2017/07/13 06:19 tyreless 2017/07/12 04:35 tyreless 2017/07/11 02:59 tyreless 2012/09/29 01:33 external edit
A very short Federation report was delivered by Rosemary Edmunds - two points worthy of special note: firstly, Federation fees are rising due to increased costs of postage and telephone calls; secondly, bush walkers wishing to use the Sassafras access road to the Budawangs will be able to do so, provided they contact the Army's Liaison Officer (soon to be appointed) beforehand. Regarding the Wog-Wog entrance, bushwalkers will be permitted to use the private access road, provided they sign the visitors'​ book kept in the owner'​s shed. (For more detailed Federation notes, see the August issue of the magazine, page 14). A very short Federation report was delivered by Rosemary Edmunds - two points worthy of special note: firstly, Federation fees are rising due to increased costs of postage and telephone calls; secondly, bush walkers wishing to use the Sassafras access road to the Budawangs will be able to do so, provided they contact the Army's Liaison Officer (soon to be appointed) beforehand. Regarding the Wog-Wog entrance, bushwalkers will be permitted to use the private access road, provided they sign the visitors'​ book kept in the owner'​s shed. (For more detailed Federation notes, see the August issue of the magazine, page 14).
- Under the heading of general business, Dot Butler told the scarifying tale of naturists (nudists) tangling with the lantana and privet - or was it the lantana tangling with the naturists privets? - on the Natural Areas Limited land at Dee Why on 6th and 7th August during an eradication of underbrush. + Under the heading of general business, Dot Butler told the scarifying tale of naturists (nudists) tangling with the lantana and privet - or was it the lantana tangling with the naturists' ​privets? - on the Natural Areas Limited land at Dee Why on 6th and 7th August during an eradication of underbrush.
Geoff Mattingley reported that the new owner of Coates'​ farm, Therese Plane, has erected two large notices at the entrances to her property, warning trespassers of the dire consequences of entering her farm. However, she says that bushwalkers are most welcome to enter the property. Geoff Mattingley reported that the new owner of Coates'​ farm, Therese Plane, has erected two large notices at the entrances to her property, warning trespassers of the dire consequences of entering her farm. However, she says that bushwalkers are most welcome to enter the property.
+ =====Austria And Switzerland - Another Letter From Alan Pike.=====
+ Zermatt 13/6/73.
+ Dear Everyone,
+ This letter is about our adventures in Austria and Switzerland. we left Venice about 3 weeks ago, and went to Klagenfurt in Austria. Our main aim in those countries was to do some walking, so the first thing we did in Klagenfurt was to buy some boots. All the shoe shops had a fantastic variety of boots, from light walking shoes up to huge insulated things you could climb Mt Everest in.
+ Klagenfurt has a very nice lake nearby (the Wurtersee) and is surrounded by pine clad hills, so we set off for the Wurtersee, about 1 1/2 miles away, along a track that followed a canal, our feet feeling a little hot in the boots. We put this down to the fact that we had been wearing sandals for the last three months. As we were coming into view of the Wurtersee we noticed swans on the canal. When we stopped they became intensely interested and swam quickly to us, so we opened our biscuits and kindly fed them by hand. In doing so I dropped the map into the canal. The swans apparently thought that it was good to eat and tried to make off with it, and when we tried to retrieve it, became quite wild, hissing and pecking at us. After a bit of a struggle we got it back and the ungrateful swans made their way to the other side, to annoy a woman washing clothes. We went for a little walk up into the forest but Dot's feet were hurting so we stopped for lunch. However it turned out to be lunch for the mosquitoes, so we then made our way back to the lake and went for an afternoon ferry trip around the Wurtersee, stopping at numerous little holiday villages, which was very pleasant.
+ We had intended to go to Vienna, but changed our minds, mainly because it was well out of the way, and we had become tired of cities. Also Austria is very expensive and we wanted to get the best value for our money, which we considered to be in the countryside. So we caught the train to Salzburg, travelling through beautiful country, sometimes very mountainous. One station we stopped at really impressed us, that was Badgestein, quite close to Salzburg. So the first thing we did in Salzburg was to catch the next train back to Badgastein. (This train had the same ticket-collector,​ he looked a little puzzled to see us again). Well, Badgestein turned out to be fantastic, even in the rainy weather we had for our three days stay. First of all it's very high, about 4000 ft., and very close to Austria'​s highest mountain, The Grossglockner,​ which unfortunately we didn't see because of the weather. The whole town is built on both sides of a very steep gorge, through which runs an absolutely huge waterfall. The main street crosses the gorge at the bottom of the falls, and you really need a parka to walk across the bridge. The wind from the waterfall blows the spray with quite a force, and it's necessary to shout to be heard. It was so impressive, we'd stand on the bridge for some time each day, wondering how long it will be for the rushing water to erode away the foundations of the quite large buildings and hotels which almost overhang the river.
+ We were staying in a nice but not too expensive chalet type hotel. The owner and his wife were very friendly, spoke English, and told us the best walks to do in the rather bad weather we were having. There were plenty of tracks winding around the mountainside through alpine forests, but we couldn'​t get up to any heights. However we were really taken by the beautiful little Austrian houses built of huge pine logs and very much decorated with fancy wood carving both inside and out. Some of the farm houses up on the grasslands were quite old, but in good repair. Obviously the colder climate is not so destructive to the timber houses as at home.
+ Apart from its scenery, Badgestein is famous for its thermal baths. People come from far and wide to be cured of practically every illness known to man. We heard a story about one man who came here on crutches, and a week later threw them down the waterfall! So we went to the baths. It was fantastic. One indoor pool, olympic size 32°C, and two outdoor pools, one 24°C for swimming and the other a steaming 34°C for cures. It was really strange, the water was very clear and lit from underneath. We floated around as night fell, and the cold misty rain blew across the steaming water. In places there were strong jets of air blowing through the water, which gave the impression it was actually boiling. Inside, the big pool which was actually underground,​ was quite crowded and I'm sure the Roman baths of Pompeii or Rome wouldn'​t have looked any different 2000 years ago except for the lighting and the multi-coloured inflatable lounge chairs.
