200706 Newsletter

QUEENSLAND BUSHWALKERS CLUB Inc. Newsletter

74 Kallista Rd. Rochedale South QLD 4123 Email [email protected] Phone No (07) 3341 7509 www.geocities.com/qldbwc

June 2007

Paddys Plains Explorers

Club News Membership Fees 2007-2008

Christmas Party

The QBW Committee have decided that the Membership Fee for 2007-08 will increase to $30.00. The optional extra fee to have the Newsletter posted out to a member will remain at $15.00.

The QBW Christmas Party will be held at Camp Constable at Mt Glorious from 30 November to 2 December.

The Membership Fee covers such costs as insurance, hall hire, stationery, postage, replacement and maintenance of equipment, subsidies to members who do a First Aid Course, partial payment of the Christmas Party etc. During the 2006-07 financial year, our Club just broke even with expenses and income. It was decided to increase the Membership Fee by $5.00 to give more leeway to help with future expenses and to be able to purchase equipment. st

The Membership Fee will become due on the 1 July 2007. All members will receive a Membership Renewal Form either at the July Club meeting or in the mail soon after. Current members should pay their Membership Fee by 31st August 2007. Under the Constitution the management committee may terminate membership of a member if fees are in arrears for at least 2 months. QBW has one of the cheapest membership fees of any bushwalking club and the committee hopes to keep costs down but to maintain the services that we now provide. Our Club was lucky in receiving a grant to purchase equipment but we now have the additional expenses of maintaining that equipment.

30 November - 2 December

Accommodation will be in bunks only with no tents allowed. However we will have the use of the Activities Hall for the weekend. Our Social Secretary is still overseas at the moment but there will be more information available in next month's Newsletter.

Abseiling Abseiling was discussed at the committee meeting following concerns raised at the last Club meeting. David Rae, our Training Officer, is calling for people who are interested in abseiling at a beginner, intermediate or advanced level to come forward and discuss this issue at a special meeting.

QFBWC AGM

28 June 2007

The Queensland Federation of Bushwalking Clubs is having its AGM on June 28 at 7.00pm, Little Kings Movement, 33 O'Keefe St, Buranda. At the meeting will be a special resolution to vote whether Federation becomes incorporated and for the adoption of the new Rules. QBW is in favor of QFBW becoming incorporated and is in favor of the new Rules.

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General Information

The Management Committee

Meeting Place

President

Helen McAllister

3844 8464 (H)

Club Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the East Brisbane State School, corner of Stanley Street and Wellington Road, starting at 7:30pm. No meetings in January.

Vice President

Gary Woodward

3245 2695 (H)

Secretary

Lynn Nicol

3219 6228 (H)

Treasurer

Bob Gur

3345 3971 (H)

Outings Officer

Patricia Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

Membership Officer

Lynne Cavanagh

3376 5053 (H)

Tea/Coffee and cake/biscuits are provided after the meeting. A coin donation would be appreciated.

Editor

Richard Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

Membership

Social Secretary

Danuta Gur

3345 3971 (H)

Training Officer

David Rae

3395 1838 (H)

There is parking within the school grounds off Wellington Road. Consult a street directory, as there are a number of one-way streets in the area. There is also parking in Wellington Road.

Before a visitor can go on a walk, he/she must be a Member (Probationary or Ordinary) or be a member of an affiliated club. Membership of QBW lasts till the end of the Club’s financial year which is on the 30th of June each year.

Probationary Membership A non-member automatically becomes a Probationary Member on his/her first walk after signing the waiver form. There is no fee payable to become a Probationary Member. However a Probationary Member must become an Ordinary Member on his/her 2nd walk by filling out a membership form and paying the membership fee.

Ordinary Membership A person may become an Ordinary Member by filling out a membership form and handing the form to a committee member or walk leader and paying the membership fee. An Ordinary Member has the right to vote at an AGM or be elected to a committee position. A Probationary Member has neither of these rights.

Members of Another Bushwalking Club Members of another bushwalking club affiliated with the Queensland Federation of Bushwalking Clubs or another State Federation are covered by the same Insurance as QBW. It is not necessary for them to become a member of our Club to go on our walks.

