protected]
6281 2275
All members of the Committee can be contacted
in one email to
[email protected]
Check in: [email protected]
Web site: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.org
CBC Xmas Party
Saturday, 6 December 2014
6.00 pm
at the home of Doug Wright
18 Beedham Place, Lyons
The Club will provide: BBQs
and salads and breads,
(available from 6:30 pm)
You provide: meat, drinks, plates,
utensils, fold-up chairs
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Committee reports
Three eminent Club members, two
with design expertise and one with
that certain Je ne sais quoi, have
generously agreed to be judges.
Corrobore e
Linda Groom
President
Frog
Please let me know if you will be
able to contribute an item for display
– anything related to bushwalking is
welcome except tents for which we
will not have room. I’d be grateful
for early offers of items, so that I
can prepare the exhibition labels.
6281 4917 or [email protected]
Training
Trifles
F
irstly, a big thank you to John
Evans, the former training and
safety officer for his great service
in this role. I have big boots to fill.
November is a great month for
walking – it is not yet too hot, often
fine and the days are long. However
there are hazards for which we must
be alert if we are to be fully safe
in the bush at this time. Among
the chief hazards are the heat and
some of wildlife that are becoming
increasingly active in response to
the warmer weather. I will address
the issue of heat and water in a
future instalment of Training trifles.
Snakes, ants and (to a lesser extent)
spiders are animals that all become
more active in the Spring and which
walkers may encounter. Generally
speaking, they will try to avoid us.
On the other hand, ticks, mosquitoes, March flies and leeches are
animals which, unfortunately seek
humans out. In these interspecies
Remember that bites from dangerous animals are rare – it has not
happened to me. But it is something
for which we must be prepared as
the days get longer and warmer.
David Dedenczuk
Training and Safety Officer
Frog
There will also be a demonstration
of food-dehydration and vacuum
packing, with tastings of bushwalking food.
Lorraine Tomlins
Walks Secretary
Corrobore e
There will be prizes for: Best homemade item, best commercially available item, most unusual item, most
useful/versatile piece of bushwalking clothing, and People’s Choice.
By popular demand, there will also
be a prize for ‘Most useless item’.
Happy walking!
If you do get bitten by a creature
– you should have equipment in
your first aid kit to deal with the
bite. A compression bandage will
be valuable in the event of a snake
bite. Tweezers and anti-histamines
will be helpful in the instance of
being bitten by a tick. Someone in
the party should be in possession
of a Personal Locator Beacon or
functioning mobile phone in the
rare event of a party member having
been bitten by a dangerous animal –
such as a snake or dangerous spider.
Membership
matters
Please keep your email address
up to date via your membership
page on the website. Contact the
Membership Secretary if you
need help.
New members: Coral Dow, Audrey
Clarke, Maurie Daly, Jenny Milward-Bason, Lyndall MilwardBason, Francis Powrie, Janet Tomi,
Margaret Wooldridge.
John Evans
Membership Secretary
Frog
You will pick up some great ideas
to help improve your walking
experience, and possibly ideas for
Christmas gifts for the bushwalkers
in your life.
Frog
he General Meeting on
19 November will be a little
different. Instead of a guest speaker,
we will have a fine-art style
exhibition of bushwalking gadgets
and other gear. Against a background
of purple silk, bushwalking gadgets
will displayed in a way that befits
their exalted status in the lives of
bushwalkers – from light-weight
cutlery to sleeping mats to solar
panels that can fit on top of your
pack.
ur current Activity Program
has a great variety of walks
and this means that there should be
something that will be attractive to
you in the coming months. There
are strolls, mainly on bike paths,
evening walks taking advantage
of daylight saving and milder temperatures, easy weekend walks for
those wanting to enjoy Namadgi in
a relaxed way, challenging Tuesday
walks, multi-day walks over Christmas from the comfort of a lodge
or a tent and wait, there is more.
You just need to read the Program.
I recommend that you do this with
your calendar in hand.
Corrobore e
T
O
Prevention is better than cure. We
can minimise contact by being
observant. Watching where we put
our feet and where we sit or set up
camp. I once sat on a tuffet, which
turned out to be a jack-jumper nest.
We should wear gaiters and stout
boots, especially if going off track.
It is also a good idea to spray on
some insect repellant (such as Bushmans), which might dissuade those
creatures that would otherwise like
to have a little nibble of us.
Corrobore e
Walks
Waffle
President’s
prattle
Go Gadget Go!
interactions, we should have regard
to two aspects – (i) to minimise
contact, and (ii) should we get bitten, know how to respond.
Canberra Bushwalking Club it November 2014 – page 3
Article
Politicians
walk
This year Namadgi National Park
celebrates it 30th anniversary.
I n O c t o b e r, C B C m e m b e r s
collaborated with ACT Parks to lead
four walks for the general public in
celebration of this anniversary. The
Club can claim some modest credit
for contributing to the establishment
of the park, as the article below by
Alan Vidler, shows.This article
was first published in 2001 in the
Club’s 40th anniversary special
publication.
In the 1960s and early 1970s many
individuals and groups including
the National Parks Association and
the Canberra Bushwalking Club,
the two major ACT conservation
groups of the time, lobbied over
many years to create a National Park
in the southern ACT.
Late in 1975 well-known political
events resulted in a Liberal government, and, for the 1 st time, two
local Liberal members, MHR John
Haslem & Senator John Knight.
Both were young, enthusiastic, and
keen to try and create a niche in
what was regarded as traditional
Labour territory.
Dan Buchler, our Conservation
Officer, wrote to John Haslem, who
he knew through work contact years
before, saying “Congratulations on
getting elected. When are you going
to do something about creating a
National Park in southern ACT?”
John replied along lines of “Good
to hear from you again. Let’s meet
so you can tell me about it.” Dan
quickly negotiated, with outcome
as reported in June 1976 IT:
“On Tuesday 25 May, Alan Vidler
and Dan Buchler accepted an
invitation to lunch with two A.C.T.
parliamentarians, Senator Knight
and Mr Haslem M.H.R. During
the meeting local conservation
issues such as Kelly-Gudgenby,
Ainslie-Majura, and Mt Taylor were
discussed”
[I was CBC President; “KellyGudgenby” was the proposed
National Park – The name “Namadgi” was not in use then, at least
not by us].
At the lunch, in the Parliament
House Members dining room, discussions were as reported. Messrs
Haslem & Knight had obviously
done their homework and asked
many detailed questions. At the
end, Dan said “Well, now that
we’ve told you about the area,
would you like to spend a weekend
walking there as guests of Canberra
Bushwalking Club?” I pretended
it was something we’d discussed
beforehand. Conversation then went
something like:
JH: “Thanks but no thanks”.
JK: “Gosh, I’d love to”
JH: ”Huh! You would? Oh well,
I guess in that case I’d also like
to go”
We agreed that due to Parliamentary and weather constraints the
trip would not take place until
November.
Over the next few months, we
planned the trip in great detail.
Walks Sec Gary Medaris, expert
on the area, selected the route;
Dan kept ‘in touch’ with JH & JK;
various people loaned suitable gear
for the guests. To keep the party
both manageable in size and with
sufficient ‘strength’ to carry the gear
for three novice guests – JK’s wife
Carla also came, we, after much
discussion, decided on a selected
“representative party” rather than a
normal open bookings arrangement
This caused some unhappiness later,
even though all people who specifically asked to come were included,
but most accepted that this was the
only realistic approach.
Most of the party were dropped at the
turn-off to Cotter Gap. They started
walking while drivers returned cars
to the Nursery Swamp access point.
We caught up shortly before Little
Creamy Flat. The route followed the
(then) faint pad to Cotter Gap; bush
to Pond Creek and fire trail to Little
Creamy Flat.
After lunch there (various of the
above still have photos of pollies
flat on their backs…) we went
over Namadgi, then known by us
as Myrtle, looked at the aboriginal
rock arrangements, then descended
to camp at Rotten Swamp.