+ Well, we left Badgestein, promising our hosts to come back one winter for ski-ing, and went to St. Anton. We knew St. Anton to be about the most famous place in the world for ski-ing and so it turned out to be very nice for summer walking also. The weather fined up, became warm and sunny, so we spent three days walking over the mountainsides,​ gentle slopes covered with spring flowers, and very nice views. There was a cable car ascending a precipitous peak 9000 ft. which gave us fantastic views of the Alps. The ski-ing here must be fantastic. There are about 40 ski lifts, and it is possible to get a downhill run of almost 6000 ft. which could take you about 5 miles or more.
+ Our next stop, after much consideration,​ was Zermatt in Switzerland,​ at the foot of the Matterhorn. The reason we chose Zermatt was that it appeared on the map to have no highway near it. It was a good choice because when we arrived we found no cars allowed in Zermatt, and the only means of transport being little electric trucks or horse and carriage. We arrived at about 8 p.m., walked up the narrow winding main street and there was the Matterhorn, as clear as crystal, and bright gold in the setting sun. Its the most fantastic mountain we have over seen, almost unbelievable. A huge jagged rock, covered with a lacework of snow on its high sheer faces, and obviously huge ice cliffs on the glaciers lower down.
+ Well, we got the cheapest hotel in town with a river rushing by outside our window and next morning got hold of some walking maps. The streets were full of people, old and young, wearing boots and carrying rucksacks. Most of them obviously going out for little day-walks, a few equipped with ropes and ice-axes, and some with skis and stocks on their shoulders, and not far away were the mountains. A fantastic sight. There'​s a little cog-wheel train that climbs on out of the valley, up on to one of the main ridges, so we took advantage of it and got off at Rotboden. Here we could look straight across the valley at the Matterhorn. We walked up another 1000 ft., past the last train stop, (had a cup of coffee at the restaurant - 10,000 ft.) and started off down the side of the ridge to the glacier, the Gorner Glacier, which is made up of six glaciers that come off the four mountains, all over 12,000 ft. These mountains are the Italy-Swiss border.
+ On the way down we came across a large herd of ibex (or steinbock), some of them quite large with huge curving horns about 3 ft. long. We stopped dead, having heard stories of people being charged by these animals. However as we edged up closer, they were obviously quite happy with our presence and slowly moved aside. When we went below them we speeded up a bit as they were knocking rocks down the slope, then we stopped and took a few photos. They were quite tame, unlike the similar animals in New Zealand, chamois and thar, which it is impossible to get close to. Well, we got down on to the glacier and went for a little walk over the ice. We didn't have any crampons or ice-axes, so didn't get far. We came to a few crevasses and then turned back, taking a lower track back to Zermatt. We were a bit weary when we got back that night and after looking at the map, found the reason was that we had descended over 5000 ft. that afternoon. We were also a little sunburned. So next day did an easier walk, along the valley of the Zmutt Glacier which is directly under the Matterhorn. Here we could see the mountain close up, saw an avalanche come down, it looked very small in the distance but made quite a rumble. We went far enough to see another system of glaciers coming off the peaks on the western side, than headed back to Zermatt.
+ Well, a bit about Switzerland - it's very expensive - particularly food. A sandwich costs $1.50 Australian, a small Coca-cola 50 cents and the cheapest one-course meal we can get is $2. To cut our costs, we bought a little solid fuel stove and made cups of tea in the hotel. It's also useful on a walk of course. We supplement our meals with bread and cheese etc. bought at the supermarket. Zermatt'​s a funny place. The Swiss seem to be a mixture of German, French and Italian. They are not as friendly as the Austrians who are really wonderful. The two countries vary quite a lot in scenery, Switzerland seems to be more built up, whereas Austria has large areas quite uninhabited. In Switzerland there are signs of habitation in every direction.
+ Today we did a walk to Schwarzee, a small lake on the N.E. Ridge of the Matterhorn. There is a small stone church here which was used by Whympor and his guides when they made the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1965. We walked along the ridge, with quite a few other people (a very popular walk this one), looking directly up at the N.E. Ridge. Unfortunately the top was in clouds. We went as far as we could till the snow got too deep then sat around on a rock, waiting for the cloud to blow away, which it did not, so we slithered down a scree slope to a little lake, right next to the Matterhorn Glacier and had lunch there. As we made our way further down into the Zmutt valley, the clouds cleared and gave us a fantastic view, so we stopped and had another lunch in the warm sunshine - then down the valley to Zermatt - a very pleasant day.
+ ====Walks Announcement - October Holiday Week-End.=====
+ Bob Younger'​s walk to Mt. Jenolan and Mt. Guouogang originally set down for Sept. 21-22-23 has been altered to take place over the holiday weekend, Sept. 28th to Oct. 1. For those who don't feel like tackling the big climb up and over the Gaspers Buttress, Jenolan, Queahgong, Guouogang and Nooroo Buttress, an easy alternative is a pleasant stroll down the Cox to join the tops party near Konangaroo Clearing.
- AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND A=ther letter from Alan Pike.
- Zermatt 13/6/73. Dear Everyone,
- This letter is about our adventures in Austria and Switzerland. UO left Venice about 3 weeks ago, and wont to Klagenfurt in Austria. Our main aim in those countries wao to do some walking, so the first thing we did in Klagenfurt was to buy some boots. All the shoe shops had a fantotstic variety of boots, from light walking shoes up to huge insulated things you could climb Ht Everest in.
- Page 8 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER September; 1973.