Other Voluntary Positions Equipment Officer

Trevor Davern

0411 512 202

Supper Convenor

Margaret Smith

3886 3342 (H)

Federation Rep

Kerry de Clauzel

3209 7146 (H)

Federation Rep

Richard Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

FMR Rep

Frank Bowling

0419 715 719

FMR Rep

Barbara Makepeace

0421 784 783

Campsite Monitors Barbara Makepeace

Ratatat Hut Mt Barney Spicer’s Double Peak Saddle

Kerry de Clauzel

Throakban Lower Portals

Richard Kolarski

Running Creek Falls

Christine & Cliff Harrison

Mt Superbus

Ann Kemp

Spicers Peak

John Brunott

Ballows

Editors Pic

Equipment for Use by Members ITEM

No

Contact

Ph No

Compasses

29

David Rae

3395 1838

EPIRBs

5

David Rae

3395 1838

GPS

4

David Rae

3395 1838

Emergency Lights

6

David Rae

3395 1838

First Aid Kits

3

David Rae

3395 1838

Topo Maps

34

David Rae

3395 1838

Sunmap CD’s

1

David Rae

3395 1838

UHF Radios

12

David Rae

3395 1838

Trevor Davern

0411 512 202

Trevor Davern

0411 512 202

Abseil Gear Back Pack

1

Equipment for Sale Bivy Bags $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00 These bivy bags are 2 metres by 0.9 metres and are bright orange in colour. They can be used as a pack liner and can double as an emergency bivy bag. Club Polo Shirts L, M and S size left only

$20.00 each

Space Blankets $2.50 each. Light weight and take up no room at all. A must for all walkers! Ring Patricia Kolarski on 3341 7509 to purchase any of the above.

Maiden Veil Fungus

The Maiden Veil or Bridal Veil fungus (Dictyophora sp) occurs on rich soil in moist spots in forests, especially rainforests. It grows with a hollow cylindrical white stem up to 20cm tall and 3cm in diameter. The top features a conical to bell-shaped cap from which hangs a delicate white or orange lacy ‘veil’. Though beautiful looking it is a member of the Stinkhorn family, so named because egg-like sacs appearing on the ground burst open to release a variety of foul smelling, bizarrely-shaped fruiting bodies. The spores are contained in a brown slime on the cap which smells like dead animals or faeces and thus attracts swarms of flies. They feed on the slime and spread the spores in their droppings.

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Club Member Rescued

Training Quiz

A rescue had to be arranged for one of our members, Bob Hammelswang, who was injured on a Club walk recently.

This Month’s Question and Answer

While descending a steep slope on Mt Byron, a rock was dislodged and hit him on the left upper arm and calf. Luckily Mary, a member and a nurse, was on the walk and she was able to assist in making Bob comfortable. She thought the arm might be broken. Bob was unable to continue the walk due to the pain and injured calf.

Though there are many different types of compasses, here we will identify the parts on a compass most often used by bushwalkers.

What are the names of the parts of a compass?

There was no mobile phone coverage where they were and so Dean and Gil, members of the group, walked to higher ground until they could get reception. They rang 000 and gave details of the accident, where Bob was and his condition. As there was no access by road, a helicopter was sent. When the helicopter arrived, Steve and Sandy went to the top of the hill and waved space blankets and a red shirt to show their position. A doctor and paramedic winched down to assess Bob. Our members assisted the crew with equipment and carrying Bob who was winched out and flown to Royal Brisbane Hospital.

Helicopter Take Off for Bob

The event made the news and was on TV, radio and in the newspaper. All reports were complimentary in that our group were well prepared and did all they could to assist. This Silva compass is the one QBW has available for members.

At the hospital an X-ray showed Bob had a broken upper arm. This was straightened and a plaster applied. However a few days later he had an operation to straighten the arm. Bob could be out of action for up to 12 weeks.

Baseplate: The hard, flat surface on which the rest of the compass is mounted. Its edge is straight and useful for laying lines on a map.