Camp that night was jovial, with
much serious lobbying and strong
interest by guests. There was also
considerable friendly rubbishing,
both ways. A couple of conversation
snippets spring to mind:
XX: “You’re not a bad fellow
John. Too bad you’re only there
for one term”
JH: “Probably, but I really enjoy
the job. I feel I can really make a
contribution to Canberra. I’d do
anything to stay on longer”
YY: “How about resigning and
seeking pre-selection for the
Labour Party?”
JH: ”Err. Almost anything…”
And:
JH: “Gosh Senator, think of the
potential of this area. We could
put a road up through there
(Middle Creek), an exclusive
housing development over there
(Mt. Namadgi), a caravan park
here…”
JK: “Right on John. This
could really give us some good
publicity”
• Greg Scott: (194cm tall, strong
basso profundo voice, now in
Australian Opera Co) “Gee, I
hope you guys know the way
home”
After a night of intermittent rain,
most of us, including JH and JK,
climbed Kelly. One conversation
on the way up:
JH: “Hey Senator, I bet you’ll
be the first member of the
Geriatric Club {the Senate} up
this mountain”
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The weekend finally arrived, with
much attention from the local Press.
Participants : John & Carla Knight;
John Haslem; Alan & Sue Vidler;
Russ & Jenny Bauer; Dan Buchler;
Gary Medaris; Wendy Davidson
(President from 9/76); Harry Black,
then our only active Life Member;
Greg Scott, at 18 our youngest active
weekend walker; Fred George, our
oldest active weekend walker, born
1910 but 69 for the occasion; Bob
Harrison; Rene Lays and Reet Vallak. We gave each guest a daypack,
an oilskin, a water bottle, a map
with the route marked on it, and a
compass. Other gear was divided
among the rest of us – except for
Fred, to his disgust, but we decided
that would be too embarrassing for
the guests, less than half his age. We
arranged access through the locked
gate at Orroral.
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Trip report
JK: “Yes – can’t see anyone else
among that lot getting up here”
DB: “Before you two get too
proud of yourselves, a 69 year old
has been waiting on top for you
for the last 20 minutes”
The return route was via Middle
Creek, Big Creamy Flat, Mavis
Ridge, Rendezvous and Nursery
Creeks. JH surprised by going much
better than JK, a current top-level
squash player and fairly recent
ACT representative Rugby Union
player. On top of Mavis Ridge JH
surprised Gary M, and the rest of
us, with: “Aren’t we going wrong
here? According to the route you’ve
marked on my map, I think we
should be heading down the ridge
a couple of hundred metres north”.
Gary flashed back: “I decided this
one might be a bit clearer”. It
transpired that JH in younger days
was a Rover Scout. He had initially
declined DB’s invitation as he knew
what he’d be letting himself in for!
Everyone, particularly three very
tired guests, was glad to get back
to the cars having completed what
was emphatically a L/R weekend
trip, even with the lesser scrub in the
area prior to the 1983 fires. When
Sue and I dropped the Knights home
we had to help Carla out of the car,
as she’d frozen into position, and
John was not much better! JK was
later reported to have stated it was
one of the great experiences of his
life, but not one to be repeated!
To me, it was a revelation into the
political process. Both, as inexperienced MPs “in power”, clearly
worked closely and harmoniously
with experienced Opposition local
members Fry & Ryan, swapping
“how to” help for “ministerial
access” – but spent their last hour
or two walking composing a Press
statement like “We went deep into
the wilderness and saw prints going
even deeper, but did not follow them
as we realised they were made by
the Labour party…”
Review: Alpine Weeds
Project
A
t the October CBC meeting
Haydn Burgess from Greening
Australia gave a presentation on his
three year Alpine Weeds Project.
This article is a summary of his
presentation.
Haydn’s delightful talk began
with an entertaining “where am
I?” quiz using the photo of Haydn
that appeared on the CBC website
and newsletter advertising the
presentation. It turns out he was at
the Barrington Tops National Park
standing next to a broad leafed pepper bush. The member who guessed
his location correctly received the
prestigious Mars Bar award.
The Alpine Weeds Project started
some years ago with a bequest
from Kenneth Milburn to Landcare
Australia, $60,000 of which went
to Greening Australia which then
created the Project in conjunction
with NSW National Parks.
In 1954 there were 44 exotic weed
species recorded in Kosciuszko
National Park. In 2005 there were
175 species recorded. Climate
change and greater recreational
use are some of the reasons for the
increase. Weeds can be introduced
by both vehicles and people and
vehicle wash down and boot clean-
ing is important to help reduce the
spread of weeds.
Some weeds like Sorrel, Browntop
Bent and Cocksfoot have been in the
park for a long time. Some of the
grasses including Browntop Bent
were actually introduced to stabilise
erodible areas. These types of weeds
have reached an equilibrium and are
not considered a significant threat to
alpine ecology and are not part of
this project.
The project is focussed on mapping
and treating new and emerging
weeds in high use areas. Data have
been collected over the last two
years and so far about 30 weed
species have been identified. Some
of the most common weeds found
include Sweet Vernal Grass, Yarrow
(Milfoil) and Timothy Grass. The
methodology for surveying weeds
consists of recording the type of
weed, the extent of the infestation
and the location (is it near a road
or a creek?), is it treatable and site
access for treatment (can Parks get a
vehicle in there?). This information
is recorded in the field on paper
sheets and GPS units are used to
record the location. Later on the
data are transferred to a spreadsheet
and then incorporated on maps
Yarrow, also known as milfoil
Corrobore e
Alan Vidler
Frog
Did the trip help? Both worked hard
on the issue subsequently, both publicly and behind the scenes. When
the Namadgi National Park was created in 1978 a couple of experienced
NPA campaigners opined that our
trip had brought forward the event
by at least 18 months.
Canberra Bushwalking Club it November 2014 – page 5
Disappointment
Spur management
trail, Ballatynes
trail, Cascades
trail and hut and
Ramsheads down
to Dead Horse Gap.
The fact that the
depth of snow is
less and that the
snow is melting
earlier has encouraged further spread
of weeds.
NSW Parks is
determining what
are the priority
weeds to treat and
where should it take
place. However, they do not have
the resources to survey and treat all
the weeds, and treatment is an ongoing task so volunteers are needed for
this project. Luckily, more funding
has been secured recently for the
Alpine Weeds Project by NSW
Parks via the NSW Environmental
Trust. This new funding will include
resurveying known problem areas
and surveying new areas.
(using ArcMap), which have been
developed by Mel Schroder, Environmental Monitoring Officer with
NSW Parks and who has completed
a Masters degree on noxious weeds
in Kosciuszko National Park. There
has also been some development
on using Apps on Smart Phones to
record information, although there
are still some issues to resolve with
this technology. At the presentation,
Haydn showed us some of the
maps produced showing where the
weeds are. Areas surveyed so far
include from Thredbo to Rawsons
Pass, the Main Range walk, the
Cascade trail, Mt Tate, the Perisher
area, the Summit trail and walk,
Mt Twynam, Rolling Ground (more
required there), Schlinks Pass
management trail, Illawong walk,
Quentin Moran
Frog
Sweet vernal grass
In addition to assistance from intern
staff, volunteers have been used for
the survey work and will possibly
be used for weed treatment in the
future. Haydn acknowledged the
assistance of the CBC in this regard
as various members have assisted
at various times, particularly David
and Meredith Hatherly, who have
helped with this Project since the
beginning. One of the key messages
Hadyn often gets from volunteers is
that they want to see the project progress and the new funding should
assist in this regard. There will be
more collaboration between the
CBC and Greening Australia in the
future. For example, in December
there will be an ‘Introduction to
Noxious Weeds’ course conducted
in the Perisher area. There may also
be a weekend in February starting
on weed treatment in one reasonably good area such as the main
range. Also Greening Australia is
developing a brochure of weeds
for ad hoc volunteers to use on
walks etc so that they can record
relevant information and pass it on
to Greening Australia. Ultimately,
Haydn hopes to establish an Alpine
Land Care group.