- Klagenfurt has a very nice lake nearby (the Wurtersee) and is surrounded by pine clad hills, so we set off for the Wurtersee, about li- miles away, along a track that followed a canal, our feet feeling a little hot in the boots. We put this down to the fact that we had been wearing sandals for the last three months. As we were coming into view of the Wurtersee we noticed swans on the canal. When we stopped they became intensely interested and swam quickly to us, so we opened OUT biscuits and kindly fed them by hand. In doing so I dropped the map into the canal, The swans apparently thought that it was good to eat and tried to make off with it, and
- when we tried to retrieve it, became quite wild, hissing and pecking at us. After a bit of a struggle we got it back and the ungrateful swans made their way to the other side, to annoy a woman washing clothes. Wo went for a
- little walk up into the forest but Dot's feet were hurting so we stopped for lunch. However it turned out to be lunch for the mosquitoes, so we then made our way back to the lake and went for an afternoon ferry trip
- around the Wurtersoc, stopping at numerous little holiday villages, which was very pleasant.
- We had intended to go to Vienna, but changed our minds) mainly because it was well out of the way, and we had become tired of cities. Also Austria is very expensive and we wanted to get the best value for our money, which -cm considered to be in the countryside. Sc we caught the train to Salzburg,
- travelling through beautiful country, sometimes very mountainous. One station we stopped at really impressed us, that was Badgestein, quite close to Salzburg. So the first thing we did in Salzburg was to catch the next
- train back to Badgastein. (This train had the same ticketcollector,​ he
- looked a little puzzled to see us again). Well, Badgestoin turned out to be fantastic, even in the rainy weather we had for our three days stay. First of all its very high, about 4000 ft., and very close to Austria'​s highest mountain, The Grossglockner,​ which unfortunately we didn't see because of the weather. The whole town is built on both sides of a very steep gorge, through which runs an absolutely huge waterfall. The main
- street crosses the gorge at the bottom of the falls, and you really need a
- parka to walk across the bridge. The wind from the waterfall blows the
- spray with quite a force, and it's necessary to shout to be heard. It was
- so impressive, we'd stand on the bridge for some time each day, wondering,
- how long it will be for the rushing water to erode away the foundations of the quite large buildings and hotels which almost overhang the river.
- We were staying in a nice but not too expensive chalet type hotel. The owner and his wife were very friendly, spoke English, and told us the best walks to do in the rather bad weather we were having. There were plenty of tracks winding around the mountainside through alpine forests,
- but we couldn'​t got up to any heights. However we wore really taken by the beautiful little Austrian houses built of huge pine logs and vary much dec-
- orated with fancy wood carving beth inside and out. Some of the farm houses
- up on the grasslands were quite old, but in good repair. Obviously the
- colder climate is not so destructive to the timber houses as at home.
- Apart from its scenery, Badgestein is famous for its thermal baths.
- People come from far and Wide to be cured of practically every illness known to man. We hoard a story about one man who came hero on crutches, and a
- Page 9 TIM SYDNEY BUSD71=R September, 1973.
- week later threw them down the waterfall! So we went to the baths. It
- was fantastic. One indoor pool, olympic size 32000, and two outdoor pools, one 24 C for swimming and the other a steaming 34 C for cures. It was really strange, the water was very clear and lit from underneath. We
- floated around as night fell, and the cold misty rain blew across the steam-
- ing watar. In places there were strong jets of air blowing through the
- water, which gave the impression it was actually boiling. Inside, the
- big pool which was actually underground,​ was quite crowded and I'm sure the
- Raman baths of Pompeii or Rome wouldn'​t have looked any different 2000 years ago except for the lighting and the multi-coloured inflatable lounge chairs.
- Welly we left Badgestein, promising our hosts to come back one winter for ski-ing, and wont to St. Anton. We knew St. Anton to be about the most famous place in the world for ski-ing and so it turned out to be very nice for summer walking also. The weather fined up, became warm and sunny, so
- we spent three days walking over the mountainsides,​ gentle slopes covered with spring flowers, and very nice views. There was a cable car ascending a precipitous peak 9000 ft0 which gave us fantastic views of the Alps. The
- Ski-ing here must be fantastic. There are about 40 ski lifts, and it is possible to get a downhill run of almost 6000 ft which could take you about
- 5 miles or more.
- Our next stop, after much consideration,​ was Zermatt in Switzerland,​ at the foot of the Matterhorn. The reason we chose Zermatt was that it appeared
- on the map to have no highway near it. It was a good choice because when we
- =rived we found no cars allowed in Zermatt, and the only means of transport being little electric trucks or horse and carriage. We arrived at about 8 p m., walked up the narrow winding main street and there was the Matterhorn, as clear as crystal, and bright gold in the setting sun. Its the most fantastic mountain we have over seen, almost unbelievable. A huge jagged rock, covered with a lacework of snow on its high sheer faces, and obviously huge ice cliffs on the glaciers lower down.
- Well, we got the cheapest hotel in town with a river rushing by outside
- our window and next morning got hold of some walking maps. The streets were full of people, old and young, wearing boots and carrying rucksacks. Most
- of them obviously going out for little day-walks, a few equipped with ropes and ice-axes, and some with skis and stocks on their shoulders, and not far away were the mountains. A fantastic sight. There'​s a little cog-wheel train that climbs on out of the valley, up on to one of the main ridges, so
- we took advantage of it and got off at Rotboden. Here we could look straight across the valley at the Matterhorn. We walked up another 1000 ft., past the last train stop,(had a cup of coffee at the restaurant - 109000 ft.) and started off down the side of the ridge to the glacier, the Gorr= Glacier, which is made up of six glaciers that come off the four mountains, all over 12,000 ft. These mountains are the Italy-Swiss border.
- On the way down we came across a large herd of ibex (or steinbock), some of them quite largo with huge curving horns about 3 ft. long. We stopped dead, having heard stories of people being charged. by these animals. However as we edged up closer, they were obviously quite happy with our presence and slowly moved. aside. When we went below them we speeded up a bit as they
- Page 10 THE SYDNEY BUSHUALKER September, 1973.
- wero knocking rocks down the slope, then we stopped and took a few photos.