We wish him well and a full recovery and many thanks to our members on the trip who assisted.

Housing: The main part of the compass. It is a round plastic container filled with liquid and has the compass needle inside.

QBW has Personal Accident Insurance Cover. It will give some relief especially if time is lost from work. To claim for Personal Accident Insurance, a member should contact the secretary for a copy of the Policy. The committee will also contact the Insurance Officer who will send out a claim form to the member.

Rotating Dial: The ring that has the degree markings. You hold the dial and rotate it to rotate the entire housing.

Note that a claim has to be sent in to the Insurance Company within 30 days of an accident.

Coming Events Trekking in Nepal

October 2007

I highly recommend Saran as a leader. Anyone wanting more information please contact me for Saran's details. Phone No. 3395 1838

New Members Nigel Kernick Michael Mamczur Leon Wright As at 4/6/2007 we have 124 financial members

N: Stands for North on the rotating dial. Index Line: The bottom end of the Direction-Of-Travel Arrow. It ends right at the edge of the dial and is where you take degree readings. Direction-of-Travel Arrow: An arrow marked on the base plate. You point this the way you will be travelling.

The success of our recent trip to Nepal can be largely attributed to great leadership. Saran is leading a trek up Island Peak in October and has spaces available. Island Peak is in the Everest area. It is approximately 6100 metres. The trek involves trekking up the Khumbu valley and then climbing the Peak. Technical work is involved.

Margie Rae

Declination Scale: Used to orient the compass in an area with known declination.

Scales: Each edge of a compass may have different rulers for use with different map scales. Magnifyer: For seeing small map features better. Needle: Magnetized piece of metal that has one end painted red to indicate North. It sits on a fine point that is nearly frictionless so it rotates freely when the compass is held fairly level and steady. Orienting Lines: Series of parallel lines marked on the floor of the housing and on the base plate. Orienting Arrow: Marked on the floor of the housing. It rotates with the housing when the dial is turned. You use it to orient a compass to a map Next Month’s Questions: What is a Magnetic Bearing and how do you find and follow the Magnetic Bearing to an object?

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Past Walks Mt Cordeaux

10 March 2007

This walk was initially to be to Bare Rock via a ridge but after a pre-outing I changed it to come down the ridge rather than ascending it. Only six of us met up in Kalbar instead of the original eight as two had pulled out at the last moment. We drove up to Cunningham's Gap and did a short car shuttle to leave a car at a picnic area just a couple of kilometres down the road. The day was sunny but overcast and it was a pleasant easy uphill walk along the graded track. However the views were hazy out over the Fassifern valley. We reached the Mt Cordeaux rest stop and after a short morning tea decided to do a bit of exploring. We checked out some of the cliff line but were turned back by the wild raspberry growing freely. None of us escaped without a few scratches. It was a relief getting back to the graded track and continuing towards Bare Rock. However we turned off the track onto a ridge just before the turnoff to Morgans Lookout. There was no graded track here but it was easy going through virgin rainforest. As we followed the ridge it began to descend and the canopy changed to open sclerophyll forest. We had lunch on some rocks which gave us a good view of Mt Mitchell. Further on we walked through a mini-forest of grass trees.

Running Creek Falls

Fortunately the creek level was low and the creek crossings were relatively easy. Another help was that a trail is beginning to appear on one of the banks and by following it we were at the falls in only half an hour. The falls were a majestic sight and flowing quite well despite the prolonged drought in the rest of south east Queensland. We had lunch at the edge of the pool with the spray of the falls cooling us down. A couple of the girls went in for a dip but it was too cold for my liking. It was an uneventful walk back to the car after a long but rewarding walk. Many thanks to Patricia, Mary and Muriel for their company. Richard Cordeaux Bleu

Boar's Head and Hole-in-the-Wall

17 March 2007

The last section of the walk was a steep descent along a narrow ridge line which took us almost directly to the picnic area where the car was parked.

The long drive and the predicted high temperatures were a deterrent for some intended walkers, so just five of us gathered at Aratula to drive out to Goomburra to begin the walk.