Corrobore e
Timothy grass
Review of general meeting talk
Walk preview:
Currockbilly
Mountain
C
urrockbilly Mountain is a
prominent peak (1132 m.) on
the Budawang Range, about 10 km.
east of Mongarlowe. It has a rugged
summit, consisting of hard, quartzite rock outcrops, surrounded by
steep, narrow ridges. I have been
thinking of putting it on the walks
program, as a day walk, from the
western (Mongarlowe) side, but
I was lacking information about
the best route to take. I have done
2 walks to the summit recently, accompanied by Robert Dabusti of
Bungendore and I have obtained
advice from the NSW/NPWLS on
road access to an approved starting
point. I intend to put it on the program, as a day walk in March 2015.
The following is an account of
our second reconnoitre. On the
afternoon of 24 September, Robert
and I camped at the recommended
start. It is at the end of a public
road that leaves the Charleys Forest
Road about 300 m east of the bridge
over Bobs Creek. A car with ACT
plates was parked at this site. We
took an evening walk to explore
access tracks into the Buddawangs
National Park, and the beginning of
a ridge that runs in a SE direction
to the summit. On an old timber
track at the start of the ridge we
met 4 walkers coming down from
the summit. They were covered in
streaks of charcoal. One of them,
who said he was a local, gave us
a description of the way ahead.
He also told us about a log book,
which was in a pile of rocks on an
open, saddle, about 400 m NE of
the summit.
The next morning we started
walking at 7 am and made good
progress on tracks and then offtrack on the ridge. It is forest,
which was logged many years ago.
The understory vegetation is light,
so the going is easy. The surface
becomes more rocky and unstable,
as the slope increases. We found
that it is best to stay on the ridge
top and go up and down three rocky
knolls, as going around these means
a lot more walking on unstable
rocky ground. Above 900 m the
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Article
terrain becomes very steep and
rocky and the vegetation changes
to what was very dense scrub. A
recent bushfire has killed most of
this vegetation, leaving a tangle of
burnt branches, which explained
the charcoal streaked walkers we
had met the previous morning. It is
difficult and unpleasant going. The
only plants to have regenerated after
the fire are scattered groups of grass
trees. These were adorned with
tall spikes covered in little yellow
flowers.
As you pound along the track
Eyes wide open and ears pinned back
You may have noticed those queer square turds
And thought if not expressed in words
The pain of such defecation
Baffles the imagination
But it ain’t done to entertain us
The wombat has an oblong anus
So if at night you hear pained cries
Outside your tent, feel no surprise
With eyes shut tight, teeth clenched with pain
A wombat’s gone and crapped again!
A
PRAMbulations
Frog
stute readers will have noted that our esteemed President has been
leading ‘pram group’ walks designed for parents, grandparents etc,
with young children, perhaps in the hopes of attracting more younger(?)
members to the Club. The photos below are some of the areas in which this
group is walking. Please encourage any young families to join this group,
which is easy fun walking for the littlies and their parents.
Corrobore e
On the summit ridge, I took a rest
to watch two wedge-tailed eagles
soaring in a stiff westerly wind,
while Robert went to find the
summit at the southern end of the
ridge. We then went north to the
open saddle. We found the best line
of travel on the summit ridge was
along the water shed, where the
fire had stopped. There is a stark
contrast here between the burnt out
landscape on the western, inland,
slope and the shadowy greens
of the unburnt rain forest on the
eastern escarpment. We found the
log book in a pile of white rocks. It
was placed there in 1970 by a party
from Sydney. It is in good condition
in a well made metal box. The first
entry by a CBC party was dated
14 March 1976. The leader was
Terry Jordan, and it included Henry
Burmester, Warwick Blayden,
Karen Alexander, Ann GibbsJordan and Greg Scott. They had
come, with overnight packs, up the
steep and narrow Wirritin Ridge
from Yadboro, a climb of about
1000 m. Were these some of the
legends responsible for the ‘tiger
walker’ reputation of the CBC?
Ode to the wombat –anon
Corrobore e
Mike Morriss
Frog
On the return, we traversed across a
steep slope at the head of a gully and
back to the ridge we had come up
on. We were back at the car at about
3 pm, about 8 hours from our start.
It can be done as a day trip from
Canberra, but allowing for a larger
party, more time at the summit and
the travelling time from Canberra,
I would recommend camping the
evening before the walk at the
starting place.
Canberra Bushwalking Club it November 2014 – page 7
Trip report
Are you really prepared if accidents happen?
A
Twenty-four of us, being part of John
Clune’s BBC trip to Montenegro, were
walking on rough tracks, sometimes
over broken branches of pine trees, to
see one of the Tara Gorge lookouts. We
had driven out in a convoy of 7 hired
cars. I was enjoying my walk and taking numerous photos of fungi. Then I
looked down to discover a square inch
of skin from my shin hanging down. A
twig must have bounced from one foot
to my leg.
After bandaging, and no pain, I continued walking but as more blood
trickled down my leg I stopped again
and discovered I had quite a deep gash
in my leg. I stopped and applied some
Betadine.
I then decided to take up the offer
from my car’s driver, John W, to
return me to the lodge, 4 kms north
of Zabljak,thinking that I would clean
the wound and have an idle afternoon
waiting for the other walkers to return.
However, on the advice of the hotel
receptionist we drove to the Zabljak
hospital, which was more like a run
down clinic. With English out of the
question, we were motioned into the
next room where I sat on a bed. The
bare room didn’t seem particularly
hygienic. A nurse examined my wound
and applied copious quantities of
cleaning fluid (alcohol presumably) and
another more senior nurse also looked
at it. At this stage I fortunately took a
photo of the wound.
After my leg was bandaged I was
advised to go to Pljevlja to see a doctor
to have my leg stitched. Only a short
60 km trip! I was aghast.
John W was marvellous, he simply said
‘Well, we will go there’. We returned
to the lodge, got my passport (essential
for treatment), added a map of Montenegro, muesli bars and warm jumpers
and set off. It took nearly an hour on a
demanding road with steep cliffs on one
side and a sheer drop on the other, and
many, many hairpin bends, as it wound
down to the Tara Bridge. Finally, a bit
worn out, we arrived at the town of
Pljevlja near the Serbian border.
After a 20-minute wait in a bare
emergency room—3 seats and a cold
terrazo floor—I showed them my
photo— language being a problem—
and they immediately re-directed us to
another part of the hospital. We waited
for 3 hours in another very bare room,
rather like an entrance hall, with a
locked door leading to the wards and
another door to the consulting room.
During this time other patients entered
and stood, including a woman with
burns to her face, a teenager with a
swollen knee and a young child. There
was no receptionist ... so when the door
opened the people would surge towards
it wanting treatment. We were fortunate
in that when we arrived we were the
only ones and so again I showed my
photo and a nurse quickly unbandaged
my wound and talked to the doctor.
While I was being attended to, with the
above mentioned 13 stitches + a tetanus
injection there were other people wandering through this consulting room, as
it was the only way they could get to
see anyone in the wards, privacy–none.
There was also knocking on the door.
The doctor and nurse ignored all this
commotion. In the middle of my treatment another nurse/helper unplugged
the single ‘bed lamp’ and moved it to
the other side of me for more light for
the doctor. All I could think of was that
I had a very powerful LED light in my
pack and would have given it to them except my pack was back at the Zabljak
lodge. And it was very cold in the room.
The doctor continued stitching and
stretching the skin to cover the wound.
John who was in the room thought the
whole process most interesting!!
Throughout this whole process of trying
to get treatment I was apprehensive as
it was all so different from Australia.
We are so fortunate in Australia—even
if we have had to wait many hours
for treatment. We have clean waiting
rooms, a triage system, pain killers
before treatment if need be, there are
seats, access to wheel chairs along with
facilities like food, water and toilet,
magazines and toys. None of this was
evident in the area where we waited.