- They were quite tame, unliko the similar animals in Now Zealand, chamois and thar, which it is imipossibl) to get close to Well, we got down on to the glacier and went for a littlo walk over the ice. We didn't have any crampons or ice-axes, so didn't got far. We came to a few crevasses and then turned back, taking a lower track back to Zermatt. We wero a bit weary when we got back that night and after looking at the map, found the reason was that we had descended over 5000 ft, that afternoon. We were also a
- little sunburned. So next day did an easier walk, along the valley of the
- Zmutt Glacier which is directly and-or the Matterhorn. Here we could sec the mountain close up, saw an avalanche come down, it looked very small in the distance but made quito a rumble. We went far enough to see another system of glaciers caning off the peaks on the western side, than headed
- back to Zermatt.
- a bit about Switzerland - it's very expensive - particularly food.
- A sandwich costs $1.50 Australian, a small Coca-cola 50 cents and the cheapest one-course meal we can got is $2. To cut our costs, we bought a little solid
- fuel stove and made cups of tea in tho hotel. It's also useful on a walk
- of course. We supplement our meals with broad and cheese etc. bought at the supermarket. Zermatt'​s a funny place. The Swiss seem to be a mixture of German, French and Italian. They are not as friendly as the Austrians who are really wonderful. The two countries vary quite a lot in scenery, Switzerland seems to be more built up, whereas Austria has large areas quite uninhabited. In Switzerland there arc signs of habitation in every direction.
- Today we did a walk to Schwarzeo, a small lake on the N.E.Ridge of the Matterhorn. There is a small stone church hero which was used by Uhympor and his guides when they made the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1 55.
- We walked along the ridge, with quite a few other people (a very popular walk this one), looking directly up at the N.E. Ridge. Unfortunately the top was in clouds. Uo wont as far as we could till the snow got too deep then sat around on a rock, waiting for the cloud to blow away, which it did not,
- so we slithered down a scree slope to a little lake, right next to the Matter-
- horn Glacier and had lunch there. As we made our way further down into the Zmutt valley, tho clouds cleared and gave us a fantastic view, so we stopped and had another lunch, in the Warm sunshine - then down tho valley to Zermatt - a very pleasant day.
- ****************
- WALKS ANNOUNCMENT--- OCTOBER HOLIDAY WC-END.
- Bob Younger 's walk to Et. Jenolan and Mt. Guouogang originally set down for Sept. 21-22-23 has been altered to take place over the holiday weekend, Sept. 28th to Oct. 1. For those who don't f eel like tackling the big climb up and over the Gaspers Buttress, Jenolan, Queahgong, Guouogang and Nooroo Buttress, an easy alternative is a pleasant stroll down the Cox to join the tops party near Konangaroo Clearing.
Bob's phone number is 57-1158 (home). Give him a ring. Bob's phone number is 57-1158 (home). Give him a ring.
- Page 11 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER September, 1973. +
- LAKE CALLABONNA via THE NORTH WEST. + ----
+ =====Lake Callabonna Via The North West.=====
by Wade Butler. by Wade Butler.
- I wonder what Is out there west of Bourke? I had been to the Flinders Ranges and I'd. been to Bourke, but I wanted to know what was in between.
- I had just gone for a medical test to qualify for a position in the Antarctic and knowing the Public Service, this would give me at least three weeks before anything happened. I pulled the old, motor bike out of the garage, grabbed a few spanners, a spare tube and the usual bushwalking gear, loaded it all up and off I went. Chris could come with mo as far as Narrabri whore we met John and went out to the 17arrumbungles for a couple of days climbing. We only had timo to climb Crater Bluff and a night time ascent of the Breadknife before Chris and John had to go back.
- On the way to Bourke there are a few beaut hot springs, one at Pilliga
- and another at Burron Junction, I soaked in these till I was almost cooked
- through, then on the old jalopy and through the nice cool wind on route to Bourke. I picked up an old 5gallon drum by the roadside, as it would make a good spare tank for petrol. I filled up at Bourke and roared off into the scrub toWards Wanaaring whore I camped the night by the Paroo River, a nice
- muddy river with plenty of water at this time of the year. A small shower awoke me in the =nine, threatening to muddy up my roads. Fortunately it wasn't very heavy.
- Between Wanaaring and :Bourke the road comes out of the scrub and into the semidesert. There had been a fair bit of rain earlier on and the
- plains were covered in daisies really beautiful yellow and white everlastings. Further on towards Tibooburra the plain becomes rocky and the daisies give way to brilliant purple pea flowers and yellow somothingorothers. Those were really lovely.
- By this time my five gallon drum had sprung a leak from wearing against
- the carrier. This was no good as the next stretch was 400 miles along rotten roads to the next petrol. I asked the local storekeeper where was the local rubbish dump. This was a really terrific rubbish dump as it extended for about a mile across the plains, with Plenty of 5gallon drums to choose from. After inspecting about 20 drums I selected the best. I padded the carrier with an old inner tube, tied the drum on, went back to Tibooburra and filled up,
- I asked the local publican what the roads were like between here and
- the Strezlocki and ho said; "Ah, you'll get through, but ask at Bollards for
- directions across the dunes"​. I made my way through thc undulating hills of that area on to the plains and out to the 11.77. corner. This is where the road gets really interesting,​ Instead of a nice graded surface the road had become a pair of wheel ruts in the sand. I followed the dingo fence from Fort View to the Cameron Corner (this is whore -the Now South Wales,
- South Australian and Queensland borders meet) the Throe Borders. I ran round and round this post, thus going from state to state in a matter of
- seconds. I suppose the gnlahs thought I must have been one of them.
- ******************
- MOUNTAIN
- ***********************
- EQuIpmENT *********************
- * * 4** * * *
- IP YOU ARE
- BUYING or HIRING HIRING or BUYING
- GEAR FOR
- WALKING ,,...... CAYPING ....... CLIMBING ..,.... CANOEING WALKING ....... =PING ....... CLIMBING ...... CANOEING .