Overall it was an enjoyable day with some exploring round Mt Cordeaux and going through a variety of vegetation.

We parked at the start of the path to Sylvester's Lookout, and made our way out to the edge of the escarpment for the first of many spectacular views for the day.

I would like to thank Sandy, Patricia, Steve H., Steve P. and Gil for their company. Richard

Running Creek Falls

12 March 2007

This walk was put on a Monday and it was mainly to do a campsite monitor of the Running Creek Falls campsite. I was pleasantly surprised to get four people on this walk and we were all able to go in the one car.

We then followed the edge of the range around to the old lookout, before descending to Boar's head, with more great views out to Mt Castle and the Laidley Valley. As the sun was fairly hot on the rocks, we retreated to some shady trees nearby for morning tea.

After parking the car at the end of the Mt Gipps Road we began the 5 kilometre walk across some cow paddocks. Fortunately it was not a very hot day and we made good time. After an hour and a half we reached Running Creek and had morning tea. The next section was through rain forest and the pace slowed as there were a few trees down over the foot track. We had to climb over, scramble under or bash a way round the obstacles but finally we got to the campsite. Two of the group had never been here before and they were amazed at how well the campground blended with the surroundings. After a reconnoitre and a few photos of the campsite by myself for the campsite monitoring we still had plenty of time to go and see the falls which though only 800 metres away, could take up to an hour to get there depending on the flow of water. Page 4 of 6

The Hole In the Wall Gang

From there it was a fairly short distance out to Hole-in-the-Wall, which was reached by following the line of a knife-edged ridge that led out towards Mt Castle. There were a couple of tricky sections to navigate, particularly where some dripping water had made a smooth slab of rock very slippery. The "hole" is where the rock wall is so thin it has worn through an opening a couple of metres in diameter. Again, more spectacular views were to be seen along Main Range and the valleys to the east. By now it was becoming quite hot, so we made our way back past Boar's Head to the first section of rainforest where it was much cooler to relax for a while and eat lunch. Thus refreshed, we walked back up the hill through the forest to finish the walk in the early afternoon. Thanks to Patricia, Lynn, John and Paul for good company and an enjoyable day out. Helen

Paddy's Plain Exploratory

18 March 2007

We did a circle above the gorge following an old track (and noting some eminently abseil-able cliffs) before descending to Perseverance Creek to follow it back into the gorge. Alas, no diamonds - the glitter comes from Feldspar in the rock (you don't think we would tell you if we had found real diamonds do you?). Cliffs and house-sized boulders prevent further creek travel, so a 120 metre vertical bash up a steep and rocky gully is needed before finding the tourist track and returning to camp. Alas on Saturday night a contingent of local youth had also decided to camp and party there. Fortunately some negotiation took place between Ken, Kerry and a two of the youth (the displayed leadership qualities of whom bodes well for their futures) and as a result the youth left to party at the day use area, a useful distance from where we were. A reasonably peaceful night ensued as the resident bush turkeys and goanna (whose belly indicated a need for a personalized program at Jenny Craig) had also retired. Kerry, Ken, Maria and Tom

Mt Zahel

Ken has done several exploratory walks in the Paddy's Plain area but he still wanted to check out a couple of small sections the hadn't fully explored. One area was a waterfall he had found previously and the other was a ridge line near Paddys Peak. So seven of us met at Beaudesert ready for adventure. We drove down to Drynan's Hut and from there after walking along the dirt road for a short we heading north to a dry stream bed. The waterfall was on this creek and Ken wanted to follow the creek upstream. We walked and rock hopped up the dry creek bed and after two hours we finally got to the base of a cliff line. We found a route up and found the dry waterfall. We had morning tea with terrific views of Mt Barney and Lindesay from this vantage point. The next place to explore was a ridge on the other side of the dirt road. We thus made our way down to the waterfall in Paddys Gully Creek where we stopped to have our lunch. After a rest we continued on and crossed another gully before beginning our ascent up to the ridge line on the southern side of the road. We made the steep scramble up by following a dry creek bed which was strewn with large boulders. Some of the more adventurous did a bit of cliff scrambling up to the top of the ridge.