And yet the medical people we encountered always gave careful and competent care with attention to detail,
and I am very grateful to the doctor
who, even though I was from another
country, freely gave time to help me.
Three people who knew a smattering
of English between them, also came
into the room to advise me about future
treatment, so the doctor would speak
and then one of them would tell me.
All up the actual treatment took 45 minutes, with 3 hours of waiting and almost
2 hours of driving.
So what did I learn from all this?
When travelling overseas always carry
your passport and insurance papers with
you— most of us leave them safely
locked in our suitcases or hotel safe.
Ensure that all people have their contact
mobile numbers accurate and working
so that if one mobile number doesn’t
work, another number can be tried. The
party can exchange numbers before the
trip begins. In my case we had left the
party around two in the afternoon and
returned to the lodge almost 8 hours
later—10.30 pm. We found the one
contact we had simply did not work—
therefore it was a worrying time for the
rest of the part.
CBC encourage and even pay people
to do the First Aid course. Do it. It was
because of this I decided to pull out
of the walk, as I was concerned that
although the wound seemed light, it
was near my shin bone and infection
could have set in.
If a decision is made to leave the walking party ensure everyone knows you
are leaving, especially the leader.
And in case you do need to leave
don’t follow the leader blindly as you
walk— look at your route, know in
which direction your car is.
And for goodness sake carry a comprehensive First Aid kit. I was able to treat
and bandage the wound, except I am
ashamed to say that I had left out my
antibiotic powder, which is essential in
any wound, more so if you are far from
help and it’s an extended walk. Thank
you Peter F for your Betadine.
Janet Edstein
Frog
What happened?
With the help of 4 people speaking
Russian, Serbian, Montenegren, not
sure what, we were directed to the
hospital; one helpful man even running
alongside us for 300 m to help show us
where to go.
Corrobore e
t the moment I am at a ski lodge in
Zabljak resting, as yesterday I had
13 stitches put on what I thought was a
light wound to my right leg.
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Article
Things that go bang
in the Budawangs
The survey results expand both the
core and fringing areas of risk–in
Defence terms the ‘Substantial’ and
‘Slight’ areas–in the Budawangs.
Many CBC members familiar with
the CMW Budawangs sketch maps
will know these as the ‘red’ areas. The
Substantial area has been extended
approximately 3 km further west, 1 to
2 kilometres east and 4 to 5 kilometres south, and now includes:
• all the Newhaven Gap road
• most of the Folly Point track
• most of the Little Forest Plateau
including the Mt Bushwalker
Track, Ngaityung Falls and part of
the access route to and from Little
Forest Plateau to Tallaterang.
The ‘Slight’ area now includes:
• a new finger to the west, including
the Endrick River and the
access route that the NPWS has
negotiated past private property
‘substantial’ area has so
far found two dangerous
shells, which have now
been detonated, and
hundreds of metal fragments.
Fragments indicate that shells
landed nearby. This indicates a
high intensity of shelling.
2.D e f e n c e e s t i m a t e s t h a t
approximately 30% of projectiles
did not detonate on impact.
3.Although much of the firing
was random, prominent rocky
outcrops, such as Webbs Crown,
were sometimes used as targets.
Prominences are more likely
to attract bushwalkers seeking
viewpoints.
4.As NPWS staff pointed out,
the level of public knowledge
of unexploded ordnance is
lower than public knowledge
of other dangers such as snakes
and cliff lines. I would agree:
I had thought the main danger
lay in accidentally stepping on
ordnance, but Defence pointed
out that putting in a tent peg or
digging a toilet hole can make
ordnance explode, as can heat
seeping through the ground from
a camp fire.
5.According to Defence, if ordnance
lands intact, its potential to detonate
does not decrease over time.
• the Vines
On the other hand:
• the true right banks of the Clyde
and lower Holland Gorge
1.Defence reports that no-one
in Australia has been killed or
seriously injured by accidentally
stepping on ordnance. All deaths
and injuries have occurred when
people have picked up and/
or relocated ordnance. In the
Budawangs, unsanctioned offtrack use of the restricted area
has occurred for decades with no
reports of injury or death.
• south almost to Pigeon House.
The NPWS management policy in
response to the new information
from Defence is still at the consultation stage. My feeling is that
the NPWS preference would be to
extend the current ‘no access except
on trails’ restrictions to all the new
‘Substantial’ area, and retain their
policy of permitting access but
advising care in the ‘Slight’ area.
The risks are affected by a range
of factors.
1.The survey work on fire trails
undertaken by Defence in the
2.Where a serious bushfire has
been through an area, it may
have caused some ordnance to
detonate harmlessly.
3.The two dangerous shells found
in the recent survey in the
Budawangs were buried over a
metre deep on fire trails. Vehicles
had driven over them for decades
without a problem.
4.Off-track bushwalkers tend to
look where they put their feet
and to prefer open routes such as
bare-rock leads.
5.Risk mitigation strategies are
available through visitor education
e.g. advice or requirements to use
fuel stoves, to prefer camp sites that
look as though they have been used
previously, to avoid camping in
areas where there are ‘fragments’,
to pitch tents without using pegs,
and to dig toilet holes observantly.
At the meeting, I put the view that
we would support increased public
education about the dangers and
about ways to minimise risk. We
would prefer walkers to be able
to walk in the currently restricted
areas after making an educated
assessment of risks for themselves.
The other bushwalking representatives at the meeting (Shoalhaven
Bushwalkers, local and Sydney
NPA) supported this view. Shoalhaven Bushwalkers added that a
‘fuel stove only’ rule would not be
a problem at all.
Defence will update their unexploded ordnance map for the
Budawangs on their web site (www.
defence.gov.au/uxo/index.asp)
to show the results of the recent
surveys. At the meeting, Defence
did not yet have a timetable for this.
CBC will monitor the development
of NPWS policy and provide further
comment if needed.
On another topic, the NPWS
Regional Manager thanked CBC for
our participation in the Budawangs
track clearance work party in June.
Shoalhaven Bushwalkers commented on how they enjoyed working with CBC on the work party.
Another work party is planned for
next autumn.
Frog
he Department of Defence recently completed a new survey
of unexploded ordnance in the former Tianjara Military Training Area
in the Budawangs. The investigators
looked through old paper records and
surveyed fire trails with metal detectors. On 1 August, Peter Conroy and
I attended a meeting called by the
Nowra regional office of the NPWS
to discuss the results of the survey.
Linda Groom
Corrobore e
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Canberra Bushwalking Club it November 2014 – page 9
Activity program
Activity program
Arrange for your Club-related activities to be included in the program with
Lorraine Tomlins (Walks Secretary)
Ph: 6248 0456 or 0434 078 496, Email: [email protected], Post: 17 Forbes Street, Turner
Information for participants
Distance and difficulty
Distance:
(S) Short – under 12km/day
(M) Medium – 12–20km/day
(L) Long – over 20km/day
Note: In calculating distance, 1 km is added for every 100 metres
climbed.
Terrain:
(E) Easy – fire trail, tracks, beaches etc
(M) Medium – bush tracks, alpine areas, some scrub
(R) Rough – much scrub, steep climbs, rock scrambles
(W) Wet – compulsory swims, many river crossings
(X) Exploratory
Booking
Contact the leader early rather than late so the leader has time to
arrange transport. See walk description for booking deadline.
Check with the leader about:
XXthe need to carry water, tents/fly, maps, etc
XXappropriate clothing, footwear
XXany precautions you might need to take for severe weather
changes.
Ask about anything you’re unsure of, especially if you are new to
our Club.
Transport
Costs are 38¢/km/car, divided equally among all participants. This
amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader, depending
on the condition of the roads and other factors. The figures given
are for the car as a whole and then, at the discretion of the leader,
an estimate or range per person. Park admission and camping
fees are additional costs which leaders should list separately.