- THINK OF
- MOUNTI1IN EQUIPMENT
- 17 Alexander Street2 Crow's Nos t 2065. (On tho corner of F1con Street) Telephone 439-3454.
- for
- PAIRYDN1T SLEEPING BAGS
- HIGH LOAD PACKS (Weight 3 lb. 10 oz.)
- AND 2,T,T. THE OTHER THINGS YOU COULD POSSIBLY hifl,D.
- Page 13 THE SYDNEY BUSI-MALUR September, 1973.
- From here the road is not signposted, so I rode out along the track that I thought was heading in the Tight direction, to Bollard'​s Lagoon
- homestead, where I was to ask for directions on the route further ahead. No motor bike had beenthrough this area before, so they did not know whether I'd make it or not. Anyway, they gave me directions and told me to call in at librty, their other station on the Strez1ecki track, 70 miles away.
- Now the track was sand-ridge after sand-ridge, glowing a brilliant orange in the late afternoon'​s sun. The only vegetation was a few low
- shrubs and millions of the beautiful daisies. I camped the night in an old
- Goosurvey'​s bus which the geologists had dragged there on one of their ex-
- cursions. The bus was well stocked with provisions and there was a windmill nearby, so this was a real oasis in the desert. After a tin of four-year-
- old peaches for breakfast I pushed off into the beaut sand dunes. On a motor bike, riding through this country, a very good sense of balance is required. You can't turn in the ruts and you can't accolorato or slow down quickly, so you virtually are riding a tight rope. Fortunately the sand is soft and thc occasional spill is a real ploasuro.
- I passed a couple of station people trucking horses towards Bollards. They stoppod, had a look at this strange creature, gave it directions, and
- headed off in their old army blitz waggon. Eventually I got to Herty, told them my story, and they radioed back to Bollards to tell them I'd made it.
- The Strozlecki track was quito a highway after what I'd_ boon through,
- but I had to be careful not to race into big puddles of which there wore many along the track. After a couple of hours I roached Montecollina bore, which was gushing out beautiful warm water into a big pool for mo to swim in. The water was brackish but drinkable. Being August the weather was quite cool,
- and the warm swim was auite ploasant.
- Now to find Lake Callribonna,​ -which was somewhere out there to the South
- oast.
- I wont down the road 10 miles, took a compass boarins and meant to head
- off into the south cast, but for some strange reason I kept on going too far south and not enough oast, so aft= 20 miles of bouncing over the lumpy terrain I still hadn't found Lake Callabonna. Surely a 20 squaro mile lake
- isn't hard to find! So I headed up to the closest little hill and had a good look to the east. There I could soc a faint glimmer of lake. I had just crossed a natural gas pipe lino (from Ecomba to Adelaide) which had a beautiful track running down it, and now it was just a couple of miles to the lake.
- After churning through the soft sand I came to a beautiful spring at the edge of the lake. This is no ordinary lako3 it is just a great flat expanse of dried mud, which might have wator on it during a very wet season. It
- looked liko a really groat race track, so I roared off across it and back
- again, then headed up on the western side. I came to a Point where I should
- have entered the lake, marked it by doing a big whoolie in the mud - then
- promptly got bogged. "Mud is no problem,"​ I thought, so I took off the fron;t mudguard which was jammod aginst the front wheel, and tried again to get her
- moving. I got another 100 yards when the back wheel locked up. I hadn't
- Page 14 THE SYDNEY BUSHWAIKER September, 1973.
- experienced mud as sticky as this and here I was, completely bogged, 20 miles from the nearest road, which was possibly no help anyway. I scratched_ my head (and got splinters in my fingers!). I tried pushing with all my might, managed to get a few more feet, until eventually the engine couldn'​t even turn the back wheel around. I don't like littering the countryside,​ so I thought I had better not leave my lump of scrap iron on the ldke.
- After about an hour or so I had dismantled everything and there were
- bits of bike all over the lake. The engine was still connected to the back
- wheel and now it was so light I could ride it across the mud. Bit by bit I carried all the parts to the edge of the lake. I thought "Now is my chance to ride up and down the lake, chasing diprotodon bones while the bike is
- light and won't get stuck"​. I calculated I would need one tankful plus a
- bit to got me to Lyndhurst and the nearest petrol. I emptied. my 5-gallon
- drum into the tank, and it didn't oven come to the top. "​Ugh!"​ I thought,
- "Oh, well, thinking about it won't give me any more petrol",​ so I assembled
- the bike and headed off on a compass bearing 30 degrees west of magnetic north. This got me to the road in about 6 miles and then down to Lyndhurst, another 170 miles, whore I arrived with plenty of petrol to spare - at least enough
- for another 2 miles!
- From there I headed down the western plain of the Flinders Ranges,
- Skinning run-over kangaroos whenever I found a good specimen. I am going
- to make a beaut fur coat (I hope), if Denny Finch'​s tanning formula works out.
- I visited a few friends in Adelaide who told me people from the Antarctic Division wore chasing me all over the country. They were afraid I was drop-,
- ping out I rang them up and told them all was O.K. and to calm down, and headed north again. This time I was making for Birdsville, but unfortun-
- ately the road was turned to mud while I was heading towards Marro. Much to my dislike I had to turn back, so I thought I would turn round in a big mud puddle. I got bogged, of course, but managed to get out with a few heaves
- and shoves. Now it was a case of back to home, because those Antarctic people
- might be wanting me. I selected a route passing along as many dirt roads as
- possible and made it home in three days, with a beautiful tail wind all the way.
- There was a telegram, fresh from the Antarctic Division in Melbourne, tolling mo I'd made it. Now I will be off do the cold Antarctic, quite a change from the beaut hot sand dunes of the southern Simpson Desert.
- ************
- RIVER CANOE CLUB OF N.S.W.
- The evening of September 6th was a bad. one for the River Canoe Club of N.S.7., whose clubhouse on the banks of Cook's River at Tempe was gutted. by fire. Lost in the blaze were the moulds in which fibreglass canoes are
- fashioned, but it seems probable that replacement moulds can be taken off the
- hulls of recently completed boats.