31 March 2007

Mt Zahel is in the Laidley Valley opposite Mt Beau Brummel and was last climbed by the Club many years ago. Eight of us met up at Ipswich where we then drove to Laidley and parked outside the private property bordering Mt Zahel. We had already received permission from the owners and so we set off through several cow paddocks. It was a steep climb up a ridge on the first section. It got easier when we reached a dirt road but this soon disappeared and again we had a steep slog up the ridge. Finally we made it to the top of the ridge and had morning tea. It was a clear day when views across the Laidley Valley and to Mt Castle of the Main Range. The ridge itself was open forest with grass trees and surprisingly had lush green grass despite the drought.

On top of the ridge we checked our maps and headed south east which would keep us on the top of the ridge line. There were traces of an old fence here and unfortunately Frank walked into some barbed wire and ripped his leg. We stopped and helped clean and bandage his leg before continuing on. Near the end of the ridge as we approached Barney Creek we came upon an unexpected cliff line none of us had known about. We were elated by this discovery and spent some time checking it out. From there it was only a short walk back to the cars and an afternoon tea at Rathdowney. Many thanks to Ken for the walk and to the fellow explorers, Mary, Sandy, Dave, Bob and Frank. Richard

Valley of Diamonds

24-25 March 2007

Little did two amorous turtles in the pool below Crows Nest Falls realize that their every private underwater move was being watched from above by QBW voyeurs equipped with 'x-ray vision' (polarized) sunglasses. It was a easy sunny Sunday and we had just spent the morning boulder-hopping down Crows Nest Creek from the camp ground to the top of the falls. Well, the map did indicate rapids and falls but nowadays all you get are a few primordial pools clogged with vegetation and accompanied by red dragon-flies over plops from escaping gas. The four of us had travelled to Crows Nest National Park, only a short distance from Crows Nest township north of Toowoomba, on Saturday morning. After setting up camp in the small but well-equipped campground, it was time to look for some gems in the Valley of Diamonds. This is a really a boulder-filled and steep-sided gorge surrounding the confluence of Crows Nest, Cressbrook and Perseverance Creeks.

On the Way to Mt Zahel

We followed the top of the ridge over some ups and downs and after a steep scramble reached Mt Zahel. Or was it? John and Dave had two different maps and they had Mt Zahel marked differently. On Dave's map it was a peak still some distance away. So Dave and Sandy went off to explore this other peak while the rest of us rested our aching limbs in the shade and had lunch. After an hour they returned and said they thought the peak we were on was the correct Mt Zahel as our peak had a surveyor's peg. It was then down and back along the ridge and here we split into two groups. One group descended the way we had come up while the other group continued on to Mt Cooper and then descended via a different ridge. The group was split as it was a hot day and some of us were running short of water. We all met up at the local hotel where we were able to quench our thirst and replace our body salts! Many thanks to John for doing the pre-outing and putting on this walk. Also thanks to Gil. June, Sandy, Helen, Dave and Bob for their pleasant company. Richard