Duty of care
Every person taking part in a CBC activity acknowledges that
he/she does so voluntarily and that he/she may be exposed to
risks that could lead to injury, illness or death, or to loss of, or
damage to property. Each person is required to sign the Club’s
‘Acknowledgement of Risks’ form. Visitors are welcome to join
trips. However walkers are strongly encouraged to join the Club
after a maximum of three trips.
For further information see: www.canberrabushwalkingclub.
org
Check-in after walks
Before a trip leaders are to email or phone through the names of their
party, and by 10 am the day after their trip report their safe return or
trip cancellation, to the Check-in Officer, Keith Thomas (check.in@
canberrabushwalkingclub.org, 6230 1081 or 0421 607 667 leave
message if no answer). The Check-in Officer or the Walks Secretary
(6248 0456 or 0434 078 496), not the Police or other bodies, should
be the first point of contact for worried relatives if you are late in
returning.
Equipment hire
Map scale is 1:25,000 unless otherwise stated
Take advantage of the excellent gear that the Club has
available for hire before lashing out on your own equipment. The Equipment Officer is Rob Horsfield, who can
be contacted on 6231 4535(h) or to borrow the northside
PLB, Keith Thomas, 6230 1081 or 0421 607 667.
Due to space, walks scheduled more
than three months in advance may appear
only on the Club’s web site.
The equipment available and current rates per weekend/
week are set out below. Hirers are responsible for collecting and returning the equipment. The hiring charge
(but not the deposit) is waived for members who are ‘first
time’ weekend walkers.
Wednesday walks
A deposit of $20 is required and part or all of this will be
refunded, depending on the condition of the items upon
return and whether they are returned late.
Item
w.e./week
Olympus two person tent
$15 / $40
Macpac Microlight one person tent
$15 / $40
Snow tent
$15 / $40
3 season bag, mat and liner
$10 / $25
Assorted packs
$5 / $15
Trangia and fuel bottle
$5 / $15
Snow shoes/poles
$10 / $25
Snow sleeping bag, mat and liner
$15 / $40
Personal locator beacon – nil (see website for conditions)
GPS – nil (see website for conditions of use)
Check you have ALL the bits and pieces you need
when collecting and returning gear.
Medium walks (M/M, M/M–R, L/E–M) are
conducted every Wednesday. Walks are
conducted in turn by leaders from the Canberra
Bushwalking Club (CBC), Brindabella
Bushwalking Club (BBC) and National Parks
Association (ACT) (NPA). Details about
destination and meeting place are emailed to
those on the Wednesday Walkers email list.
Contact Janet Edstein wednesday.walks@
canberrabushwalkingclub.org to get your name
on the email list. Janet coordinates the CBC’s
contribution to these walks.
Walk details will be advised a few days before
the walk, via the Wednesday Walks email list.
Walkers who are not members of the BBC, NPA
or CBC must contact the walk leader before the
walk to discuss the level of difficulty of the walk.
(Please note that walk leaders retain the right
not to accept any walker.) Non-members must
be accompanied by a sponsoring member.
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Activity program
Saturday 15 November: A circuit of the
upper Orroral Valley – L/E–M–R, ptX
Enjoy an amble up the Orroral Valley grasslands on
footpad from the Tracking Station car park to join
Smokers Trail. Continue north along the fire trail to cross
the Orroral River and to the saddle between SH1164 and
SH1157. Off-track to the east and down to Booroomba
Creek (this 500m leg will be scrubby). Follow the creek
(wet feet?) back down to the open valley (unknown to
me). Here a geocache in a cave has previously eluded me.
Return via the east side of the Orroral River (off-track
but open going). Around 20km and 500m climb. Maps:
Corin Dam, Rendezvous Creek. Leader: John Evans
0417 436 877 [email protected]. Transport: ~$12
per person. Late bookings considered.
15–16 November: Weekends in the southern
Namadgi #9 – Nursery Hill–Rendezvous
Creek - M/M
Day 1: Wander up Nursery Swamp, climb Nursery Hill
and return, then over the saddle and down to Rendezvous
Creek. Camp at Black Sallee grove on creek. Day 2: A
short day climbing back to Nursery Swamp and then
back to cars. This is an easy overnight trip for people
who would like to try combining a bushwalk with
camping. Some scrub on Nursery Hill and on descent to
Rendezvous Creek, remainder on reasonable bush track.
Maps: Rendezvous Creek. Leaders: Jenny and Rob
Horsfield 6231 4535. Transport: $32 per car
Monday evening, 17 November: Mt Ainslie –
S/E
Meet at 6.30 in car park atop Mt Ainslie on the airport
side then walk to the west, north and east of the mountain.
No need to book. Map: n/a Leader: Stan Marks 6254
9568 [email protected] Transport: drive yourself
Monday 17 November: Jerrabomberra
Wetlands PRAMbulation – S/E
A morning walk designed for parents and grandparents,
with kids in strollers, on bike path through woodland,
then along the section of Dairy Road which is now closed
to vehicles, then a circuit on paths in the wetlands with
short breaks at two hides to look at waterbirds. Meet
at the car park at ‘Molonglo Reach District Park’ on
Google Maps, taking a left turn off Morshead Drive, for
a 10 am start. About 1 hour 20 minutes actual walking.
The stroller terrain includes some gravel, hard-packed
soil and some concrete with uneven sections. No need
to book. Non-members welcome. Map: Google Maps.
Leader: Linda Groom [email protected] 6281 4917
Transport: drive yourself.
Tuesday 18 November: Hospital Creek and
around with Matthew Higgins – M/M
See October program for details. Map: Yaouk. Leader:
John Evans 0417 436 877 [email protected]
(with contracted assistance from Matthew Higgins).
Transport: $12. Book: by 2 pm the prior Sunday.
Wednesday 19 November 2014, 8 pm
MONTHLY MEETING
Gadgets night
Presenter: CBC members
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Wednesday 19 November: Wednesday walk
See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the
Activity program, for conditions on participating. BBC
Contact: [email protected]
Thursday 20 November: Fadden Pines
PRAMbulation – S/E
An afternoon walk designed for parents, and grandparents, with kids in strollers or backpacks, through
suburban Gowrie to the delightful Fadden Pines Park,
where we will stop of about 20 minutes play time at
the playground. All on bike path, fairly flat, with about
1/3 of the walk in good shade. The playground also has
a shaded area, and public toilets. About 1 hour actual
walking. Optional coffee at the Common Grounds Café
afterwards. Meet at 1 pm in the Gowrie Shops car park,
outside the café. Non-members welcome. No need to
book. Map: Google Maps. Leader: Sue Vidler 6290
0490. Transport: drive yourself.
Thursday evening, 20 November: Mulligans
Flat – S/E
Meet at 6:30 pm in the main Mulligans Flat car park in
the suburb of Forde. Go down Horse Park Drive, turn into
Francis Forde Boulevard, then left into Amy Ackman St
which will take you to the car park. Nice open bush. No
need to book. Map: n/a Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568
[email protected] Transport: drive yourself
(21) 22–25 November: Blue Mountains – Upper
Grose Valley and Newnes Plateau – E/M
See October program for details. Maps: Wollangambe
8931-2S, Lithgow 8931-3S, Mount Wilson 8930-1N,
Katoomba 8930-1S Leader: Karen Cody 0447 268 628
[email protected] Transport: ~$80 per person
with 3 per car. Accommodation: Free camping available on 7 acres of private property in Dargan, with hot
showers and toilets available. Limit: 12 Book by: the
14 November. Further info on each walk is available
at: https://sites.google.com/site/feralkaza/home under
Upcoming Trips – Blue Mountains
Saturday, 22 November: Mt Aggie and
Bendora Arboretum – M/E
Follow the track from the car park to Mt Aggie (1471 m)
with its spectacular views then along the border
ridge track toward Bendoura Hill. After crossing the
Mt Franklin Rd, use an old logging road to get to the
arboretum for lunch, then on track back to the cars with
more views. About 14km, 5 hours actual walking. Map:
Tidbinbilla Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568 smarks@live.
com.au Transport: ~$20
Saturday 22 November: Bells Creek
adventure – S/M with S/R option
See October program for details. Map: Monga.