- S.B.17. members extend sympathy to the Canoe Club in this set-back.
- * * * * * *
- Page 15
- THE SIDNEY BUSHWALKER
- WALKS SECRETARY'​S NOTES - OCTOBER.
- September, 1973.
- .. 11.
- by Wilf Hildar.
- 59697 October - Uncle Frank Taeker heads for Blue Gum down by Victoria Falls and along ye Grose, Tracks all the way with a lush campsite for Saturday night'​s camp, Silver train with return tickets to Mt. Victoria at 6.00 p m. Eastern Standard Time, 18.00 lire Military time (East. Aust. Zone) or 08.00 lire Greenwich Mean time depending on your kind of watch.
- Sunday 7th
- - Wildflower gallop (alias a. -best walk) thru Dh rug National Park is on for young and bold. Tracks for about half the distance with glorious wildflowers and excellent Aborigine carvings as well. Private transport to Sugee Bag Crook - driving via Wiseman'​s Ferry and Spencer - about 50 miles each way. Book early.
- Sunday 7th - Elaine Brown leads another wildflower trip, but this one is
- track and trail all the way with magnificent flowers and scenery along Cowan Creek. Train transport - special excursion tickets to Mt. Kuring-gai.
- 12913914 Oct. - A test walk to old Cloudmaker and Ti-Willa Plateau with
- Jim Vatiliotis carrying thc banner. Plenty of wildflowers out here come the spring. Tracks to Cloudmaker and traces of the Old Cedar Road along Gingra Crook. Magnificent views nearly all the way. Please book early.
- 13914 October - Alan Pike's Y-Creek epic is on again. This hard walk-down the Grose from Lockleys and over Mt.Hay takes in the pick of Grose scenery with wildflowers in abundance. Tracks about
- one half the way.
- Sunday 14th - Carl Bock loads this hard Sunday walk thru the scenic Brisbane
- Uater National Park and Jack Higgs now track to Ht. Scopas.
- As the old. bush arsonist would say, wildflowers to burn on this trip. Private transport - about 50 miles each way via Peates Ferry Bridge.
- Sunday 14th - Meryl 7atman iS your guide on this medium wildflower walk to Uloola Falls. Tracks all the way with excellent lunch spots near Uloola Falls. Train transport - special excursion
- tickets to Uaterfall - top value.
- 19920,21 Oct. - The good old Nattai with Geoff Mattingley, our worthy Membership Secrotary,​in the lead. Some rock-hopping up Rocky Waterholes Creek, with easy scrambling along the ridge (?)
- leading to Russell'​s N,eedle.
- 19920921 Oct. - Well now it's Shoalhaven-time again. Rod Peters leads this
- classic walk from Tolwong Mines down the Shoalhaven and up
- Bungonia Cann. Fabulous scenery on this trip - bring your colour camera. Early bookings please.
- Page 16 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER September9 1973.
- Sunday 21st - Uncle Sam Hinde is your friend on this easy wildflower ramble from Cowan td Edwards Trig, Tracks and pads most of the way. Excellent scenery. Train transport - special excursion tickets to Cowan.
- 26927928 Oct. - Gospers Mountain hasn't been on the programme for a year or two now - but the absolutely magnificent views from this peak are yours for the walking. Wilf is your guide on this classic hard trip. A special stop will be made to sign the visitor'​s book at Gordon Smith'​s Monument on Grassy Hill.
- 27928 October - Saturday morning start for Rosemary Edmonds Blue Gum Walk from Evans Lookout. Magnificent scenery and lush campsites. Tracks all the waf in this lovely area. Train transport - return tickets to Blackheath.
- Sunday 28th - Uncle John Holly'​s Mystery medium walk is still a mystery. But I can tell you this much:- 8.30 a me silver train, return tickets to Uondabyne9 please join LAST CARRIAGE of train (only one to fit into platform). Probably returning on 5615 p m. silver train to Sydney.
- qrly kingdom for a walk:" - he sure is keen on walking - but it won't cost you an arm or a leg or a kingdom to lead a walk for S.B.W. Just a day9 maybe a weekend9 spent 'neath sunny Australian skies leading a party of walkers into the wilderness. Difficult - not at all - but plenty of after-action satisfaction. Can't think of a suitable area? - perhaps Wilf
- can help? - the world is yours - for the walking. (Swimming is not compulsory - but desirable on summer trips).
- Punch Line:- The Summer Programme (December9 January and February) is only as good as the trips YOU put on.
- ***************
- SATURDAY ZIGHT BA222CUE - 27th OCTODM.
- On 27th October a bush.-l ke-2 1.:,​aa'​becue ilJ. be held at the hone of 11 Roraford oad,
- Bring your olm riet nud drinL:s (01119 --)1;:te9 etc.) - other foodstuffs provided. t2rnnsport, frorl the sttion v.1l be arrned for those 13ho coo by train.
- St:2tinc at 4 - 5 p m. and fi:71s fLn, ?TM Come md enjoy yourselves 7ith your busIrralker friends in be7.utiful EppinL.
- Contact ELAINE DRUZ; OoeiLl Seeret=7:9 2el. 93-4230 for further details.
+ I wonder what's out there west of Bourke? I had been to the Flinders Ranges and I'd been to Bourke, but I wanted to know what was in between.
+ I had just gone for a medical test to qualify for a position in the Antarctic and knowing the Public Service, this would give me at least three weeks before anything happened. I pulled the old motor bike out of the garage, grabbed a few spanners, a spare tube and the usual bushwalking gear, loaded it all up and off I went. Chris could come with me as far as Narrabri where we met John and went out to the Warrumbungles for a couple of days climbing. We only had time to climb Crater Bluff and a night time ascent of the Breadknife before Chris and John had to go back.