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Mt Sinai

Landscape Classification System

Mt Sinai at 2,285 metre high is the second highest mountain in the Sinai, after Mount St. Catherine at 2,642 metres. In this dry barren and mountainous region, all three of the West's great religious traditions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam know the Sinai as a holy land. Mt Sinai is believed by many to be the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments. On its slopes are strewn relics of faith throughout the eons. There are two main tracks up Mt Sinai. The Camel Track zigzags gently up the mountain while the steeper and more challenging route on the other side consists of 3750 rock hewn steps. These steps were all carved out by a monk and are known as the Steps of Repentance. It takes about 2-3 hours to climb the granite peak and you need to be in moderate good shape. One of the ways of experiencing the mountain is to start the walk before dawn and to watch the sunrise from the summit. It is an awe inspiring and somewhat spiritual experience but at a height of 2,285 metres, it can also get freezing cold! Very early in the morning, Patricia and I started the walk up the Camel Track, as it is not permitted to walk up the steeper path in the dark. After about an hour, Patricia began to feel the effects of the cold and the altitude and slowed down considerably. Finally for a small fee she paid one of the attendant camel drivers to take her to the summit.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) management is now using the Landscape Classification System (LCS) to classify a site or area from a visitor management perspective. The areas managed by QPWS vary from pristine with no evidence of human impact to areas which show evidence of heavy impact from human use. By using the LCS an assessment can be made on the proportion of human and natural impact on an area or site. The nine settings established by LCS range from "wild" to "urban". The LCS is a tool for assessing landscape settings from a visitor use and management perspective, not a system for describing the nature conservation or other values of a site or area. An LCS classification of 1 is "wild". It is a wild, natural, remote area with no evidence of human impact. None of the visual landscape is modified from the natural condition and the natural vegetation is 100% intact with a completely natural aquatic ecosystem An LCS classification of 2 shows minimal evidence of human impact. Less than 1% of the natural landscape is modified. More than 97% of the natural vegetation is intact and there is no detectable change in water quality. An LCS classification of 3 shows temporary to minor visitor impacts. Impacts are not permanent but recovery to pre-impact condition is unlikely. 1-5% of the visual landscape is modified. 90-97% of natural vegetation is intact and there are short term or relatively minor changes to water chemistry. An LCS classification of 4 shows moderate impact in heavily used areas. There is some permanent loss of local native vegetation. 5-10% of the visual landscape is modified. Built structures such as graded walking tracks, narrow infrequently used vehicle tracks and timbered picnic tables may be present. 85-90% of natural vegetation is intact or regenerating and there are short term and relatively minor changes to natural streams.

Mt Sinai Dawn

At the summit we waited for the sunrise as we huddled for warmth. Finally the sun rose majestically over a jagged mountain scape. It was a magnificent sight, an incredibly rugged country where you could easily believe a tribe could get lost for 40 years. We descended the mountain via the Steps of Repentance. Near the base we passed St Catherine's Monastery in which lived an order of Greek Orthodox monks. It was initially built in the 4th century AD and then fortified in the 6th century. It contains a basilica and a monastery as well as the original chapel.

St Catherine's Monastery

A famous pilgrim to the mountain and the monastery in the 7th century was the Prophet Mohamed. As he was well treated by the Orthodox Christian monks, Mohamed gave his personal pledge of protection, which then became incumbent on all Muslims, thereby ensuring the monastery’s continued existence. It was a very rewarding experience and one we will long remember. Richard

LCS classification of 5 shows physical changes as a result of visitor use that are obvious and widespread. 10-25% of the visual landscape is modified. Modifications may be permanent, moderately large and obvious, eg walking tracks with hardened surfaces, well maintained unsealed roads, timbered picnic areas. 70-85% of natural vegetation is intact or regenerating and there is long term or permanent changes to natural streams. An LCS classification of 6 shows physical changes which are obvious, widespread and permanent with little chance of recovery. 25-50% of the visual landscape is modified. In a somewhat natural appearing site there are built structures such as sealed roads, paved picnic areas and facilities in harmony with the surroundings. An LCS classification of 7 shows physical changes which are obvious, widespread and permanent. The natural condition only exists in very small remnant areas. 50-75% of the visual landscape is modified. It may be a managed parkland with small to large areas of open space. Built structures and other modifications dominate. Part of the natural landscape remains but most is modified to some extent. There are permanent changes to stream dynamics. An LCS classification of 8 shows physical changes which are obvious, widespread and permanent. 76-99% of the visual landscape is modified. It is typically a managed urban parkland with large areas of open space. 10-25% of natural vegetation is intact or regenerating and the remainder is cleared or nonendemic. There are permanent changes to stream dynamics. Aquatic ecosystem is substantially modified. An LCS classification of 9 shows physical changes which are obvious, widespread and permanent. 100% of the visual landscape is modified, such as a managed urban parkland with playing fields. Less than 10% of natural vegetation is intact or regenerating and the remainder is cleared or non-endemic. There are permanent changes to stream dynamics. Aquatic ecosystem is completely modified.

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