Leader: Linda Groom [email protected] 6281
4917. Bookings: Please book by 8 pm the night before.
Transport: drive yourself. Limit: 16 (max 8 kids).
Sunday 23 November: Broom clearing at
Cotter Hut
See October program for details. Map: Rendezvous
Creek. Leader: Quentin Moran, 6288 9840, qmoran@
webone.com.au Transport: $44 per vehicle.
The hall: Hughes Baptist Church
32–34 Groom Street, Hughes
Canberra Bushwalking Club it
November 2014 – page 11
Activity program
Monday evening, 24 November: Mt Majura –
S/E
Be at the entrance to the park beside 39 Mackenzie St,
Hackett, just north of the Grayson St intersection at
6:30 pm for a walk up Mt Majura. No need to book. Map:
n/a Leader: Stan Marks 6254 9568 [email protected].
au Transport: drive yourself
Tuesday 25 November: Nadgigomar Nature
Reserve Western Section – L/M
The walk is in the Sunset Mountain section of Nadgigomar
Nature Reserve 35 km north of Braidwood. The terrain
is hilly or slightly undulating and there are extensive
mature, dry sclerophyll woodlands. A fire has recently
burned through some of the reserve and our route will
take us in and out of burnt areas. The route is mostly
off-track with only light scrub, except near the creeks.
Emergency contact details must be registered/provided to
book. Minimum distance: 18 km with approx. 400 metres
of ascent Map: Oallen Leader: Ian Wright 62861473,
[email protected] Transport: 192 km return,
$71 per car Limit: 8
COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday 26 November 2014, 8 pm
at the home of Keith Thomas
6 Ryrie Street, Campbell
Submissions close for
December it
26 November 2014
Wednesday 26 November: Wednesday walk
See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the
Activity program, for conditions on participating. NPA
Contact: Mike Smith [email protected]
Thursday evening, 27 November: Black Mt
Reserve – S/E
Meet 6.30, park at end of Frith St near electricity sub-station.
We will do a walk in the reserve, through to Caswell Drive
and loop back. No need to book. Map: n/a Leader: Stan
Marks 6254 9568 [email protected] Transport: drive
yourself
Saturday 29 November: Woolcara’s
Molonglo Ridge to Yarrow Pic – L/M
‘Woolcara’ is a private property owned by a mate. Here’s
a great opportunity to stroll along the Molonglo Ridge
to the lovely cairn at Yarrow Pic. Open grazing land
walking, although a bit of a huff and puff to get up to
the crest. Extensive views across Googong Dam to the
Brindabellas. Around 16 km and 600 m climb. Map:
Hoskinstown. Leader: John Evans 0417436877 john@
johnevans.id.au Transport: $12 per person. Late bookings considered.
Monday evening, 1 December: YA 90 trig
(‘Mt Sheaffe’) – S/E
Meet at the shopping centre car park, Farr Place, Isaacs
for a 6:30 pm start. The walk starts a couple of streets
away but parking there is limited. We will be walking
in Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve starting with an off
track climb, ascending approximately 100 m to YA 90,
then returning on track through the pine forest. Map:
Canberra Leader: Phillip Starr 6161 3835(h), 0419 281
096(m), [email protected] Transport: Drive
yourself. No need to book.
Monday 1 December: Isaacs Pines
PRAMbulation – S/E
A walk designed for parents, and grandparents, with
kids in strollers. A circuit through part of Isaacs and into
the adjacent shady pine forest with occasional views to
the Brindabellas. On wide bike path, sealed footpaths,
and hard-packed forest trails, with about 5 minutes of
somewhat stony forest trails. A bit more up and down
than most PRAMbulations, though most of the pine
forest route is level. Finish at the grassy playground next
to Isaacs shops, with optional time for the kids to play;
takeaway coffee is available from the shops (but there
are no public toilets). About 1 hour 20 minutes actual
walking. Meet at 10 am at Farr Place, Isaacs Shops.
Non-members welcome. No need to book. Map: Google
Maps. Leader: Sue Vidler 6290 0490. Transport: drive
yourself.
Tuesday 2 December: Ettrema in a day –
M/R/W
See October program for details. Map: Nerriga
Leader: Linda Groom [email protected] 6281
4917 Transport: $100 per car. Limit: 8. Late bookings
considered.
Wednesday 3 December: Wednesday walk
See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the
Activity program, for conditions on participating. BBC
Contact: [email protected]
Wednesday evening 3 December: Southside
Stroll –The dead centre of Tharwa – S/E
Instead of digging down they raised the cemetery up! A
3 km round trip through an avenue of poplars will get
us to this unique place. The de Salis cemetery overlooks
the confluence of the Gudgenby and Murrumbidgee
Rivers. Meet in the parking area above the picnic toilets
in Tharwa, just over the Murrumbidgee River Bridge
on the left, for a 6.30 pm walk start. No need to book.
Map: Williamsdale. Leader: John Evans 0417 436 877
[email protected] Transport: Drive yourself, but
please contact me if you need a lift and I’ll try to assist.
Thursday evening, 4 December: Frost
Hollow, Cork Plantation and Arboretum –
S/E
Meet at 6:30 pm in the car park accessed via the lane
beside 57 Mackellar Crescent, Cook. We will walk on
track to the Arboretum via the Cork Plantation and the
Aranda Frost Hollow. Returning to the cars on different
tracks. No need to book. Map: Canberra Leader: Diana
Kirby 0421851212, [email protected]
Transport: drive yourself
Saturday 6 December: Lake and meadows
morning walk – S/E
A walk designed for parents with kids in backpacks and
anyone who would like to walk before the heat of the
day. From Yarralumla Bay, the walk will follow informal
tracks (not bike path), which meander past tranquil corners of the lake. It will return through the bushland and
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Activity program
meadows of Stirling Park, past the hut sites of workers
who built the Hotel Canberra. About 5 kilometres in
1 hour 45 minutes on tracks or grassland, includes a few
minutes of rocky lakeshore with a side-slope. Meet at the
parking area next to the Elizabeth McKay Aquatic Centre,
Alexandrina Drive, on the eastern side of Yarralumla Bay
for an 8 am start. No need to book. Map: Canberra or
Google Maps. Leaders: Linda Groom lbgroom@gmail.
com 6281 4917 and Peter Conroy. Transport: drive
yourself or let Linda know if you need or can offer a lift.
CBC Xmas Party
Saturday, 6 December 2014
6.00 pm
at the home of Doug Wright
18 Beedham Place, Lyons
The Club will provide: BBQs
and salads and breads,
(available from 6:30 pm)
You provide: meat, drinks, plates, utensils, fold-up chairs
Sunday 7 December: Tributaries of Sugarloaf
Creek – M/R/W/X
See October program for details. Map: Monga.
Leader: Linda Groom [email protected] 6281
4917. Transport: $48 per car. Booking: Late bookings
considered. Limit: 12
Monday evening, 8 December: Goorooyarroo
Nature Park and Sammy’s Hill – S/E
See October program for details Map: Goorooyarroo
Nature Reserve at www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/
pdf_file/0007/390580/cnpmapgoorooyaroo.pdf Leader:
Phillip Starr 6161 3835(h), 0419 281 096(m), [email protected] Transport: Drive yourself. No
need to book.