+ On the way to Bourke there are a few beaut hot springs, one at Pilliga and another at Burren Junction. I soaked in these till I was almost cooked through, then on the old jalopy and through the nice cool wind on route to Bourke. I picked up an old 5-gallon drum by the roadside, as it would make a good spare tank for petrol. I filled up at Bourke and roared off into the scrub towards Wanaaring where I camped the night by the Paroo River, a nice muddy river with plenty of water at this time of the year. A small shower awoke me in the morning, threatening to muddy up my roads. Fortunately it wasn't very heavy.
+ Between Wanaaring and Bourke the road comes out of the scrub and into the semi-desert. There had been a fair bit of rain earlier on and the plains were covered in daisies - really beautiful yellow and white everlastings. Further on towards Tibooburra the plain becomes rocky and the daisies give way to brilliant purple pea flowers and yellow somethingorothers. These were really lovely.
+ By this time my five gallon drum had sprung a leak from wearing against the carrier. This was no good as the next stretch was 400 miles along rotten roads to the next petrol. I asked the local storekeeper where was the local rubbish dump. This was a really terrific rubbish dump as it extended for about a mile across the plains, with plenty of 5-gallon drums to choose from. After inspecting about 20 drums I selected the best. I padded the carrier with an old inner tube, tied the drum on, went back to Tibooburra and filled up.
+ I asked the local publican what the roads were like between here and the Strezlecki and he said; "Ah, you'll get through, but ask at Bollards for directions across the dunes"​. I made my way through the undulating hills of that area on to the plains and out to the N.W. corner. This is where the road gets really interesting. Instead of a nice graded surface the road had become a pair of wheel ruts in the sand. I followed the dingo fence from Fort View to the Cameron Corner (this is where the New South Wales, South Australian and Queensland borders meet) - the Three Borders. I ran round and round this post, thus going from state to state in a matter of seconds. I suppose the galahs thought I must have been one of them.
+ From here the road is not signposted, so I rode out along the track that I thought was heading in the right direction, to Bollard'​s Lagoon homestead, where I was to ask for directions on the route further ahead. No motor bike had been through this area before, so they did not know whether I'd make it or not. Anyway, they gave me directions and told me to call in at Merty, their other station on the Strez1ecki track, 70 miles away.
+ Now the track was sand-ridge after sand-ridge, glowing a brilliant orange in the late afternoon'​s sun. The only vegetation was a few low shrubs and millions of the beautiful daisies. I camped the night in an old Geosurvey'​s bus which the geologists had dragged there on one of their excursions. The bus was well stocked with provisions and there was a windmill nearby, so this was a real oasis in the desert. After a tin of four-year-old peaches for breakfast I pushed off into the beaut sand dunes. On a motor bike, riding through this country, a very good sense of balance is required. You can't turn in the ruts and you can't accelerate or slow down quickly, so you virtually are riding a tight rope. Fortunately the sand is soft and the occasional spill is a real pleasure.
+ I passed a couple of station people trucking horses towards Bollards. They stopped, had a look at this strange creature, gave it directions, and headed off in their old army blitz waggon. Eventually I got to Merty, told them my story, and they radioed back to Bollards to tell them I'd made it.
+ The Strezlecki track was quite a highway after what I'd been through, but I had to be careful not to race into big puddles of which there were many along the track. After a couple of hours I reached Montecollina bore, which was gushing out beautiful warm water into a big pool for me to swim in. The water was brackish but drinkable. Being August the weather was quite cool, and the warm swim was quite pleasant.
+ Now to find Lake Callabonna, which was somewhere out there to the south east.
+ I went down the road 10 miles, took a compass bearing and meant to head off into the south east, but for some strange reason I kept on going too far south and not enough east, so after 20 miles of bouncing over the lumpy terrain I still hadn't found Lake Callabonna. Surely a 20 square mile lake isn't hard to find! So I headed up to the closest little hill and had a good look to the east. There I could see a faint glimmer of lake. I had just crossed a natural gas pipe line (from Moomba to Adelaide) which had a beautiful track running down it, and now it was just a couple of miles to the lake.
+ After churning through the soft sand I came to a beautiful spring at the edge of the lake. This is no ordinary lake; it is just a great flat expanse of dried mud, which might have water on it during a very wet season. It looked like a really great race track, so I roared off across it and back again, then headed up on the western side. I came to a point where I should have entered the lake, marked it by doing a big wheelie in the mud - then promptly got bogged. "Mud is no problem,"​ I thought, so I took off the front mudguard which was jammed against the front wheel, and tried again to get her moving. I got another 100 yards when the back wheel locked up. I hadn't experienced mud as sticky as this and here I was, completely bogged, 20 miles from the nearest road, which was possibly no help anyway. I scratched my head (and got splinters in my fingers!). I tried pushing with all my might, managed to get a few more feet, until eventually the engine couldn'​t even turn the back wheel around. I don't like littering the countryside,​ so I thought I had better not leave my lump of scrap iron on the lake.
+ After about an hour or so I had dismantled everything and there were bits of bike all over the lake. The engine was still connected to the back wheel and now it was so light I could ride it across the mud. Bit by bit I carried all the parts to the edge of the lake. I thought "Now is my chance to ride up and down the lake, chasing diprotodon bones while the bike is light and won't get stuck"​. I calculated I would need one tankful plus a bit to get me to Lyndhurst and the nearest petrol. I emptied my 5-gallon drum into the tank, and it didn't even come to the top. "​Ugh!"​ I thought, "Oh, well, thinking about it won't give me any more petrol",​ so I assembled the bike and headed off on a compass bearing 30 degrees west of magnetic north. This got me to the road in about 6 miles and then down to Lyndhurst, another 170 miles, where I arrived with plenty of petrol to spare - at least enough for another 2 miles!
+ From there I headed down the western plain of the Flinders Ranges, skinning run-over kangaroos whenever I found a good specimen. I am going to make a beaut fur coat (I hope), if Donny Finch'​s tanning formula works out.