Wednesday 10 December: Wednesday walk
See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the
Activity program, for conditions on participating. CBC
Contact: [email protected]
Thursday 11 December: PRAMbulation,
Queanbeyan riverside walk – S/E
An afternoon walk designed for parents and grandparents
with kids in strollers, beside the tranquil, if not entirely
crystal, waters of the Queanbeyan River. A 40-minute
circuit on bike paths, with solid tree shade in parts. We
will head downstream, then back up past a cascading
weir and across a suspension footbridge. Includes four
road crossings. Playtime option at the end of the walk
in the Glebe Park playground which has a shade awning
and partial tree shade. No need to book. Non-members
welcome. Meet in the bitumen car park next to the small
basketball court, at the southern end of Glebe Park,
Thorpe Avenue, Queanbeyan, at 1 pm. Map: Google
Maps. Leader: Linda Groom 6281 4917, 0468 34 4381
[email protected]. Transport: Drive yourself or let
Linda know if you need a lift.
Thursday evening, 11 December: Black Mt
Hat Band – S/E
See October program for details. Map: Canberra
Leader: Diana Kirby 0421851212 or [email protected] Transport: drive yourself
Monday evening, 15 December: Kama Nature
Reserve – S/E
See October program for details. Map: www.tams.
act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/386108/KamaNature-Reserve-Self12.pdf Leader: Phillip Starr 6161
3835(h), 0419 281 096(m), [email protected]
Transport: Drive yourself. No need to book.
Monday 15 December: Fadden Pines
PRAMbulation – S/E
A morning walk designed for parents, and grandparents,
with kids in strollers, through suburban Gowrie to the
delightful Fadden Pines Park, where we will stop for
about 20 minutes play time at the playground. All on
bike path, fairly flat, with about 1/3 of the walk in good
shade. The playground also has a shaded area, and public
toilets. About 1 hour actual walking. Optional coffee at
the Common Grounds Café afterwards. Meet at 10 am
in the Gowrie Shops car park, Jeffries Street, outside the
café. Non-members welcome. No need to book. Map:
Google Maps. Leader: Linda Groom lbgroom@gmail.
com 6281 4917. Transport: drive yourself or let Linda
know if you need a lift.
Wednesday 17 December: Wednesday walk
See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the
Activity program, for conditions on participating. BBC
Contact: [email protected]
Thursday evening, 18 December: Urambi
Hills – S/E
Meet at 6:30 pm at Learmonth Drive (Turn from Athllon
Drive into Learmonth Drive, pulling over to the left,
about 50m from the traffic lights). We will enjoy a
pleasant stroll with views. No need to book. Map:
Tuggeranong Leader: Phillip Starr 6161 3835(h), 0419
281 096(m), [email protected] Transport: Drive
yourself. No need to book.
Monday evening, 22 December: Farrer Ridge
and Wanniassa Hills – S/E
We will stroll along Farrer Ridge then on to Wanniassa
Hills. Return via a different route. Meet at 6:30pm on
Sulwood Drive, Wanniassa, between Sainsbury Street
and Gaunson Crescent. Map: Tuggeranong Leader:
Phillip Starr 6161 3835(h), 0419 281 096(m), [email protected] Transport: Drive yourself. No
need to book
Wednesday 24 December: Wednesday walk
See the Wednesday walks information at the head of the
Activity program, for conditions on participating. NPA
Contact: Mike Smith [email protected]
Thursday 25th December Christmas Day:
Lunch at Black Mountain Peninsular
We hope you will be able to join us right at the end of
Black Mountain Peninsular this year on Christmas Day.
Any time from midday onwards. Barbecues and toilet
facilities are available. Bring your lunch, shared nibbles
and a canoe if you have one. Contact the leaders if you
Canberra Bushwalking Club it
November 2014 – page 13
Activity program
want more information. Leaders: Doug Wright 6281
4148 and Margaret Roseby 6166 0118, 0428 142 733.
27–29 December: Mt Twynam, Watsons
Crags – M/M
An alpine pack walk from Guthega, featuring wildflowers and fine views. Sat: 7km to a campsite on Pounds
Ck at 1950m for both nights. Sun: with day packs to
Twynam (3rd highest in Australia, 2196m), Watsons
Crags (“peninsula” of 2000m+ elevation extending far
into Geehi Gorge), and possibly Mt Anton (11km ret).
Early finish Mon. The walk is short horizontally but rates
medium distance because of the uphill walking. Bring
stove if cooking. Map: Perisher Valley, or Rooftop’s
Kosciuszko National Park Forest Activities Map
Jindabyne – Khancoban. Leader: Jeff Bennetts. Book:
preferably by email [email protected] or 0418
662870, by 2 pm Tues 23 Dec. Transport: ~460 km
return, ~$175 per car, ~$45–$60 per person, plus park
entry. Limit: 12.
27–30 December: The Upper Kowmung River
M/R–X
This is a classic Blue Mountains river trip with much rock
hopping and scrambling. There will many compulsory
swims so warm weather will be welcome and good pack
waterproofing a necessity. The descent into the river
and the climb out on the return are significant. I will be
accessing the Kowmung from the south at the junction
with Tuglow Hole Creek and exiting either at the Ruby
Creek Junction or via a ridge near Hatchers Hollow. A car
shuffle will be needed. Maps: Shooters Hill, Gurnang,
Yerranderie. Leader: Lorraine Tomlins 62480456 [email protected] Transport: ~ $190 per car.
Book: by 19 December.
27 December–1 January 2015: Walks in the
Snowy Mountains
Stay at a self-catering Ski Lodge at Smiggin Holes and
enjoy day trips in the Snowy Mountains. Leaders: Janet
Edstein and Mike Morriss. Information and booking: contact Doug Wright at 6281 4148 or dougwri@
grapevine.com.au Transport: $60 plus park entry fee.
Shared accommodation cost: $35 per person per night.
Monday, 5 January 2015: Mount Taylor Triple
– M/E
The plan for this walk is to go to the summit of Mount
Taylor three times via three different routes, taking in
the fabulous views of Canberra, Tuggeranong, and the
Brindabellas. The descents will be via another three
routes. Meeting time is 6:00 pm at Sulwood Drive, opposite Mannheim Street, Kambah. All up, the walk’s about
8km with around 500 metres of climbing. Should finish
by civilian twilight at 8:51 (sunset is at 8:22) but please
bring a torch. No need to book. Map: Mount Taylor
Nature Reserve www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/
pdf_file/0011/390593/cnpmapmttaylor.pdf Leader:
Nathan Holt [email protected] Transport: drive
yourself but let me know if you need a lift.
Thursday evening, 8 January: Aranda
Bushland, Kiers Trig and Frost Hollow –
S/E
See October program for deatils. Map: Canberra
Leader: Diana Kirby 0421851212 or [email protected] Transport: drive yourself
Monday 12 January 2015 – Mount Ainslie –
S/E
This evening walk will follow the Centenary Trail
around the northern and eastern sides of the mountain,
before heading to the summit and down the hill back to
the cars. Meet at 6:30 pm behind the War Memorial in
Treloar Crescent. About 7 km – should finish in daylight
but please bring a torch. No need to book. Map: Mount
Ainslie Nature Reserve www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/
assets/pdf_file/0006/390597/cnpmapmtainslie.pdf
Leader: Nathan Holt [email protected] Transport:
drive yourself but let me know if you need a lift.
Tuesday 13 January 2015: Boolijah Creek –
M/R/W/part X
See October program for details. Map: Sassafras
Leader: Linda Groom 6281 4917, lbgroom@gmail.
com Transport: $112 per car. Limit: 8. Late bookings
considered.
Thursday evening, 15 January: Mt Painter –
S/E
See October program for details. Map: Canberra
Leader: Diana Kirby 0421 851 212 or [email protected] Transport: drive yourself
Monday, 19 January 2015 – Mount Majura – S/E
This evening walk will follow the Centenary Trail to
the summit of Mount Majura. After soaking in the view
and touching the trig, we’ll head down the eastern side
of the mountain, before heading back to the cars. Meet
at 6:30 pm at the end of the houses in Antill Street,
Hackett. About 7 km – please bring a torch. No need
to book. Map: Mount Majura Nature Reserve www.
tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/390578/
cnpmapmajura.pdf Leader: Nathan Holt nholt_98@
yahoo.com Transport: drive yourself but let me know
if you need a lift.