+ I visited a few friends in Adelaide who told me people from the Antarctic Division were chasing me all over the country. They were afraid I was dropping out!!!??? I rang them up and told them all was O.K. and to calm down, and headed north again. This time I was making for Birdsville, but unfortunately the road was turned to mud while I was heading towards Marree. Much to my dislike I had to turn back, so I thought I would turn round in a big mud puddle. I got bogged, of course, but managed to get out with a few heaves and shoves. Now it was a case of back to home, because those Antarctic people might be wanting me. I selected a route passing along as many dirt roads as possible and made it home in three days, with a beautiful tail wind all the way.
+ There was a telegram, fresh from the Antarctic Division in Melbourne, telling me I'd made it. Now I will be off to the cold Antarctic, quite a change from the beaut hot sand dunes of the southern Simpson Desert.
+ ====River Canoe Club of N.S.W.====
+ The evening of September 6th was a bad one for the River Canoe Club of N.S.W., whose clubhouse on the banks of Cook's River at Tempe was gutted by fire. Lost in the blaze were the moulds in which fibreglass canoes are fashioned, but it seems probable that replacement moulds can be taken off the hulls of recently completed boats.
+ S.B.W. members extend sympathy to the Canoe Club in this set-back.
+ =====Walks Secretary'​s Notes - October.=====
+ by Wilf Hilder.
+ |5,6,7 October|Uncle Frank Taeker heads for Blue Gum down by Victoria Falls and along ye Grose. Tracks all the way with a lush campsite for Saturday night'​s camp. Silver train with return tickets to Mt. Victoria at 6.00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 18.00 hrs Military time (East. Aust. Zone) or 08.00 hrs Greenwich Mean time depending on your kind of watch.|
+ |Sunday 7th| Wilf's Wildflower gallop (alias a test walk) thru Dharug National Park is on for young and bold. Tracks for about half the distance with glorious wildflowers and excellent Aborigine carvings as well. Private transport to Sugee Bag Creek - driving via Wiseman'​s Ferry and Spencer - about 50 miles each way. Book early.|
+ |Sunday 7th|Elaine Brown leads another wildflower trip, but this one is track and trail all the way with magnificent flowers and scenery along Cowan Creek. Train transport - special excursion tickets to Mt. Kuring-gai.|
+ |12,13,14 Oct.|A test walk to old Cloudmaker and Ti-Willa Plateau with Jim Vatiliotis carrying the banner. Plenty of wildflowers out here come the spring. Tracks to Cloudmaker and traces of the Old Cedar Road along Gingra Creek. Magnificent views nearly all the way. Please book early.|
+ |13,14 October|Alan Pike's Y-Creek epic is on again. This hard walk down the Grose from Lockleys and over Mt. Hay takes in the pick of Grose scenery with wildflowers in abundance. Tracks about one half the way.|
+ |Sunday 14th|Carl Bock leads this hard Sunday walk thru the scenic Brisbane Water National Park and Jack Higgs new track to Mt. Scopas. As the old bush arsonist would say, wildflowers to burn on this trip. Private transport - about 50 miles each way via Peates Ferry Bridge.|
+ |Sunday 14th|Meryl Watman is your guide on this medium wildflower walk to Uloola Falls. Tracks all the way with excellent lunch spots near Uloola Falls. Train transport - special excursion tickets to Waterfall - top value.|
+ |19,20,21 Oct.|The good old Nattai with Geoff Mattingley, our worthy Membership Secretary, in the lead. Some rock-hopping up Rocky Waterholes Creek, with easy scrambling along the ridge (?) leading to Russell'​s Needle.|
+ |19,20,21 Oct.|Well now it's Shoalhaven time again. Rod Peters leads this classic walk from Tolwong Mines down the Shoalhaven and up Bungonia Canyon. Fabulous scenery on this trip - bring your colour camera. Early bookings please.|
+ |Sunday 21st|Uncle Sam Hinde is your friend on this easy wildflower ramble from Cowan to Edwards Trig. Tracks and pads most of the way. Excellent scenery. Train transport - special excursion tickets to Cowan.|
+ |26,27,28 Oct.|Gospers Mountain hasn't been on the programme for a year or two now - but the absolutely magnificent views from this peak are yours for the walking. Wilf is your guide on this classic hard trip. A special stop will be made to sign the visitor'​s book at Gordon Smith'​s Monument on Grassy Hill.|
+ |27,28 October|Saturday morning start for Rosemary Edmonds Blue Gum Walk from Evans Lookout. Magnificent scenery and lush campsites. Tracks all the way in this lovely area. Train transport - return tickets to Blackheath.|
+ |Sunday 28th|Uncle John Holly'​s Mystery medium walk is still a mystery. But I can tell you this much:- 8.30 a.m. silver train, return tickets to Wondabyne, please join LAST CARRIAGE of train (only one to fit into platform). Probably returning on 5.15 p.m. silver train to Sydney.|
+ "My kingdom for a walk!" - he sure is keen on walking - but it won't cost you an arm or a leg or a kingdom to lead a walk for S.B.W. Just a day, maybe a weekend, spent 'neath sunny Australian skies leading a party of walkers into the wilderness. Difficult - not at all - but plenty of after-action satisfaction. Can't think of a suitable area? - perhaps Wilf can help? - the world is yours - for the walking. (Swimming is not compulsory - but desirable on summer trips).
+ __Punch Line__:- The Summer Programme (December, January and February) is only as good as the trips YOU put on.
+ ====Saturday Night Barbecue - 27th October.====
+ On 27th October a bushwalker barbecue will be held at the home of Marion Ellis, 11 Romford Road, Epping.
+ Bring your own Meat and drinks (cup, plate, etc. - other foodstuffs provided.
+ Transport from the station will be arranged for those who come by train.
+ Starting at 4 - 5 p.m. and finishing ????? Come and enjoy yourselves with your bushwalker friends in beautiful Epping.
+ Contact Elaine Brown, Social Secretary, Tel. 93-4830 for further details.