Wednesday 21 January 2015, 6 pm
MONTHLY ‘MEETING’
BYO Barbecue
If barbecues are disabled
because of fire danger, bring a
picnic tea and still enjoy the
company of friends.
Black Mountain Peninsula
(Follow the CBC signs on
Garryowen Drive)
Thursday evening, 22 January: Mt Stromlo
and Brown Trig – S/E
See October program for details. Map: Canberra and
Cotter Dam Leader: Phillip Starr 6161 3835(h), 0419
281 096(m), [email protected] Transport:
Drive yourself. No need to book.
(23) 24–27 January: Kowmung River (Bulga
Denis Canyon) – M/M–R
See October program for details. Maps: Kanangra,
Yerranderie Leader: Meg McKone 6254 5902, [email protected]. Transport: ~500 km return,
$185 per car, $46+ per person. Limit: 8
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Activity program
(24), 25–26 January: Snowy Mts weekend:
(various)
Drive down Saturday morning to our accommodation
at the Southern Alps Ski Club Lodge at Charlotte Pass.
The Saturday afternoon walks will be Mt Stilwell and
Spencers Creek, 2 hours and 1¼ hours respectively,
led by Ross Andrews and me. We will do the Main
Range on Sunday, 22 km and 6½ hours, all on track,
with Michael Sutton and Ross Andrews leading. I will
also lead the Rennix Track, about 4 hours for those who
want a shorter option. We will do Rainbow Lake, a short
but attractive walk, on Monday morning before we go
home. Map: Perisher Valley Leader: Stan Marks 6254
9568, [email protected] Transport: ~$50–$60 incl
park entry. Accommodation: single room – $125 for the
weekend, double/twin – $85 per person for the weekend
at last advice. Please note that I will be away for part of
December.
Monday, 26 January 2015 – Mount Tennent –
M/M
An 0800 start from the Namadgi Visitors’ Centre to Mt
Tennent for good views from the top, weather depending.
The walk is on track, quite a few steps, with a steep climb
to the summit. Map: Williamsdale Leader: Nathan Holt
[email protected] or 0414 628429. Bookings: please
book by 6pm on Thursday, 22 January 2015. Transport:
drive yourself but please advise if you need transport.
Thursday evening, 29 January: Campbell
Park – S/E
See October program for details. Map: www.tams.act.
gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/390597/cnpmapmtainslie.pdf Leader: Phillip Starr 6161 3835(h), 0419
281 096(m), [email protected] Transport:
Drive yourself. No need to book.
14–15 February 2015: Sub 24 hour camping
#1 (S24C#1) – Brandy Flat Hut – S/E
Day 1: An afternoon wander from Glendale Crossing up
track and fire Trail to Brandy Flat. Camping by Brandy
Flat Hut with views down Gudgenby Creek. Day 2: A
morning return by the same route. Ideal bush break for
busy people. Suitable as an overnight pack trip for beginners. Map: Michelago Leader: Sean Sunley 0433 073
959 [email protected]. Transport: $40 per car.
7–9 March 2015: Royal National Park Coastal
Track – L/M
This walk on the Canberra Day long weekend traverses
the length of Royal National Park (RNP) following the
Coastal Track. We will walk along cliffs, beaches and
escarpments, taking in magnificent ocean views and the
rugged beauty of RNP’s coastline as we go. On Day 1 most
of the track is exposed with no shade making the walk long
and arduous. There are many climbs and ascents along
the way on stony surfaces with some rock hopping and
climbing around headlands, so a good level of fitness and
experience carrying an overnight pack is essential. Sat: we
drive to Otford and park the cars. We then catch the train
to Cronulla, board a ferry to Bundeena and camp at Bonnie
Vale campground overnight. In the afternoon we will do a
short walk around the headland. Sun: from Bundeena we
walk 21 km to North Era campground and camp overnight,
surrounded by stunning coastal scenery. Swims possible
along the way. Monday: walk out to Otford (300 m steep
climb), about 10 km. Maps: Port Hacking, Otford Leader:
Barry Keeley, 6154 6391, 0415 152 389 barrykeeley@
grapevine.com.au Transport: ~$60 per person. Camping
fees: ~$25. Limit: 8.
14–15 March 2015: Sub 24 Hour Camping #2
(S24C#2) – Hospital Creek Hut – S/E
Day 1: An afternoon saunter along Yankee Hat Track
then along Bogong Creek and pass Frank & Jacks Hut.
Camping by Hospital Creek Hut. Day 2: A morning
return by Hospital Creek passing Foresters Hut. Ideal
bush break for busy people. Suitable as an overnight pack
trip for beginners. Map: Yaouk. Leader: Sean Sunley
0433 073 959 [email protected]. Transport:
$40 per car.
Saturday–Sunday 21–22 March 2015:
CBR100Challenge – L/E
Walks of 25, 50 and 100km are being organised by
CBR100CHALLENGE on the Canberra Centenary Trail.
See http://www.cbr100challenge.com.au/. Perhaps CBC
should enter a few teams, 3 walkers per team. I’ll have
a go at 100 km in 36 hours. Who would like to join me?
Maps: Canberra, Tuggeranong. Leader: John Evans
0417 436 877 [email protected]. Contact me to
discuss details. Cost: $150–$190 per person! Book by
28 November with me.
18–19 April 2015: Sub 24 Hour Camping #3
(S24C#3) – Lutons Shed – S/E
Day 1: An afternoon stroll along Old Boboyan Road passing Boboyan Homestead Ruin and Lone Pine Homestead
Ruin. Camping by Lutons Shed. Day 2: A morning return
via Waterhole Hut, Westermans Hut, and Brayshaws
Hut. Ideal bush break for busy people. Suitable as an
overnight pack trip for beginners. Map: Yaouk. Leader:
Sean Sunley 0433 073959 [email protected].
Transport: $40 per car.
16–17 May 2015: Sub 24 Hour Camping #4
(S24C#4) – Bushfold Flat Hut – M/E
Day 1: An afternoon meander along the AAWT from
the Tharwa Visitor Centre. Dry camping by Bushfold
Flat Hut. Day 2: A morning return by Mt Tennent Trail.
Optional trip to Mt Tennent. Ideal bush break for busy
people. Suitable as an overnight pack trip for beginners.
Map: Williamsdale. Leader: Sean Sunley 0433 073959
[email protected]. Transport: $30 per car.
Bulletin Board
House Sitter needed
House sitter wanted for Wanniassa house from
10–30 December 2014. There are a rabbit, budgie
and plants to also look after. Contact Lois 0402 962
638; H 6231 3060
For sale
Kookaburra insect mesh dome tent for summer trips
when you know it’s going to be fine and want some
airflow on hot nights. Two person. Two doors. Crossover ridge poles. Size: 220cm x 130cm x 120cm.
Weight: 2 kg. The small fly sheet catches dew and
allows airflow through the side walls. Ideal for car
camping. Never used. Cost: $80. Sell $40. Contact:
Ann Gibbs-Jordan: 62545373 or [email protected]
Canberra Bushwalking Club it
November 2014 – page 15
Feeling literary?
Have you had a great experience on a Club walk? Been
moved to write about it, either in prose or verse? Felt the urge
to see your name in print? Or even just taken some great
photo shots that you would like to share.
Membership fees 2014/15
Item
Hard copy it
Electronic it
Single
$67
$27
Household
$94
$54
The Club welcomes contributions from members so why not
write about an interesting experience on a walk or just an
enjoyable walk. Alternatively, send in a photo or two with a
short paragraph about it/them.
The closing date for each issue of it is the date of the 4th
Wednesday of every month. Handwritten and posted material is acceptable, but email is preferred. We also welcome
photographs, preferably as separately scanned items or
digital images. We can scan original photographs. Contact:
Ph 6254 0578, [email protected]
Post: 20 O’Sullivan Street, HIGGINS, ACT 2615
Alison Milton, Editor
it
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CANBERRA
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November 2014
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